- Joined
- Jul 2, 2000
- Messages
- 1,667
Well, I decided to try a mini review of my new BK&T Patrol Machete. Since I am not physically able to get into the jungles of S.A. or the Wilderness areas of Wash. State, and the HMO I go to has a nature walk with a large stand of willows, scotchbroom, and blackberries, and I have some golden bamboo in my yard, then I will use these items to test against.
For comparisons I used an old USN MK-2 Collins machete marked 1943 which I have had for about 50yrs. I know this is not a machete but I have it so brought it along a ATC Light Infantry Belt hawk.
Bamboo; Tough, springy, and hard to severe cleanly.
Blackberries; Tough, stringy, springy and hard to get to
Scotchbroom; Damn tough, springy and protected by heavy bow type branches.
Willows; Green, streight, dense thicket and springy when sturck.
USN MK-2; 21 1/2" blade, approx. .100" thick with black plastic handle. The blade will slice paper cleanly with a "file sharpened" and hones edge.
ATC hawk; long straight handle, heavy concave edge that will slice paper.
BK&T Patrol Machete; 14" blade, .187" thick, will slice paper cleanly as received so the edge was not touched up at all.
The test:
Bamboo and scotchbroom;
MK-2 slices cleanly when hit with approx. the upper 3/4 of the blade but is easily deflected by adjacent branches. Handle tends to want to twist in the hand and my right forearm feels the tension after cutting.
BK&T slices very cleanly and seems like the geometry of the blade wants to "pull" the bamboo and scotchbroom into the edge. Absolutely no felt strain on my wrist or forearm. Adjacent branches are also cleanly cut before the main stalk is hit with the edge.
ATC; .forget it! This does not like to cut bamboo
Willows;
MK-2 cuts deep and severs up to about 2" diameter trees but the blade sometimes wants to stick in the tree if not hit in just the right spot on the blade. The longer blade tends to get in the way when working in a dense thicket and sometime just glanced off of the trunk. Vibration felt in the hand and forearm after a very short time..
BK&T cuts deep and cleanly in up to 2 1/2" and 3" diameter trees and is not deflected by close branches and leaves. When the trunk is not completely severed the blade produces a nice chip and does not want to stick in the wood . No felt fatigue in my wrist or forearm. Man! This is a nice blade.
ATC; might be okay for larger branches on a pine tree but too heavy for much clearing work
Blackberries;
MK-2 works very well on the smaller vines but the long blade tents to get a little tangled up if you work close to the ground. Severs cleanly up to 1" diameter vines.
BK&T cuts blackberries like they are butter. Its amazing how this blade seems to "grab" the vines and force then into the edge.
ATC ..NAWW!, bounces right off is way too heavy to be swinging at a bunch of vines.
CONCLUSSION:
The BK&T Patrol Machete and the MK2 perform just like machetes are supposed to perform ,however, the BK&T does it better according to my body. The BK&T leaves my wrist and forearm without any feeling of fatigue. When using the Mk2 the handle wants to twist in my hand but the Patrol Machete just stays where I put it.
With the BK&T Patrol Machete, the Magnum Camp, and the Companion a person should be able to handle anything the camp demands of you. My Machax will probably be with me also in case I might need to do some light wood splitting.
All in all, Ethan Becker has a super bunch of designs and Camillus makes them to perfection. DON'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT THEM!
------------------
Ron,
Bremerton, Washington
[This message has been edited by muzzleup (edited 04-26-2001).]
[This message has been edited by muzzleup (edited 04-26-2001).]
For comparisons I used an old USN MK-2 Collins machete marked 1943 which I have had for about 50yrs. I know this is not a machete but I have it so brought it along a ATC Light Infantry Belt hawk.
Bamboo; Tough, springy, and hard to severe cleanly.
Blackberries; Tough, stringy, springy and hard to get to
Scotchbroom; Damn tough, springy and protected by heavy bow type branches.
Willows; Green, streight, dense thicket and springy when sturck.
USN MK-2; 21 1/2" blade, approx. .100" thick with black plastic handle. The blade will slice paper cleanly with a "file sharpened" and hones edge.
ATC hawk; long straight handle, heavy concave edge that will slice paper.
BK&T Patrol Machete; 14" blade, .187" thick, will slice paper cleanly as received so the edge was not touched up at all.
The test:
Bamboo and scotchbroom;
MK-2 slices cleanly when hit with approx. the upper 3/4 of the blade but is easily deflected by adjacent branches. Handle tends to want to twist in the hand and my right forearm feels the tension after cutting.
BK&T slices very cleanly and seems like the geometry of the blade wants to "pull" the bamboo and scotchbroom into the edge. Absolutely no felt strain on my wrist or forearm. Adjacent branches are also cleanly cut before the main stalk is hit with the edge.
ATC; .forget it! This does not like to cut bamboo
Willows;
MK-2 cuts deep and severs up to about 2" diameter trees but the blade sometimes wants to stick in the tree if not hit in just the right spot on the blade. The longer blade tends to get in the way when working in a dense thicket and sometime just glanced off of the trunk. Vibration felt in the hand and forearm after a very short time..
BK&T cuts deep and cleanly in up to 2 1/2" and 3" diameter trees and is not deflected by close branches and leaves. When the trunk is not completely severed the blade produces a nice chip and does not want to stick in the wood . No felt fatigue in my wrist or forearm. Man! This is a nice blade.
ATC; might be okay for larger branches on a pine tree but too heavy for much clearing work
Blackberries;
MK-2 works very well on the smaller vines but the long blade tents to get a little tangled up if you work close to the ground. Severs cleanly up to 1" diameter vines.
BK&T cuts blackberries like they are butter. Its amazing how this blade seems to "grab" the vines and force then into the edge.
ATC ..NAWW!, bounces right off is way too heavy to be swinging at a bunch of vines.
CONCLUSSION:
The BK&T Patrol Machete and the MK2 perform just like machetes are supposed to perform ,however, the BK&T does it better according to my body. The BK&T leaves my wrist and forearm without any feeling of fatigue. When using the Mk2 the handle wants to twist in my hand but the Patrol Machete just stays where I put it.
With the BK&T Patrol Machete, the Magnum Camp, and the Companion a person should be able to handle anything the camp demands of you. My Machax will probably be with me also in case I might need to do some light wood splitting.
All in all, Ethan Becker has a super bunch of designs and Camillus makes them to perfection. DON'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT THEM!
------------------
Ron,
Bremerton, Washington
[This message has been edited by muzzleup (edited 04-26-2001).]
[This message has been edited by muzzleup (edited 04-26-2001).]