Smatchet??

The Eight Dollar Mountain Foundry version is good, but the finish is what I'd call "working grade". The handles are aluminum cast onto the tang, so no worries there. There is a steel butt plate for hammering, which I did with no bad experiences. Mine was sharp on the primary edge and half way down the back edge. They will have some scratches, or at least mine did, and the blades are blued. I scotch-brited that off and ended up parkerizing it, which was a little more durable. The edge is fairly thin, for a smatchet, and it will get very sharp. I cant speak for edge holding because mine come in contact with dirt and such often enough that it never became an issue. In a fit of curiosity, I cut a piece of steel wire by chopping through it. This dented the edge, but the wire was cut, and it was spring wire, not soft like tie wire. Mine had a pretty good leather sheath, but the new ones have kydex I think. 3/16" blade stock is what mine came with, but that may have changed.
 
davide, the smatchet is one of a long line of heavy, broad-bladed knives that go way back in history. Yes, they can be used for self-defense but like all heavy knives are not particularly quick in the hand. They can certainly be used for utility, including digging and chopping. But it's hard to baton a knife with two sharp edges. :)
 
GRIM 62 said:
davide,batoning with a smatchet is not feasible,as it is sharp on both sides.
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Gotcha, I wasn't sure based off of the wikipedia description which noted that it was only half-sharpened on one side. I wasn't sure if that meant that one could baton by hitting it on the unsharpened portion. That's why I go here for information about knives and not wikipedia.
 
Wikipedia may have been referring clumsily to the concept of sharpening double-edged knives to a razor edge on one side and a working edge on the other. That's why the smatchets have that little hole on one side, to distinguish the sides by touch without actually touching the edges.
 
davide said:
I read on wikipedia that the smatchet was designed for self-defense. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smatchet. If this is true, and the source being Wikipedia, I can't say it is, what do you guys think of the smatchet for utility use? Can you use it as one would a machete for clearing brush? Can one baton wood with it? Or rather than can one do those things, is it an optimal choice for them?
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Since the smatchet has been ruled out for batoning duty (except for J. Curd's "two birds with one stone" theory), one might consider the Filipino barong as an alternative for utility. Same heavy, leaf-shaped blade, but in its smaller variations, only single-edged.
 
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Mongo said:
WHAT do you think an EIGHT dollar knife will be like quality wise?:rolleyes::barf:
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Eight Dollar Mountain refers to the location of the guy's shop, not the cost of the knives. I read about them in one of the knife mags many years ago---they make working grade knives from old saw stock and cast aluminum handles onto them. I've only seen positive things about their work.

Unfortunately, I'm not sure they are still in business. THeir website hasn't been updated in years and they didn't answer an email inquiry I sent last year. This thread is a reminder to try again, but I don't hold much hope they are still in production.
 
For utility I would pick another design over a smatchet.But for things that go bump in the night,there is none that inspires more confidence,except my 12 guage.
 
ValiantCo, Kris Cutlery, and Traditional Filipino weapons all make fine barongs. You might also be able to find a Cold Steel barong on the secondary market. Not sure who's making smatchets now.
 
I've had my EDMF Smatchet since 1999. When the handle was cast on, he was even kind enough to add my old Army unit on the handle. I've taken it on a few camping trips & it has served just fine as a tree-beater. The only reason I don't carry it camping anymore is it is too heavy compared to my other tree-beaters. Great knife though & the L6 steel is perfect for it's intended use.
 
EDMF is a wicked Smatchet. Also compared to other big knife makers like MMHW the edge on the EDMF is fairly fine so it chops DEEP

smatchet.jpg
 
elkins45 said:
Eight Dollar Mountain refers to the location of the guy's shop, not the cost of the knives. I read about them in one of the knife mags many years ago---they make working grade knives from old saw stock and cast aluminum handles onto them. I've only seen positive things about their work.

Unfortunately, I'm not sure they are still in business. THeir website hasn't been updated in years and they didn't answer an email inquiry I sent last year. This thread is a reminder to try again, but I don't hold much hope they are still in production.
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I'm not sure Dale is still in business either, I know he had some health issues.

I placed an order for an 18 C over a year and a half ago.

Last email I got a response on was over 6 months ago. So I'm not sure.

If you want a good substitute, check out Dan Brock's version:

http://www.plowshareforge.com/

Of course, like has already been mentioned, the Clax is bad to the bone.:thumbup:
 
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I just ordered myself a black G10 BRKT clax. I've been looking at them for awhile :) I have no actual need for one -- call it a early fathers day self gift. I noted they are no longer being made and can be had for pretty deeply discounted prices.
 
Power Eagle from Tops Knives. A bit large but very capable. Plus, it's hard to go wrong with 5160
 
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