Condor Tool & Knife Outdoor Machete with Walnut Handle

This is a very solid machete.1075 is a good compromise of hardness vs flexibility. And Condor does a good job with the spring temper. There are better steels to use, but only slightly better, at much higher cost.Unless you live on an oceanfront, you want a high carbon spring tempered steel. It will rust if you don't oil it. Use a thicker grease for long term storage so it doesn't seep away. If you are right next to salt water though, obviously stainless steel becomes much more interesting. SS is inferior at holding an edge, and it's not as strong. But if rust is the biggest risk where you are... fair enough.The grip appears full tang, and it is, but the rearmost part of the grip is a bit skeletonized inside. This is for balance, and it doesn't seem to adversely affect durability.I'm "large". Like WMBA large. So I find it easy to use with 1 hand or 2. A smaller person, or smaller hands might not find 1-handing this to be practical, I dunno.That said, this has amazing utility if you can:- 2-handed, it offers crazy chopping power.- 1-handed with a choked up hold, it's basically like a big 18-20" machete with some counter-weight behind your hand.- 1-handed with an extended hold, it gives you a ton of reach, far more than any normal machete. So you can cut things close to the ground without stooping over so much.It's about 2lb, and it's quite long. So it's not a "just in case I need it" machete. It's something you'd bring because you plan to do a lot of 'machete stuff'.The grip is a bit too thin, mostly for the hand nearer the blade. Granted, I have big hands. It's plenty long though, not crowded at all length-wise. I got some baseball bat wrap to give it a bit of shock absorption, and a more hand-filling feel. I have read that the wood grips can sometimes split under heavy use. Spring steel does like to "wobble" when it hits something with poor edge alignment, and the wood grips do taper kinda thin near the blade, so I believe it. But I think the unique advantages of this machete are worth it anyway. Even if there's a possibility of having to make a custom micarta replacement grip for it eventually.The steel is a little too thin for chopping firewood in any major quantity. But definitely more robust than a 'cheap' machete. If you 'had' to, I'm confident you could easily chop down a tree with it though.If you want a machete which is kinda like this, but which could strike fear in the hearts of a whole row of full grown trees (and you dislike axes for some reason)... consider the ZT Reaver Cleaver. But that's like $500, and over 6 lbs. So... "tradeoffs". This would be far less exhausting to use vs. brush & undergrowth. And I think with an extended 1-hand grip, it's even good for large amounts of tallgrass.The blade "height" nearer the end provides a lot of mass for chopping power in the sweet spot. Kinda like a bolo or panga machete does. Different shape, but same effect.Like many others, the very tip of my blade came chipped. about 1mm worth. I don't honestly consider that an issue at all. It's irrelevant to how a a machete is intended to be used. You can't do a sword thrust with a machete, they're far too springy for that. Edge out of the box is adequately sharp. You couldn't shave with it, but it's a chopping tool not a slicer. I'd call it semi-sharp, and sharper than average for a machete.Sheath almost steals the show... thick top grain leather. Looks like it'd last 2 lifetimes with enough oil.Overall very happy with it. I may customize it, to make it "perfect". But that's more a compliment than a nitpick. Most machetes wouldn't be worth customizing.

Machete handle felt good, blade balanced. Had to return the item though because the scabbard/sheath was not cut and put together the same size or shape as the blade which I give a 1 star.

This machete is incredible. This hybrid between a kukri and a bolo machete easily slices through 2 in lch thick living shrubs.Easy to sharpen and clean, May develop a patina of rust if left damp. But that's what you want, that's how you know it's easier to sharpen.Keeps a great edge and the handle is absolutely incredible. It's not too heavy but it has enough Mass to do a full send, the swing is effortless.This sheath is a bit tight when you get it, but just set it under the edge of your mattress for a week or two and it will come out easier.Overall this machete functions better than I expected. Well worth the money.

Go to order a simple brush cutting machete these days and you will be faced with hundreds of options....from old school basics like this machete to futuristic, fancy blades of all designs, , materials, handles, etc..... Prices range from dirt cheap to what a good, custom made knife would cost you from a knife smith.I was raised, many years ago, in the Panama Canal Zone, when it still belonged to the US. I learned at an early age to use the old style, wooden handle, heavy steel Central and South American Machetes used by the natives. I retired to an island off the SW Coast of Florida and, since we seem to be hurricane magnets and the island is frequently cut off from the mainland, it is wise to do some basic "Prepping" before hurricane season.When I wanted a good machete for my Prepper room, I looked hard at all the dazzling array of machetes out there. I settled on this one and could not be happier. It is "old school", simple and heavy duty. With a tempered steel blade it takes and holds an a razor edge easily. It is well balanced and will not wear you out. A light weight machete works you to death....a heavier one lets the weight of the knife to the work for you. The hardwood handle is comfortable and large enough to fill my hands without sliding around and raising blisters. The sheath is leather....nothing fancy and not a work of leather art....but adequate if occasionally given a treatment with Saddle Soap and some Neat's Foot Oil to preserve it and keep it from cracking and splitting.The blade will need to be put away clean, dry and lightly oiled as it is NOT stainless steel....but a good quality carbon steel and will rust while you are looking at it if not oiled.This is every bit as good and solid as the machetes I owned when I lived in Panama and bought locally made knives. A good buy.