Marble's Damascus Skinners?

D

DShiflet

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Jan 25, 2013
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Does anyone know anything about these? I was browsing Marble's products at SMKW.com cause I've heard good stuff about their machetes and was planning on buying one, and I came across several varieties of their "Damascus Skinners". They are very attractive, and I was interested in getting one, but I don't know anything about them, couldn't find reviews or comments on them anywhere. Since the price is $40 I assume they're not made in the US, but have no idea of the steel quality or anything else. Anyone have/have had one, and if so, what were your opinions of it? I realize it's not gonna be some high end collector's piece, but I don't wanna spend $40 on something that's total junk either.

If it makes a difference, this is the specific one I found most appealing:
Damascus Upswept Skinner
 
Questionable quality at best.

1) Cheap damascus is not damascus.
2) Marble's knives are unknown origin these days. It's just a name somebody owns and slaps on knives. Meaningless.
3) You can easily find better machetes, even.

In my opinion.
 
marcinek said:
Questionable quality at best.

1) Cheap damascus is not damascus.
2) Marble's knives are unknown origin these days. It's just a name somebody owns and slaps on knives. Meaningless.
3) You can easily find better machetes, even.

In my opinion.
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1)Yes, I didn't figure it was real Damascus.
2)I figured as much, but wasn't sure.
3)Not for $15 you can't. And truth be told, I know several people who have put their Marbles machetes through a TON of abuse with absolutely NO issues whatsoever. These same people rank the Marbles machetes they have used right below Condor, and I KNOW you don't easily find better machetes than those.
 
The Marbles brand was bought by a company (forget its name) some years ago which gets its knives made in China mostly. I would not buy any currently made Marbles.
 
Grapevine said:
The Marbles brand was bought by a company (forget its name) some years ago which gets its knives made in China mostly. I would not buy any currently made Marbles.
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Well, their machetes are made in El Salvador, but I suspected the knives were probably China made. Not that I care a ton about where it's made other than curiosity, but it's nice to know either way.
 
Aren't the Marbles machetes made by Imacasa? I have one and apart from the wood it's good quality and came with a nice edge. Personally I wouldn't buy any cheap damascus knives on which I couldn't see the tang. The price just seems suspect... haven't handled it though!
 
Goosey said:
Aren't the Marbles machetes made by Imacasa? I have one and apart from the wood it's good quality and came with a nice edge. Personally I wouldn't buy any cheap damascus knives on which I couldn't see the tang. The price just seems suspect... haven't handled it though!
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I don't know if Marbles machetes are made by Imacasa, but I suspect they are. Condor machetes are made by Imacasa, and every Marbles machete has a Condor equivalent with the exact same shape and dimensions, and I'm talking above and beyond just the basic machete blade shapes.
 
Shame what happened to Marbles was a great USA made knife at one point.. To be quite honest I've held and played with new Marbles blades and own a original Pilot Survival with a Bakelite pommel and the fit and finish on the new ones are not to shabby still use nickel/silver bolsters as well.
 
I like the WWII era Marbles with the pronounced fuller. Good looking knives.

I know, that its the way of the world and blah-blah-blah, but its sad that the old companies either dont exist anymore or that their once proud name gets slapped on inferior or generic knives these days.

Cattaraugus, Marbles, Camillus etc etc....
 
marcinek said:
You are correct. A Tram will cost you less than $15.
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Sure, you can get a Tram for less than $15. Now add the price of the sheath, since, unlike Marbles, they don't come with one. Suddenly, I'm not paying under $15 for that Tram. Not to mention if I didn't want the sheath, I could get a Marbles for under $15 too.

Oh, and I also have to take the time to put an edge on it(and I HATE sharpening, I can do it, but there's about a couple hundred things I would rather be doing), as Tram's come with the bare minimum of an edge, unlike Marbles which come nicely sharpened. So to get a machete of comparable quality to the Marbles for a few dollars less, I make more work for myself AND forgo a sheath? Why on earth would I do that?
 
WyoRidgeRunner said:
LOL a knife lover that hates sharpening.. Now I've heard everything!
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I like collecting, I don't like maintenance. Just like I enjoy shooting, but I hate stripping and cleaning my guns afterwards.

Sure, I accept that I'll have to sharpen knives I use, but I shouldn't have to sharpen ones I just got new.
 
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