pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Sept 28, 2017 23:34:23 GMT
My 26” machete handles much like a sword w/o a guard. I can slice cocoanuts cleanly in half as well cut through a pig’s leg bone and all. The only issue that I have using it in combat is that my hand feels downright naked. I was watching an hour and half documentary last night concerning the US-Spanish War, most scenes were of actual footage. The Cuban grunts appeared to be armed with machetes in the neighbourhood of 26’ possible 28” blades. I’ll tell you I’d hate for that horde to come at me. Is your machete a standard, thin bladed, mild steel, inexpensive deal like most classic machete? Such length would lead me to believe it is a thin bladed tool made mainly for grass cutting tasks, and I imagine it is that length and light weight that generate fantastic speed for chopping force. So there is no misunderstanding I wish to make it clear that I am not saying a machete is equal to a dedicated sword but can come close to the performance at a fraction of the price and should not be discounted. The subject machete is by Bellota, a Colombian manufacturing company that is well known for its tools. I think that I paid in the neighbourhood of 10 USD about 14 years ago. The last I checked, 4 years ago, the price had not changed, but could not find this brand. Compare that with about 300 USD I expect to pay for an inexpensive sword by the time I receive it. I have no idea what steel is used. It does resist rust well although it will rust and holds its edge well. Despite what I’ve asked of it including falling tress it has never taken a set. The blade is thin tapering from 2.1 mm to 1.3 mm. There is too much flex for point work but a cut is another thing. Not only is there too much flex for point work a machete is not designed for point work as there is no quillion to stop the hand from sliding forward down the blade. I went that route decades ago. This machete is fast due to its 550 g weight, and the weight permits me to go longer without fatigue. The thin blade does not offer much resistance allowing it to pass through materials otherwise it wouldn’t. As for “mainly grass cutting tasks” what is wrong with that if it performs other tasks well? The truth of the matter is that I have other blades that I prefer to cut my grass with. The reason for this purchase is that after harvesting my crop I needed to cut down the remainder of the tree which have about a 10”-13” diameter trunk and my 18” machete nor my 11” kukri were not up the job making my work harder. This machete worked like a champ. |
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Post by howler on Sept 29, 2017 0:23:13 GMT
Is your machete a standard, thin bladed, mild steel, inexpensive deal like most classic machete? Such length would lead me to believe it is a thin bladed tool made mainly for grass cutting tasks, and I imagine it is that length and light weight that generate fantastic speed for chopping force. So there is no misunderstanding I wish to make it clear that I am not saying a machete is equal to a dedicated sword but can come close to the performance at a fraction of the price and should not be discounted. The subject machete is by Bellota, a Colombian manufacturing company that is well known for its tools. I think that I paid in the neighbourhood of 10 USD about 14 years ago. The last I checked, 4 years ago, the price had not changed, but could not find this brand. Compare that with about 300 USD I expect to pay for an inexpensive sword by the time I receive it. I have no idea what steel is used. It does resist rust well although it will rust and holds its edge well. Despite what I’ve asked of it including falling tress it has never taken a set. The blade is thin tapering from 2.1 mm to 1.3 mm. There is too much flex for point work but a cut is another thing. Not only is there too much flex for point work a machete is not designed for point work as there is no quillion to stop the hand from sliding forward down the blade. I went that route decades ago. This machete is fast due to its 550 g weight, and the weight permits me to go longer without fatigue. The thin blade does not offer much resistance allowing it to pass through materials otherwise it wouldn’t. As for “mainly grass cutting tasks” what is wrong with that if it performs other tasks well? The truth of the matter is that I have other blades that I prefer to cut my grass with. The reason for this purchase is that after harvesting my crop I needed to cut down the remainder of the tree which have about a 10”-13” diameter trunk and my 18” machete nor my 11” kukri were not up the job making my work harder. This machete worked like a champ. Your telling me you would rather use a...GASP...lawn mower over a machete to cut your grass...he said with tongue in cheek.  I think it is interesting (and a lot of people would be surprised) that such a long, thin blade would perform so well at chopping substantial limbs, but your story (and knowing that your the owner of a Condor Engineer Bolo) is exhibit A that this it is so. |
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Sept 29, 2017 1:58:32 GMT
I don’t own a lawn mower nor want one. Actually I use that 26” very little these days as there are no more crops except a lone mango tree. Shorter blades have always worked better for me for most jobs. Some jobs a longer blade, others a shorter. I use that 26”’s little brother w/18" blade more, and a 14” as much as probably all the others combined. As for the Engineer Bolo, not much as fatigue sets in too fast, especially if the job is above my shoulders. Those jobs can be killers if they aren’t finished in the first few minutes with the Bolo. It works best with quick jobs no higher than waist level. It really depends on the job and how I’m feeling as to what I use. When I was using the 26” it sat in my closet until the annual tree cutting time rolled around. Now it’s not used that often. I do believe that it will take more abuse than most swords. I certainly have done things with it that I wouldn’t with a sword.
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Post by howler on Sept 29, 2017 3:17:21 GMT
I don’t own a lawn mower nor want one. Actually I use that 26” very little these days as there are no more crops except a lone mango tree. Shorter blades have always worked better for me for most jobs. Some jobs a longer blade, others a shorter. I use that 26”’s little brother w/18" blade more, and a 14” as much as probably all the others combined. As for the Engineer Bolo, not much as fatigue sets in too fast, especially if the job is above my shoulders. Those jobs can be killers if they aren’t finished in the first few minutes with the Bolo. It works best with quick jobs no higher than waist level. It really depends on the job and how I’m feeling as to what I use. When I was using the 26” it sat in my closet until the annual tree cutting time rolled around. Now it’s not used that often. I do believe that it will take more abuse than most swords. I certainly have done things with it that I wouldn’t with a sword. Yes, that Condor Engineer is really to be used like hatchet on branch clumps where you don't have to aim so carefully because of the long blade, and you still have a slicing motion if you need it. I couldn't imagine swinging that thing around above your head at thin twigs or low lying grass like a thin, light machete (no snap cut with wrist, and your shoulder muscles would explode). Good for downward gravity cuts, however. |
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Post by howler on Sept 29, 2017 5:06:07 GMT
Another machete that would make an amazing sword like weapon is the Aranyik latin machete (standard or extended). 3/16" thick 5160 steel with an 18" blade (extended 20" bld.) and an incredibly sharp edge. All for $25 bucks ($30 extended). A stupefying deal that no proper sword can match economically.
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Post by kalkikrosah on Oct 2, 2017 21:30:08 GMT
I just don't trust cold steel. Their marketing tactics pull the wool over the customers eyes.
There was one video where a blade of theirs cut through chain mail armor but upon closer inspection of the armor it was concluded that the armor was made in the cheapest way possible. I think the video said it was butted links or something like that which is easy to tear apart.
So anything Lynn Thompson or Cold Steel says about how great their product is should be closely analyzed and fact checked.
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AndiTheBarvarian
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Oct 2, 2017 21:37:48 GMT
That advertising is bs, but the swords and machetes I bought aren't bad.
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Post by howler on Oct 2, 2017 22:08:12 GMT
I just don't trust cold steel. Their marketing tactics pull the wool over the customers eyes. There was one video where a blade of theirs cut through chain mail armor but upon closer inspection of the armor it was concluded that the armor was made in the cheapest way possible. I think the video said it was butted links or something like that which is easy to tear apart. So anything Lynn Thompson or Cold Steel says about how great their product is should be closely analyzed and fact checked. ALL the products HAVE been closely analyzed and fact checked over the years. Simply go on any forum (well, like this one) and see for yourself. If you don't trust their fixed blades, folding knives, machete, then you have an unrealistically high trust threshold...which is your prerogative, of course, but the issue itself has simply been analyzed to death (like JFK, the fake moon landing, flat Earth, etc...). Would be a bit unfair to generally label something (CS company) so large, varied, and successful, as negative. For instance...don't trust Triad lock, don't trust Natchez Bowie, don't trust machete durability, don't trust... And yes, Lynn Thompson is the luckiest man on Earth, so I admit I'm envious...DREAM JOB. |
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Post by bebut on Oct 8, 2017 2:16:03 GMT
Distal taper on a working machete would be a disadvantage. The forward weight on a machete helps the cutting action. On a sword, technique and maneuverability are more important so a lighter front end and balance near the hilt would be better.
Working machetes as sold in Latin America are heat treated for durability so they won't break. A dinged one can be fixed with a file but a broken one is junk, not to mention the hazard to the user.
In the hypothetical case that I would have to stab somebody with my 14 inch machete I wouldn't hesitate to go for the throat, but with a harder target or a longer machete it would get real iffy. That's what swords are for.
Again, if my machete can slash thru an 8 inch banana tree, it is a chopper that could take off an arm.
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Post by legacyofthesword on Oct 8, 2017 3:07:39 GMT
quote author=" kalkikrosah" source="/post/711952/thread" timestamp="1506979808"]I just don't trust cold steel. Their marketing tactics pull the wool over the customers eyes. There was one video where a blade of theirs cut through chain mail armor but upon closer inspection of the armor it was concluded that the armor was made in the cheapest way possible. I think the video said it was butted links or something like that which is easy to tear apart. So anything Lynn Thompson or Cold Steel says about how great their product is should be closely analyzed and fact checked.[/quote] Butted chain mail is used in most test videos of any kind - from company product test advertisements to private videos made by amateur military historians. Very rarely is "real" (welded or riveted) chain mail used. Why? Well, first of all, a number of people are ingnorant about how mail was actually constructed. They buy a coat of chain mail online and assume it is built the same way it was in the old days. Mail is regularly made using the butted rings method due to the fact that welding or riveting each ring shut is very time consuming and labor intensive - few companies are willing to go that extra mile just for historical accuracy, especially as the only benifit is making the mail truely able to withstand the blows of Medieval weapons (not exactly the first thing a modern buyer worries about). For example, a typical chain mail shirt made by MRL - of butted construction: www.museumreplicas.com/blackened-mail-armor-shirt. I highly doubt this was a case of deceptive advertising. Rather, it was most likely a case of ignorance of the historical construction of mail. This bias against Cold Steel is getting a little out of hand. Plenty of companies use hyperbolic and overblown advertising ("Windlass - First and Last Name in Swords" anyone?). The purpose of this forum is to help other sword enthusiasts steer clear of badly constructed swords and other weapons - not try and steer people away from companies that you personally dislike. If Cold Steel is ripping off customers and lying about their products, then we need to know. What we don't need is "Lynn Thompson is a bombastic and irritating personality, so the swords his company makes are crap." I'm not saying certain Cold Steel swords aren't crap (apparently some have major issues), but "reviews" that say things like "This sword handles like a crowbar and is horrifically ugly - typical Cold Steel junk!" give me the impression that the reviewer is venting their emotions rather than trying to provide an clear and balanced overview of the product. This can scare people away from swords or other weapons the might actually enjoy - not all of us have the same physique or aesthetic values, so handling and visuals may vary depending on the person I've bought and used many Cold Steel knives and can't say enough good about them. I've owned a few other items (tomahawk, war hammer, and spear) and have been very pleased with them too, though each has had flaws. I'm inclined to believe reports of Cold Steels being overbuilt (my spear could stand to lose a few ounces) but having to filter the facts out of all the emotion can make the truth about Cold Steel's products dfficult to find - and the purpose of this forum is to find the facts. Not accusing anybody or trying to point fingers or cause a flame war, just trying to make sure new buyers get an even handed, factual view of things. |
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Post by Timo Nieminen on Oct 8, 2017 4:08:52 GMT
Distal taper on a working machete would be a disadvantage. Plenty of good-quality modern machetes have distal taper. A bunch of Imacasa machetes have distal taper from 25% to about 40% (i.e., the tip is 25% to 40% thinner than the base), Tramontina from 10% to 40%. Martindale do lots of taper - often 55% to 65% (that's unusual for modern factory-made machetes, though traditional Asian machetes (goloks, parangs, bolos) commonly range from 30% to 80% taper). |
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Post by Jordan Williams on Oct 8, 2017 7:14:21 GMT
My 26” machete handles much like a sword w/o a guard. I can slice cocoanuts cleanly in half as well cut through a pig’s leg bone and all. The only issue that I have using it in combat is that my hand feels downright naked. I was watching an hour and half documentary last night concerning the US-Spanish War, most scenes were of actual footage. The Cuban grunts appeared to be armed with machetes in the neighbourhood of 26’ possible 28” blades. I’ll tell you I’d hate for that horde to come at me. What's the documentary name? That sound super interesting |
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Post by Jordan Williams on Oct 8, 2017 7:18:16 GMT
I just don't trust cold steel. Their marketing tactics pull the wool over the customers eyes. There was one video where a blade of theirs cut through chain mail armor but upon closer inspection of the armor it was concluded that the armor was made in the cheapest way possible. I think the video said it was butted links or something like that which is easy to tear apart. So anything Lynn Thompson or Cold Steel says about how great their product is should be closely analyzed and fact checked. I cut down a smallish but dense tree with a 20 dollar cold steel machete. I've owned some of their products, they use good steel, durable construction and are made for cutting things up. Having a fun video with cutting apart cheap chain mail isn't deceptive, just fun advertising without disclaimers .001% percent of the population cares about. |
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Post by Croccifixio on Oct 8, 2017 10:20:40 GMT
The only reason I wouldn't want to support CS is that san mai cease and desist from Lynn that just reeked of corporate a-holeness.
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Oct 8, 2017 15:32:02 GMT
My 26” machete handles much like a sword w/o a guard. I can slice cocoanuts cleanly in half as well cut through a pig’s leg bone and all. The only issue that I have using it in combat is that my hand feels downright naked. I was watching an hour and half documentary last night concerning the US-Spanish War, most scenes were of actual footage. The Cuban grunts appeared to be armed with machetes in the neighbourhood of 26’ possible 28” blades. I’ll tell you I’d hate for that horde to come at me. What's the documentary name? That sound super interesting My lucky day. I thought that I was going to spend much time finding the video but I still had it book marked. |
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Post by Jordan Williams on Oct 8, 2017 17:24:26 GMT
What's the documentary name? That sound super interesting My lucky day. I thought that I was going to spend much time finding the video but I still had it book marked. Awesome! I've actually seen some of the Cuban machetes used in the conflict in antique stores, they fetch a pretty penny. Cheers  |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 8, 2017 18:21:10 GMT
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christain
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Post by christain on Oct 13, 2017 0:43:35 GMT
Odd that I found this thread today. I just ordered a Cold Steel kopis machete and gladius machete this morning. Why? I have no idea other than I just like getting stuff. Ha.....Chris
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AndiTheBarvarian
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Oct 13, 2017 5:09:07 GMT
"getting stuff" is a good reason! |
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christain
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Post by christain on Oct 14, 2017 19:46:08 GMT
Well, I got my CS Gladius machete today(Quick, from Amazon, huh?!) and I'm impressed. I've already cut half a dozen water bottles, and it performed just as good as any sword I have...almost. My Hanwei/Tinker Norman is still my all-time cutter. IMO, I'd put them up against each other in a blade-to-blade match, but I think the Norman would win out by reach alone. The blade on the CS is quite thick and stiff for a machete...and damn sure sharp. I don't know...it'd be a close call. I'll keep the CS in the car...since I live in TEXAS  ...but that's another topic.  ......Chris |
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I think it is interesting (and a lot of people would be surprised) that such a long, thin blade would perform so well at chopping substantial limbs, but your story (and knowing that your the owner of a Condor Engineer Bolo) is exhibit A that this it is so.
...but that's another topic. 
......Chris
Nov 1, 2024 0:13:58 GMT
Nov 1, 2024 0:13:58 GMT
