Inexpensive light chopper for camping..

I recently picked up some Condor machetes - a Bolo, Kukri and Golok, and much prefer them to my Cold Steel 12 inch Barong and Kukri machete. The Condors all came out of the box with a shaving sharp edge with a good bevel and cut like crazy.
 
Revolvergeek said:
I recently picked up some Condor machetes - a Bolo, Kukri and Golok, and much prefer them to my Cold Steel 12 inch Barong and Kukri machete. The Condors all came out of the box with a shaving sharp edge with a good bevel and cut like crazy.
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The Golok looks good but the others with the "Eye of the Condor" hole in the blade look hokey to me.
 
I agree 100%, but they really don't cause any harm. The carbon steel Bolo doesn't have the 'eye'. It does allow you to hang the machete tip up from a nail in a wall or beam to store it (we do a lot of this to save space in my father's shop to save space).

And the Golok is a beast! :D
 
If anyone is still looking for a lightweight, inexpensive blade that can be used for clearing brush as well as light digging, check out the Gerber brush knife -

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I own several of these, and have found them to be versatile and useful, as well as tough and a good value. The curved hawk tip protects the edge if the blade is swung into the ground, and also when digging. A very good tool.

Andy
 
SilverFoxKnows said:
Take a look at the bolos from Reflections of Asia. They're hand forged village grade users for under $30. One of the best overlooked deals out there.

Frank
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:thumbup: on Reflections of Asia. I bought a bolo from them, love it (carved horn handle, tooled leather sheath), good people to deal with.

Also consider a Tramontina machete, inexpensive and durable like the Mora.
 
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Revolvergeek said:
I agree 100%, but they really don't cause any harm. The carbon steel Bolo doesn't have the 'eye'. It does allow you to hang the machete tip up from a nail in a wall or beam to store it (we do a lot of this to save space in my father's shop to save space).

And the Golok is a beast! :D
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Yeah the hole would be a good feature to hang it on a nail in the shed.

The Golok is calling me to buy it, now see what you started ; )
 
syltetoy said:
The Golok looks good but the others with the "Eye of the Condor" hole in the blade look hokey to me.
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As previously noted it allows another means of hanging it in a shed, but also provides traction when choking up on the blade. Also, for novices, the hole gives audible feedback with regards to edge alignment. When you swing the hole should make a subtle whistling noise when your alignment with the target is true.

I own the Bush Knife, Combat, and Viking machetes by Condor and they kick the crap out of my CS ones.
 
Revolvergeek: So you have used both the Condor Kukri and the Cold Steel Kukri, and you'd prefer the Condor? If you dont mind listing pros/cons or going into details, that would be great.

Sytetoy: I think the Eye of the COndor looks weird as well. But the hole in the blade thing is not too bad of an idea.. its nice to have the option of hanging it tip up.

Coldwood: I was looking for inexpensive, and man, some of the Tramontina machetes really are cheap. $5 cheap. So, which one do you recommend? And does it chop well? Have you used a Cold Steel or Condor machete, and how do you compare them to the Tramontina?

FortyTwoBlades: Condors over CSs? Hmm..

Roger999: I was thinking about an axe, then a saw, but now I think that a big knife would be more versatle and easier to carry.

I havent heard much about the Condor machetes, but I had always heard of Cold Steel. I dont know, I'll order something in 2 weeks, but right now it looks like Im going to get the Cold Steel Kukri w/ 13in blade.

Anybody wanna talk me out of it?
 
C_1 said:
Revolvergeek: So you have used both the Condor Kukri and the Cold Steel Kukri, and you'd prefer the Condor? If you dont mind listing pros/cons or going into details, that would be great.

Sytetoy: I think the Eye of the COndor looks weird as well. But the hole in the blade thing is not too bad of an idea.. its nice to have the option of hanging it tip up.

Coldwood: I was looking for inexpensive, and man, some of the Tramontina machetes really are cheap. $5 cheap. So, which one do you recommend? And does it chop well? Have you used a Cold Steel or Condor machete, and how do you compare them to the Tramontina?

FortyTwoBlades: Condors over CSs? Hmm..

Roger999: I was thinking about an axe, then a saw, but now I think that a big knife would be more versatle and easier to carry.

I havent heard much about the Condor machetes, but I had always heard of Cold Steel. I dont know, I'll order something in 2 weeks, but right now it looks like Im going to get the Cold Steel Kukri w/ 13in blade.

Anybody wanna talk me out of it?
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The Cold Steel Kukri machete is an inexpensive and a incredible chopper. I chopped fire wood all weekend on two camping trips and the blade was still sharp as ever when I got home. Its nearly as good as a hatchet or small axe. Noss on Knifetest put it through the ringer and came through as one of the toughest knives.

I like the looks and style of the Condor Golok it looks like a good chopper also but a greater cost.
 
Leatherface said:
you LIKED the sheath that came with the bushman??

really??

I hated it

granted i MAKE sheaths so I cant be unbiased, but mine didnt fit very right well at all....The knife is pretty cool for the cash IMHO and has taken a beating

once I made a sheath for it!..jhehehahaahaaaaaaaa
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I dont really like it. I said it was "good enough to use" -which it is.
 
d.weglarz13 said:
Also, go to any store with tools, and get a 6 or 8 inch bastard file. They are about 5 bucks, and will make you feel a lot better knowing if you ever have a "worst case scenario," and nick the blade, you can very easily smooth it out within a few seconds.
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I agree, get a little bastard file to take with you to resharpen, and let's don't get pussied up about a "worst case scenario", it's just a chopping tool. :D
 
C_1 said:
I havent heard much about the Condor machetes, but I had always heard of Cold Steel. I dont know, I'll order something in 2 weeks, but right now it looks like Im going to get the Cold Steel Kukri w/ 13in blade.

Anybody wanna talk me out of it?
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I'm finding (via google shopping) that there's only about a dollar of difference between the Condor and the Cold Steel. The Condor has better contours to the handle and a mirror polished convex grind straight from the factory. Like I said, I enjoy my Condor pieces a lot more than my Cold Steel one, and I've handled countless examples from both manufacturers. Condor is made in El Salvador by people who use them every day. Cold Steel pieces are made in South Africa (where the QC has been low) or in China.

Go with what you want, but I'll take Condor hands down every time. They're both reliable companies. :)
 
C_1 said:
Revolvergeek: So you have used both the Condor Kukri and the Cold Steel Kukri, and you'd prefer the Condor? If you dont mind listing pros/cons or going into details, that would be great.
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The Condor was good to go right out of the box. It was far sharper (not a big deal really long term since you will have to resharpen them both as you use them) and IMHO had a much more comfortable handle. The handle on the Cold Steel is ?zytel? molded in the style of the checkered rubber from many of their other knives, and I found it uncomfortable to use. Between the texture and the mold sprues left behind I ended up carving and sanding on the handle of the Cold Steel to get it comfortable to use. Even after reworking the Cold Steel, the Condor still feels better in my hand. Depending on how calloused up your hands are this might not be a big deal. The Cold Steel does come with a sheath, it isn't a great nor super sturdy sheath, but it is functional, whereas the Condor does not.

It might not make any sense, but the Condor just feels like it wants to go do work when I pick it up. :cool: YMMV
 
Yeah, I know that most Cold Steel machetes come from S. Africa or China, but their still good tools for a great price. Dont worry, I won't be scared to use a $30 tool for its intended purpose. That file will definitely come in handy. Thanks for the tips guys.

However, sounds like the Condor machete may be a 'better' product. It looks like the handle is more comfortable but it doesnt come with a sheath. The cheapest, and in stock, Condor Kukri I found was about $30 shipped. And the CS Kukri is about $25 shipped (which comes with a sheath). Hmm.. decisions decisions..

Is there a really cheap way to make a sheath for the Condor Kukri? With materials that can be bought at the local stores? Melted PVC piping or something?
 
C_1 said:
Yeah, I know that most Cold Steel machetes come from S. Africa or China, but their still good tools for a great price. Dont worry, I won't be scared to use a $30 tool for its intended purpose. That file will definitely come in handy. Thanks for the tips guys.

However, sounds like the Condor machete may be a 'better' product. It looks like the handle is more comfortable but it doesnt come with a sheath. The cheapest, and in stock, Condor Kukri I found was about $30 shipped. And the CS Kukri is about $25 shipped (which comes with a sheath). Hmm.. decisions decisions..

Is there a really cheap way to make a sheath for the Condor Kukri? With materials that can be bought at the local stores? Melted PVC piping or something?
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I have a bunch of Cold Steel machetes and they all came in perfect shape. The blade and edge is covered in a black coating, any sharpening or use will remove the coating and expose the sharpened edge. The 1055 steel is very tough and holds the edge well.

Check out the Noss KnifeTest of the Cold Steel Kukri machete. Its went through the tests on scale with Busse and ScrapYard knives.

Not trying to seel you on the Cold Steel Kukri but I don't think you'll go wrong with it.

I like the Condor Golok for myself. But if no sheath is supplied, that may be a deal breaker for me.
 
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IIRC Condor will be coming out with a sheath for the Kukri, and when they do it ought to be one of their super-nice leather ones. :)

That being said, in the meantime you can make yourself one via the old pvc pipe trick. ;)
 
Ok, well, considering the Condor cost a bit more, is not really in stock, and doesn't include a sheath; I couldnt wait so I ordered a CS Kukri (13in) for $23 shipped.

Thanks everybody for all your input.
 
The ColdSteel machetes & Ontario machetes both need to be sharpened out of the box. The CS Khuk is a sweet chopper :thumbup: But from what I've been reading & been told & I've handled these while I was in Tenn. I think my next "Cheap Chopper" will be one of these !
http://www.smkw.com/webapp/eCommerce/product.jsp?A=&range=31&Brand=398&Mode=Brand&SKU=CTK1030S
Condor's are sharp out of the box & supposed to have great customer service :thumbup: Look up Joezilla here on BF (usually in the Wildernes Survival section) he works for/with Condor & can tell you all about them.
& +1 on the Mora :thumbup:
 
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