TSUGE TG-3 Salamander

[TEFL0N_D0N_81]

Been looking for a good stainless large fixed blade / machete for a while.

This is also posted on SigForum, and I recently signed up here. I thought I might as well repeat the post here.

Search was long, and decided to look at the Japanese stuff. It's finally here, and I haven't found any posts of anyone else in the US owning one of these (although I'm sure I'm not the first and only).

Some stats on the blade:

MVS-8 Japanese Steel
( Composition is: C 0.85%, Cr 14%, Mn 0.5%, Mo 2.5%, Si 0,5% and V 0,15%. )

Length: 19.3"
Blade Length: 13.4"
Thickness: 3/16"
Full Tang
Handle: dimpled Zytel (feels awesome)
Weight: 22.6 oz

Thick Linen/Nylon Sheath (nicely made) with wooden inner lining for the blade edge.

Made in Japan

Sorry for the crappy i-phone pics. Also I should have wiped the blade better to show the polish (5th pic from top).

 

[forcedestrike]

That looks awesome! I seem to remember Hattori having a similar pattern which received excellent feedback- great stuff and welcome to bladeforums!

(may I know where you got it? /pm if you want )

 

[TEFL0N_D0N_81]

I got it at:
<http://japan-blades.com/recommend/2697.html>

They also have a TG-4 which is slightly smaller and lighter and price wise, cheaper:
<http://japan-blades.com/field-knives/2706.html>

Price included international shipping, and it took about 5 business days to get here.

Hiro/Ic.cut used to make a very similiar one with many ovals on the blade but stopped production. Then I saw this one made by Tsuge that used MVS-8 instead of Aus-6, and cooler blade design (otherwise identical). Not sure if it was a licensing issue of the design.