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Barteaux Machetes - opinions wanted.
- Thread starter frank k
- Start date
Cliff Stamp
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- Joined
- Oct 5, 1998
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- 17,562
I have used the 12" and 18" heavy duty models and would rank them with parangs in term of usage. They are definately a different beast than a 1/16" traditional machete :
http://www.physics.mun.ca/~sstamp/knives/barteaux_machete.html
The blade steel is sound (likely a spring steel), no gross problems even when the blades are pushed on very hard (hardwood limbing), which will shatter Ontario's machetes. The quality is a step above products like Tramontina, but more expensive.
The heavy duty models are not lightweights and are made for woody brush and work there very well. They are overkill on light vegetation, and will induce too high a rate of fatigue. The checkering on the handle will likely be abrasive to some, and the D-guard also may be problematic as well.
The biggest problem is the lack of a clean edge grind, you will need to do some shaping NIB. Marion Poff have commented that the newer ones he has seen were much better than the ones I used, which is good to hear. However after you do apply the initial edge, the performance is solid.
-Cliff
http://www.physics.mun.ca/~sstamp/knives/barteaux_machete.html
The blade steel is sound (likely a spring steel), no gross problems even when the blades are pushed on very hard (hardwood limbing), which will shatter Ontario's machetes. The quality is a step above products like Tramontina, but more expensive.
The heavy duty models are not lightweights and are made for woody brush and work there very well. They are overkill on light vegetation, and will induce too high a rate of fatigue. The checkering on the handle will likely be abrasive to some, and the D-guard also may be problematic as well.
The biggest problem is the lack of a clean edge grind, you will need to do some shaping NIB. Marion Poff have commented that the newer ones he has seen were much better than the ones I used, which is good to hear. However after you do apply the initial edge, the performance is solid.
-Cliff
- Joined
- Jun 23, 1999
- Messages
- 1,209
Cliff sent me one of these to try out. I can package it up I think and send it on to you (Frank) if you send me a snail mail address (email to mjr@throwingweapons.net). I think that is what Cliff intends for it unless he wants it back (Cliff?)
It has been well used at my place and not by me but by much younger and stronger guys who can swing it. Its too big for me, I like a shorter machete, but this one has done well. Its been used to cut thicker grasses and brush like weeds. It also gets to hit fence posts, an occasional nails, staples, and fence wire. The edge dings and rolls, but hasn't chipped. A few minutes with a bastard file and it sharpens right up almost as good as when Cliff sent it to me.
Let me know if you want to try it.
It has been well used at my place and not by me but by much younger and stronger guys who can swing it. Its too big for me, I like a shorter machete, but this one has done well. Its been used to cut thicker grasses and brush like weeds. It also gets to hit fence posts, an occasional nails, staples, and fence wire. The edge dings and rolls, but hasn't chipped. A few minutes with a bastard file and it sharpens right up almost as good as when Cliff sent it to me.
Let me know if you want to try it.
Cliff Stamp
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- Joined
- Oct 5, 1998
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- 17,562
matthew rapaport :
No, by all means send it on, that is ideal.
-Cliff
unless he wants it back (Cliff?)
No, by all means send it on, that is ideal.
-Cliff
Matthew & Cliff,
Thank you for your kind offer, I will take you up on it, and post a little write up on the forums (Matthew please check for my E mail).
Cliff,
Thank you for the link, in fact I had read your informative machete reviews on your site, and that is part of the reason I am interested in the Barteaux machetes.
I use the Ontario 18" "D" guard and CS Panga I have, mostly for cutting hardwood saplings, vines, etc. and have not been completely pleased with either. The Ontario's handle rivits keep loosening and I don't like the Panga's blade heavy balance and small "sweet spot".
Since I don't do much light vegetation cutting, I don't mind a heavier/thicker blade, provided it handles properly for me. As for the "D" guard, I prefer it on the Ontarios, mainly because it keeps my fingers from getting chewed up in heavy brush. Thanks again!
Thank you for your kind offer, I will take you up on it, and post a little write up on the forums (Matthew please check for my E mail).
Cliff,
Thank you for the link, in fact I had read your informative machete reviews on your site, and that is part of the reason I am interested in the Barteaux machetes.
I use the Ontario 18" "D" guard and CS Panga I have, mostly for cutting hardwood saplings, vines, etc. and have not been completely pleased with either. The Ontario's handle rivits keep loosening and I don't like the Panga's blade heavy balance and small "sweet spot".
Since I don't do much light vegetation cutting, I don't mind a heavier/thicker blade, provided it handles properly for me. As for the "D" guard, I prefer it on the Ontarios, mainly because it keeps my fingers from getting chewed up in heavy brush. Thanks again!
Cliff Stamp
BANNED
- Joined
- Oct 5, 1998
- Messages
- 17,562
frank k :
I found the grips very slick as well, and mine fell apart completely with harder work, the impact toughness is rather low.
The large Barteaux is really blade heavy, but I found it comfortable to work with over a wide range of impact points, you do need to change your grips though.
Let me know your thoughts on it after working with it for awhile.
-Cliff
The Ontario's handle rivits keep loosening...
I found the grips very slick as well, and mine fell apart completely with harder work, the impact toughness is rather low.
...I don't like the Panga's blade heavy balance and small "sweet spot".
The large Barteaux is really blade heavy, but I found it comfortable to work with over a wide range of impact points, you do need to change your grips though.
Let me know your thoughts on it after working with it for awhile.
-Cliff
- Joined
- Jun 23, 1999
- Messages
- 1,209
OK, its sent. USPS "priority mail" turned out less expensive than UPS, and it gets there faster, so I sent it that way. Can't be tracked though, but it isn't an expensive item, so we should be OK.
Sliced up a big cardboard box with a custom Tim Johnson utility (he calls it a B&T) to make the box. Frank should see it by mid next week.
All in all, I think the Barteaux was a nice hunk of steel for its price. I got it wickedly sharp before I shipped, so be careful Frank!
Sliced up a big cardboard box with a custom Tim Johnson utility (he calls it a B&T) to make the box. Frank should see it by mid next week.
All in all, I think the Barteaux was a nice hunk of steel for its price. I got it wickedly sharp before I shipped, so be careful Frank!
Cliff,
I think the Panga feels blade heavy due more to the shape of the handle and blade than actual weight disribution (it is fairly light for a machete but it dose have bit more steel distributed near the tip than most machetes). The blade heavy feel is made worse by the fact that the Panga is more sensitive to the angle of the swing for clean cutting, and my wrist tends over extend a bit at the end of my swing with this machete. Others may find it handles better for them, and I did find that when I used it for several hours without switching back to my Ontario, it began to feel more comfortable, so maybe it takes some getting used to. I am thinking of altering the handle shape to se if I can improve things as well.
I believe that the standard/guardless Ontario handles are made of a harder slicker finished plastic than the Blackie Collins D guard handles (these appear to me made of something similar to Zytel). The D guard handles are lightly textured so they do allow a more secure grip than the smooth finished standard grips.
I have not broken my Ontario's handles so far in normal use (they have got banged around, but I have not tried to break them - the front of the D guard was broken when I got it, and I was about to saw it off when I remembered that I had some left over marine epoxy, which I was able to use to repair it). The big problem for me is the rivits that are always coming loose (Sgt. Mike has a new Ontario with a molded on handle which, should be a big improvement over the old compression rivits - allthough he did not like the D guard and sawed it off.).
I think the Panga feels blade heavy due more to the shape of the handle and blade than actual weight disribution (it is fairly light for a machete but it dose have bit more steel distributed near the tip than most machetes). The blade heavy feel is made worse by the fact that the Panga is more sensitive to the angle of the swing for clean cutting, and my wrist tends over extend a bit at the end of my swing with this machete. Others may find it handles better for them, and I did find that when I used it for several hours without switching back to my Ontario, it began to feel more comfortable, so maybe it takes some getting used to. I am thinking of altering the handle shape to se if I can improve things as well.
I believe that the standard/guardless Ontario handles are made of a harder slicker finished plastic than the Blackie Collins D guard handles (these appear to me made of something similar to Zytel). The D guard handles are lightly textured so they do allow a more secure grip than the smooth finished standard grips.
I have not broken my Ontario's handles so far in normal use (they have got banged around, but I have not tried to break them - the front of the D guard was broken when I got it, and I was about to saw it off when I remembered that I had some left over marine epoxy, which I was able to use to repair it). The big problem for me is the rivits that are always coming loose (Sgt. Mike has a new Ontario with a molded on handle which, should be a big improvement over the old compression rivits - allthough he did not like the D guard and sawed it off.).
Cliff Stamp
BANNED
- Joined
- Oct 5, 1998
- Messages
- 17,562
Handles can make a tremendous difference to balance, much more so than I thought. It is definatly worth it to fool around with them as grips are so person dependent. You can get a great blade hidden beneath a horrible grip.
-Cliff
-Cliff