Why a machete for my collection...

Nice, man, gotta love recycling steel! I made a 5" blade from a POS SOG stainless machete that snapped a while ago, haven't used it yet but I guess it should do normal cutting chores, but that machete looks beastly, and made with proper steel:thumbsup: Checked the Condor Puerto Rican 'chete and lost interest when I saw it's stainless:thumbsdown:

Yeah, the garabato is just a light wood joint, cut like a v with a longer leg to hold with one hand, the smaller leg holds/pull the stuff to make an easier cut at the base when clearing a field.
 
I did take a look at the Marbles orange machetes, I might buy one of them eventually
 
zuluninja said:
I did take a look at the Marbles orange machetes, I might buy one of them eventually
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They're well worth it, and you won't regret it.
Personally the fact that they come sharp is what matters to me,mine came with a sheath and stone for $14.99 but the sheath on my 18" blade is already getting cut through.
The stone is great for quick and dirty touch ups which I like though.
 
As far as Condor vs. Imacasa goes, the Condor models are commonly made with thicker steel with heavy tapering and more complex manufacturing processes involved. Overall way more labor in making them beyond the addition of the nice sheaths, and the cost adds up quick when you start adding in those factors.
 
PocketKnifeJimmy said:
I recently acquired a Condor Swampmaster machete for my eclectic accumulation of do-dads, (which I affectionately call my "Man Gadget Collection"). You may be wondering "Why a machete?"... Well, I actually got a chance to spend some time using machetes for different tasks while shortly living in Puerto Rico, so nostalgia is one of the reasons. The other, well, is because of a story my mom had told me many a times about her grandfather, (my great grandfather). He was returning home from working the fields one day, (a common means of livelihood back then in PR), when he was approached by a neighbor that had previously bullied him. The man was determined to bully him again, but it was the last time he would attempt to do so. You see, my great grandfather was carrying one of the tools of his trade, (a large machete). That day must have been a bad day for him, because instead of accepting the bullying, my great grandfather gave the man a swipe with his machete, which nearly decapitated him. My mom told me that he did have to spend some time incarcerated for killing the man, although she believed that he received some consideration for the prior bullying he had been subjected to. He died of tuberculosis a short time after being released. My mother was very fond of her grandfather, since he always treated her so well. So, you see, the machete has a bit of history in my family. I find it an appropriate addition to my personal collection.

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:) Thanks for the interesting story . It's never good to be a bully , but it's especially unwise to repeatedly bully someone with a machete and plenty of experience using it ! :eek:
 
I know that stainless steel + long blades is considered taboo by many folks. And, I think there is real life proof why that became the standard way for most of us to think. That said, Condor came in with their 420hc machetes and proved that a decently tough blade can be made with it. They have been tested by many, and it seems that they usually hold up very well overall. They are not just good as wall hangers. Yes, Condor has more recemtly shifted to using more old school carbon steel, which has advantages of it's own, but I feel they are doing this because of the old beliefs still held by so many that stainless can't be good on a long blade (or even, by some folks belief, that it ain't even good on a short blade). Condor seems to do a decent job at catering to the customers requests, and if carbon is what they want... Carbon is what they will get. I think Condor can and does make a good machete with either steel.
 
DocJD said:
:) Thanks for the interesting story . It's never good to be a bully , but it's especially unwise to repeatedly bully someone with a machete and plenty of experience using it ! :eek:
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Very true. My mother, which passed away a few years ago, had nothing but praise for how her grandfather treated her and others. He made a huge mistake that day, and paid heavily for it. But, it just goes to show how bullying can not only hurt the bullied, since one never knows what that bullied person may ultimately do in response. I think most people can relate to having had enough of something negative being thrown against them. The breaking point of every person is usually unknown until it occurs. And, if/when it does occur, it can be devastating in oh so many ways. The incident not only ended one man's life instantly, it effectually ended my great grandfather's life as well. Prison, and then released to only die soon after from tuberculosis (which I believe he contracted while being incarcerated). Two men's lives ended on that day, and bullying was the root cause.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
As far as Condor vs. Imacasa goes, the Condor models are commonly made with thicker steel with heavy tapering and more complex manufacturing processes involved. Overall way more labor in making them beyond the addition of the nice sheaths, and the cost adds up quick when you start adding in those factors.
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You would know since you sell machetes from different manufacturers. Appreciate your comment. I honestly don't have Imacasa vs Imacasa Condor to compare. I only need so many machetes and I have probably reached the overflow point since the last one hasn't even been used from a purchase couple years ago at Blade at the Condor booth.

Yes, Condor made some of the same models in 420HC and 1075 carbon steel for their discerning customer base. I have not had the slightest problem with the 420HC machetes in terms of sharpening or use.
 
As I had mentioned in some earlier posts, this Condor Swamp Master model machete was purchased to add it into the eclectic collection that I self titled my "Man Gadget Collection".
That said, I was able to find the perfect display case for it while out and about today. Well, almost perfect, because the black interior that it had in it, would not let the blade pop out enough, (being that the blade is done in a black oxide). So, I covered the black material with a tan colored linen. Anyhow, she makes for an additional cool piece of framed wall art (in manly style) :)

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After putting the Condor Swampmaster into a display case and hanging it up on my wall, (it having officially become part of my "Man Gadget Collection"), I decided to get another machete representation for my eclectic decor. But, I wanted something representing American made. Well, my choice was a Tops .230 machete. I not only liked it's overall unique styling, but like the fact that Tops starts off with an Ontario 18" military spec machete blade, and then they perform their skills upon it, ending up with their model .230 :)
Tops being an American firm + Ontario being an American firm = A great choice to represent a USA made machete within my collection :)

Got the delivery of it today. In one word... "Cool!"


I did notice one thing in this current rendition of the Tops .230, that was different from their earliest offering of it... That is that they no longer put in the third lanyard hole at the handles top end (this one only having the same two lanyard holes in at the back end of the handle). Where the third hole used to be on the older version, is now for a third handle attachment screw. I think their three lanyard hole idea was criticized by many folks reviewing their machete, so they simply did away with it. I've been wanting to add a Tops into my collection, but this may only be the start of that. I have my eyes on some of their large fixed blade knives... Handling a few at a local gun show some months back, they felt, well... Tops! lol! :)

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PocketKnifeJimmy said:
After putting the Condor Swampmaster into a display case and hanging it up on my wall, (it having officially become part of my "Man Gadget Collection"), I decided to get another machete representation for my eclectic decor. But, I wanted something representing American made. Well, my choice was a Tops .230 machete. I not only liked it's overall unique styling, but like the fact that Tops starts off with an Ontario 18" military spec machete blade, and then they perform their skills upon it, ending up with their model .230 :)
Tops being an American firm + Ontario being an American firm = A great choice to represent a USA made machete within my collection :)

Got the delivery of it today. In one word... "Cool!"


I did notice one thing in this current rendition of the Tops .230, that was different from their earliest offering of it... That is that they no longer put in the third lanyard hole at the handles top end (this one only having the same two lanyard holes in at the back end of the handle). Where the third hole used to be on the older version, is now for a third handle attachment screw. I think their three lanyard hole idea was criticized by many folks reviewing their machete, so they simply did away with it. I've been wanting to add a Tops into my collection, but this may only be the start of that. I have my eyes on some of their large fixed blade knives... Handling a few at a local gun show some months back, they felt, well... Tops! lol! :)

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That definitely looks like a machete that a lot of people would buy.
 
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The new manly framed wall art made it up for displaying today... My Tops Machete .230
Who ever said machetes are ugly?!?! :)

Now, before I placed this machete in the display case, I gave the entire blade a light coating of oil. This meant doing the same to the exposed edges of the tang. Some oil obviously got on the micarta scales, and in this case, caused an almost black look. So, my not wanting a partially black colored micarta handle, I simply gave the entire handle a once over with the same oil I used on the blade. Yes. it darkened the scales to almost black, but I'm okay with that :)
 
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Cscotttsss said:
Now if I could just sharpen a machete on my KME!
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For initial profiling, I use a 6" bench grinder I bought for maybe $25 at a discount house 30 years ago. Easy does it. Then I hit the edge and the handle with my 3" x 21" belt sander. Then even things up with a file and hit it with a couple big stones. Amazing what a $30 sharpening job does for a $5 Latin American machete. Too bad Walmart doesn't sell decent disposable BIC machetes.
 
Those are all good reasons to have a machete in your collection.
Oddly enough I don't have a machete in my collection... but I do have one in the shop for yardwork.
 
zuluninja said:
Machetes are the main tool of the jibaro, as the puertorrican mountain man is called. Many shapes and sizes, but an essential tool to all of them. I grew up using them, and my grandpa taught me how to sharpen them up, don't know if he ever took somebody's head off but I doubt it. To clear up a steep slope, there is no better tool, aided by the garabato, in places where no mower can go.

I don't have that much use for them in Florida, but have a Collins, a Tram and a cheapo harbor freight whose handle didn't last and is now just wrapped in electrical tape. I do keep them how my people did for many generations before me, accessible at an inside corner of the house, unsheathed.

Back in the day, jibaros were asked to leave their machetes outside before entering their local watering spots, and you can still see signs that say "Prohibido hablar de religion o politica" at the bar's door (religious/political talk is prohibited). Too many country side stories like the OP's great grandpa.
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I just ordered a 16" Swampmaster in 1075 steel.... put it off for a year. Mine is for using however. I do have others.

Added: I'm kind of lazy about machetes and I am getting the Swampmaster to keep in my new pickup. My Puerto Rican stays in my work van. I just got the shipping notice. :D
 
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