Which machete do you prefer: Tops 230 vs Fiddleback vs Condor vs Other

T

Tamer

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Feb 27, 2010
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Im looking to get a high quality machete (for camping, hiking, hunting, and off the grid "go bag"). Whats your preferred machete and why? Ive narrowed it down to these:

Tops 230 vs Fiddleback vs Condor vs Other (is there one better that I havent thought of)

thanks in advance.
 
For a short machete I'd take the Fiddleback 12" over others any day. For a longer one I like the TOPS. BUT, I haven't tried the Condor and don't know if they even make a 1/8" thick machete.
 
The fiddleback handles are super comfortable. No hot spots. Great convexed edge!

Condor makes a great machete too. They are very high on cost/price ratio.

I can't speak to the Tops. The reviews I have read have been favorable, but I have never held one.
 
I've not swung any of them so take my opinion for what it cost.....

That said, i *really* like the looks of Fiddleback Forge's (Imacassa...) 16" machete. For comparison purposes, about 100 years ago I *had* a USGI 18" jungle machete with the original polymer (?) sheath and it was pretty good, though i put on my own oak scales which worked out pretty nice. I also have somewhere (can't remember....) a 16" (iirc....) machete with a plastic handle, but i believe it's at my folks farm.

For me, the most appealing feature of Fiddleback Forge's 16" machete are the well sculpted scales - they just look like they would provide a non-tiring grip for all-day service. That plus the 16" blade length which can translate to very fast tip speed. I say "can translate to very fast tip speed", but that doesn't make it so. The machete looks like it has a nice, wide blade and most machete applications this helps to retain energy for deeper cutting. Throw in his re-profiling and sharpening and it sounds like a sweet tool.

A machete is an awesome tool and like field knives, they are called upon to accomplish a wide variety of tasks. From specialized tasks like light limb pruning (as in Christmas tree shearing - a *very* demanding task believe me on this) to land plot clearing which may require some hefty chopping all the way to the more delicate trimming of desirable plants all in the same day.

So, as is often the case, no one "size" fits all tasks.

For $100? I wonder if i could source some micarta, pins and a grinder and proceed on my on, but that's *not* a component of the OP....
 
I still want to get a Fiddleback, but I've really been liking Blind Horse Knives machete. It's nothing extraordinary when it comes to the steel, but has a great convex grind, extra long handle (which I like) that is very comfortable and their own superb sheath design.

ROCK6
 
ROCK6 said:
I still want to get a Fiddleback, but I've really been liking Blind Horse Knives machete. It's nothing extraordinary when it comes to the steel, but has a great convex grind, extra long handle (which I like) that is very comfortable and their own superb sheath design.

ROCK6
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Do you have one of the BHK machetes?
 
Fiddlebacks are awesome, and I absolutely love the 16" model, but you'd need to factor in the cost of a sheath for one as well (contact Wildmanh for pricing.) The TOPS is a very nice "production premium" machete that's a souped-up Ontario 18" blank with heavy modification and a very heavy duty sheath to boot. Condor offers the best bang-for-buck ratio out of the three and has a ton of different patterns to choose from that you can match to your specific task set. They indisputably make the best fully finished production machetes on the market barring "boutique" models like the Fiddleback or TOPS. Whichever you go with you'll be getting a dang fine tool.
 
fmajor007 said:
Do you have one of the BHK machetes?
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Yeah, I've had it almost two years now. The design is pretty standard outside of the handle and their excellent scandi-grind. This is the only picture I could find (it's the center one):

DSCF0102.jpg


ROCK6
 
I'm no machete expert, by any means, but used the Blind Horse Knives on the ESEE Amazon course and it was great. Very comfortable handle and fairly light.
 
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Tamer said:
whats so good about the 16" as opposed to the 14" or 18"?
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I like the profile style of the 16" better than the one used for the 14" and 18". It's a little more nose-heavy rather than having the mass fairly evenly distributed along the blade. Makes it chop a little extra aggressively for its weight.
 
I have never been a real user of machetes. For several years now, I have been getting by with just a couple of the Sax style ones from Cold Steel. Those two work very well for me here in North Florida.
 
The 12" And 18" Fiddlebacks are Drop points with slim profiles. The 14" and 16" are wider, clip points with more belly. 42 blades is correct, the tip profile on the 14" and 16" is a little different, just verified that with my blade blanks. The 12" is slightly thicker then the others and Andy Describes it more as a Large knife then a Machete.

I have a 12", the handle is great! But I tend to grab my 12 Ontario more often because it's more blade heavy. I want to get a bigger Fiddleback and am trying to deside between the 14" and 16". Right now, I'm leaning towards the 16".
 
ROCK6 said:
Yeah, I've had it almost two years now. The design is pretty standard outside of the handle and their excellent scandi-grind. This is the only picture I could find (it's the center one):

ROCK6
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Thanks ROCK! You weren't kidding - that handle is looong. It looks like it would take some deep bites though.

Nice collection you've got there!
 
wildmanh said:
The 12" And 18" Fiddlebacks are Drop points with slim profiles. The 14" and 16" are wider, clip points with more belly. 42 blades is correct, the tip profile on the 14" and 16" is a little different, just verified that with my blade blanks. The 12" is slightly thicker then the others and Andy Describes it more as a Large knife then a Machete.

I have a 12", the handle is great! But I tend to grab my 12 Ontario more often because it's more blade heavy. I want to get a bigger Fiddleback and am trying to deside between the 14" and 16". Right now, I'm leaning towards the 16".
Click to expand...

Go with the 16"! Still nice and packable but with a lot more chop! The 2" jump from 14" to 16" is significant if you ask me.
 
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