$20 Bowie Machete

Horn Dog

Horn Dog

Joined
Sep 9, 2005
Messages
4,363
For those of you looking for a big chopper or camp machete, Cold Steel has one that seems to be a cross between a formidable weapon and a machete. This blade will take a pretty good edge, and that wicked point should discourage about any attacker.
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The 1055 carbon steel blade is 12" long and 3 mm thick. the knife weighs 15.4 oz and has a molded on polypropylene handle. It comes with a Cordura sheath.
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Once sharpened, it can perform fairly precise slices and cuts.
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It is light enough to have the speed to cut this clump of field grass in one swipe.
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It easily chops down saplings and works fairly well for light wood chopping.
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The knife is rugged enough for batoning through hard oak for splitting kindling.
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It's not bad for a $20 knife.
 
HD,

I got one of the CS Khukri's a while back and decided that I didn't like the grip... That one looks a little more hand friendly. How do you contrast it with a Tram?
 
I don't have a Tramontina in that size, but the CS machetes are a bit thicker and heavier, but not as thick as the Ontarios. It does have a certain "Mall Ninja" pointy quality that some folks might wish to avoid. But way down in the swamps, being politically correct is not a high priority for me. I could take out a gator with that blade.
 
Hmm, I'm surprised that a man with the moniker HornDog isn't slightly more concerned with being PC....
 
mneedham said:
Hmm, I'm surprised that a man with the moniker HornDog isn't slightly more concerned with being PC....
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Oh, I truly am. I just don't go to the mall much. The name was given to me on another forum, because of the horned helmet I wear on occassion.
 
HD - I'm joking of course... I've looked at a couple of the CS models (other than my khukri), I might give one a shot. I've been looking at the Condor Swamp model too, had any experience with those?
 
I have the Condor Jungle Bowie, Combat Bowie, Inca Knife, and El Salvador machete. They are very tough, but edge holding is not as good as the CS. They are more expensive, too. They use a German 420HC steel hardened to 53 RC. They don't rust, though. I think the CS is a better value. Of course the best value is the Tramontina at $6.00.
 
I think that's ugly in so many ways but over all the dimensions accord far more with what my idea of a big camp knife should be [as opposed to big chopping knives], than many I've seen. It fits in rather well with a thread the other day on kitchen knives. That looks like a big ramped up kitchen knife, turned camp knife to expand its capabilities. Kinda reminds me of some of the early Bowies – big camp kitchen knives turned sidearm. Big, fast, and keen, but you'd still get an axe for a tree.
 
Horn Dog said:
I have the Condor Jungle Bowie, Combat Bowie, Inca Knife, and El Salvador machete. They are very tough, but edge holding is not as good as the CS. They are more expensive, too. They use a German 420HC steel hardened to 53 RC. They don't rust, though. I think the CS is a better value. Of course the best value is the Tramontina at $6.00.
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Thanks -I hear you on the Trams.....
 
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