Viking machete or 18" El Salvadore machete?

[heresay1]

Pursuing a possible machete purchase. Narrowed it down to two choices from Condor.

The Viking Machete http://www.machetespecialists.com/vima20inulwa.html

or

The 18" El Salvador Machete http://www.machetespecialists.com/coelsama18in2.html

Brush clearing and light wood chopping/processing will be the primary uses. I will leave the heavy and extensive wood processing to an axe. Not looking to chop down trees.

I plan on using it while backpacking.

Any thoughts on which would be preferred? Can one do something better than the other?

 

[foxx]

Not only is the 20" longer, but that fat tip will add some weight. Without trying the two, all I can guess is that the 20" will have more power.
I find my 18" ESEE machete to be awesome, eaiser to handle and swing than my 16" bolo machete. It's the balance.
When swinging, the fat tip works to your advantage, it's just less balanced in hand.
Condor makes a good product, but maybe you should look at the ESEE Lite Machete as well. The micarta handle of the ESEE is very nice. Some have complained about the QC of the Condor handles.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

I'm a HUGE fan of the Viking, myself. Overall weight isn't too bad but reach and chopping power are maximized. Also the sharpened partial back edge makes a brush hook for use on light grasses and brambles (where the length really helps!). I've taken down trees with my Viking without too much effort, too. :thumbup:

 

[NDWoods]

Viking is hell in briars but the el salvador is a better all purpose machete. Note that with the viking you have snaps to get the blade in and out where the el salvador just slides right in and out. The handles are different as well and the one that is on my viking pinched my hand until I filled in the gap.

In the super thick stiff with lots of briars I like the viking because I can chop with the back side right at dirt level and not worry about dulling the primary edge.

Outside of the scenario above it is el salvador all the way.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

If you plan on frequently sheathing and drawing the machete then the El Salvador definitely wins. That being said I think you'll find that in such a scenario you would only have to fasten the top snap of the Viking sheath for it to be reasonably secure, and the other straps may be rotated out of the way. I also find the Viking to be MORE all-purpose in terms of what targets it's appropriate for--though the El Salvador would work better at being pressed into non-machete tasks like draw-knifing, carving, processing food, or batoning.

 

[cody1]

Not only is the 20" longer, but that fat tip will add some weight. Without trying the two, all I can guess is that the 20" will have more power.
I find my 18" ESEE machete to be awesome, eaiser to handle and swing than my 16" bolo machete. It's the balance.
When swinging, the fat tip works to your advantage, it's just less balanced in hand.
Condor makes a good product, but maybe you should look at the ESEE Lite Machete as well. The micarta handle of the ESEE is very nice. Some have complained about the QC of the Condor handles.

The Esee machete is made by Condor. Esee handle is more comfortable than a stock Condor handle... Price shows the difference.