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Post by pgandy on Oct 23, 2023 0:19:46 GMT
I’ve no experience with Cerakote, but I would consider the flex ability before deciding. Also, when that gets on the edge it will reduce the cutting ability if that means anything. Plus, the fact if it’s a cutting blade when resharpening you are going to lose at least some. Only food for thought.
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Post by pgandy on Oct 23, 2023 0:12:39 GMT
I bought a Cold Steel machete because Cold Steel makes some good stuff. I was disappointed to find it did not compare any better than the cheap Chinese machetes I had. Thin blade nice but my thicker stock machetes cut better, despite their less comfortable slab wood grips. Don’t knock CS for their edges. Traditional machete edges need addressing. CS is not alone in this matter. Personally, it does not bother me as I prefer my one edges, and a real machete user will do the same.
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Post by pgandy on Oct 20, 2023 16:39:07 GMT
Not an SBG issue but I’m now locked out of my bank account. Not using VPN.
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Post by pgandy on Oct 19, 2023 22:02:06 GMT
I wasn’t sure where to put this post. I didn’t want anyone to think I was knocking their posts. So, a new thread under General Discussions seemed like neutral territory.
Recently there have been posts about machetes, some positive, and some negative. Here’s a video from Gabe Humphries, one of the few Americans that I listen to in regards to a machete. He is in Hawaii and lives on what he calls ‘The homestead’ and uses a machete in his daily life.
In this video he modifies the famous 18” Ontario’s handle. If anyone out there tries this on any plastic grip I suggest if using a power tool to run it at slower speeds to avoid melting the plastic. I used a hand tool for years before using a Work Sharp. I did not go into the depth that he has here, only getting rid of unevenness or a sharp corner or two. I found no need to go further.
I believe this is one reason that some machetes come will oversized grips, that is to give plenty of material for one to work with. And then there occurs varying hand sizes. It is not uncommon at all for one to modify a grip to fit.
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Post by pgandy on Oct 19, 2023 21:58:10 GMT
I think you are correct.
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Post by pgandy on Oct 19, 2023 16:48:43 GMT
I like your write up. It’s similar to what I’ve found. As I have said ‘subjective’ what one likes another won’t, thin-thicker, wood grip-plastic, etc. As for CS, that coating is controversial, many don’t like it and remove it. I like it as it prevents rust and is durable. I assume they haven’t changed. Here’s one with nearly 20 years of service. The cutting edge with the African manufacture is better than their old Chinese machetes but still needs attention. I find it rare to receive a machete that doesn’t need the edge reworked generally profiled to the user’s satisfaction. I have applied tape to the grip on all of mine. Many do not like the CS sheaths preferring Condor’s leather. I prefer CS, they don’t mould like leather ones a problem here, lighter, dry faster, more comfortable and keep the cost down. I have Condor’s. The Windass D-Guard Bowie is a dream. I got mine when the price was at 69 or 79 USD and was a steal. I can’t remember if it came sharpened, I think I’ve sharpened once over the years. I did sharpen the false edge. It like a short sword. I’m surprised at Tramontina’s bent blades. Latinos don’t seem to worry about rusty blades. However, I clean and apply a rust preventative. As for the wood grain raising on the grips, I find that normal with untreated wood and I will not apply an overcoat. I learned from a Yank to use #000 steel wool and water, and later #600 grit paper (followed by 1200 if desired) and mineral oil to remove the raised grain, a process called de-whiskering. Many will apply beeswax, as for me, a wood oil. Then later if the grain raises I’ll de-whisker with sandpaper, it’s a simple process and quick.
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Post by pgandy on Oct 19, 2023 7:55:14 GMT
Sorry, no experience with Mussos. There are a few threads on the forum involving Mussos, can’t remember where, you’ll have to do a search.
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Post by pgandy on Oct 17, 2023 21:26:40 GMT
No problem, a machete isn't for everyone. As I said "subjective". One will not fit all.
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Post by pgandy on Oct 17, 2023 18:18:53 GMT
The consensus of our members is machete. For whatever reason you would like to reinvent the wheel we would be glad to hear your results. As a starter you might check out KoA as they have 100s to choose from. Maybe a machete disguised as something else? Keep in mind there is no perfect knife, everything is a compromise. www.kultofathena.com/
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Post by pgandy on Oct 17, 2023 16:38:03 GMT
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Post by pgandy on Oct 17, 2023 8:06:59 GMT
Are there decent cutting rapiers LK Chen makes a decent cutting rapier. I think two now. A link to his video is !https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgGuqmA75TE . Remove the leading ! then you can copy and paste. The video show cutting from water bottles to bamboo.
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Post by pgandy on Oct 16, 2023 23:03:41 GMT
A gancho may be all you need to protect your hand from needles, sharp edged leaves, etc. If it will work that and a machete will save your better grade blades. A gancho should cost nothing. Try one. A looked up "gancho" and it means hook...you mean the billhook tool mentioned earlier in the thread? Literally yes. However, in Spanish, at least Latin America, it also means a tool given that name because it’s a type of hook. It is certainly used as one. There is another name for it which I can never remember. In short, it’s a tree limb with a fork cut to the user’s needs, therefore the shapes and sizes are numerous, whatever one desires. It can be from a true fork or a secondary limb branching off. In that case the closer to 90° the secondary limb is the better, if it’s intended for grass cutting. The ones I’ve used were relatively small diameter. In your case I think a fork with both limbs cut to a convenient length to enable you to push/pull as desired. Catch the bothersome leaf and push or pull it out the way and give a whack to the exposed leaf. This should give some safe distance to the knife’s hand. They are quite popular in the south. I’ve watched Latinos clear a hillside in short order. I can make a crude drawing if you wish, but I think these two grass cutters will do. Their ganchos are the largest I’ve seen, but looking at what they are doing with them explains all.
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Post by pgandy on Oct 16, 2023 21:42:06 GMT
I was actually recently considering using one of these to trim some palm leaves. Palms have long and very sharp new growth, so you need a long blade to keep from impaling yourself. These are the most machete-like objects I own, but I'm thinking maybe the smarter thing to do would be just to buy a cheap machete to avoid any unnecessary heartache. I don't think either would be in danger of breaking as both are very stout thick steel with tangs that run through the grips, but the oxidation issue does give me pause, as does whacking a rock or something else closer to ground level.
A gancho may be all you need to protect your hand from needles, sharp edged leaves, etc. If it will work that and a machete will save your better grade blades. A gancho should cost nothing. Try one.
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Post by pgandy on Oct 16, 2023 19:57:21 GMT
All knives I’ve seen in this thread are carbon steel and with a very few exceptions I wouldn’t have a knife any other way.
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Post by pgandy on Oct 16, 2023 18:08:19 GMT
I mean there is a reason machetes still exist, else they would just use swords. You want something light enough for you to be able to swing all day, with a thin blade that slices well. Also some plants can induce oxidation on blades almost immediately, keep that in mind.
Mrstabby’s first paragraph is very true. A machete, like everything else is somewhat subjective and what one person likes another won’t. Some manufacturers strive for the American market with machetes of a higher HRC in order to go longer between sharpenings. A true working man would probably disagree preferring something softer. It is most common in Central America to see a man walking around with a machete and a file for it in order to keep a sharp edge. A moderate HRC is common throughout the third world countries. The Mex in the above video has one. True story. I ordered a pair of CS machetes, 12” and 18” barongs. They were different than what I had been use to so as a test I compared the 12” jobby with my well used 14½” locally made machete to clean out a cement line drainage ditch that routinely needs it. At the end the CS (HRC≈52) had about the same amount of dings as I remembered my old machete having. The difference came when restoring the edge. I could restore the old one in 10-15 minutes. It took 50-60 minutes for the new one. Needless to say, I never used that one again for that ditch. Not to bad mouth CS, I have 3 including the Jungle, and like them all. I dedicate the 14½” machete to ground strikes where it’s subject to hitting rocks, cement, etc. As for a Filipino knife, I love my pinuti and used it on limbs such as hard woods, died coconut and banana limbs that became fibrous, with good results. I'd tust it on bamboo. However, for the price, fatigue, work and time involved in maintaining the edge, especially the fatigue part, I find a machete better. I find weight can be of an advantage when working downwards, but once I start cutting shoulder height and higher the weight becomes another story. I best complete the job quickly.
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Post by pgandy on Oct 16, 2023 8:02:55 GMT
Justadude click on the red ‘this’ in alientude’s post. In my country a machete is king and I love them. There are good ones and there are a bunch of crappy ones out there. Tramontina has a good reputation. Some come sharpened some don’t, either way be prepared to sharpen to get the best results. Perhaps you need more than one for best results as no one will do everything in the best fashion. The video below will give an idea of what one will do. Sorry if you don’t understand Spanish. If you don’t just watch. The fellow is Mexican and has a banana farm.
I am being remiss, welcome to the forum.
The samurai sword in video looks impressive, but it is not what you want, at least for the reasons you want to use it for.
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Post by pgandy on Oct 15, 2023 6:53:25 GMT
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Post by pgandy on Oct 14, 2023 14:00:38 GMT
For those interested, this year Dashain begins tomorrow 15 October and ends 28 October.
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Post by pgandy on Oct 13, 2023 13:06:20 GMT
Welcome to the forum. I see that you are a vendor and would like to call your attention to our ‘Manufacturers and Vendors Talk’ board.
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Post by pgandy on Oct 11, 2023 8:05:43 GMT
Does anyone else see the tip of this as maybe being a salvaged broken sword with a reground tip?
Yeah, I thought that as well, the fuller seems uneven and I can't really tell if it was reshaped or produced that way. You could maybe tell from a good sideways picture.
The leather is very shotty workmanship. The edges aren't sealed or burnished. Also the stitch looks like it was done very quickly and rough, with that thread I can't imagine it feeling nice to hold. And you are right, the edges and stitch holes look pretty new (not older than a few years, decades max). If the leather isn't hard and feels like it would crack it for sure is less than 100 years old (from looks I'd say ~50 years)
EDIT: weird, the leathers pommel side edge looks "newer" than the others or the stitching.
Pommel also looks crooked. I hadn't figured out what I saw in it, but yeah, drawer knob. Not that it couldn't have been made by someone.
I do have a question here, how often did the blade go wholly through the guard on historical pieces? I have never seen this before.
Count me in.
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