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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2008 4:36:45 GMT
please do!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2008 5:47:01 GMT
Is it a horrible problem if I don't have tatami? I plan to use saturated newspaper as a substitute. Requests for which machete(s) to test?
Also, Miekka, what zombie movie are you referencing? I'm doing my thesis on zombie films and their recent popularity, and that sounds like an interesting watch.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2008 19:09:27 GMT
well me id like to see the kopis if you have it and rolled news paper should work out fine
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2008 4:50:50 GMT
My kopis should be here on the 17th. ;D
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2008 15:57:06 GMT
sounds cool
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Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2008 5:57:49 GMT
Yep, the recent machete reviews have reminded me that before I even bought my first wallhanger, hacking branches and small trees with a machete was my first foray into the practical use of sharp things. Hell, a hatchet, a machete, hammer and nails was all I needed to build my first (crappy) treehouse.
So I've caved as well. Just ordered a 12" Spear Point, 18" Kopis and 24" Latin from Cold Steel, and I'm going to put them through their paces.
There's a question - how can swords be so (apparently) susceptible to flubbed cuts, and yet the humble machete, being used on hard targets (i.e. thick wood), seem apparently indestructible? It's not like they've got what you'd call a thick cross section.
I'm quite positive that as a kid, poor edge alignment wasn't exactly uncommon, and yet the damn thing's handle broke before the blade even looked like bending/twisting. We're talking committed, full body behind the blow cuts here, too.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2008 7:51:33 GMT
I think it may have to do with the length of swords as opposed to machetes, but I'm not sure.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2008 0:53:57 GMT
It is odd that thin, stamped, spring tempered steel would be so durable. Or is its thin cross section combined with its resilient temper what make it so durable?
It's funny, because the machete is the descendent of the cutlass, according to Cold Steel's DVD. It was a cutlass adapted to agricultural use.
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Post by ShooterMike on Jul 18, 2008 3:17:18 GMT
I think it's because machetes are made to be workmens tools. Most swords these days are made with not much more than a nod toward being an actual weapon or tool. Of course, there are a few exception, but they are mostly expensive.
It seems a bit like comparing "battle axes" to common wood chopping axes. If you bought a wood chopping axe at Walmart, Home Depot, Lowes, Sears or any myriad of other places, and it broke the first time you used it for hard work chopping wood they would replace it immediately with no questions asked.
But buy a "battle axe" from some vendor of "medieval weapons" and try that. If it breaks they'll say you "used it for something that was inappropriate and gross abuse."
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2008 7:16:30 GMT
But that doesn't seem to gel with the whole purpose of our hobby (i.e. collecting 'real' swords). We pay attention to steel, heat treatment, workmanship, etc. with an eye towards acquiring swords that should be considered 'actual weapons'.
Are we really being fooled that much? I'd like to think not...
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2008 3:13:36 GMT
Sword vs machete (these are general and comparative, don't get testy!)
sword: weapon exclusively strong, heavy blade can block/parry protection for weapon hand balance for fighting (rarely blade heavy) often, differentially heat treated specifically designed to cut muscle
machete: tool first, weapon second thin, light blade poor for blocking/parrying Rarely protection for weapon hand balanced for working (blade heavy) monosteel spring tempered designed to cut plant fiber
Are those enough differences? Sure, a machete can make a fierce weapon. Just like Junior can sneak out with the family grocery getter and take it street racing (he may even win now and then). But the souped-up sportster is designed to race. It won't be able to haul many groceries, and it won't seat the whole family, but it delivers on its intended purpose. This was the best analogy I could come up with.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2008 7:57:11 GMT
Just a small update as I haven't had time to do a full review, but I took my cold steel kopis fishing and did quite alot of brush/wood chopping with it. Hit a rock twice and chipped the blade a little Anyways, seemed pretty dull, don't know how it would do against bottles yet, but to my surprise it cut leaves/light branches pretty well, and I could get a clean cut diagonally right through branches/trees a little over an inch in diameter. I plan on taking a file a stone to it to smooth out the nicks and sharpen it up a bit.
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Post by axeman on Jul 26, 2008 14:15:56 GMT
YES i have been looking to get one
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2008 7:29:01 GMT
I'll try to get you guys a vid in about a week my buddy took my camera to japan with him.
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Post by salvatore on Jul 27, 2008 14:20:54 GMT
You guys gotta use protection when cutting with these!!
they go through flesh pretty easily!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2008 5:52:59 GMT
Haha is there a story behind that sal?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2008 21:27:27 GMT
Haha is there a story behind that sal? ;D
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Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2008 6:34:29 GMT
I'm still waiting for mine (have to come in from the States).
Popular opinion on the Cold Steel machetes (and in fact, almost all machetes, including the 'high end' ones) is that they will need sharpening in order to put a good edge on them, the factory edge just does not cut it (whee, pun). It's a cost thing.
The good news is that because they're 1055, they should be relatively easy to sharpen. As my sharpening skills are precisely nil, I plan to use an Accusharp to put a good edge on my three machetes before putting them through their paces. Given that my only other edged weapons are katana, it's all it's going to get used on, so why not?
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Post by salvatore on Jul 29, 2008 6:39:21 GMT
Haha is there a story behind that sal? Sadly, yes. Kinda cut all 4 of my fingers with a damn CS kukri, nerve and tendon damage on all 4 fingers, and extremely painful to straigten...don't cut without some form of safety!!! Sal
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Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2008 12:03:35 GMT
As far as sharpening, a machete is pretty easy. The edge will almost certainly be too irregular for the accusharp, so I would start with a flat file. After that, the accusharp should do fine.
Don't be intimidated by the file going freehand, just follow the original cantle and smooth it out.
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