Real Machete Skills series??

C

Convex

Joined
May 7, 2009
Messages
57
Hi guys..
Not even sure where to post this, but here goes... :confused:
We made this vid a couple weeks ago in our backyard... (correction... my Mom's backyard... I live like 5 mins away... :)
Shot by my Sister-in-Law, my brother in the background... Hope you guys like it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFQXslUqou8

Been reading these forums for a long time, recently joined, posted couple times... really a complete NEWB here.

In the West Indies, (TRINIDAD) where I come from (I live in Fl now), and indeed wherever coconuts wash up on a shore and grow (read: CIRCUMTROPICAL), opening a coconut is THE real test of both the knife's handling characteristics, balance, geometry, sharpness, and indeed someone's use of the machete / knife itself.
I mean.... you're essentially cutting against your HAND..... no pressure :(

Basically, do you guys think it would be worth it to produce a series of these vids, but using DIFFERENT knives???
What I'm trying to do is apply a Centuries old technique to modern (and vintage..) bladeware. If u look around on Utube, not a whole lot of machete vids, or indeed technical cutting footage of any kind.... I have a few other knives begging for the same treatment...
Any help on the title? Is it 2 :jerkit:?

BTW, we also cut other things: - 2X4s, trail cutting, brush clearing, etc... :D

What do you guys think? Lemme know!
Thanks,
Marcus
 
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i think you wont be :jerkit: ing for a very long time if you make one wrong move with that machete crazy
 
LMAO, 2 true Sir!
There are more than a few people in tropical countries making a living opening coconuts this way as we speak. Some members here can attest to this I'm sure.

.... And I'm pretty sure most of them can still :jerkit: (the coconut cutters, I mean),lol
 
Marcus that was very impressive! I would love to see more vids. Welcome to the forums.
 
I think you could use the same title as you did in this thread. It sure pulled me in. And, that is a great vid. I sure enjoyed it.

Thanks
 
Wow, thanks for the positive response guys! Means alot!
And Teague, LOOOVE your profile pic! Wifey does 2 (we have a big Pit, Cyrus, he's our BABY - he's in the video @ the start.)
 
you are Damn good at that, I have seen it before and done right its a safe technique IMO.
 
Nice work ! I'd never be able to take those big swings so close to my fingers without hacking off a few by accident...:(
 
Thanks Ron!
He's right....I know it doesn't look like it (mostly because of camera angle), but there's actually about 4 - 5" of circumference from your fingertips to the cutting plane. I believe it is quite safe too, as long as you follow some common sense rules like simply cutting away from yourself.

... And to prove how "safe" it is, here are a couple vendors that literally cut HUNDREDS a day. These guys are a familiar sight in Trinidad and pretty much wherever coconuts grow in the world. Believe it or not, I've still yet to see one with missing fingers... :thumbup:

This guy does it in like 8 seconds! With a MUCH smaller coconut and a MUCH larger Field machete.... Scary!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-umwYfkytY&NR=1

This guy does it in 7! With 6 chops!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbRYGnpnwLc&feature=related

Some guys can even aim every chip into an oil drum with each stroke, crazy!
Cool Stuff!!
 
And Teague, LOOOVE your profile pic! Wifey does 2 (we have a big Pit, Cyrus, he's our BABY - he's in the video @ the start.)
Click to expand...
I saw him and was thinking how much he looked like one of our females (Baby). She's gone now, but what a sweet dog she was. Here's some pictures...
 

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Wow, my wife just woke up and saw your puppy pix..... She went nuts over em!
Unreal! That middle pup looks just like Cy when he was a baby!!

Sorry to hear about your female... def never easy when they go. They are truly amazing dogs, and anyone that owns and loves them will know what I mean.
 
Hey guys, I was wondering should I leave this thread here, or move it to the Wilderness Survival section? I think it prob belongs there.

Not really sure how to do that :confused: . Does the Moderator do it? Do I?

Thanks again guys for being so cool with the NEWB! The people here are AWESOME! :thumbup:
 
Convex said:
... And to prove how "safe" it is, here are a couple vendors that literally cut HUNDREDS a day. These guys are a familiar sight in Trinidad and pretty much wherever coconuts grow in the world...
Click to expand...

I can relate with that entirely.

Guys around us used to sell coconuts de - husked, looking something like this:

lone+coconut_3408.jpg


...and did it in less than 20 seconds per coconut even when using knives such as #1, #3, or #4. My household always used #2, which was a total bummer for quick, dexterous slices... Nevertheless some could do it even with this blade.

794px-Filipino_knives.jpg


A "thorough" de - husking usually involved more work,

dehusking_organic_coconuts_virgin_coconut_oil.jpg


...for this end - product.

coconut.jpg
 
I have never seen that before. Nice cutting!


(then again I feel like an old doofus because I have never seen a coconut with the husk on before)
 
If you can do it while making a less intense facial expression I'll be even more impressed. :D
 
Farmer Brown, I have a Filipino Bolo very similar to your #1 in the pic that I'd like to use for Pt 2. It gets SCARY sharp easier than anything else we own!

Johnnymayhem, you are not alone... many people in my office had never seen a Green Coconut either, and some were wondering why you have to cut them open.
I said, "hmmmmmm.... maybe cos they won't cut themselves open?" ;)

AF said:
If you can do it while making a less intense facial expression I'll be even more impressed. :D
Click to expand...
Hahaha!! Didn't realise I had that look on my grill the whole time till we chkd out the footage.... Less :mad: , more :D , GOT IT!

THANX GUYS!
 
Thats pretty slick. Does a machete offer advantages over other types of knives, like say a RTAK with a 1/4" thick spine and full flat grind?
 
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