1.) DParker - 05/01/2016

For the first time since I received it for Christmas I made real use of my new [URL="http://www.amazon.com/Condor-Salvador-Machete-18-Inch-Micarta/dp/B003D9ORK4"]Condor Tool and Knife El Salvador Machete[/URL] this morning.



I have some young trees out back that need to go because they're too close to the driveway. But before I tackle the hard part I decided to start by just taking care of the branches that have been getting in my wife's way when she backs out of the garage. I was going to use the small chainsaw attachment I have for my Ryobi trimmer, but then I remembered the machete I tossed into my truck toolbox in case I found a use for it while hunting (I haven't...yet) and thought this was a good chance to see what it could do.

I have to say that I was both surprised and impressed by what an effective tool it really is. I'd never used a machete before so I can't give any sort of comparative evaluation. But I found the grip to be fairly comfortable and the construction to be solid. The handle has a hole drilled in th end for a lanyard, which I'm definitely going to add to it after having inadvertently relaxing my grip after one swing, causing me to drop the thing on the driveway. Oops.

The 18" blade came out of the box plenty sharp, and I was easily able to make clean cuts through 1" branches at a near 45° angle with a single chop whenever I was able to get a clean swing and strike the target with 1/3 of the blade at the tip end. And on the few occasions that I was able to actually hit the same spot multiple times (my hand-eye coordination ain't what it used to be) I was able to hack off limbs up to 2" around with only 2 or 3 chops. Is that good? Beats me...but I was pretty happy with it. One of the reasons for that is that the blade thickness of 1/8" gives it some heft and good momentum. Of course the downside to that is your arm getting tired faster than it would swinging a thinner 1/16" blade. But I suspect that for hacking 1"-2" diameter limbs the extra momentum actually saves you effort in the long run by getting the job done with fewer swings needed.

Overall it seems like a good blade.

2.) bluecat - 05/01/2016

Cool blade DP.

3.) bluecat - 05/01/2016

Maybe I should invest in a few before they are banned?

4.) DParker - 05/01/2016

[QUOTE=bluecat;41225]Maybe I should invest in a few before they are banned?[/QUOTE]

More importantly, before...

5.) crookedeye - 05/01/2016

Do you no the crossbow the guy uses in the walking dead is a bowtech?? thats why i bought one.. other than the limb crack i got in it, that got replaced ..that thing shoots darts out to 70 yards..

6.) Swamp Fox - 05/01/2016

This is timely for me. I have an old, cheap machete that I've gotten tired of.

I've actually been keeping my eye out for something I'd like better for a while. I don't use one a lot, but they're handy to have around here.

Condor has a good name in this area, I think.

7.) DParker - 05/01/2016

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;41254]This is timely for me.[/quote]

Well, there goes a perfectly worthless thread.

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;41254]Condor has a good name in this area, I think.[/QUOTE]

They do. I did a lot of reading of reviews and blade-oriented forums and found that their stuff was generally well regarded, and this model in particular got a lot of praise as a tough, well-made general purpose tool. What really struck me was the variety of machete designs there are.

8.) Swamp Fox - 05/01/2016

Sorry to rain on the zombie parade, LOL.

This is the design that appeals to me most. I think it's the one best suited for heavier brush as well as other chopping chores, or at least I haven't noticed a design described more to that, which is what I need.

So next we need a short video from you chopping a coconut...

9.) crookedeye - 05/01/2016

are you sure you two should be even be messin with somthing like a machete?? i bet parkers survival item of only 2 things he could bring would be his machete and its cover..

10.) DParker - 05/01/2016

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;41261]So next we need a short video from you chopping a coconut...[/QUOTE]

A coconut?! In Mercia?!!

[QUOTE=crookedeye;41263]are you sure you two should be even be messin with somthing like a machete?? i bet parkers survival item of only 2 things he could bring would be his machete and its cover..[/QUOTE]

And toilet paper.

11.) Swamp Fox - 05/01/2016

[QUOTE=DParker;41265]A coconut?! In Mercia?!!


[/QUOTE]

No, in 'Merica....They could migrate.



[QUOTE=DParker;41265]And toilet paper.[/QUOTE]


That's five things.


:grin:

12.) crookedeye - 05/01/2016

ok besides a machete and tolit paper for a survial tool..that and a 1978 playboy magazine..i could probaly survive..i'm guessing 3 months..

13.) Swamp Fox - 05/02/2016

I give the magazine 10 days...tops.

14.) bluecat - 05/02/2016

[QUOTE=DParker;41228]More importantly, before...

[/QUOTE]

Where did you get that family reunion picture of the Clintons?

15.) Swamp Fox - 05/02/2016

They're ready for Hillary...

16.) bluecat - 05/02/2016

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;41270]I give the magazine 10 days...tops.[/QUOTE]

It's gonna depend on who is the playmate of the month.

17.) bluecat - 05/02/2016

You can only see Suzanne Somers naked so many times.

18.) DParker - 05/02/2016

[QUOTE=bluecat;41274]You can only see Suzanne Somers naked so many times.[/QUOTE]

What's the limit that your research has led you to conclude? And, is there a direct correlation between that and the number of licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?

19.) Swamp Fox - 05/02/2016

[QUOTE=bluecat;41274]You can only see Suzanne Somers naked so many times.[/QUOTE]



I'd say it depends at what age...

20.) bluecat - 05/02/2016

I'm disappointed in you guys. She is a business woman with great [I]ass[/I]ets and savvy and all you can think about is her playboy pictorials.

21.) bluecat - 05/02/2016

You know she single handedly developed a system whereby woman could lessen the hail damage on their hips, thighs and buttocks.

22.) bluecat - 05/02/2016

[QUOTE=DParker;41275]What's the limit that your research has led you to conclude? And, is there a direct correlation between that and the number of licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?[/QUOTE]

I wasn't implying that I'd reached a satisfiable number yet only merely pointing out that because of the space time continuum there are a finite number of opportunities in which to gather data points.

23.) bluecat - 05/02/2016

[QUOTE=bluecat;41274]You can only see Suzanne Somers naked so many times.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;41276]I'd say it depends at what age...[/QUOTE]

That's why they make reading glasses.

24.) Swamp Fox - 05/02/2016

LOL...

25.) DParker - 05/02/2016

See, I was right: [URL="http://wsav.com/2016/05/01/monkeys-on-the-loose-in-yemassee/"]Monkeys Escape From South Carolina Research Lab[/URL].

This is how you get zombies. I always knew this stuff would start in Swampy's nape of the woods.

26.) Swamp Fox - 05/02/2016

From the link:

[I]Right now its believed a loose screw in the enclosure may have opened the area for the primates.[/I]


Hey, I swear...I haven't been near the enclosure...


But speaking of spooky, one of the best ruins and old graveyards you'll ever find is in Yemassee. I visited it when I was a kid and then again maybe 20 years ago...It was the same as I remembered...Hope it still is. Pics and a little history here:


[url]http://www.sciway.net/sc-photos/beaufort-county/old-sheldon-church.html[/url]

27.) DParker - 05/02/2016

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;41283]But speaking of spooky, one of the best ruins and old graveyards you'll ever find is in Yemassee. I visited it when I was a kid and then again maybe 20 years ago...It was the same as I remembered...Hope it still is. Pics and a little history here:


[url]http://www.sciway.net/sc-photos/beaufort-county/old-sheldon-church.html[/url][/QUOTE]

Cool. The Spanish moss hanging from the trees completes the effect.

28.) bluecat - 05/02/2016

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;41283]From the link:

[I]Right now its believed a loose screw in the enclosure may have opened the area for the primates.[/I]


Hey, I swear...I haven't been near the enclosure...


But speaking of spooky, one of the best ruins and old graveyards you'll ever find is in Yemassee. I visited it when I was a kid and then again maybe 20 years ago...It was the same as I remembered...Hope it still is. Pics and a little history here:


[url]http://www.sciway.net/sc-photos/beaufort-county/old-sheldon-church.html[/url][/QUOTE]

So do you hide behind the brick structure or the bank of chainsaws just out of view?

29.) Swamp Fox - 05/03/2016

"Why don't we just go to the running car?" ---:-)


Speaking of amusing commercials:


[url]http://www.ebaumsworld.com/videos/horror-film-gone-wrong-commercial/80657724/[/url]

30.) bluecat - 05/03/2016

That is hilarious. :applause:

31.) Hunter - 05/04/2016

[QUOTE=bluecat;41271]Where did you get that family reunion picture of the Clintons?[/QUOTE]

They are lining up to get their voter registration cards!

32.) Swamp Fox - 05/30/2016

It turns out I just bought the same machete without *really* remembering this is the one DP has. The only difference is I opted for the less expensive and not-as-pretty poly handle as it left me some money to buy a fracture boot with....(long story, LOL).


Here are a couple of others that were in contention for at least a while. This style is called parang (Asian) versus what DP and I wound up with, which are of the bolo style (South American). .

CRKT's Ken Onion 14-in. Half-A-Chance




Condor Golok 14-inch







If I needed a short blade for some ax-type work, I would jump all over this:


Ontario SP 53---10-inch blade

33.) crookedeye - 05/30/2016

if i was in the tv seires "alone" i would opt for the bottom one,,it looks like it could clean fish better than the others..

34.) DParker - 05/31/2016

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;41486]It turns out I just bought the same machete without *really* remembering this is the one DP has. The only difference is I opted for the less expensive and not-as-pretty poly handle as it left me some money to buy a fracture boot with....(long story, LOL).[/quote]

Mine also has the basic black poly handle. The pic in my original post was the only one of that model I could find, and not one I took of my own blade.

[QUOTE=crookedeye;41487]if i was in the tv seires "alone" i would opt for the bottom one,,it looks like it could clean fish better than the others..[/QUOTE]

If you're cleaning fish with a machete then you're gonna' need a bigger boat.

35.) bluecat - 05/31/2016

I have one by the Ontario Knife Company. I believe they outfit the military as it has a green scabbard and I bought it at an Army Navy surplus store. It isn't bowed like those pictured but more straight.

36.) Swamp Fox - 05/31/2016

Will it be skinning any locust trees in the near future? :-)

Ontario does supply the military (as do other machete makers, from what I gather). They have a couple of small machetes/big knives I'd enjoy if Santa dropped them off for me.

The legendary Ka-Bar makes a machete (in Taiwan/Chyna!) but without it in my hands to fondle it, I passed because it just didn't look like it was going to feel best in the hand, swinging it against brush. It was built more like a sword (Grass Machete). They make at least two other models in different styles as well. One like the Ontario above, and a kukri.

37.) Swamp Fox - 05/31/2016

[QUOTE=crookedeye;41487]if i was in the tv seires "alone" i would opt for the bottom one,,it looks like it could clean fish better than the others..[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=DParker;41488]


If you're cleaning fish with a machete then you're gonna' need a bigger boat.[/QUOTE]



CE has a recipe for clear-water carp smoked on a pine plank in a mustard sauce, I believe. He kept going on and on about it for a while. Also good the next day for sammiches on Wonder Bread, I think he said.

Anyway, from what I could tell, I'd modify the recipe: After smoking, I'd throw the fish away and use the machete to baton the plank into smaller, more digestible pieces.