Condor thai enep vs Cold steel kukri magnum

Which ever choice you make, i hope you are proficient at sharpening, because either one will probably need lots of it. With the Condor, there is an enep knife & an enep machete. Which one are you looking at ? The machete is 1/8" thick & the knife is 1/4" thick. I think i would pick the Condor over the CS, but thats just me.
 
I'd buy the Enep over the CS just because the Enep has a superior sheath.
What is your intended purpose?
 
I have the Enep machete -- far and away a better functioning tool than the CS magnum kukri I gave away after an hour of use. (better sheath, too)
Another one you might want to look at is the Condor Parang -- I got to play with one of those for a week last summer and it performed great at trimming limbs, dense weedy stuff, thin saplings, etc....
 
This is more or less what the intended and orginal post was about

"I have used an 18" blade ontario for the last 18 years(not the same one), I cut and chop any and everything in my way, I have even cut down a 26" thick sweet gum tree before with it (took 2 days and 4 blisters later, i was bored). I use it mostly for clearing land, from thorn bushes to around 4" sapplings. The two choices i have it narrowed down to are the condor el salvador with micarta handels or the condor parang. I am used to the latin style design, but i reall like the look and the thickness of the parang. just wondering what you all would think would be a better fit "
 
TwinStick said:
Which ever choice you make, i hope you are proficient at sharpening, because either one will probably need lots of it. With the Condor, there is an enep knife & an enep machete. Which one are you looking at ? The machete is 1/8" thick & the knife is 1/4" thick. I think i would pick the Condor over the CS, but thats just me.
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why would that be, i have read condors hold an edge pretty good

i am also making a kydex sheath for it as well, just fyi



Here are the possibilities narrowed down(mostly for my sanity:eek:)

1. Condor el salvador w/ micarta handles(most comfortable to the style)

2. Condor 24" parang(love the 1/4" blade and better looking design)

3. Condor thai enep(better chopper?, bad handle, will probably fly out of hands)
 
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the thai enep doesn't have a bad handle - but it does have a learning curve on using it best -- until then it causes a lot of hand fatigue. It would also be good if it were a little thinner/less blocky.
the Parang is a dream to use.
the El Salvador is going to perform a lot like the ontario you had due to similarities in shape and size.

personal preference for me would be the parang.
 
I also have an OKC 18" machete, for over 20 yrs, love it & will not get rid of it. I like it so much, i never felt the need for anything else---as far as a machete anyways.
 
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The Cold Steel machetes are a bit softer than I [refer, but they do get the job done. Just be prepared to do something about the stock handle, because it's a blister machine with extended use. Don't be worried about the shape of the Enep handle--it has a nice taper to it that keeps it from sliding out of your hand. Personally I'd go with the Condor. Harder edge, better materials, better sheath, and better warranty. Nice convex edge on it from the factory, too--not that chewed up mangled rough grind that Cold Steel describes as a "working edge" :p
 
I have nothing against Cold Steel in general However I'm not exactly blown away by their machetes the blade steel which is 1055 I believe really lacks the edge retention of the 1075 which is used by several manufacturers like Condor and Tramontina in the long run I think you will get way better service from the Condor.
 
I think i have pretty much decided to get the Condor Parang, i have read a lot more post about it and i think it will serve me the best. I use it more for sapplings and thorn bushes which take a REALLY sharp blade to get through plus the added momentum will help a lot more with that to. I also like the fact that the blade shape helps it not "stick" which is a problem i have with the ontario
 
Condor over Cold Steel. Cold steel uses a less expensive steel for their blades. The convex edge on the Condors is a really good feature for a heavy use tool like a machete. And Condors are cool and a good value, how can you beat that?

Ross

________________________________________________________________



Custom machetes
http://www.akiblades.com
 
Hey FortyTwoBlades, the condor parangs you all carry are the newer one with the full tang right?
 
In regards to the praise of the OTK machete...it is really THAT good. Properly tuned, I have always thought the 18 inch Ontario was a superb outdoor tool. The price point is good and so I'm not worried about it getting stolen etc. I even had a leather sheath made for mine. Hossom and I are agreed that it is the ONE knife we'd love to have in a survival situation. Of course, people have various opinions, but there is a reason the Ontario Knife Co. has sold a million of these! Being the addict that I am (see former posts) I also have a bevy of Condor products just for the heck of it.
 
I've broken a Condor blade but have never been able to break a Cold Steel blade. I'd give the nod to Cold Steel all day, every day.
 
nick_30 said:
Hey FortyTwoBlades, the condor parangs you all carry are the newer one with the full tang right?
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Yup! Same goes for all other models that saw an improvement. Everything I've got is fresh 2011 stock.

As far as the Ontario models go I think the steel and heat treatment are great, though I would tweak the profile of the blade and contour the handle a lot more. It's very blocky from the factory.
 
moogoogaidan said:
I've broken a Condor blade but have never been able to break a Cold Steel blade. I'd give the nod to Cold Steel all day, every day.
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that would probably have something to do with the lower grade carbon steel, it has more bend to it rather than break. Same thing as a drill bit, it is stronger than regular carbon steel, but if it is torqued, it will snap right off, it resist more torque, but when it has reached its max, its gone.
 
Most cases of blade breakage in Condors has been the result of a faulty heat treatment. Once replaced with a fresh one by their customer service department, the event is unlikely to repeat itself.
 
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