machete vs sword

Yeah, "outperforms" at what, exactly? Brush clearance? Bottle slicing?

Is this the one that looks like a stamped-out dadao approximation? I like the part where they refer to their "record-breaking Chinese War Sword" which its design is "based on" or something. Because it's the first of its kind, and we've all heard of all the records it's broken, like the time it...uh...well, then it...um...

I'm sure it's fine as a fancy machete or cheap beater sword, but I doubt it "outperforms" much of anything... Competes with, sure. Outperforms? Well...what are we comparing?

Good luck getting anything to cut through chain or decent armor. As far as the rest goes, I suppose it's possible that the CS Machete could "outperform" other, more expensive swords. I'm not exactly sure what swords they're refering to though - and "outperform" is a rather pretentious word to use. Like randomnobody said, it'll probably be just as good as more expensive sword.
 But it's kind of hard to compare swords in the first place, unless they're very different (say like a rapier and a cutlass). For instance, which cuts better: a katana, or a longsword? And the answer is: depends on the katana and the longsword. Stuff like sharpness and weight usually makes more of a difference in my experience (as opposed to blade shape), and katanas and longswords come in various weights and levels of sharpness. Trying to find out which is better at cutting or stabbing is rather silly in my opinion. Both swords will do what you need them to do. Both will easily cut through flesh and bone, sever limbs, and generally kill people (which is the purpose of a sword in the first place). The katana may have an edge (haha) in slicing, while the longsword might be better at thrusting. But if you need to pokes holes in or chop up some - er - thing, either sword will work fine.

As far as why you'd pay more for a sword (as opposed to buying a cheap machete)... well, to a degree you're right: you do pay more for aesthetics. It's more about the amount of work that goes into the higher costing swords: the CS Machete is probably just stamped out, heat treated, and has a pair of scales riveted onto it. A longsword, on the other hand, at least needs to be ground out to achieve some kind of distal taper, also, the central ridge or fuller needs to be made. Then the various hilt pieces need to be made and assembled, and so on.

 Now, why didn't everyone just make machetes in the old days, instead of laboring to create something that basically preformed the same? Well, in the first place, there way no way to stamp blade blanks out of a metal sheet, or quickly grind them out, or so on. The cheap and quick machete is only possible because of modern technology. The other factor is that machetes are usually pretty light compared to swords (as well as lacking various other traits swords have). After all, a machete is just a flat piece of metal sharpened on one edge. A sword will probably outperform a machete in every way, however, the difference isn't going to huge. If your life was on the line, then yeah, you'd notice the difference. It's sort of like comparing a Ferrari to a cheap Chevy or whatever. Do they both do the same thing? Yep. Will they both drive down the road? Yep. Will you notice a massive difference between driving the Chevy and driving the Ferrari? Not really. The Ferrari is a high performance machine that will indeed outperform the Chevy; however, you're unlikely to notice the difference in daily life.

Well..I did see a video of a guy chopping threw a katana with a machete.. (I have no idea about the quality of the katana..) don't the Albion swords start off as sheet metal as well? according to a video I saw, it looks like that do. All I know about the cold steel machete is that is heat treated 1055 carbon steel.

yes, I'm sure the typical machete forms can't thrust well compare that swords are built for that..

but cold steel also has a "gladius" machete for 50 bucks, and possibly be good for thrusting..

let me start over!!!

All I'm trying to figure out is that, since its a $50 dollar item.. everyone is saying that its impossible for it perform like its real sword counterpart?
Performance is based on whatever the original sword is supposed to do... So in the case, of top of the line real gladius sword, the $50 dollar coldsteel can't even nearly compete with what a real gladius was supposed to do? ....OR... in actuality it can but cost hundreds of dollars less because of aesthetics?
Thanks!

That CS Chinese war sword (basically a dadao, similar to Condors version), along with their CS cutlass machete and a few others are extremely effective weapons for the price, and not very dissimilar to their sword counterparts.  There are so many variables involved that one must compare the sword version with the machete version on a case by case basis.

ok! so you are mostly paying for "aesthetics"! Which is fine, this is main reason why I bought swords than machetes! well, I guess it is a little depressing, that you need to pay hundreds more for just looks... LOL Thanks all!

Really, the describing "machete" lies in the fact that, recently, so many things around the world are classified as a machete.  My idea of a true machete is as a very thin bladed, inexpensive, mild steeled (for ease of sharpening and ability to deal with rock chips---as you swing at roots close to the ground), easy to produce and purchase, flexible, farming implement.  There are many tools and weapons around the world that are much different due to their environments (Parang, Golok, Barong. etc...) which are alternately more knifelike and/or axe like, with thicker spines, less flexibility, higher (sometimes) carbon steel, etc...  Add to this the offerings by CS and others of stamped out sword like objects (with the word "machete" tacked on to the end).  Swords are defensive side arms designed with parameters balancing many needs in dealing with the need to mess up or keep from being messed up by another dude or dudes.