different handle material Bowie machete

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noviomagus

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Dec 25, 2007
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Today I got delivered a new Cold Steel Bowie machete .

But what I noticed, is that the handle seems to be made out of a harder material than the other CS Bowie machetes I already have .

More like the same hardness as those of the handlescales on the Shanghai Shadow(and Warrior).

Is there a change in handle material?

And what's the reason?
 
One i have it kinda rubberish....guess they changed it to the harder Plastic then?
 
Kraton is softer than the hard rubber I have on the older CS Bowie machetes.
But this new one, is definitely a harder plastic/synthetic.
I like to hear more on this..

It feels good to me overall. Still the same highly ergonomic shape.
More wear resistant I would assume than the older ones.

By the way, mine didn't have the Cold Steel Sticker that is usually on the blade.
It did come packed in plastic with Cold Steel cardboard label as usual with the Cold Steel machetes.
 
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noviomagus said:
Kraton is softer than the hard rubber I have on the older CS Bowie machetes.
But this new one, is definitely a harder plastic/synthetic.
I like to hear more on this..

It feels good to me overall. Still the same highly ergonomic shape.
More wear resistant I would assume than the older ones.

By the way, mine didn't have the Cold Steel Sticker that is usually on the blade.
It did come packed in plastic with Cold Steel cardboard label as usual with the Cold Steel machetes.
Click to expand...

I recently received the ROYAL KUKRI MACHETE , it has the harder plastic handle which CS describes as Polypropylene. Haven't had a chance to really use it, but seems to me that it might be slightly hard on the hands if used very long/intensively. Might require a glove. It also came, thankfully, w/o that horrid label, which was such a pain in the ass to remove from my Gladius.... I damn near threw the machete in the dumpster. ;') The Gladius also came with a dreadful edge, needing a LOT of work to make me happy. The edge on the much newer Kukri was truly well done, the way they should be, but often aren't, from Cold Steel. Needed only a very cursory touchup with ceramic rod from my Sharpmaker. I've found edges to be a crapshoot with CS machetes. Hopefully, the edge on the Kukri, and lack of infuriating label, is not an anomaly, but an improvement in CS quality control.
 
Yes the quality control is sometimes missing in my experience also with the machetes.
I have had CS Smatchets where there was a hole in 1 in the polypropylene at the guard and steel guard visible.
Another Smatchet had a tear in that same place.

But overall the CS Smatchets are my favourite by far(around the same length as the Spartan Xiphos, and they knew close combat).Awesome wide blade with sharp, and quite strong, tip.
Balance is perfect. Quick movement is possible.
The label was easy to remove with hot water.
Don't know if it effects the heat treat a lot.
But not in bending the blade.
It was resilient as ever.

The edge can be good or a miss as well.
Mostly they have been good the ones I have received.


Ichor ,When you say harder plastic, do you mean the same as on the Bowie machete and Kukri machetes?
Or as I described, having the hardness as near that of a Shanghai Shadow.

Maybe they changed something a little in the polypropylene.
One PP is not the same as another one.

Zytel has many differences also.
One can be harder than another.

I did read on YT about some handles splitting on the Kukri machetes .
Even with chopping, it can happen, so it was said.
But how often is this the case..

Maybe that is a reason to change material/substance?
 
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Very similar to my CS Bowie machete . 18" Barong has a smooth plastic handle with no checkering, but the excellent hooked pommel makes it feel very secure. I've never handled the Shanghai Shadow.
 
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The Shanghai Shadow(and Warrior), have the harder 'version' of polypropylene.

Harder than the handles on the Bowie machete .
Though the handle on the last Bowie machete I bought had a hardness almost like the Shanghai Shadow handle scales.

An incident? Or the new standard...

The hooked pommel is indeed very good , making it more secure in the hand.
 
Many, but not all, of the CS machetes come with the polypro handles now, and instead of the CS sticker, they have Cold Steel etched into the blades.
 
Yes, now looking at my older ones.
This is also a difference in the new one that I have.
Cold Steel and South Africa etched just above the handle.

Some things really go beyond me.
The harder handle I immediately noticed.
 
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