Marbles 14” Scout Machete?

lmalterna said:
LOL! Yes sir, I have followed your threads and enjoyed the one form the Phils. Last April I married my lovely wife whos family hails from Bicol Province. I have also been watching that distributor for availability of a couple that I admire there. I particularly want to try one of the rattan wrapped bolos. I just thought from your mention of looking for a short machete with a usable point- the barong would seem a candidate.

I have worked with mine some both griping the blade to use the tip for fine drilling and carving to anchoring my left hand and holding the spine in my left fingers- then manuevering the handle in my right hand for more leveraged carving with the tip. I need more development but I already appreciate the versatility and a good reprofile of the edge should help even more.

But this thread is about the Marbles machete and I have already derailed it enough. :o

Bill
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Bicol…I love that place. They got a big cone shaped volcano I can’t get enough of. Bicol makes the best cutting tools such as razors, and scissors. They make their bolos from ball bearings as well as leaf springs.

The rattan bolo you mentioned is one of my favorite cutting tools I have ever used. I ended up giving it away in hopes my friends will send me another one, but I won’t ask. I really liked the 14” rattan bolo, more like the ones they use in the jungles of Subic Bay. I had my perfect cutting tools, but gave them to some people who will appreciate them. Also, bolos kick ass at chopping, but can be on the heavy side.

Don’t worry about the thread going off the rails…soon we will be talking about bubble gum and hot dogs!

-RB
 
Mount Mayon :) We enjoyed the pics you have on that website of some of the places we went in Bohol- Chocolate Hills, The Blood Compact, Pangloa Island just down from Tagbilaran. The razors and scissors may explain why her Dad, aunt and one uncle are all barbers! LOL! We will make Batangas and Taytay on our next visit home- maybe Naga City in Bicol.

I intend to order a rattan handled Bolo, a couple of Itak(large knife) and maybe a GP Bolo when they show in stock. But, until then I am happy with my Barong- nice and light, versatile and I only gave about 10.00 for it!

Ingat palagi.
Bill
 
lmalterna said:
Mount Mayon :) We enjoyed the pics you have on that website of some of the places we went in Bohol- Chocolate Hills, The Blood Compact, Pangloa Island just down from Tagbilaran. The razors and scissors may explain why her Dad, aunt and one uncle are all barbers! LOL! We will make Batangas and Taytay on our next visit home- maybe Naga City in Bicol.

I intend to order a rattan handled Bolo, a couple of Itak(large knife) and maybe a GP Bolo when they show in stock. But, until then I am happy with my Barong- nice and light, versatile and I only gave about 10.00 for it!

Ingat palagi.
Bill
Click to expand...

When you go to Batangas, go see my friend Diosdado Uno. He is a bit of a legend of the streets of Batangas.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbldLK9IQ10&feature=related

IMG_0302.jpg

-RB
 
Like I was saying, I think the Marbles 14" Scout will be a good compromise of a light weight chopper with a useable tip. Kind of like a bolo, but without the weight.

-RB
 
comparison photos are uploading.

Er.... they're all in RAW which photobucket doesn't support. Any ideas? I have a bunch of comparison shots.

I can tell you this: The Scout's spine is perfectly flat along the same axis of the handle. The Eco Survivor is canted back at a slight angle and curves slightly to the tip. The Marbles is sliiiiiiiiightly thicker than the Eco Survivor, and the blade width at the hlits and at the bellies are virtually identical. The difference is the location of the sweet spot, and that the Eco Survivor's contour out to the curve is completely straight as it widens. With the Scout, it curves. It maintains a thinner profile until it gets to the sweet spot until it curves out to create the full width of the belly at the sweet spot, making it more defined than the Eco Survivor, and giving it a much nicer point. The PVC handle on the Eco Survivor is the same as the plastic handle on the cheap plastic imacasas, and the wood handle on the Scout is virtually the same as Imacasa's cheap machete wood handles, but more attention given to fit and finish and a thick lacquer coat with the end dipped in orange paint. As it comes from the factory it is quite comfortable and useable without modification. The Marbles may be a TAD heavier than the Eco Survivor, but you really have to be paying attention to notice the difference. As far as edge quality, the consistency of the grind and the sharpness are negligible in difference. Both come slicing sharp with a typical Condor mirror finish convex edge.
 
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K I got GIMP to change the file types, resaved and resized them, and photobucket won't upload. W.T.F? BTW The sheaths are both made of the same woven nylon with nice stainless rivets. The Eco Survivor's sheath covers the blade only and stops at the handle-the Marbles is a secure pouch style with two pockets, one that fits an altoids tin perfectly and one that comes with a factory sharpening stone. Based on the sheath alone I'd choose the marbles over the Eco Survivor, though both are great.
 
I have it and have done some packing with it. Takes a very nice edge, holds it fairly well - for light chopping, soft woods etc it should eat 'em up all day. A very handy length and weight, the handle took a fair amount of work to shape it into something comfortable. Here's mine after being touched up from a three-day trip -

Marbles1.jpg


Its limited by the lack of mass at the tip - I need a bit more of a chopper so I bought a Tramontina bolo to replace (possibly) my CS bolo next year. Other than that its a great little machete - rings clear and pretty as a bell when you hit some hardwood with it.
 
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