My machete snapped

D

darkwaters

Joined
Dec 18, 2008
Messages
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i got this from Joe at PWYP, and i was chopping a down pine to move off a 4wheeler trail and the blade snapped. and not even at the spot i was chopping with. im pretty sure its stainless steel, dont know if that has anything to do with it or not. does condor have a warrenty?

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stainless steel does not make for a good machete

glad no one got hurt
 
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Perhaps a hatchet or saw would have been a more appropriate tool for a tree of that size?
 
Condor's always been good about customer service, even though their QC can sometimes leave a little bit to be desired. I definately recommend the high carbon model over the stainless...
 
JParanee said:
stainless steel does not make for a good machete

glad no one got hurt
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From any other manufacturer you'd be right. Condor's 420HC is phenomenal, however. I've been beating the snot out of my Viking for years now and I haven't had a bit of trouble. Condor will replace the piece in question--they're great like that. :)
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
From any other manufacturer you'd be right. Condor's 420HC is phenomenal, however. I've been beating the snot out of my Viking for years now and I haven't had a bit of trouble. Condor will replace the piece in question--they're great like that. :)
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I can second the beating to the Condor Viking. :thumbup:

Contact Condor. They will hook you up.
 
I got an email address from the website I'm going to email them to see what they say. I do know this model was discontinued and replaced by a longer model. I wouldn't be surprised at all if it snaped side ways but this thing stuck in I pulled straght up and my hand felt lighter. The blade wasn't even wedged in that deep. I just stood there with briken handle in hand ammased that the rest didn't come up and bite into my face.
 
Condor is the ONLY company with good stainless machetes. Their 420hc is tough as nails. I have broken a 12in Ontario an replaced it with a 14in Condor, beat it much harder and the Condor laughs it off. I also have a 18in Condor Jungle Saber that has been turned into a Froe and is still kicking. I dare you to find a more abusive use than that for a machete.
 
Please feel free to dog pile on me if I am out of line here, but.......

A machete is not an axe! It is not a saw. A machete can chop through herbaceous plant material as in the jungle, but not to chop coniferous trees that are a much tougher wood to cut through. You are trying to chop a log with a machete, that is wrong. If any company warranties that, then they are going above and beyond the call of customer service.

Thank God you were not hurt. That tip could have flown up and stuck in your noodle. God was looking out for you, and is giving you a redo. Do it right next time, use an axe or a saw, and use your tools for what they are intended.

There is a reason Paul Bunyan did not carry a machete in the timberline, Babe his ox would have made fun of him. Seriously, I am glad you were not hurt, but I think you need an internet spanking for your lack of judgement.
 
cj65 said:
Please feel free to dog pile on me if I am out of line here, but.......

A machete is not an axe! It is not a saw. A machete can chop through herbaceous plant material as in the jungle, but not to chop coniferous trees that are a much tougher wood to cut through. You are trying to chop a log with a machete, that is wrong. If any company warranties that, then they are going above and beyond the call of customer service.

Thank God you were not hurt. That tip could have flown up and stuck in your noodle. God was looking out for you, and is giving you a redo. Do it right next time, use an axe or a saw, and use your tools for what they are intended.

There is a reason Paul Bunyan did not carry a machete in the timberline, Babe his ox would have made fun of him. Seriously, I am glad you were not hurt, but I think you need an internet spanking for your lack of judgement.
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It is true that chopping through dense media is not the intended function of the tool, but sometimes you have to make due with what you have. Of course, any time you use a tool for anything other than what it is intended for you risk damage (and maybe injury in this case).
 
Chopping logs with a machete is a matter of technique. You can't use it like you would an axe. Nobody here would consider a small hook knife as a tree felling tool but beavers swear by them. If using a machete to fell ta tree think like a beaver. Take your time and give yourself plenty of room in the notch your cutting. It isn't an ideal tool for the job, it takes longer but can be done without damage to man or tool.

About the breakage, I can't really comment, but I would definitely have words with Condor and give them a chance to make it right. All of my machetes are carbon and I've never snapped a blade. I have had a thick 1080 machete take a sharp 20 degree bend while batonning twisty grain wood. It snapped right back with no permanent set.
 
I have chopped very hard maple with my Condor in 420HC with no damage. I have also seen Ontario machetes in 1095 snap in two on a pine sapling. I suspect that the machetes that broke were defective. As Condors are expensive, for machetes, I'd contact them and try to get a new one.
 
Each of the many jungle knives has it's own purposes .Machetes are for lighter grasses or bush. My military kukri would chop that pine easily though yesterday I chose my light Estwing axe for the job. Either way I would do it right - cut out wedges !! Much easier on the blade and you .
 
I've never understood the use of stainless in a chopper, when there are so many tougher steels to pick.
 
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