Decent smatchet?

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Nate805

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I have been looking for a quality smatchet or smatchet like object. I have looked at the scorpion knives smatchets, Atlanta cutlery smatchet and now the forged in time smatchet.
Does anybody have any experience with these blades or can someone guide me in the right direction of a good smatchet for around 200$ or less? Also it would help to actually give me some suggestions that are available now and haven't been discontinued.
 
Boker makes a good one. None of the good ones are cheap. Check flea-bay for ones available.
 
Windlass Steelcrafts makes a decent replica one, and Scorpion Swords & Knives makes a decent one called the "Wolf Fang"
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
Windlass Steelcrafts makes a decent replica one, and Scorpion Swords & Knives makes a decent one called the "Wolf Fang"
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I actually really like the wolf fang but the sheath is another 39$ making the overall piece with sheath around 250+ with shipping. I was just thinking if there are more affordable options.
 
Karda said:
The Spear Vala is quite nice and can be had for less than $200.
Differentially Tempered 5160 steel and tough as any H.I. khukuri.
The only thing is, you would have to request one to be made for you or wait for some to show up in the H.I. forum.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...nd-Vala-AK-Blowout-Sale!?highlight=spear+vala
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...Ghost-of-Fairbairns-Past?highlight=spear+vala
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For some reason this one doesn't strike me as pointy enough..how's the point on it? Also how much under 200?
 
Nate805 said:
I actually really like the wolf fang but the sheath is another 39$ making the overall piece with sheath around 250+ with shipping. I was just thinking if there are more affordable options.
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Did you check out the Windlass?
 
If you want to play around with something that style, but smaller, try the Cold Steel Shanghai Shadow. I have 2 of them I use for martial arts exercises, and I've done lots of cutting practice and a little throwing with them. They're pretty much bombproof, and a lot of fun. Also, the handle scales on the Shanghai Shadow are very well designed, and quite comfortable in both forward and reverse grip.

Here's what the new ones look like:

07-80PSSK.png


This style is less traditional, but I like it much better than the Chinese style guard the old ones had. If you're curious about how the ring is used, type "Chinese ring daggers" in Google.
 
Scorpion Knives is actually in my hometown. I have yet to pay them a visit, but I have a friend who has been over there to their shop. He said they are a good little operation and the build quality was spot on. I would love to check them out one day and yes, I too have been eyeing their Wolf Fang Smatchet. He did say that he thought the thickness was good, and he thought it could actually cut pretty well. They say 3/16" thickness.
 
Nate805 said:
Yeah but I am not impressed to be honest.
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Fair enough. It's a decently made replica of the original, though.

gomipile said:
If you want to play around with something that style, but smaller, try the Cold Steel Shanghai Shadow. I have 2 of them I use for martial arts exercises, and I've done lots of cutting practice and a little throwing with them. They're pretty much bombproof, and a lot of fun. Also, the handle scales on the Shanghai Shadow are very well designed, and quite comfortable in both forward and reverse grip.

Here's what the new ones look like:

07-80PSSK.png


This style is less traditional, but I like it much better than the Chinese style guard the old ones had. If you're curious about how the ring is used, type "Chinese ring daggers" in Google.
Click to expand...

Wow--the change in the guard style makes a massive improvement in the looks department! I actually had no idea they had changed it.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
Wow--the change in the guard style makes a massive improvement in the looks department! I actually had no idea they had changed it.
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They changed it sometime in 2011, I think. The first Youtube reviews showing the new style were posted sometime last summer. I got my pair of daggers last September off of Amazon, and they're both the new style.

My only complaint is that the sheaths don't have enough tension at the mouth to retain the knife, even though they are designed to retain the knife if that tension were there. There are several relatively easy DIY fixes to that problem, none of which I have done yet. Other than that, the sheath is excellent. It even has a very secure velcro and snap quick attachment belt loop.
 
TriviaMonster said:
Scorpion Knives is actually in my hometown. I have yet to pay them a visit, but I have a friend who has been over there to their shop. He said they are a good little operation and the build quality was spot on. I would love to check them out one day and yes, I too have been eyeing their Wolf Fang Smatchet. He did say that he thought the thickness was good, and he thought it could actually cut pretty well. They say 3/16" thickness.
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Yeah it looks good, I'm just not too crazy about the price including the sheath. Does anyone know if a custom maker could make one for cheaper? just out of simple 1095 or 01 or whatever.
 
Nate805 said:
For some reason this one doesn't strike me as pointy enough..how's the point on it? Also how much under 200?
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Sharp enough to stab thru plenty of things without snapping the tip off. The smatchet design is that of a stabbing/slashing tool and performs it's function quite well. The link i provided was for some blems i sold for Auntie after doing some cosmetic work on them. A top quality non blem item would probably run about $160 (+ or - ) with sheath + shipping.
 
Only other option is to see if you can get on EDMF's wait list and wait. They are good smatchet.

The Smatchet has never been a real money maker for cutlery companies, they were more of a prestige product. If it were me I'd look at the HI knife.
 
How about one of these?
Clax_AIM.jpg

It's a Bark River Clax. I don't think they make it anymore, but it's quite nice. I had one for a while, now my dad has it. It came in both single edge and double edge variants, if I'm not mistaken. Maybe you can find one.
 
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