Multiple machetes and machete-like objects
Oct 16, 2023 11:22:21 GMT
Post by mrstabby on Oct 16, 2023 11:22:21 GMT
I bought a ton of machetes, because.... Do I need to justify buying blades?
So, I looked for something in carbon steel, since I plan on using them, but it is really hard to get cheap beaters that arent some 440 steel.
I found a few in hardware stores, but those were "Silverline", a brand I tell everyone to avoid.
Then I found "Machete - The blade from the movie" which also didn't inspire confidence.
The only ones, I could get my hands on were Tramontina and Cold Steel. Condor also has a few offerings, but one of these cost about as much as all the Tramontinas combined and the ones I really liked weren't available.
I have the following machetes and machete-like objects:
CS Jungle Machete, 1055, strong convex edge ~14°
Tramontina, 1075, Straight bevel, ~13°
The Windlass Qama comes dull, and to be honest, I really dislike the handle, it bites my hand, I get a blood blister after a few movements. I will probably file it until I like it. It does have a nice wood core scabbard though.
The Windlass D-Guard Bowie came shaving sharp, I was blown away! the sharpest factory edge I have gotten so far. The handle is a bit too thin for me, I have some problems in edge alignment because of it, but it is one of my favourites from this batch. I will just have to thicken up the handle a bit, only missing a few millimeters. The scabbard is the generic Windlass leather stuff with metal fittings.
The UC Gladius comes as sharp as you would expect a pocket knife to. I do like it a lot, but I would not say it is a good machete: It takes a set easier than the others. Also has a black coating like the CS but not as tough (also thinner), mine rubbed off on some raised spots from contact with the sheath alone. The sheath is just a generic nylon one.
The D-Guard is a tough litlle bugger and feels almost as light as the 2 light 18" Tramontina. The blade is very thick, but came shaving sharp, as I mentioned, I was very surprised. I won't do much gardening with it since I just like it too much.
The UC Gladius is a nice blade for light cutting, but not a machete. Contrary to the CS Cutlass, this does feel like a sword. When cutting small branches, it does not cut as well as a machete. It feels like it lacks conviction, probably because of its low PoB.
Edge Retention: Tramontina>Windlass>UC>CS
Toughness: CS>Windlass~Tramontina>UC
Corrosion Resistance: CS>Windlass>Tramontina
I used the machetes over the summer in the garden a bit, especially cutting back the big elderberry bush made me decide, which one I like best. I used all the blades for a bit, vutting down a few branches, breaking them down to fit in the bin...
And about corrosion, I did not wipe the blades after every hit, but when I changed to another, the CS had nothing, the Windlass some cloudy streaks and the Tramontinas had, unfortunately, some rust spots on the edge with a bit of pitting. I was able to sharpen it away with 1000grit, but I think you need to really take more care of them than the CS machetes. On the other hand they keep an edge for much longer.
So, I looked for something in carbon steel, since I plan on using them, but it is really hard to get cheap beaters that arent some 440 steel.
I found a few in hardware stores, but those were "Silverline", a brand I tell everyone to avoid.
Then I found "Machete - The blade from the movie" which also didn't inspire confidence.
The only ones, I could get my hands on were Tramontina and Cold Steel. Condor also has a few offerings, but one of these cost about as much as all the Tramontinas combined and the ones I really liked weren't available.
I have the following machetes and machete-like objects:
628g; blade 41cm/16"; grip 12cm/4,7"; PoB 12,5cm;
CS Cutlass Machete, 1055, strong convex edge ~14°754g; blade 61cm/24"; grip 11cm/4,3"; PoB 17,3cm
UC Combat Commander Gladius, 1060 or 1065, straight bevel, primary bevel ~11°, secondary ~17°585g; blade 42cm/16,5"; grip 12,5cm/4,9"; PoB 6,5cm
Windlass Qama, 1065, unsharpened645g; blade 43cm/17"; grip 8,5cm/3,3"; PoB 8,5cm
Windlass D-Guard Bowie, 1065, slight convex ~17°629g; blade 44,5cm/17,5"; grip 11,5cm/4,5"; PoB 8,5cm
#1 18"/46cm 396g; grip 9cm/3,5"; PoB 13,5cm
#2 18"/46cm 430g; grip 8,5cm/3,3"; PoB 13cm
#3 18"/46cm cleaver 564g; grip 9cm/3,5"; PoB 16cm#4 20"/51cm plastic 430g; grip 9,5cm/3,7"; PoB 18,5cm
#5 20"/51cm wood 537g; grip 8,5cm/3,3"; PoB 17,2cm#5 22"/56cm 579g; grip 8,5cm/3,3"; PoB 20,3cm
The Tramontina came pretty bent, only the 20" blades didn't have a bad wave. My guess is they don't straighten them after punching out the blanks. I bought them via Amazon and sent one back which was very strongly bent, bought a second one and got the one I sent back again, including my own fingerprints. So, I am unsure if I can really recommend buying them there.
I was able to bend them back to true, but it took some real effort, even on the thinner blades (at least 60° counter bend....). The steel is 1075 and feels pretty tough and hard, edge retention is good. They come extremely dull though (the tip as usual for these isn't sharp at all for around the last 5cm/2") and will need more sharpening than all except the Qama. It works for hacking wood, but not sharp enough to cut off saplings.
There are 3 handle types: round, blocky and plastic. The plastic is the most uncomfortable, it twists in my hand when I swing the blade. I don't think it is just too thin, it's the whole geometry. The blocky wood is ok but I like the rounded wood the most. It is literally perfect for me as-is. There is enough material on the wood handles to reshape for bigger hands, especially on the blocky handles. The wood does not seem have any water protection and is relatively rough, so you should sand and wax/lacquer it before using in wet environments, because it swells and gets a rough, splintery texture.
The blade itself has a lacquer on it, medium toughness, not glass hard but a bit rubbery and soft. There are some versions that come with a sheath but most just come in a plastic bag, which isn't very useful at all.
The Cold Steels both came almost sharp but with a big burr on one side and the grind had a sudden step in the grind on one side. I think they had to change the angle since it didn't form an apex the first time. The steel is extremely tough, but on the softer side, softer than the Windlass. The CS are coated in a black coating (powder coating?) which won't last forever, but also not fall off instantly. They come with nylon sheaths, the Jungle has a top open mechanism, which I really dislike.The Windlass Qama comes dull, and to be honest, I really dislike the handle, it bites my hand, I get a blood blister after a few movements. I will probably file it until I like it. It does have a nice wood core scabbard though.
The Windlass D-Guard Bowie came shaving sharp, I was blown away! the sharpest factory edge I have gotten so far. The handle is a bit too thin for me, I have some problems in edge alignment because of it, but it is one of my favourites from this batch. I will just have to thicken up the handle a bit, only missing a few millimeters. The scabbard is the generic Windlass leather stuff with metal fittings.
The UC Gladius comes as sharp as you would expect a pocket knife to. I do like it a lot, but I would not say it is a good machete: It takes a set easier than the others. Also has a black coating like the CS but not as tough (also thinner), mine rubbed off on some raised spots from contact with the sheath alone. The sheath is just a generic nylon one.
The 18" Tramontina (#1-3) are all 2mm thick, as is the plastic handle 20" (#4). The wood 20" (#5) and the 22" (#6) are 2,8mm.
I like #1 the best, it feels really nice. Light, fast and stable.
#2 is a bit more forward heavy, but still very easy to use though the thin waist gives me pause to use it for hard work.
#3, "The Cleaver", is very forward-heavy (as one would expect), it feels close to #5, the wood grip 20".
The plastic 20", #4, feels pretty light when moving it (between #2 and #3), but the blade, due to its thinness, feels a bit wonky (and they sell a 22" version as well). For me, it flexes too much and I don't like this feeling.
#5 is quite a bit heavier feeling, almost too much, but it has real authority.
#6, the 22", is too much for me and I plan on modifying it to bring down the PoB a bit, so I can use it. It is not that much heavier feeling than the 20" to be honest.
The CS all are 2,8mm stock.
The Jungle feels as heavy as or even heavier than the 22" wood grip Tramontina, which is weird, since it is the smallest of the bunch. It is more axe than machete.
About the CS Cutlass someone on the forum said "it does not feel like a sword" and this is very true, it just feels like a machete. It still easier to use for me than the Jungle, somewhere between the 20" and the 22" Tramontina. It is missing some weight on the grip to feel like a sword, even though the D-Guard part has actual ferromagnetic metal inside.. I might remedy this in the future.
The Windlass Qama would probably be nice, if the grip didn't bite me, until I fix this, I won't waste time sharpening it.The D-Guard is a tough litlle bugger and feels almost as light as the 2 light 18" Tramontina. The blade is very thick, but came shaving sharp, as I mentioned, I was very surprised. I won't do much gardening with it since I just like it too much.
The UC Gladius is a nice blade for light cutting, but not a machete. Contrary to the CS Cutlass, this does feel like a sword. When cutting small branches, it does not cut as well as a machete. It feels like it lacks conviction, probably because of its low PoB.
Edge Retention: Tramontina>Windlass>UC>CS
Toughness: CS>Windlass~Tramontina>UC
Corrosion Resistance: CS>Windlass>Tramontina
I used the machetes over the summer in the garden a bit, especially cutting back the big elderberry bush made me decide, which one I like best. I used all the blades for a bit, vutting down a few branches, breaking them down to fit in the bin...
And about corrosion, I did not wipe the blades after every hit, but when I changed to another, the CS had nothing, the Windlass some cloudy streaks and the Tramontinas had, unfortunately, some rust spots on the edge with a bit of pitting. I was able to sharpen it away with 1000grit, but I think you need to really take more care of them than the CS machetes. On the other hand they keep an edge for much longer.
If I get more stuff, I will add a new post. I am still waiting for a CS Kopis machete.
I do like the Tramontinas, though them reselling corkscrew blades irks me. And it was Tramontina.de via amazon.
I would have prefered to get a machete with distal taper as well, but couldn't find one.
I think most people here use a "Praxe" or "Gertel" for hacking at underbrush, which are billhook variations. Machetes aren't that widely used.