Lite Machete: Comes Edgeless on Purpose?

CapitalizedLiving · Sep 11, 2010

Hi all,

I just got my ESEE Lite Machete today and I was very excited to finally get to work on some nasty brush in my yard that needs a dose of thin, fast chopping.

My Lite Machete came dull, with the edge non-existent. I can run my hand on it and not cut myself. I haven't tried to cut anything with it because I can't imagine it would actually do anything.

Is the Lite Machete supposed to be like this? I have heard that some machetes come dull on purpose but I was under the impression that the Lite Machete came with a convexed edge. It is convexed, but has no edge.

Thanks for your input!

shotgunner11 · Sep 11, 2010

Hmmmmm...... I've handled a few dozen different examples and they all came with a very serviceable edge.

They do indeed come sharpened.

DH1 · Sep 11, 2010

They are supposed to come pretty sharp with a convexed edge...Does the edge look weird/rough or "unfinished" in any way?

eloreno · Sep 11, 2010

Mine came with an edge that was effective. :thumbup:

I did however sharpen it to a hair popping edge!

Like this:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=756074&highlight=lite+machete+shaving+sharp

CapitalizedLiving · Sep 11, 2010

DH1 said:
They are supposed to come pretty sharp with a convexed edge...Does the edge look weird/rough or "unfinished" in any way?

Yeah I can see file marks or something like that on the flat part where the edge should be.

I'll see if I can sharpen it myself, but I may need better tools since I've never tried to sharpen an 18" blade before. I'll go check out the above-referenced link and see if that helps.

Josh K · Sep 11, 2010

It isn't a knife, and it isn't expensive. Don't expect a nice edge on something that is meant to be wacked into trees, brush, roots, and the occasional melon.

It will probably need to be finished up a bit depending on your personal requirements. I would recommend either Paper Wheels

D) or a DMT stone.

CapitalizedLiving · Sep 11, 2010

eloreno said:
Mine came with an edge that was effective. :thumbup:

I did however sharpen it to a hair popping edge!

Like this:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=756074&highlight=lite+machete+shaving+sharp

Thanks for the link! The same old trick as used on any other convexed blade, I see.

I also see I'm not the only one who got a dull one.

CapitalizedLiving · Sep 11, 2010

Josh K said:
It isn't a knife, and it isn't expensive. Don't expect a nice edge on something that is meant to be wacked into trees, brush, roots, and the occasional melon. It will probably need to be finished up a bit depending on your personal requirements. I would recommend either Paper Wheels D) or a DMT stone.

Um, okay. The blade shouldn't be advertised as having a convexed edge then, should it? I think a proper disclaimer would have been appropriate.

Surferbruce · Sep 11, 2010

It's a machete. Part of it's beauty is you can bust out a file and have it serviceable in no time.

Josh K · Sep 11, 2010

CapitalizedLiving said:
Um, okay. The blade shouldn't be advertised as having a convexed edge then, should it? I think a proper disclaimer would have been appropriate.

A convex edge is basically an edge put on with a belt sander, it isn't special in any other way. This also doesn't mean you should have a great edge. A quick convex edge might take twenty seconds on an 160 grit belt.

Grab a file, go to work. When I was in Scouts all we ever sharpened axe's with was a file, I can assure you the edge will work.

TheGame · Sep 11, 2010

CapitalizedLiving said:
Um, okay. The blade shouldn't be advertised as having a convexed edge then, should it? I think a proper disclaimer would have been appropriate.

Wait, what? I handled a few and they all had convexed edges on them. All were decently sharp, too. Just like the Condors, they will likely not be shaving, but they should be very serviceable.

CapitalizedLiving · Sep 11, 2010

TheGame said:
Wait, what? I handled a few and they all had convexed edges on them. All were decently sharp, too. Just like the Condors, they will likely not be shaving, but they should be very serviceable.

Perhaps it is serviceable. It'll take a lot of work, but maybe I'll just use it for martial arts training since it can't possibly cut anyone on accident.

I just believe in transparency. If it's supposed to be dull then it's supposed to be dull. That's why I put this thread up, so I could find out if that's the norm. I just assumed "convexed edge" meant "sharp" and perhaps I assumed too much there. I'm not ragging on ESEE or their products, I just would expect to know up-front if a blade was not supposed to be sharp out of the box.

On a side-note, I love the ESEE Junglas very, very much and it came so sharp I cut myself with it just my touching it wrong. So again I like ESEE products but I'll have to look elsewhere for a usable 18" machete.

TheGame · Sep 11, 2010

The ones I held weren't dull. They would cleanly slice paper. They just wouldn't shave is all. I would call that serviceable to most people here, as a lot want their blades to split hair and all.

I agree, the Junglas was one of the sharpest factory knives I ever got. :thumbup:

gottahaveit27 · Sep 11, 2010

CapitalizedLiving said:
Hi all,

I just got my ESEE Lite Machete today and I was very excited to finally get to work on some nasty brush in my yard that needs a dose of thin, fast chopping.

My Lite Machete came dull, with the edge non-existent. I can run my hand on it and not cut myself. I haven't tried to cut anything with it because I can't imagine it would actually do anything.

Is the Lite Machete supposed to be like this? I have heard that some machetes come dull on purpose but I was under the impression that the Lite Machete came with a convexed edge. It is convexed, but has no edge.

Thanks for your input!

My machete came plenty sharp for a machete. It came much sharper than I would expect a machete to come. Machete usually only come with a very obtuse unfinished edge and it is expected that you will have to put your own edge on it. I was able to effectively use the lite machete out of the box. Maybe you got one that wasn't ground as well as most of them seem to be. It shouldn't be too tough to get a decent edge on it though. If you post pics I could compare it to mine and tell you what I think :thumbup:

shotgunner11 · Sep 11, 2010

Josh K said:
It isn't a knife, and it isn't expensive. Don't expect a nice edge on something that is meant to be wacked into trees, brush, roots, and the occasional melon. It will probably need to be finished up a bit depending on your personal requirements. I would recommend either Paper Wheels D) or a DMT stone.

It's not a knife but to be honest, it is expensive for what it is considering the prices of competing products.

CapitalizedLiving said:
Um, okay. The blade shouldn't be advertised as having a convexed edge then, should it? I think a proper disclaimer would have been appropriate.

The edge was convexed I'm sure, just not to the point of your satisfaction.

Surferbruce said:
It's a machete. Part of it's beauty is you can bust out a file and have it serviceable in no time.

This is true and I would say the same about an inexpensive machete but this is a specially made tool that is advertised and sold with the expectation of a good servicable edge right out of the package.

OP, if your not happy with the machete and you don't feel that the edge is up to snuff contact our customer service and I can assure you that it'll be made right.

I'm going to close this thread because I can smell a pissing contest developing.