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Post by Jordan Williams on May 31, 2018 4:02:40 GMT
Earlier this year I purchased the cold steel cutlass machete from Amazon, expecting a stubby and flimsy "sword machete" that looked like a sword, but did not behave in any manner like one. I was wrong, and happily so. In some ways I would recommend this item for cutting more than reproductions. In the cutting I did it was able to cut medium and light targets effectively and just as well (if not better) than my sharp antiques, and even handled a tatami mat with ease. In cutting vegetation it has really no rival. Compared to the Barong machete I had earlier owned, and another big brand name machete (belote) it handled itself very well, being able to cut through tree branches easily due to its forward balance and thin blade. It does not require a direct belly strike like the barong, and is much stiffer than my belote, or a tramontina I had worked with before. It doesn't wobble in cutting, and would I think be a great thruster to, especially if you sharpen the false edge. The grip is actually much better than my other machetes. It isn't as rough as the barong, and is more shapely than the belote. The guard will also stop stupid branches from hitting your knuckles. Where it really shines is the price though. At less than 30 dollars on Amazon it kills the competition put up by condor, which retails around 90 last time I checked. 90 dollars for a machete? No. That is stupid. Like paying 90 dollars for a doorstop. You can, and it might be prettier, but it's also a tool and at the end of the day it doesn't really matter how pretty it is. Oh, and another point. Since they are so cheap you can mess and screw around them for fun without feeling like you wasted too much money. I spearpointed mine and plan to buy another as I dislike how it looks now. CON; Well, sometimes the handle is a little slick. I dropped it once on a cut. Oh and also if you aren't careful shock can travel through the grip, but loosening your grip alleviates that. I only felt that on the dry and very hard tree trunk I was whacking though. I would recommend this to anyone wanting a cutlass or a machete, or also just a fun bottle cutting sword.
Bro did the cuss filter really just censor my image... lol |
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Post by howler on May 31, 2018 4:18:55 GMT
Earlier this year I purchased the cold steel cutlass machete from Amazon, expecting a stubby and flimsy "sword machete" that looked like a sword, but did not behave in any manner like one. I was wrong, and happily so. In some ways I would reccomend this item for cutting more than reproductions. In the cutting I did it was able to cut medium and light targets effectively and just as well (if not better) than my sharp antiques, and even handled a tatami mat with ease. In cutting vegetation it has really no rival. Compared to the Barong machete I had earlier owned, and another big brand name machete (belote) it handled itself very well, being able to cut through tree branches easily due to its forward balance and thin blade. It does not require a direct belly strike like the barong, and is much stiffer than my belote, or a tramontina I had worked with before. It doesn't wobble in cutting, and would I think be a great thruster to, especially if you sharpen the false edge. The grip is actually much better than my other machetes. It isn't as rough as the barong, and is more shapely than the belote. The guard will also stop stupid branches from hitting your knuckles. Where it really shines is the price though. At less than 30 dollars on Amazon it kills the competition put up by condor, which retails around 90 last time I checked. 90 dollars for a machete? No. That is stupid. Like paying 90 dollars for a doorstop. You can, and it might be prettier, but it's also a tool and at the end of the day it doesn't really matter how pretty it is. CON; Well, sometimes the handle is a little slick. I dropped it once on a cut. Oh and also if you aren't careful shock can travel through the grip, but loosening your grip alleviates that. I only felt that on the dry and very hard tree trunk I was whacking though. I would reccomend this to anyone wanting a cutlass or a machete, or also just a fun bottle cutting sword. Pics up soon. Yours is added to the countless positive reviews of this item, with many marveling on how sword like it moves, though still a machete. At or near the top of the heap of bang for the buck purchases one could make on a self defense blade. |
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Post by 28shadow on May 31, 2018 5:19:48 GMT
Can't stress the slick handle enough. Several thousand in medical bills because this machete slipped and took two ounces or so off my finger tip.
Still a great blade.
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Post by Jordan Williams on May 31, 2018 6:06:34 GMT
Can't stress the slick handle enough. Several thousand in medical bills because this machete slipped and took two ounces or so off my finger tip. Still a great blade. Ouch. I've been using gloves since the first time it slipped and it alleviated the problem fairly well. |
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Post by Jordan Williams on May 31, 2018 6:12:59 GMT
Pics up now. Mine's a little pig sticker now.  |
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AndiTheBarvarian
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on May 31, 2018 6:28:53 GMT
Everybody needs at least two of them. One to fool around with the tip and an original.  I only tried to sharpen the clippoint false edge but also ended with something more spear pointy. Remove the black paint and it will look better! With solvent and sanding sponges I got a fine gray satin blade down to the handle without much work, better than on your other machete. |
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Post by Jordan Williams on May 31, 2018 6:51:01 GMT
Everybody needs at least two of them. One to fool around with the tip and an original. I only tried to sharpen the clippoint false edge but also ended with something more spear pointy. Remove the black paint and it will look better! With solvent and sanding sponges I got a fine gray satin blade down to the handle without much work, better than on your other machete. Funnily enough my spearpoint attempt started the same way  Yeah, I think I may double edge the show thing and strip the coating. Maybe. It looks too "etsy" for me right now. |
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AndiTheBarvarian
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on May 31, 2018 7:33:16 GMT
At least I could rework it to have more of a clippoint again but not like the original.
And removing the black really helps when you have sharpened the false edge.
I like the black on the original but with the additional edge and scratches etc. the uncoated blade looks better.
Btw when swinging it I started to grip it like a viking sword, handshake and pommeling.
Not good for hacking into hard wood but the whole thing became more lively this way.
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Post by rjodorizzi on May 31, 2018 11:53:41 GMT
I'm a big fan of CS machetes (about the only things I really like outside of their tac-hawks.) Good review!
I have the old longer spear point and seax machetes and I love them. I consider them absolute work horses and use them for actual yard work around the house! I'll say I think, looking at the grip on this one and the other newer ones they are putting out, the heavily textured rubber they used to use seems to serve for a more usable grip to avoid slippage. The old ones feel rock solid in my hand with no slipping. I wonder why they ended up going to the more "grivory" style!
Thanks for posting!
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Post by L Driggers (fallen) on Jun 3, 2018 19:48:16 GMT
I have several Cold Steel machetes, don't care for them.
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LeMal
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Post by LeMal on Jun 3, 2018 20:43:58 GMT
I only go with the 3mm ones (and hold out for ridiculously good closeout deals when in Ventura and dropping by). But I love mine.
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Post by Adventurer'sBlade on Jun 4, 2018 0:35:17 GMT
I'm a big fan of CS machetes (about the only things I really like outside of their tac-hawks.) Good review! I have the old longer spear point and seax machetes and I love them. I consider them absolute work horses and use them for actual yard work around the house! I'll say I think, looking at the grip on this one and the other newer ones they are putting out, the heavily textured rubber they used to use seems to serve for a more usable grip to avoid slippage. The old ones feel rock solid in my hand with no slipping. I wonder why they ended up going to the more "grivory" style! Thanks for posting! Possibly because the textured rubber sometimes starts to split and peel away from the tang. But I agree, they are comfortable. Or cost. |
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Post by howler on Jun 4, 2018 1:17:12 GMT
I have several Cold Steel machetes, don't care for them. Marbles machete, purchased from SMKT are simply amazing for the price. Well sharpened 1075 that come with fantastic sheaths and sharpening stone. Ontario (with 1095) are also good. Regarding CS machete, I'm only interested in the exotic shaped items like their thicker cutlass and kukri shaped items, though I do also have a few of their goofy two handed machete type tools (katana, two handed kukri, all terrain chopper). |
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Jun 4, 2018 1:46:08 GMT
I’ve two with the old textured CS grips, both barongs, 12” and 18” blades. I used the 12” model much and hardly touched the larger one as it never felt right to me. Then one day I studied the matter and decided the problem was that CS had given both the same handle but with my hand and the extra forward weight of the 18” blade the forward part of the grip was too small allowing movement. I built it up with tape and found that solved the problem, except for the cosmetic one caused by the tape up front. I then put ranger bands on them. The larger one first and that felt so good I decided to do the same with the smaller barong. And I did the same when receiving the Jungle Machete from the new run because of the slick grip, although I had no fear of it slipping out of my hand because of the shape of the pommel end of the grip. It just felt better. Those ranger bands initially worked but in time those bicycle inner tubes would fail and I got tired of replacing so I started substituting the bands with rescue tape. Both the bands and the rescue tape gives adequate friction and are comfortable. I prefer those to the textured or smooth grips that CS used/uses. My CS machetes are of the thicker blades and I consider them good buys.
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Post by MOK on Jun 4, 2018 4:40:15 GMT
I wonder if the handle material could be simply roughed up with some sand paper...
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Post by L Driggers (fallen) on Jun 4, 2018 6:55:02 GMT
I have several Cold Steel machetes, don't care for them. Marbles machete, purchased from SMKT are simply amazing for the price. Well sharpened 1075 that come with fantastic sheaths and sharpening stone. Ontario (with 1095) are also good. Regarding CS machete, I'm only interested in the exotic shaped items like their thicker cutlass and kukri shaped items, though I do also have a few of their goofy two handed machete type tools (katana, two handed kukri, all terrain chopper). The Marbles are great I been pushing them for years, they are come with a real good sheath. |
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Jun 4, 2018 8:06:54 GMT
Many people knock CS sheaths. I don’t know if the black coating or the sheaths get the most bad marks. I not only like CS sheaths but prefer them. When Condor entered the scene people raved how good the sheaths were, especially compared to CS. I’ll admit the Condor leather sheath feel and have a better look of better quality. The reason I prefer the CS sheath is I’ve never had one to mould, a problem in the tropics. In fact, that is a bigger problem than rust. They are light, and not bulky. Once the machete is withdrawn the CS sheath readily flexes making its presence less known. They cost less to make, keeping the total cost down. They don’t scratch like leather and require less maintenance than leather. As for plastic, that solves some problems but in general I find them stiff, uncomfortable, and noisier at times than both the leather and the Core-Ex Sheath or whatever CS uses.
PS I neglected to say that CS sheaths dry out fast(er) when wet. In the rain water enters whether it is from inserting a wet blade, water running down the machete into the sheath, or however. I do wish that CS would put a drain hole in the tip, but it works well without one. It will beat a leather sheath in that respect. I've never tried a plastic sheath in that respect but I imagine water could collect inside drain hole or not.
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Post by Jordan Williams on Jun 4, 2018 14:51:42 GMT
The only issue I've had is that with my barong machete it cut through the front edge of the sheath, but I haven't had any issues with my cutlass sheath yet.
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Post by markus313 on Sept 12, 2018 11:24:44 GMT
Everybody needs at least two of them. One to fool around with the tip and an original. At least two of them... Attachments:
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Sept 12, 2018 13:42:48 GMT
I like the appearance of the machete second from the top. Don't know what effect that has on the performance though. Could improve it as a weapon. Might decrease it as a tool. Interesting. You've got me thinking.
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