Tops .230 Machete... Do ya have one?

BePrepared

BePrepared

Joined
Aug 26, 2010
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I'd like to see pics of the sheath on the back, and i'd like to know what you think of it.

I just bought one, and i am curious
 
BePrepared said:
I'd like to see pics of the sheath on the back
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Sorry, not sure what you mean by that. Since you already bought one, you clearly don't mean a photo of the rear of the sheath.
 
I think maybe he hasn't received it yet?

I think it's a nice piece of work but I wish they'd be up front about the fact that it's a reworked Ontario 18". The blade length is "shorter" because they extended the handle up to cover the un-edged ricasso area. The tip has been ground from the spine to remove the factory rounding, it's been powder coated, sharpened, had the tang trimmed up a little, and the scales significantly upgraded, not to mention the sheath is of very good quality. I consider it a good value given the work involved, though naturally it's on the upper end of the machete price scale. :)
 
that's correct. I just pulled the trigger yesterday, and don't have my machete yet. I am curious what kind of attachments it might have on the back. Does it have molle type stuff, a belt loop or is it just blank
 
BPrep- Please do a review on it when you get it & use it a bit. I too have been curious about this machete. LOL
 
i should have it by the end of the week. I'll take it out for a spin and post a review in the review section
 
it looks like a seriously solid machete, and i've had literally DOZENS of cheap machetes in my life, so it'll be nice having on that's top shelf.

Every machete i've ever had caused BAD blisters if used without gloves. I'm hoping that the improved micarta scales will take care of that

and it looks like a heck of a zombie decapitator
 
I'd look into the Imacasa/Condor machetes with injection molded handles if you're looking to avoid blisters.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
I think it's a nice piece of work but I wish they'd be up front about the fact that it's a reworked Ontario 18". The blade length is "shorter" because they extended the handle up to cover the un-edged ricasso area. The tip has been ground from the spine to remove the factory rounding, it's been powder coated, sharpened, had the tang trimmed up a little, and the scales significantly upgraded, not to mention the sheath is of very good quality. I consider it a good value given the work involved, though naturally it's on the upper end of the machete price scale. :)
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That's a shame. Sounds like it's been substantially re-worked, but here in the UK it's selling for 4 times the price of the Ontario.
 
same here, but IMHO, the rework they did makes it essentially a new machete.

you'd pay at least 25 for the sheath, and 40-50 to have someone rehandle it like that

then they re-coat the blade with a vastly superior coating, and change the blade profile and edge geometry.

IMHO, you couldn't have a custom maker do what they do to an Ontario machete for that price.
 
BePrepared said:
same here, but IMHO, the rework they did makes it essentially a new machete.

you'd pay at least 25 for the sheath, and 40-50 to have someone rehandle it like that

then they re-coat the blade with a vastly superior coating, and change the blade profile and edge geometry.

IMHO, you couldn't have a custom maker do what they do to an Ontario machete for that price.
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Exactly. It's expensive for a machete, but the price is very fair for the amount of labor and materials used in its upgrade process.
 
BePrepared said:
same here, but IMHO, the rework they did makes it essentially a new machete.

you'd pay at least 25 for the sheath, and 40-50 to have someone rehandle it like that

then they re-coat the blade with a vastly superior coating, and change the blade profile and edge geometry.

IMHO, you couldn't have a custom maker do what they do to an Ontario machete for that price.
Click to expand...

FortyTwoBlades said:
Exactly. It's expensive for a machete, but the price is very fair for the amount of labor and materials used in its upgrade process.
Click to expand...

Good info. Thanks. Enjoy your knife BePrepared, look forward to reading the review :)
 
Hi guys, this is my first post. I have the 230 for a few months now, there is a belt loop about 1'' wide and 2" long at the back and nothing else.
 
osprey, thanks for the input. I'll have to sew on some straps for my molle pack.

According to the shipping notification, i'll have it thursday, so my review should be up saturday... i'll probably post an initial thoughts review then fill in more info once i've slashed and chopped a little
 
I have 2 poor mans versions of it ! LOL :D They are scary sharp though. At least one person has cut themselves while "seeing how sharp it is." :D
 
I own both the 18" and a 12" Ontario machete's, the 1/8" thick varieties. IMO, the 18" is a bit heavy, and hard to stop. It's too thick and heavy for light vegetation, at least for long durations. This is not a negative point, just one aspect of it's heavy duty design. It's great for serious hard use, and probably Zombies, not so much for taking to the jungle.
As far as Ontario's heat treat, it's very good on their machetes, tough stuff, takes an edge, holds it pretty good for a machete. Thus, any reworked Ontario will be better than stock if the handle is good, actually has an edge, and a real sheath. Price is subjective, I can't do that kind of work without a nice set of shop tools. I've rehandled my 12" and convexed the edge of both machetes, but it was all by hand, and that took some time.

I also own the Bark River/Ontario machete, although I have not used it at all. It just goes to show what a good starter the Ontario's are. The same is true with Imacasa and Tramontina. My Fiddleback 14" may be my favorite machete, the best handle I've used.
 
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These TOPS products are sweet knives in a good, tough steel. What you are getting is a VERY nice handle, and, you are paying for that luxury. I have used those 'sticky' racketball gloves with my .230 and the handle feels marvelous. The blade is middle sized compared with my 18 inch Ontario and has a good heft to it. I'd say that if you intend to use this machete a bunch in the field, it is without a doubt one of the most comfortable long blades I have ever used. Thumbs up!
 
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