Machax- what's the deal?

FAL'ER

FAL'ER

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Mar 31, 2010
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They look pretty funky, and I don't recall anyone talking about why they are so good. So In the interest of stimulating conversation, what makes them so special?
 
well, read the lit :)

they're great choppers for their size... they can baton like mad, and that edge profile is sweet.

for bushcrafting, they are great for carving, and making stuff, really superb draw knife, bow makers seem to covet them.

the older models were the best.... they lost something when Camillus made them imho.

they're also one of the oldest designs in the lineup, next to the BK2, something like 30 years now. it's a classic!
 
The following appeared in American Survival Guide. It's what got me interested in the first place:
--------------------------------------------

MACHAX SURVIVAL TOOL

Modern interpretation of the classic Gurkha Kukri

Staff Evaluation

"I want a tool I can use for everything - chopping and whittling as well as a froe, hammer or pry bar," explains Ethan Becker, president of Becker Knife and Tool Corporation which makes the Machax Survival Tool and a similar knife called the Warrior.
"It is not the best hammer, but the flat can be used for one if needed. It is not the best pry bar, but it works. In its primary uses, chopping and hacking, please note that when it hits it hits dead. There is no 'machete wrist' from vibration! You will be able to use the Machax for quite a while before your wrist hurts." One of our guys took a Machax out in the woods and in four hours with the Machax as his only tool he built and thatched a roomy lean-to shelter for two people, a fire frame and reflector, two pieces of camp furniture and stocked the camp with firewood - and no machete wrist.
"Note also the differential grind on Machax which has more of a slicing angle on the inside of the curve to more of a chopping and splitting angle closer to the tip. We are, I think, the only people who sharpen down close to the grip on a tool like this so that it is easy to use for close-up work."
The heavy 1/4 inch 4140 chrome-moly blade of the Machax borrows the unmatched weight distribution of the Gurkha Kukri knife (which itself is a variation of an ancient design), combines it with fine American steel, full tang construction and Zytel scales large enough for a good working grip. Weight is 20 ounces.
The 4140 chrome-moly steel is moderately heat treated, giving it a very tough nature. It can be quickly sharpened using a file, stone or rock if need be. It will rust, but it has a rust resistant phosphate finish except for the edge. A little oil will help prevent corrosion. If the scales or blade are ever broken, BK&T will replace them without question - provided you didn't do it on purpose. We tried out the Machax in a bamboo thicket and on several types of dead and live trees and heavy brush and found it to be excellent.
The Machax can be purchased with fine black leather or nylon sheath for $129 (either sheath alone is $25) from Becker Knife & Tool Corp., Dept. ASG, P.O. Box 44179, Cincinnati, OH 45244; (513) 231-9446. Ohio residents add 5-1/2 percent sales tax. Also available at better cutlery dealers.
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As it appeared in American Survival Guide magazine - January 1989
--------------------------------------------------------

Doc
 
And DOC would know. He's probably been using the Machax longer than anyone, 'cept maybe Ethan and Bladite.

What is the Machax? Well, soon, you will be seeing it first hand, should you choose too. Hopefully.

The evolution,

100_1389.jpg


It started with the bolo machete, add some kukri, throw in some BKT handle, a killer grind, and what do you get?

DOC, you wanna answer that?

Moose
 
plus if you throw them it will become a crazy boomerang of death like from mad max

ps: looking forward to the kabar version
 
SilentJohn said:
plus if you throw them it will become a crazy boomerang of death like from mad max

ps: looking forward to the kabar version
Click to expand...

also, the death 'rang from Buck Roger's in the 25th Century!

but it voids the warranty on your fingers if you try to catch it :>
 
DOC-CANADA said:
The following appeared in American Survival Guide. It's what got me interested in the first place:
--------------------------------------------

MACHAX SURVIVAL TOOL

Modern interpretation of the classic Gurkha Kukri

Staff Evaluation

"I want a tool I can use for everything - chopping and whittling as well as a froe, hammer or pry bar," explains Ethan Becker, president of Becker Knife and Tool Corporation which makes the Machax Survival Tool and a similar knife called the Warrior.
"It is not the best hammer, but the flat can be used for one if needed. It is not the best pry bar, but it works. In its primary uses, chopping and hacking, please note that when it hits it hits dead. There is no 'machete wrist' from vibration! You will be able to use the Machax for quite a while before your wrist hurts." One of our guys took a Machax out in the woods and in four hours with the Machax as his only tool he built and thatched a roomy lean-to shelter for two people, a fire frame and reflector, two pieces of camp furniture and stocked the camp with firewood - and no machete wrist.
"Note also the differential grind on Machax which has more of a slicing angle on the inside of the curve to more of a chopping and splitting angle closer to the tip. We are, I think, the only people who sharpen down close to the grip on a tool like this so that it is easy to use for close-up work."
The heavy 1/4 inch 4140 chrome-moly blade of the Machax borrows the unmatched weight distribution of the Gurkha Kukri knife (which itself is a variation of an ancient design), combines it with fine American steel, full tang construction and Zytel scales large enough for a good working grip. Weight is 20 ounces.
The 4140 chrome-moly steel is moderately heat treated, giving it a very tough nature. It can be quickly sharpened using a file, stone or rock if need be. It will rust, but it has a rust resistant phosphate finish except for the edge. A little oil will help prevent corrosion. If the scales or blade are ever broken, BK&T will replace them without question - provided you didn't do it on purpose. We tried out the Machax in a bamboo thicket and on several types of dead and live trees and heavy brush and found it to be excellent.
The Machax can be purchased with fine black leather or nylon sheath for $129 (either sheath alone is $25) from Becker Knife & Tool Corp., Dept. ASG, P.O. Box 44179, Cincinnati, OH 45244; (513) 231-9446. Ohio residents add 5-1/2 percent sales tax. Also available at better cutlery dealers.
--------------------------------------------------------
As it appeared in American Survival Guide magazine - January 1989
--------------------------------------------------------

Doc
Click to expand...

thanks for posting that, doc. "machete wrist", now i know exactly why the machax (and kukris) is shaped the way it is! the blade contacts whatever it's chopping even before the wrist is flexed, hence preventing fatigue.

it's similar in concept to microsoft's natural keyboard. it looks weird but it keeps my wrists completely straight and i can type a lot longer with less fatigue. i'm a programmer (i type a lot) and thus i'm very sensitive to ergonomics.

M17-1806-callout.jpg


brilliant design, the machax and kukri, really.
 
I can't wait and I'm saving money now to buy at least 2.
Thought I would never see a machax or patrol machete other than in photos.
Great news.
 
No scheduled release date yet, but proto's are out and rolling. These will be a full release, not just Beckerheads, but an addition to the lineup.

Waiting is not my best attribute, but, it will be worth it when they do come out. And judging from what Toooj has done with the rest of the lineup, this should be the best Machax ever. That's an opinion.

Moose
 
TwinStick said:
Soooo, when are these sceduled for release ? Will it be to everyone or just BeckerHeads ?
Click to expand...

just Ethan, Tooj, and the mods will get them. Also possibly RAT :) the first 1000 anyway ;)

no scheduled release, as before, probably LATE 2011. we hope :)

i should expect live protos of some sort at Blade if KaBar is nice :>
 
Alright folks, thanks for the responses.

Did the the BK 4 replace the Rienhardt Khukri or was it 2 seperate tools for 2 different jobs?
 
OREGON FAL'ER said:
Alright folks, thanks for the responses.

Did the the BK 4 replace the Rienhardt Khukri or was it 2 seperate tools for 2 different jobs?
Click to expand...

The Machax definitely came before the Reinhardt, by quite some time. The Tac and Div Tuls (Tul, not Tool then) DEFINITELY were early birds as well along with the CAMPanion :) that was the lineup way back when and it didn't change much for a while. somewhere in there, they did a small run of Machax Warriors.

iirc, the Magnum Camp came next. i have literature for that time period which coincides with the "hard chrome era", but an actual ordering of history is something i've been lagging on :)

THEN along comes the Brute, and Reinhardt. Bigguns :) don't have literature for them. they just kinda ... appeared.

when Camillus got them, they came up with this wacky numbering scheme :)


445687318_5EFGS-XL.jpg


the old and proud :)
 
Bladite said:
The Machax definitely came before the Reinhardt, by quite some time. The Tac and Div Tuls (Tul, not Tool then) DEFINITELY were early birds as well along with the CAMPanion :) that was the lineup way back when and it didn't change much for a while. somewhere in there, they did a small run of Machax Warriors.

iirc, the Magnum Camp came next. i have literature for that time period which coincides with the "hard chrome era", but an actual ordering of history is something i've been lagging on :)

THEN along comes the Brute, and Reinhardt. Bigguns :) don't have literature for them. they just kinda ... appeared.

when Camillus got them, they came up with this wacky numbering scheme :)


445687318_5EFGS-XL.jpg


the old and proud :)
Click to expand...

Alright, now given that you have at least 1 each of them all. Which is the best chopper?

brute, khuk, Machaxe or BK 9. I know broad question, just in general.
 
OREGON FAL'ER said:
Alright, now given that you have at least 1 each of them all. Which is the best chopper?

brute, khuk, Machaxe or BK 9. I know broad question, just in general.
Click to expand...

moose had a chop off at Ethan's place a whiel ago. with pictures.

will have to duplicate that when given the chance, with the same equipment and conditions :)

imho a good khukri shape SHOULD outchop a typical knife, but the 9 is hefty, so... :)

imho, the Reinhardt is pretty darn choppy. has a tendency to stick some. the Machax doesn't stick, and is light enough to flick well, but has mass at the end. if you're technique is spot on, it's a monster.

the brute didn't do well in the tests, but well, there we go :)

the patrol machete did quite fine though.

go find the test post :) unless MOOOOOOOOSE brings it up first :)
 
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