Nice way to start the weekend. (ESEE Lite Machete)

adaman04 said:
Diz your pics always turn out great, but we gotta get you a light booth man. You like that dark lighting too much. :D
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I do like dark, but these are truly horrible, "OMGIGOTMYCHETE!!!!" snaps.

Tomorrow I'm taking it upstairs for a proper workout :)
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Do a whaaaaaaaat? You do family portraits on the side? :D

That is heck of a light booth man.
 
What a coincidence, my mailman delivered mine today as well!
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I agree, I really like the micarta handle! I already have a Collins 22" machete, but it has a cheap plastic handle that is slippery and cracking, whereas the micarta on the Lite Machete feels nice and will last better.
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It is very comfortable, and for cutting shrubs and branches, I like the 18" blade better than my longer 22". The longer blade might be a better length if I was clearing acres of long grass, but also more tiring to swing all day.
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Although I will probably own an RC-6, and maybe a Junglas, I think I will actually use the Lite Machete far more. Yes, it cost quite a bit more than some other machetes, but has a much improved handle and a serviceable sheath, along with a great blade and good grind and the backing of a great company.
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Looks useful.. Might have to get one if we end up with some land & brush to clear...
 
I started looking into RAT back when the rc10 was a whisper. I was frothing at the mouthfor the junglas, and still want one. But I'm much more excited for this, and it's been almost too good a distraction.

Now... If we can get a Viking styled one...
 
I'll be interested to hear the decision on the warranty with the Machete. It looks really cool though!
 
my lovely lady just gave me her credit card and told me to order one! can't wait to get my new machete!
 
Damn...as much as I love the other ESEE tools I have I suppose I'll have to order one of these too eventually...and I'm not even really a machete guy anymore. Maybe buying one will give me an excuse to head south for a while and play with it :) . I really dig that handle and the blade shape looks really good.

Those arrowheads look pretty awesome, I think I'll get a few of those first.
 
Again, we are still working out details on the blade warranty, especially since these are user tools and users are going to hit rocks and chip the edges, etc. I figure we will cover blade breakage and handle issues without a question but not sure if we can cover edge wear, chipping, etc. The main reason for this is we have almost 3 times as much $$$ in the handle as we do the blade itself. If we were just buying finished machetes directly from El Salvador (which we plan to do also and offer on our site along with this El Salvador / USA hyrbid machete) and re-selling them then we could offer a no-questions -asked warranty because we could set our profit margins high enough to cover any and all returns and abuse. Currently, we have a lot in re-lasering the blank from El Salvador then making and adding the handle, so to keep prices *decent* on this we dropped our profit margin way down. Again, still working out what we are going to do but just know we will take care of the user when it comes to our product. I just haven't found a machete yet that doesn't chip the edge out in time when slammed against a rock - and that IS going to happen.

Another point to make here is a machete is a true using blade that sees a lot more abuse than a standard knife. A machete user should already know how to sharpen the blade when it gets chipped (or just not worry about it and keep on using it). We consider a machete a more professional tool meaning the user needs more knowledge to use these every day, unlike a standard knife. These are just not knives for those who would worry that the coating is coming off, or the blade is chipped or rust is forming, etc. Most folks on here are users but you wouldn't believe at the people we get emailing us worried about cosmetics on their using knife.
 
R.A.T. said:
Again, we are still working out details on the blade warranty, especially since these are user tools and users are going to hit rocks and chip the edges, etc. I figure we will cover blade breakage and handle issues without a question but not sure if we can cover edge wear, chipping, etc. The main reason for this is we have almost 3 times as much $$$ in the handle as we do the blade itself. If we were just buying finished machetes directly from El Salvador (which we plan to do also and offer on our site along with this El Salvador / USA hyrbid machete) and re-selling them then we could offer a no-questions -asked warranty because we could set our profit margins high enough to cover any and all returns and abuse. Currently, we have a lot in re-lasering the blank from El Salvador then making and adding the handle, so to keep prices *decent* on this we dropped our profit margin way down. Again, still working out what we are going to do but just know we will take care of the user when it comes to our product. I just haven't found a machete yet that doesn't chip the edge out in time when slammed against a rock - and that IS going to happen.

Another point to make here is a machete is a true using blade that sees a lot more abuse than a standard knife. A machete user should already know how to sharpen the blade when it gets chipped (or just not worry about it and keep on using it). We consider a machete a more professional tool meaning the user needs more knowledge to use these every day, unlike a standard knife. These are just not knives for those who would worry that the coating is coming off, or the blade is chipped or rust is forming, etc. Most folks on here are users but you wouldn't believe at the people we get emailing us worried about cosmetics on their using knife.
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That seems logical Jeff and from a customer standpoint I think that's very reasonable. It's a machete to be used as a machete. Edge wear and damage is part of USE and ownership of a machete, not a warranty issue. Something that is going to get whacked against things as its primary purpose is going to have the coating wear off. I'm sure you'll figure it out.

BTW, is this first run of Lite Machetes the 600 blade blanks you originally ordered from Imacasa?
 
Yes, this is the first run of 600. They are just about sold out so we are ordering more blanks from Imacasa now.
 
R.A.T. said:
I figure we will cover blade breakage and handle issues without a question but not sure if we can cover edge wear, chipping, etc.
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That's more than I'd even expect on a machete. At least for mine, I know it's going to be eating a bunch of hardwood, and in situation where I don't particularly watch for rocks, ice, or such. Edges are gonna get chipped, handles are gonna get bashed into stuff. If you only covered the blade snapping in half, I'd still be impressed. This is almost the same problem as trying to put a warranty on a lead pencil. Here we all know what you mean. Joe Public however, needs specific wording.
 
R.A.T. said:
I figure we will cover blade breakage and handle issues without a question but not sure if we can cover edge wear, chipping, etc...
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The fact that you guys are willing to do that much just reaffirms the fact that your company believes in it's product. I've used a machete on a daily basis for the last 10 years as a Land Surveyor and am only on my second one, so I have no doubt in my mind that the ESEE machete should last a lifetime for most users. My only concern is, can the sheath be replaced?
 
The sheath is just a cheap piece of junk to protect the edge when carrying. We will probably have replacements for sale on the site but just remember it's not much of a sheath. If we would have done this any better it would have put the price point totally out of reach in the machete market.
 
R.A.T. said:
I just haven't found a machete yet that doesn't chip the edge out in time when slammed against a rock - and that IS going to happen.

Another point to make here is a machete is a true using blade that sees a lot more abuse than a standard knife. A machete user should already know how to sharpen the blade when it gets chipped (or just not worry about it and keep on using it). We consider a machete a more professional tool meaning the user needs more knowledge to use these every day, unlike a standard knife. These are just not knives for those who would worry that the coating is coming off, or the blade is chipped or rust is forming, etc. Most folks on here are users but you wouldn't believe at the people we get emailing us worried about cosmetics on their using knife.
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Well stated and a very realistic expectation. If you've never dinged the edge on a 'chete or ditch bank tool, you weren't actually using it.

LostSoul said:
My only concern is, can the sheath be replaced?
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I'm sure there will be aftermarket sources in leather, kydex, canvas, and a variety of hybrids,

R.A.T. said:
The sheath is just a cheap piece of junk to protect the edge when carrying. We will probably have replacements for sale on the site but just remember it's not much of a sheath. If we would have done this any better it would have put the price point totally out of reach in the machete market.
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One of the makers on BF is importing a batch of Imacasa blades to tune and rehandle with kydex. They've already done this with a batch of old Collins blades. Don't remember the selling price on the Collins, but their anticipated selling point for the Imacasa blades is $100 or so - so I don't find the "street price" on the ESEE Lite to be bad at all.
 
Yep, I think machete use is becoming quite the rage amongst knifesters. We've been pushing this envelop for years trying to get people on board and we're finally seeing it happen. Of course, this may hurt the feelings of some compnaies who think a survival knife should be a short fixed blade :D
 
R.A.T. said:
The sheath is just a cheap piece of junk to protect the edge when carrying. We will probably have replacements for sale on the site but just remember it's not much of a sheath. If we would have done this any better it would have put the price point totally out of reach in the machete market.
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Again, I think you're spot on. A simple sheath/cover is a nice basic offering. Aftermarket or optional kydex sheaths would be a good thing to offer as an option for those that would be interested in one.

I've been one of those to resist the machete for years. "A machete is a jungle tool..." We'll see if I was wrong. :D Plan to do some review threads on the Lite and my ESEE Pack Kit as soon as this run of work slows down.
 
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Thanks for the clarification Jeff on warranty. It all seems reasonable to me. I still think I might just re-order a 2nd one on that next batch you put out. With a user like this and having an expected finite lifetime, then a spare seems a good approach to take.
 
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