Live Feeling Machetes, Bolos, etc.

S

SeaxyBeast

Joined
Feb 2, 2011
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Not quite a sword question, but this seems like a better place than either the Outdoors forum or Prac Tac for this particular set of characteristics...

Interested in feedback on machetes, bolos, whatnot with at least 15"/38cm of blade at a user price (under $75/50£/60€) that also has a more lively, swordlike feel in the hand. Does not need to be a full-on chopper, but should have enough forward balance to want to move and to bite deep without feeling slow or dead.

Thoughts?
 
condor knife and tool makes a cutlass machete. I don't own it, but I have other products from them and they are pretty quality
 
horseclover said:
But you can't get them in INFI
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You can get a Ruck... it's like a machete that grew up and became a badass

IMHO the most "sword" feeling true machete is the tops .230. It's just awesome. the longer handle gives is a MUCH more lively feel than most machete's
 
BePrepared said:
You can get a Ruck... it's like a machete that grew up and became a badass

IMHO the most "sword" feeling true machete is the tops .230. It's just awesome. the longer handle gives is a MUCH more lively feel than most machete's
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Yes, but...

Interested in feedback on machetes, bolos, whatnot with at least 15"/38cm of blade at a user price (under $75/50£/60€) that also has a more lively, swordlike feel in the hand.
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Above $75 it's all First World problems.
 
BePrepared said:
You can get a Ruck... it's like a machete that grew up and became a badass

IMHO the most "sword" feeling true machete is the tops .230. It's just awesome. the longer handle gives is a MUCH more lively feel than most machete's
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Maybe you missed the joke/jab :)

You did reply to the post though, so call it a partial win/win ;)

You could get one of these

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Those don't come in INFI either :P Shucks.

Cheers

GC
 
wait a week, save and extra $25 bucks, and get the right one the first time?

You have no idea how many times i've let my "budget" force me to buy 2 things instead of just one. First i buy the one that's "in budget" then i eventually buy the right one...
 
gregorio said:
condor knife and tool makes a cutlass machete. I don't own it, but I have other products from them and they are pretty quality
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Really nice blade. Have been considering getting one.

Handled one briefly a couple weeks ago, but did not have the chance to cut with it. Much more lively feeling than a CS machete. Would have to give it more time, but my first impression was that I'd want a little more spine, weight and forward balance for heavier targets. Not too much more forward, but I'd like a little more authority. Loved the reach, though.
 
Distal taper is key with developing a lively feel in the hand. The long Martindale bolos feel very sword-like in the hand, as do Imacasa Pata de Cuche models and the like. There are literally tons of different ones that would meet that set of requirements. Did you want to know anything beyond specific models?
 
SeaxyBeast said:
Really nice blade. Have been considering getting one.

Handled one briefly a couple weeks ago, but did not have the chance to cut with it. Much more lively feeling than a CS machete. Would have to give it more time, but my first impression was that I'd want a little more spine, weight and forward balance for heavier targets. Not too much more forward, but I'd like a little more authority. Loved the reach, though.
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It's a sable style blade so intended for grasses and other lush targets rather than woody ones. I find it handles very much like a sport fencing saber. I have a few sword/machete hybrid designs drawn up but if we ever get to see them in the flesh is a mystery for now.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
Distal taper is key with developing a lively feel in the hand. The long Martindale bolos feel very sword-like in the hand, as do Imacasa Pata de Cuche models and the like. There are literally tons of different ones that would meet that set of requirements. Did you want to know anything beyond specific models?
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I'm interested in the relative feel between types. Looking at the various bolos and machetes and barongs and goloks it's not easy to get an idea of where the weight is placed and of maneuverability vs chopping ability. Thought it would be interesting to get more feedback on handling and see if there is any sort of scale in blade types between the bush cutlass as a fast grass cutter and a heavy chopper like a khukri or a panga.
 
Barongs are sort of a half-way. As are colimas. I call patterns like barongs "meso-weighted" because the concentration of mass is towards the middle. This shifts the balance fairly low on the blade vs. its overall length, allowing the tip to still get up to speed quickly. So the tip velocity allows you to take out grasses and other light targets, but you can still chop woody targets with the broad belly, even if you lose reach. Performance on both classes of target takes a hit, of course, but it's one of the handful of solutions to strike a balance between the two antipodean tasks.

I would seriously consider geting a "colima" pattern and see how you like it.
 
Kris cutlery also has a decent selection of Philippine weapons around that price point
 
If you are really interested in a live feel, chekc out the Tactical Waki, those swords are EXCELLENT in every manner for both a bush tool, and a live feel. Also, the Banshee sword from Cas Hanwei is a great deal. If you get a forged Barong machete, you'll find they are much less distally tapered than the american wide blades, and more thick. Thats how they are supposed to work, with weight, not length along the blade.
 
Joezilla said:
If you are really interested in a live feel, chekc out the Tactical Waki, those swords are EXCELLENT in every manner for both a bush tool, and a live feel. Also, the Banshee sword from Cas Hanwei is a great deal. If you get a forged Barong machete, you'll find they are much less distally tapered than the american wide blades, and more thick. Thats how they are supposed to work, with weight, not length along the blade.
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+1 on the Tac Wacki. The price has gone up on them a lot lately, but i love mine.
 
Thanks for all the great feedback on this. I appreciate everyone sharing their experience.

Think that the Tac Wakis (think Windlass makes an inexpensive one in 1085) are a good option for people who like a wakizashi profile. I've got a waki and I just prefer the feel of single-handed blades. The waki tang can be cut down, but that would mess with the balance.

Looking at the Imacasa/Condor offerings what's the difference in balance, weight, and stiffness between the Bush Cutlass, Guarizama, Caguayano/Colima, Sable, and the Parang? From what I understand the parang is a much heavier blade than the others, but with a good distal taper to keep it agile. Had never noticed the Sable machete before and it looks like a lighter, faster golok. Is it too light for anything but grasses and brambles?
 
i have a condor parang and it's a beast... VERY heavy. I wouldn't want to use it as a weapon. It's very good as a tool, but not lively at all. No knowledge of the rest of the condor offerings you asked about
 
The "most alive" in hand machete I own is the Bark River modified Ontario machete. Okay, okay, it's more expensive and the blade is just under 15" long. I own two 18" Ontario's and their 12" as well, those are what I'm used to using. The 18" is too heavy, stout for certain jobs, but hard to change direction or stop in a swing. What Bark River did was to find the excellent machete that lies within the good 18" Ontario.
I trim bushes with a Fiddleback 14" or my ESEE 18", I've cleared out very tall grasses with my Condor Cutlass machete/sword. I'm careful, but I don't think twice about swinging my machetes. I'm sort of scared of the Barktario, it's the sharpest, most finely convexed edge I've ever seen on a large blade. If I needed a machete for a fight or Zombies, I'd grab the Barktario. I think it would sink the deepest into flesh, out of all my large blades.
Maybe I'm biased, I've used the 18" Ontario so much, that in comparison the Barktario just feels like a much much better design. I don't know, but the length, weight distribution, forward balance, and handle are all just right, for use or fighting. In comparison, the 14" FBF or the 18" ESEE just feel like machetes, with great handles. But, a bit on the light side for a fight. That's just my opinion, I'm not an expert on anything, so take it for what it's worth.

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