...the handle scales are insubstantial low-grade hollow plastic...
Which is why I replaced the scales on mine with part of a sledge hammer handle. Of course, I did this over 25 years ago when I was just a young whippersnapper and didn't know there was such as thing as a bad machete (or knife for that matter; I've got a bunch of crappy knives from that period in my life). If I remember right, I paid less than $3.00 for this machete at my local Walmart - no idea what they go for now.
Walmart "special" machete shown with a Cold Steel Kukri Machete, and a 12-inch ruler in between for reference.
