Post by Adventurer'sBlade on Feb 7, 2016 5:21:25 GMT
Back when Condor was producing the bush cutlass, I used to look at it rather wistfully on retail sites and think to myself "Gee, why don't they just give it a metal guard and a wooden handle?"
Lo and behold, Condor introduced the Naval Cutlass last year. It seemed to be the ideal plain, utilitarian, yet attractive woodsman's hanger. I've been slowly becoming more and more infatuated with the cutlass and hanger recently, and I finally broke down and ordered the Condor.
Full Disclosure: I purchased the naval cutlass for about $93 after tax on Amazon.
Summary of my video review:
-It came with a nice edge. The sheath is awesome. The blade is attractive.
-The knuckle bow is rather thin and light. More ornamental than anything. The handle scales are blocky, square, and thick, like a few other Condor machetes I've held. The tip is rounded/squared off. This potentially serves it better for tip cuts on vegetation, but not for thrusting like a sword.
-The cutlass isn't too flimsy or flexible, but it is pretty light. Even with a balance point almost 7" out, you can do cuts from the wrist all day.
-It would be great for cutting through light foliage or for slicing up water bottles. It wouldn't be so great for boarding action. Minimal hand protection, no tip, a little light.
Compared to the Cold Steel cutlass machete, the Condor is leaps and bounds ahead in fit and finish. Nevertheless, the Cold Steel's handle is more comfortable, feels a little more solid and has more authority on the cut and thrust. I had added an extra hand guard plate to my Cold Steel, so it has a POB closer to the hilt than the Condor and handles well, despite being heavier. I prefer it, aside from looks.
In the end I decided to return the Condor. I cleaned off the blade, oiled it, repacked and shipped it back to Amazon. I'll put the money away and eventually buy a cutlass that suits my preferences. I'm thinking more along the lines of the CS 1917 hybrid or the new Weapon Edge Dutch Klewang that KOA just posted.