The big boy 18" machete thread.

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Ridge-Runner

Ridge-Runner

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Jan 21, 2010
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Here is the thread for the discussion and ordering of the 18" Fiddleback Forge machete. Handle options on all machetes are O.D., black, and natural canvas mircarta. PRICE: $100 plus $10 shipping But 3 and get the 4th free!!


Running tally of who has been put on the list. If you want one and have posted on the thread, and still are not on here please PM me. * Denotes muliples ordered.
1)Skrapmetal- natural*---shipped
2)mort- OD--shipped*
3)smoke-n-mirrors-natural*---shipped
4)Can-Am Joel- Black & natural*
5)Arakiel-black*
6)panparap-black*
7)Blaid-2, 1 natural, 1 OD* 4 total
8)RussMo-black
9)thetret-natural
10)stevewest-black*
11)ciew-natural*
12)pedropcola-natrural or black*
13)Tiiiiiiiim-Any
14)Gatogordo-1 black, 1 natural, 2 OD -4 total*
15)priority-2, 1 natural, 1 OD
16)Maqua-natural
17)HornyToad-natural, 4 total*
18)Paul Macirowski- natural
19)Bhamster-any handle
20)jimmo-2,OD


20110112100_3801-vi.jpg
 
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Which thread should we post in to get the "Buy all four at the price of three" deal? ;)

Screw it, I'll just post once in each thread!

Put me down for one in natural canvas, please. :D

Is getting a Corby Bolt thrown in the handle an option?
 
Last edited:
Skrapmetal said:
Which thread should we post in to get the "Buy all four at the price of three" deal? ;)

Screw it, I'll just post once in each thread!

Put me down for one in natural canvas, please. :D

Is getting a Corby Bolt thrown in the handle an option?
Click to expand...

I'll check on the deal thing but I doubt it will be one FREE! Aint nothing free no mo' brother! Oh yea almost forgot, I've never seen Andy use a Corby Bolt so I seriously doubt that he will on these. :):D
 
Ridge-Runner said:
I'll check on the deal thing but I doubt it will be one FREE! Aint nothing free no mo' brother! Oh yea almost forgot, I've never seen Andy use a Corby Bolt so I seriously doubt that he will on these. :):D
Click to expand...

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=8288543&postcount=140

All models are going to run $100. This is because they cost basically the same regardless of size. If you buy 3 you get the 4th free, so the whole line will run you $300.
Click to expand...

:D

I was only going to get two, but if I figured if I can spring for one more and get one free it is worth it.
 
A quick first impression.

The machete arrived earlier this week.

It's magnificent. Easily the finest machete I've ever seen.

All of Fiddleback's hallmark quality is apparent in this tool. Despite the fact that the handle is a basic micarta (I buy/use almost exclusively hardwoods), it's appealing aesthetically to me. It's 'no nonsense' quality seems apt for a machete, given how much time is spent swinging the thing through dense thickets, and, in my case, evil agave.

What's neat is that Andy's unique pin pattern and target lanyard ring are still there. Somehow, I wasn't expecting those details, and it's partly those details that make this a really high class tool.

The edge is very clean, straight, and very sharp. There's a nice maker's mark pressed in the blade as well--another touch of class.

In hand, it holds securely and confidently. I'm impressed with the grip of the Micarta. Lots of friction, which is necessary for something that's getting flung around like a longer machete.

Through fibrous, fleshy plants like agave (my initial motivation in buying this was to destroy an evil stand of agave) or yucca or aloe, the blade doesn't so much cut or slice as simply pass through. It's kind of magical. I've used a much, much heavier, more brutal 22" chopper in the past, and while it excels once you hit stem bases and root balls, it's just too much weight to wield while chopping down leaf after leaf after leaf, and it's considerable width makes it less effortless getting through those leaves. This machete doesn't bind like a big chopper. It just separates a leaf from its lower half, kind of like a very hot knife through warm butter. But with less friction.

I got the impression that most people are interested in the shorter machetes, as a kind of alternative bushcraft knife. For me, it's the 18" one all the way, for exactly the kinds of tasks machetes are best at. As I said, clearing dense thickets (think bougainvilla), aforementioned agave, etc. It's fast, light, and moves like a whip, and is nicely balanced. It is far less fatiguing than wielding a heavy chopper.

Pics!

5375463022_6a2fb56e35.jpg


5374864337_c6c4f37232.jpg


5375466040_8399836a30.jpg


5375466970_9367e0d769.jpg


5375480944_d3ceba3681.jpg


What I'm trying to cut down. The machete gives you a sense of the scale of the job, and this stand of agave goes quite far back beyond what you can see:

5374891467_081297de83.jpg


I didn't take an 'after' shot, but those fresh green yucca sprouts were not long for this world. They practically flew off when chopped:

5375492180_c5fc582bbb.jpg


An interesting afterthought, even though the following picture is boring: after a ten or fifteen minute test run cutting down agave, I tried taking some quick horizontal swipes across a bunch of weeds coming up. These are very tender, soft, and very light stemmed annuals and grasses, the kind of things most tools just knock over or shred unless the edges are straight, fine, and sharp. The Fiddleback machete again just passed right on through. It was kind of like 'hair-popping,' just on a larger scale. The blade parted the plant tops from their roots, they popped gently up into the air, and floated down.

This was more just a test, as the weeds will just grow back; I won't be hacking them in the future. But after chopping through all that evil agave, I thought it would be neat to see how keen the edge was on such tender, light material.

5375493264_95d1f3da80.jpg



Last parting shot:

5374865431_cf47ecb813.jpg
 
If you're undecided ... and you're foolish enough to read this little post ...

Don't hesitate. Andy's machetes are excellent -- I fully concur with the review above.

You're getting an outstanding blade at a great price.:thumbup:
 
Hi all,

This is my first time posting a review and this was the perfect time to start. I received the 2 machetes from Andy. First Andy is a really great person to do business with. I am sure he definitely remembered me because I was so fired up to get a Woodsman (thats another story).

The 18 inch machete was surprisingly light. It has heft to it but not what i was expecting. The fit and finish are better than the stock Imcassa that I have and you can tell it has the stamp of someone who carefully thought out the design.

IMO the beauty of the machete is the handle. It really feels great in the hands and of course I had to go chop stuff in my backyard. :D The micarta feels grippy and I am sure i am repeating what people already have said.

Anywhoo I will have to put up some pic's soon...
 
Last edited:
Iron'n'wood said:
A quick first impression.

The machete arrived earlier this week.

It's magnificent. Easily the finest machete I've ever seen.

All of Fiddleback's hallmark quality is apparent in this tool. Despite the fact that the handle is a basic micarta (I buy/use almost exclusively hardwoods), it's appealing aesthetically to me. It's 'no nonsense' quality seems apt for a machete, given how much time is spent swinging the thing through dense thickets, and, in my case, evil agave.

What's neat is that Andy's unique pin pattern and target lanyard ring are still there. Somehow, I wasn't expecting those details, and it's partly those details that make this a really high class tool.

The edge is very clean, straight, and very sharp. There's a nice maker's mark pressed in the blade as well--another touch of class.

In hand, it holds securely and confidently. I'm impressed with the grip of the Micarta. Lots of friction, which is necessary for something that's getting flung around like a longer machete.

Through fibrous, fleshy plants like agave (my initial motivation in buying this was to destroy an evil stand of agave) or yucca or aloe, the blade doesn't so much cut or slice as simply pass through. It's kind of magical. I've used a much, much heavier, more brutal 22" chopper in the past, and while it excels once you hit stem bases and root balls, it's just too much weight to wield while chopping down leaf after leaf after leaf, and it's considerable width makes it less effortless getting through those leaves. This machete doesn't bind like a big chopper. It just separates a leaf from its lower half, kind of like a very hot knife through warm butter. But with less friction.

I got the impression that most people are interested in the shorter machetes, as a kind of alternative bushcraft knife. For me, it's the 18" one all the way, for exactly the kinds of tasks machetes are best at. As I said, clearing dense thickets (think bougainvilla), aforementioned agave, etc. It's fast, light, and moves like a whip, and is nicely balanced. It is far less fatiguing than wielding a heavy chopper.

Pics!

5375463022_6a2fb56e35.jpg


5374864337_c6c4f37232.jpg


5375466040_8399836a30.jpg


5375466970_9367e0d769.jpg


5375480944_d3ceba3681.jpg


What I'm trying to cut down. The machete gives you a sense of the scale of the job, and this stand of agave goes quite far back beyond what you can see:

5374891467_081297de83.jpg


I didn't take an 'after' shot, but those fresh green yucca sprouts were not long for this world. They practically flew off when chopped:

5375492180_c5fc582bbb.jpg


An interesting afterthought, even though the following picture is boring: after a ten or fifteen minute test run cutting down agave, I tried taking some quick horizontal swipes across a bunch of weeds coming up. These are very tender, soft, and very light stemmed annuals and grasses, the kind of things most tools just knock over or shred unless the edges are straight, fine, and sharp. The Fiddleback machete again just passed right on through. It was kind of like 'hair-popping,' just on a larger scale. The blade parted the plant tops from their roots, they popped gently up into the air, and floated down.

This was more just a test, as the weeds will just grow back; I won't be hacking them in the future. But after chopping through all that evil agave, I thought it would be neat to see how keen the edge was on such tender, light material.

5375493264_95d1f3da80.jpg



Last parting shot:

5374865431_cf47ecb813.jpg
Click to expand...


WOW!!! I love hearing this stuff. You put a lot of work into a project, and you hope you've designed what you think you have, but until you hear it, it doesn't seem real!! Thanks a lot!

Can/did you post this at WSS? If you do you get a 10% discount off your next Fiddleback purchase!!!! (You have to remind me during the payment process!)

THANKS!!!

OldPhysics said:
If you're undecided ... and you're foolish enough to read this little post ...

Don't hesitate. Andy's machetes are excellent -- I fully concur with the review above.

You're getting an outstanding blade at a great price.:thumbup:
Click to expand...


Hey OP! Nice to hear from you and THANKS!!! I've got your kitchen knife down to the hand sanding too!



panparap said:
Hi all,

This is my first time posting a review and this was the perfect time to start. I received the 2 machetes from Andy. First Andy is a really great person to do business with. I am sure he definitely remembered me because I was so fired up to get a Woodsman (thats another story).

The 18 inch machete was surprisingly light. It has heft to it but not what i was expecting. The fit and finish are better than the stock Imcassa that I have and you can tell it has the stamp of someone who carefully thought out the design.

IMO the beauty of the machete is the handle. It really feels great in the hands and of course I had to go chop stuff in my backyard. :D The micarta feels grippy and I am sure i am repeating what people already have said.

Anywhoo I will have to put up some pic's soon...
Click to expand...

Excellent again!!! Thank You!!!
 
mort said:
Received mine today and I love it.

Thanks,
Fred
Click to expand...

Mine arrived yesterday as well. The handle is super comfortable.

I've gotta get myself motivated to get off my lazy butt and go out in the snow to play with it, now. :cool:
 
I love hearing that you guys are into the machetes. Thanks for all your support.
 
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