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- Sep 27, 1999
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I posted this in the reveiw section but figured some peope here might want to check it out.
Report on the comparison of three machete style blades.
Tale of the tape
1. Tramontina bolo machete: 14 ½ blade, carbon steel, 1/16 thick, overall length 19 1/8. Cost $5.95.
2. Martindale golok machete: 13 blade, carbon steel, 1/8 thick, overall length 18 1/8. Cost $19.95-39.95.
3. Dexter-Russell fish splitter panang style machete: 11 7/16 blade, 440c, 1/8 thick, overall length 16 11/16. Cost $14.95.
All three blades are within a few inches of each other. Not much of a significant difference.
Blade profiles:
The blade profiles varied from the bolo which has a lager profile at the point giving extra weight at the end of the blade to provide a deeper cut. The golok has a squared off tip like a reverse tanto and the fish splitter has a slightly upswept point with a slight bolo-esque end. Each were designed for work in a jungle type of environment. Cutting vines and vegetation. The fishsplitter is a butcher quality knife used for working with fish, it bares a strong resemblance to knives used in the jungles of Malaysia.
The handles:
The bolo is full tang and has a cheap type of wood but after a year of hard use has only one chip. The pins used to keep the handle on a cheap die cast metal that occasionally loosen but none-the-less it works extremely well. The golok has an oak handle with a lot better quality pins but it is ¾ tang, the handle was very slick at the top end during cutting I often had to stop and choke up on the handle, my least favorite handle in the bunch. The fishsplitter has an injection molded handle of a white type thermoplastic which is extremely comfortable. I did however sand off a better grip for my self with a Dremel. All handles gave calluses after long cutting chores.
Tests done:
Cutting grape vines, large bushes, small to medium saplings, cutting bamboo poles, carving yawara sticks out of a hard wood, tillering a bow stave out of oak and doing combative knife drills for long hours to get the feel of each machete.
These were all performed with the three machetes. The fishplitter has been in use for 4 years, the bolo for 2 years and the golok for 4 months. The fish splitter went through more comprehensive abusive tests 4 years ago, I jumped up and down on the middle of it while it was help up by 2 cinderblocks, I also threw it as hard as I could at trees. This same one is still in use only it has be sharpened up. My in-laws have 100 acres of woods all three knives were used in cutting thick grape vines and small to medium saplings. I have also taken the bolo on a camping trip and cut fire wood from 3-4 diameter fallen branches at campsite. The golok spent more time cutting down 4 diameter sweet gum sapling and an oak and maple tree. It faired extremely well in those tests. The fishplitter has done its share as well. All cut bamboo very efficiently. All cut bushes very well. Tillering is a really defining process for a machete. It has to have the control to shave off just a bit of would without going to deep while being able to hack off literally 2 of hard core wood. This process can take up to 2 hours of hacking alone. During this process I was truly able to see the total machete clearly.
Final thoughts:
Tramontina bolo machete: is an awesome tool. For 6 bucks this thing will easily be handed down to your grandkids. It is tough and it gets the job done. I felt the steel didnt hold a great edge and it was hard to sharpen with a file but not impossible. The handle was comfortable and there was little slippage, it offered a secure grip.
Martindale golok machete: is a good solid knife that I would not kick out of bed in a survival situation. I would not rush out and buy 3 of them. I think this was a personal thing I just didnt like the blade profile and how it performed. It took a hell-of an edge and held it. I would say the steel quality is not great but good. The handle is made of tough oak which looks great but my hand slipped off quite a bit and in a self defense situation it would not be my knife of choice. I do love the alligator logo on the side. For the most expensive knife in the bunch this was my over all least favorite.
Dexter-Russel fishplitter: this knife is a real sleeper, I found it while working in a knife shop in Seattle, WA. I had a habit of doing flow drills with all the knives I could when it was slow in the backroom. This was comfortable fast and believe it or not excellent steel. I am not 100% certain that it is 440c but on D-Rs web site it lists a lot of their knives as 440c. like I said earlier I jumped on this knife( I weigh 150lbs) threw it at trees and generally abused it anyway I could 4 years ago. If you were to look at it you could not tell it has been that abused. It takes a great edge and keeps it. The handle is comfortable. My biggest compliant is that the blade profile is too upswept for me. I would much prefer a drop bolo style. Plus the white plastic handle is very very ugly. It is a real work horse. If I hand to outfit a large jungle expedition on a budget this would make a great choice. Definitely my favorite of the bunch if you couldnt tell.
I could e-mail pictures of some of the tests if anyone is interested. I think there is nothing my wife hates to hear more than when I ask her to photograph me using my machetes.
Report on the comparison of three machete style blades.
Tale of the tape
1. Tramontina bolo machete: 14 ½ blade, carbon steel, 1/16 thick, overall length 19 1/8. Cost $5.95.
2. Martindale golok machete: 13 blade, carbon steel, 1/8 thick, overall length 18 1/8. Cost $19.95-39.95.
3. Dexter-Russell fish splitter panang style machete: 11 7/16 blade, 440c, 1/8 thick, overall length 16 11/16. Cost $14.95.
All three blades are within a few inches of each other. Not much of a significant difference.
Blade profiles:
The blade profiles varied from the bolo which has a lager profile at the point giving extra weight at the end of the blade to provide a deeper cut. The golok has a squared off tip like a reverse tanto and the fish splitter has a slightly upswept point with a slight bolo-esque end. Each were designed for work in a jungle type of environment. Cutting vines and vegetation. The fishsplitter is a butcher quality knife used for working with fish, it bares a strong resemblance to knives used in the jungles of Malaysia.
The handles:
The bolo is full tang and has a cheap type of wood but after a year of hard use has only one chip. The pins used to keep the handle on a cheap die cast metal that occasionally loosen but none-the-less it works extremely well. The golok has an oak handle with a lot better quality pins but it is ¾ tang, the handle was very slick at the top end during cutting I often had to stop and choke up on the handle, my least favorite handle in the bunch. The fishsplitter has an injection molded handle of a white type thermoplastic which is extremely comfortable. I did however sand off a better grip for my self with a Dremel. All handles gave calluses after long cutting chores.
Tests done:
Cutting grape vines, large bushes, small to medium saplings, cutting bamboo poles, carving yawara sticks out of a hard wood, tillering a bow stave out of oak and doing combative knife drills for long hours to get the feel of each machete.
These were all performed with the three machetes. The fishplitter has been in use for 4 years, the bolo for 2 years and the golok for 4 months. The fish splitter went through more comprehensive abusive tests 4 years ago, I jumped up and down on the middle of it while it was help up by 2 cinderblocks, I also threw it as hard as I could at trees. This same one is still in use only it has be sharpened up. My in-laws have 100 acres of woods all three knives were used in cutting thick grape vines and small to medium saplings. I have also taken the bolo on a camping trip and cut fire wood from 3-4 diameter fallen branches at campsite. The golok spent more time cutting down 4 diameter sweet gum sapling and an oak and maple tree. It faired extremely well in those tests. The fishplitter has done its share as well. All cut bamboo very efficiently. All cut bushes very well. Tillering is a really defining process for a machete. It has to have the control to shave off just a bit of would without going to deep while being able to hack off literally 2 of hard core wood. This process can take up to 2 hours of hacking alone. During this process I was truly able to see the total machete clearly.
Final thoughts:
Tramontina bolo machete: is an awesome tool. For 6 bucks this thing will easily be handed down to your grandkids. It is tough and it gets the job done. I felt the steel didnt hold a great edge and it was hard to sharpen with a file but not impossible. The handle was comfortable and there was little slippage, it offered a secure grip.
Martindale golok machete: is a good solid knife that I would not kick out of bed in a survival situation. I would not rush out and buy 3 of them. I think this was a personal thing I just didnt like the blade profile and how it performed. It took a hell-of an edge and held it. I would say the steel quality is not great but good. The handle is made of tough oak which looks great but my hand slipped off quite a bit and in a self defense situation it would not be my knife of choice. I do love the alligator logo on the side. For the most expensive knife in the bunch this was my over all least favorite.
Dexter-Russel fishplitter: this knife is a real sleeper, I found it while working in a knife shop in Seattle, WA. I had a habit of doing flow drills with all the knives I could when it was slow in the backroom. This was comfortable fast and believe it or not excellent steel. I am not 100% certain that it is 440c but on D-Rs web site it lists a lot of their knives as 440c. like I said earlier I jumped on this knife( I weigh 150lbs) threw it at trees and generally abused it anyway I could 4 years ago. If you were to look at it you could not tell it has been that abused. It takes a great edge and keeps it. The handle is comfortable. My biggest compliant is that the blade profile is too upswept for me. I would much prefer a drop bolo style. Plus the white plastic handle is very very ugly. It is a real work horse. If I hand to outfit a large jungle expedition on a budget this would make a great choice. Definitely my favorite of the bunch if you couldnt tell.
I could e-mail pictures of some of the tests if anyone is interested. I think there is nothing my wife hates to hear more than when I ask her to photograph me using my machetes.
.