Condor Bushcraft Parang or Silky Nata?

[TheDandyLion]

Which blade do you think would make a better small/medium chopper for processing firewood and shelter building? Lots of hardwood and soft and wood less than 6" diameter wood will be worked with. Now those of you with experience with one or both or even just a casual opinion, please chime in.

 

[popedandy]

I've never used the Silky, but I have the Condor. It is a very good chopper, but there are two things to be aware of: 1. The factory edge on mine was very thin and took a lot of damage right away. I stopped, filed out the damage, and changed the edge bevel so it was a bit thicker. It has been great ever since. 2. The factory sheath is abysmal. If you get one, you will want to either make some sort of insert to go at the mouth of the sheath - I used a small piece of flashing - or get another sheath - I think I replaced mine with a Gerber sheath. If you can deal with those two things, you will have an excellent chopper.

 

[CSTLandscapes]

I have a NATA, in single bevel and the longer of the 3 lengths. It's incredible. Handles everything I throw at it when I don't feel like getting out the chainsaw. I'm a Landscaper, obviously, and my NATA works soo well I bought a second, a third for some of the Guys then a second for myself since they were discontinued and worked so well I was afraid I wouldn't be able to replace it. The steel is thick, but you've got to be sure to keep them clean and oiled after use. I take oven cleaner to them to remove sap and gunk, then hit them with a bit of oil before storage.

I've been VERY impressed with Silky Saws too. All their products are great. I swear you've got to try them to believe them. It's unheard of. The Zubat and the Sugowaza just rip through stuff like you couldn't imagine. I'd swear they were the quietest chainsaw on the planet. Sorry for the random Rant on their saws...had to get it out of my system.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

I've never used the Silky, but I have the Condor. It is a very good chopper, but there are two things to be aware of: 1. The factory edge on mine was very thin and took a lot of damage right away. I stopped, filed out the damage, and changed the edge bevel so it was a bit thicker. It has been great ever since. 2. The factory sheath is abysmal. If you get one, you will want to either make some sort of insert to go at the mouth of the sheath - I used a small piece of flashing - or get another sheath - I think I replaced mine with a Gerber sheath. If you can deal with those two things, you will have an excellent chopper.

Is your sheath the first generation or the second? The second generation sheaths are a huge improvement over the first ones. If yours is one of the first gen ones it has that strip of faux leather material on the inside as "edge fodder". The newer ones are a totally redesigned shape that made that unnecessary.