Ontario Military Machete vs. Condor Golok

Joined
Jun 21, 2013
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Hi guys, I wasn't really sure where to post this, so ill put it here. I know that these two machetes are pretty different, however I'm not sure which one i want to get. I live in Western New York if that helps give you an idea of the vegetation I have. It would be used for more chopping tasks than anything else. maybe occasional batoning. I was leaning toward the Golok, but I would probably have to get a sheath that isn't leather since I don't want to worry about the sheath getting wet. However, I really want to like the Ontario more... especially because i try to buy U.S. made when I can. plus I like the idea of getting the plastic sheath for it and ranger banding some survival gear to it like so many people are doing.
 
In my opinion they both need work from the factory. The Ontario needs the handle reshaped and the edge sharpened and the Condor needs the edge thinned out a LOT (I spent most of a day with a file on mine). I would go for the Ontario either way. Its a tough machete and the sheath is pretty slick. I have a neck knife sheath strapped to my Ontario sheath and I keep it in my truck. The Condor is fine but you will be spending a lot of time trying to get it to cut as well as the Ontario.
 
Yah I was kinda leaning towards the Condor because it looks really nice and the blade shape and the thicker spine made me think that it might be a better chopper. I assume you have the hard plastic sheath the Ontario? If so can you tell me which brand you got, and also do you think that the Ontario would do Okay for batoning? I don't baton much so I'm not to worried about it but it would be nice to know I can but the thinner spine made me kinda worried about it. Also if I get the Ontario should I get the normal one or the saw-back?
 
Sheath? Just the factory plastic one with the sharpener on it. The sharpener is useless but the sheath is good. Although I have not batoned with mine, I think that it would do just fine for batoning. Its 1/8" thick and tough. As for the saw, I would get it. I have never sawed with it that I can think of but the saw works great for grabbing stuff that you just cut. I typically cut weeds or branches with my Ontario, then hook the branch with the saw and throw it out of the way. Its much easier than reaching down and grabbing whatever you are cutting everytime.
 
Ok. I was wondering about the sheath because on Amazon and most other places it does not come with a sheath so you have to buy it separate and I can't find one actually made by Ontario on Amazon. Did you try chopping with the Condor with the factory edge? If so how did it compare to the Ontario factory edge? I am wondering because I don't have a belt sander or anything(There's one in the shop at my school I can use but I don't think they would appreciate me bring in a machete :D) and I don't wan't to use a bench grinder to change the edge.
 
I did use the Condor with the factory edge. I hear that they are coming somewhat thinner now but when I got mine it was way too thick. It was more suited to demolition than cutting anything. The Ontarios that I have had came with a decent bevel but needed a final edge put on it. This can be done easily with a file. Also, if you really want the golok and cant reprofile it yourself, go through Baryonyx knife. They will fix the edge for you for a small fee and make sure the machete meets their standard before shipping it. They also carry Ontario. I have dealt with them a couple of times and the service is A+.
 
When I order, I will try to order from them, weather I get the Ontario or Condor, I'm just kinda bummed that the Ontario on there appears to come with a nylon sheath rather than the plastic. Some day I will get both machetes. As for now I'm still trying to figure out which one to get, leaning toward the Ontario now. But that Condor is defiantly nice looking.

EDIT: They don't have the saw back version either, but If I can I will try to order from them and get the plastic sheath separate.
 
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If you get either one from Baryonyx, you really cant lose either way. I just checked for the plastic sheath and the one on Amazon is the one that I have. I tell you what, you cover the shipping costs and I will send you a Condor Golok that has been stripped and already had the edge thinned out, free of charge. Just shoot me an email. (click on my user name) I am going to bed soon so I may not get back to you until tomorrow.
 
Cool. I'll think about it, though I'm liking the offer, but I'm going to bed in like five minutes too.
 
I have modified and sold hundreds of 12” and 18” Ontario’s. I did that because people wanted them, but I never could quite warm up to them myself.

This is my own personal preference, so take it for what it is worth. But, I think the Ontario falls strangely in the middle of what I like. It is too thick to be more like a traditional machete (which I use a lot), yet not thick enough to put a nice, even convex on like a golok, parang, etc. So, it never quite did it for me. Plus, I have not been the biggest fan of the handle. The handle (at least on the ones I removed the handles from) were hollow, meaning you could only shape it/sand it so much before you either weakened it, or reached a hollow spot.

If you do decide to go with an Ontario, here are a couple things to consider on the saw back. The saw could be very useful for sawing notches in things (instead of carving them). But, it could also get in the way for things like batoning (really chew up your baton), and also using as a draw knife. You can not easily grip the saw area. As far as using the saw for grabbing things, it is a lot safer, and less work to make a gancho hook. If you don’t know what that is, youtube it and you will find an excellent video on it.

I got a Condor Golok immediately after they first came out. It seems that Condor has been continuing to refine their edges and geometries as time goes on. But, when I got my Golok it wasn’t that sharp, and rather thick in the edge. It was not a big deal to me at all because I am a knifemaker. I just took some meat out of the grind, and convexed it the way I like, and now it is one of my top performers. I use it as a benchmark for testing new stuff, and it is kind of like my “stand by” for when I don’t know which tool to grab, I just grab that one because I know it will work.

Now, I recently acquired Condor’s Bushcraft Parang for an upcoming review. What makes me think that Condor is improving edge geometry as they go is that this thing came ready to go. It wasn’t a super micron polished mirror edge or anything, but it was very sharp, very nice, and most important of all great geometry. My first instinct with any new large blade is to at least polish and sharpen it up, and perhaps even do a little re-profiling. But, with the parang, I just started using it, and have done a lot of work with it would any modifications. Perhaps the new goloks will come with the same type of edge now? Can’t say for sure, but maybe they are different now than the old one I originally received? But, based on another thread going on this forum, maybe not either?

On the batoning question, I wouldn't hestitate in the least to beat the bejezus out of any of these pieces of steel with a wooden baton.

Just things to think about.

B
 
This is my own personal preference, so take it for what it is worth. But, I think the Ontario falls strangely in the middle of what I like. It is too thick to be more like a traditional machete (which I use a lot), yet not thick enough to put a nice, even convex on like a golok, parang, etc. B

This is why I've never bought one. A wide blade with a relatively soft HT doesn't need to be so thick. I've beat on trams at half the thickness without any problems so to me the extra thickness was just extra useless weight. A lot of people like them though.
 
This is why I've never bought one. A wide blade with a relatively soft HT doesn't need to be so thick. I've beat on trams at half the thickness without any problems so to me the extra thickness was just extra useless weight. A lot of people like them though.

Yup, I hear you.

Now that I think about it more, I probably had a bad choice of words in my original statement. Instead of saying "not thick enough to put a nice, even convex on...." I probably should have worded it different. You can get a convex on it for sure. But, with it being the thickness it is, and the blade shape it doesn't have enough forward weight (like a parang, golok, enep, khukri) to allow the convex grind to do the work the way it should. Therefore, landing in the "middle" for me and not really liking it. Maybe that explains things for me a little bit better.

B
 
I just placed an order with baryonyx, sprung for the special grade too. I was very close to ordering a golok machete but I went with just a bushcraft parang and crocidillian machete (both also made by Condor). I'm really interested in the golok though. I've watched a lot of videos on both and you really won't go wrong with either, especially from baryonyx (42blades here on BFC) if you spring for the special grade. Every blade that comes in gets inspected and then the special grade option pretty much addresses the shortcomings or the blades.
 
I have machetes from Tramontina, Ontario and Martindale among others. The 14.5" Tramontina Bolo was my favorite machete for quite a while. Started using my 12" and 18" Ontario's and Martindale. Now, those 3 are my go to machetes. I use my 12" Ontario and 12" Fiddleback more then any other big blade that I own. If I need something bigger, I normally grab for my 18" USGI Ontario first, then my Martindale or Tramontina. Guess I like a little heftier machete.

The 12" D-guard Ontario is currently my most used blade.
 
This is why I've never bought one. A wide blade with a relatively soft HT doesn't need to be so thick. I've beat on trams at half the thickness without any problems so to me the extra thickness was just extra useless weight. A lot of people like them though.

Ontarios have a harder heat treatment than even Imacasa does. If anything I consider them on the brittle side for their thickness. They need the thickness or they wouldn't hold up so hot under the kind of beating a GI can dish out. :D

I think they're ok machetes, and the most economical choice for folks that insist on USA-made, but they're one of my last choices out of the range of machetes that I consider good solid working tools. They take some of the most Special Grade work out of any tool I offer the service on. Gimme' an Imacasa or Condor any day of the week over an Ontario. Again, they'll work very well with a liberal application of elbow grease, but there are stronger values out there with more refined designs. Imacasas are "peasant" machetes, Ontarios are "grunt" machetes. Big difference in how they handle and what jobs they tackle best.
 
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Ontarios have a harder heat treatment than even Imacasa does. If anything I consider them on the brittle side for their thickness. They need the thickness or they wouldn't hold up so hot under the kind of beating a GI can dish out. :D

Really, didn't know that. Thanks.
 
I've got a 12" Ontario, condor bolo & golok , & a 14" Tramontina....the Tram is my favorite ! The Tram takes a wicked edge & you can sand the handle to fit your hand !
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I suppose I am a bit of a machete fan. I own the ontario, several trams, martindale and condor parang. Of them all I really like the Condor the most. I can't recall what the factory edge was like, but I've applied a very nice convex edge and it cuts great on hardwoods like oak and mesquite.

Regardless of which you choose, you will need to learn the skill of sharpening. Machetes have softer rockwell hardness than most knives and don't hold a great edge compared to a 58-60 RC knife. The advantage of the softer RC is that they can take more abuse.

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