Why an ESEE 'Lite' Machete?

RABII

RABII

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I bought a ESEE Lite Machete, and at the risk of beating this machete thing to death, have been wondering why it was designed so light. Everything else I have (Condor, Ontario, Martindale) are all significantly thicker in the blade and wider in the belly. Does anyone know why and what Jeff and Mike had in mind with this piece. And before I get any wisea$$ remarks about why I bought it if I knew it was a 'Lite' model, there were several things one could have postulated about this piece, mine being that, perhaps, it was a 'Lite' model because of its' shorter length compared to what is typically favored in Latin America. Everyones' opinion is welcome particularly Texastonydobbs because of his closer ties with J & M.
 
Im thinking perhaps they made it a lite machete is because at the time of release, ESEE knew the junglas would be out soon, so it would make more sense to make the machete a true machete, for use with light vegatation, not heavy chopping, which is what the junglas is for.
 
the ESEE lite machete is built from a Condor/Imacasa blade. it's the el salvadore model, with the condor edge put on, then the blades are shipped to Rowen, where the coating and handles are put on. its got a distal taper, and being an 18" blade, it's light and quick.
 
I find it slices slightly deeper into hardwoods than my condor el Salvador. Feels better to my hand too. It does tend to stick more often though
 
I actually like it. It's easy to wield around and chop branches and tall grass out of some very nasty areas.
 
As someone said, it is the Condor model with a better handle put on it. They are always in the jungle, and they know what works for them, so if it would work for them, it should work for us, too.
 
IIRC, it shares a blade with the Condor El Salvador eco model.
I suspect their logic in calling it a Lite machete was to differentiate from all the HD machete's on the market currently.
 
I’ve found more most machete uses speed of blade swing > blade heft.

Being that Jeff and Mike have a lot of time behind a machete in some of the most machete prominent locations in the world, I think they went light because they know that when you’re swinging a heavy machete all day, you’ll feel it when you way up in the morning. It’s fatiguing. I know what you mean, when I first got my Lite I thought I would break it in half the first time it hit a piece of wood because it was so much thinner than an Ontario GI.

It’s served me well so far, I’m still working on my technique, but I definitely think the momentum of the blade is much more important than the weight of the machete and how hard you swing it. Technique is about 80% of machete use from what I’ve found.
 
If you ever do any jungle hiking you quickly learn that the movie image of whacking trees and miles of brush is fiction. A lite machete is better for a long day of quick clearing of thorny vines and later on making shelter and camp work. A heavy machete would be better for ranch work and the Junglas is a perfect camp knive.
 
The entire idea was to provide a light useable beater with ESEE's typical fit and finish. As much as a keepsake or novelty item as it is a tool, I guess. As cool as the ESEE stuff is, that particular one I think is out of my personal scale of cost/effectiveness.
 
Having owned a number of cheap machetes over the years, I was happy to spend the considerable extra to:
A) get a blade that wil not easily bend, break, or dull
B) get a handle that Is SUPER comfortable

I whacked through a good hard fatwood stump the other day, without any discomfort, dulling, or worry of failure. I do have quite a bit of pitch keeping my blade from rusting right now, as a bonus. The blade is a great length and thickness for everything I've thrown at it so far - wouldn't want it heavier, possibly shorter for some stuff, though.
 
RYP said:
If you ever do any jungle hiking you quickly learn that the movie image of whacking trees and miles of brush is fiction. A lite machete is better for a long day of quick clearing of thorny vines and later on making shelter and camp work.
Click to expand...
Exactly. I've never done any jungle hiking. But in my ten years of land surveying, I've blazed blazed enough trails to know I want my machete to be lite.
 
I've only carried one - one time - and it was when we were re-cutting some longtime underused trails in the BWCA - around the middle of the park.

I took a light one from a friend's stash (he lives up there) and as light as it was...I was wishing for lighter by day 2! lol!
I give a lot of props to those little jungle men that swing 'em day in and day out!
 
lite machete for light work, tall grasses & vines ,brush etc. Junglas was soon to follow and it was designed for wood type material........ The lite machete is becoming 1 of my top 3 blades in the ESEE lineup, fast inhand ,light,sharp,flexible and very versatile in operation and if abused I use my file on my LM Wave to fix her up and move on .
Shotgunner,Cricket dave & myself are headed out Friday to camp and I am taking the lite machete & ESEE3milCP only b/c they do everything I need ,Shotty is packing his Junglas
 
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