SEE IT LIKE A NATIVE
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Take a look at the Woodsmans Pal !
Take a look at the Woodsmans Pal !
Short Machete
- Thread starter AStone
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AStone
Member
Continuing to read that Megathread on batoning, now closed.
Found this post in it that contains the essence of why I want to consider batoning.
I lived in the Pac NW for a decade. Now I live on the other coast,
but it's equally wet here at times.
If you want fire, sometimes you have to split the wood,
even if it's small (i.e., 2" or less).
Found this post in it that contains the essence of why I want to consider batoning.
I lived in the Pac NW for a decade. Now I live on the other coast,
but it's equally wet here at times.
If you want fire, sometimes you have to split the wood,
even if it's small (i.e., 2" or less).
22-rimfire
Member
I was also reading the mega thread. Nem, hope you enjoy the knife when you get it. I see little practical difference between it and the Kabar Cutlass Machete except the handle. Headed to the Blade Show in Atlanta tomorrow to spend the day.
AStone
Member
22, the Kabar was on my short list.
Here are the details of why I didn't pick it.
* SP53 has that saber grind.
* SP53 blade is 1/4" thick; better for batoning.
* SP53 smaller diam handle looks like it'll fit my hand better.
That's it. I have no doubt the Kabar is a fine blade,
and will work well for those who choose it carefully for their needs.
For my needs, I think the SP53 is a better choice.
Please, keep us posted on what you see at the Blade Show.
Here are the details of why I didn't pick it.
* SP53 has that saber grind.
* SP53 blade is 1/4" thick; better for batoning.
* SP53 smaller diam handle looks like it'll fit my hand better.
That's it. I have no doubt the Kabar is a fine blade,
and will work well for those who choose it carefully for their needs.
For my needs, I think the SP53 is a better choice.
Please, keep us posted on what you see at the Blade Show.
ArfinGreebly
Moderator Emeritus
Wilderness?
Wow.
It's too bad there aren't any lakes or streams or rivers up that way.
What a desert hike that's gonna be.
On the other hand, you could go here:
Much more water and stuff there.
I strongly suspect that if I like this knife as much as I think I will,
I'm going to want to acquire a better sheath for it.
So now is not too early to discuss that.
Recommendations?
PS: It'll be tested here by July 1.
Wow.
It's too bad there aren't any lakes or streams or rivers up that way.
What a desert hike that's gonna be.
On the other hand, you could go here:
Much more water and stuff there.
AStone
Member
Arf, I'm laughing over here.
That's a great map of that area; better road data - and even shows the AT - than the google maps version that I posted - which is my desktop image; been staring at it for weeks in anticipation of this upcoming camp trip; still not sure exactly where in there I'm going to go; haven't even been up that way yet, so will take a few days to just explore; I've got almost two weeks!!!!!!!!! . I can't wait.
Which reminds me, I need to find a good map or maps.
And I'm clearly going to need this knife to fend off mosquitoes. (Blackfly season was early this year, I'm told.)
___________
John, both of those Ontarios look swell. That 41 looks like an amazing little utility blade, and the same general shape, handle and steel as their SP54, (for which I'm lusting for no justifiable reason ), but more legal. 
I love the looks of their handles.
{PS: but the Ontario that I'm most lusting for next, with even less justification - because I have zero training with them - is their kerambit. I'm going to start searching the archives about that one soon, even though it'll be a while before cash flow allows for it. If needed, we'll start another thread about it; don't want to discuss it here. --- PS2: Couldn't resist a search. Found this nice overview thread on kerambits even though super dated, but has one post from this year.}
What's your interest in the 43? Camp use, or ... ?
__________
And what are your (plural) impressions of 5160 steel? Sounds like good stuff from what I'm reading (as a novice and student), and that they're treating it well, cutting it with water v laser to maintain the heat treatment.
That's a great map of that area; better road data - and even shows the AT - than the google maps version that I posted - which is my desktop image; been staring at it for weeks in anticipation of this upcoming camp trip; still not sure exactly where in there I'm going to go; haven't even been up that way yet, so will take a few days to just explore; I've got almost two weeks!!!!!!!!! . I can't wait.
Which reminds me, I need to find a good map or maps.
And I'm clearly going to need this knife to fend off mosquitoes.
(Blackfly season was early this year, I'm told.)___________
John, both of those Ontarios look swell. That 41 looks like an amazing little utility blade, and the same general shape, handle and steel as their SP54, (for which I'm lusting for no justifiable reason
), but more legal. I love the looks of their handles. {PS: but the Ontario that I'm most lusting for next, with even less justification - because I have zero training with them - is their kerambit. I'm going to start searching the archives about that one soon, even though it'll be a while before cash flow allows for it. If needed, we'll start another thread about it; don't want to discuss it here. --- PS2: Couldn't resist a search. Found this nice overview thread on kerambits even though super dated, but has one post from this year.}
What's your interest in the 43? Camp use, or ... ?
__________
And what are your (plural) impressions of 5160 steel? Sounds like good stuff from what I'm reading (as a novice and student), and that they're treating it well, cutting it with water v laser to maintain the heat treatment.
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I like big blades useful around camp or handy in an emergency. 5160 is my overall favorite steel for its balance of rust-resistance, toughness, edge-holding, and low cost.
I'll let you know how I like the k-bit.
John
I'll let you know how I like the k-bit.
John
AStone
Member
Wow. Great to read that about 5160, John. Makes me feel even better about this knife.
Deltaboy1984
Member
Good luck they are great every one of them.
wheelgunslinger
Member
In a previous life, I spent some time in the Chicoutimi/Lac St. Jean area. I would also want a short chete' there too. Lots of conifers with all the timber land and whatnot around that part of the world.
You can break a lot of deadfall over your knee or snap it off with your hands, but you still may need to work for some heartwood or what have you, even if you don't baton firewood.
I'm totally envious. That's a stupid fun part of the world to blow 2 weeks.
AStone
Member
Thanks, Wheelgun. This trip has been a lllllooooonnnnngggg time coming, through a lot of professional and personal swamps and traumas. I feel like I've really earned this one.
And what a great way to break in this new knife along side the Manix 2 and SOG SPE.
And what a great way to break in this new knife along side the Manix 2 and SOG SPE.
ArfinGreebly
Moderator Emeritus
DeLorme
That map was a quick screen shot of my DeLorme Topo USA image of that area. Topo USA has been superseded by Topo North American, I believe. I also have their USB tethered GPS puck, and an old PN-20 hand-held GPS of theirs. Their newer PN-40 and PN-60 (here's the package) are the same size but faster and with more map memory. (If you're feeling rich, they have the PN-60w version that supports two-way wireless messaging via satellite.)
Me, I just use a lightweight notebook computer with the tethered puck for detail work on the road. The Garmin will help you navigate for ordinary trips, but when you want to know what the other slope of that hill looks like, DeLorme is the answer. All the maps are loaded on the hard drive, no "fetch from satellite" or the really icky "fetch from cell network" sourcing. I have highly detailed maps with things like stores, hotels, and gas stations (yes, with phone numbers), complete with zoom, tilt, rotate, trip routing with manual override, draw-missing-roads feature, and so on.
It has saved my travel bacon a number of times.
The Topo USA (North America) series has superb graphics, excellent detail levels, tilt, rotate, and pan capability mentioned above, and an "exaggeration" function for viewing terrain features.
DeLorme also sells paper maps, like their Gazetteer series for specific regions. Here, for example, is a set that covers your area.
For people who travel in areas where there ain't no Internet nor phone, their stuff is a great nav aid.
DeLorme is actually located in your neck of the woods, so to speak, in Yarmouth
Here's a shot from Google Maps, Street View, Photos section:
Impressive.
Check out their navigational product lines.
There may well be something there you can use.
Arf, I'm laughing over here.
That's a great map of that area; better road data - and even shows the AT - than the google maps version that I posted - which is my desktop image; been staring at it for weeks in anticipation of this upcoming camp trip; still not sure exactly where in there I'm going to go; haven't even been up that way yet, so will take a few days to just explore; I've got almost two weeks!!!!!!!!! . I can't wait.
Which reminds me, I need to find a good map or maps.
And I'm clearly going to need this knife to fend off mosquitoes.
___________
[ -snip- ]
That map was a quick screen shot of my DeLorme Topo USA image of that area. Topo USA has been superseded by Topo North American, I believe. I also have their USB tethered GPS puck, and an old PN-20 hand-held GPS of theirs. Their newer PN-40 and PN-60 (here's the package) are the same size but faster and with more map memory. (If you're feeling rich, they have the PN-60w version that supports two-way wireless messaging via satellite.)
Me, I just use a lightweight notebook computer with the tethered puck for detail work on the road. The Garmin will help you navigate for ordinary trips, but when you want to know what the other slope of that hill looks like, DeLorme is the answer. All the maps are loaded on the hard drive, no "fetch from satellite" or the really icky "fetch from cell network" sourcing. I have highly detailed maps with things like stores, hotels, and gas stations (yes, with phone numbers), complete with zoom, tilt, rotate, trip routing with manual override, draw-missing-roads feature, and so on.
It has saved my travel bacon a number of times.
The Topo USA (North America) series has superb graphics, excellent detail levels, tilt, rotate, and pan capability mentioned above, and an "exaggeration" function for viewing terrain features.
DeLorme also sells paper maps, like their Gazetteer series for specific regions. Here, for example, is a set that covers your area.
For people who travel in areas where there ain't no Internet nor phone, their stuff is a great nav aid.
DeLorme is actually located in your neck of the woods, so to speak, in Yarmouth
DeLorme
Two DeLorme Drive
P.O. Box 298
Yarmouth, ME 04096
and they have this enormous globe there that's a tourist attraction in its own right.Two DeLorme Drive
P.O. Box 298
Yarmouth, ME 04096
Here's a shot from Google Maps, Street View, Photos section:
Impressive.
Check out their navigational product lines.
There may well be something there you can use.
wheelgunslinger
Member
I agree, Nem. Great way to break in new cutlery and blow off some work steam.
Maybe post some pics of your adventure when you return.
Maybe post some pics of your adventure when you return.
22-rimfire
Member
Picked up the new Condor Pack Golok yesterday. It is a heck of a chopper based on the heft and feel. But it is heavy and I doubt it would currently fulfill Nem's qualifiers for his woods/camping blade unless the weight issue is not signficant to the decision. The handle is actually large enough for a quasi two handed grip for medium sized hands which would facilitate chopping of larger pieces of wood better than most hatchets. I was comparing it to the Condor Hudson Bay, and the Hudson Bay is certainly a one handed camp knife. I like the Condor Hudson Bay for a general purpose camp knife. But the blade is a bit thick for slicing. It is borderline too big for much cutting dexterity unless you have really large hands.
Hope you have a good time with your camping trip.
Maine camping and hiking... My suggestion is that you have some good maps, gps, and a backup compass. It is easy to get turned around in mono-relief terrain. I have the Delorme map products mentioned, but not the mated GPS units. I actually have the old Delorme state CD packages for topos for a few states I frequent. Just noticed that they are for windows 95/98... have not used them in a while and they may not be usable with Windows Vista and Windows 7.
Hope you have a good time with your camping trip.
Maine camping and hiking... My suggestion is that you have some good maps, gps, and a backup compass. It is easy to get turned around in mono-relief terrain. I have the Delorme map products mentioned, but not the mated GPS units. I actually have the old Delorme state CD packages for topos for a few states I frequent. Just noticed that they are for windows 95/98... have not used them in a while and they may not be usable with Windows Vista and Windows 7.
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AStone
Member
Arf, thanks mucho for the map info. Have used Delorme's maps for years (NM, OR) but did not know they were so close to me here. As a map lover - should probably have been a cartographer, or at least geographer - I'll def have to visit their facility.
For now, I think I may just pick up one of their map "books", the state of Maine. I won't be carrying my laptop with me on this trip. Don't want to leave it in the (loaner) car when I'm hiking.
_________
22, I look forward to hearing more about the Condor. Pics when you get a chance.
How long is the blade?
_____
I moved today, from a 4th floor apt overlooking the downtown in a small city (near the fire and police departments, so complete with sirens, street traffic and totally nutzoid upstairs neighbors who scream at each other in the parking lot at 1 am
) to a residential neighborhood with trees, backyards, and gardens. I can feel the breeze, and actually hear birds singing.
Wow. I'd forgotten.
Camping up there will be even better.
Life is good.
For now, I think I may just pick up one of their map "books", the state of Maine. I won't be carrying my laptop with me on this trip. Don't want to leave it in the (loaner) car when I'm hiking.
_________
22, I look forward to hearing more about the Condor. Pics when you get a chance.
How long is the blade?
_____
I moved today, from a 4th floor apt overlooking the downtown in a small city (near the fire and police departments, so complete with sirens, street traffic and totally nutzoid upstairs neighbors who scream at each other in the parking lot at 1 am
) to a residential neighborhood with trees, backyards, and gardens. I can feel the breeze, and actually hear birds singing. Wow. I'd forgotten.
Camping up there will be even better.
Life is good.
22-rimfire
Member
I believe Maine was the very first gazetteer that Delorme produced. I believe PA and NY followed rather quickly. I have many of the state gazetteer atlases and I really like them. I missed my calling.
I measure about 11" (a little shy of 28 cm) more or less on the Pack Golok blade. I re-measured it along the center of the blade and it is about what the catalog shows versus my original measurement which bothered me after I checked the catalog measurement.
Would love to explore Baxter SP.
Addition: By the way Nem, it does not bother me in the least that you didn't choose the Kabar Cutlass Machete. I hope you enjoy the SP53 and I want you to be satisfied with your choice.
I measure about 11" (a little shy of 28 cm) more or less on the Pack Golok blade. I re-measured it along the center of the blade and it is about what the catalog shows versus my original measurement which bothered me after I checked the catalog measurement.
Would love to explore Baxter SP.
Addition: By the way Nem, it does not bother me in the least that you didn't choose the Kabar Cutlass Machete. I hope you enjoy the SP53 and I want you to be satisfied with your choice.
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AStone
Member
I liked the Condor descriptions and reviews I saw. That's a nice blade length.
It was a contender in my process, and would be a reasonable step up
if my SP53 didn't fit the bill. We'll see.
I don't think I'll go to Baxter this trip. We're heading into tourista season here,
and I want solitude. There's nice wildness south of there.
Someday, though. Thoreau walked there on Katadin.
It was a contender in my process, and would be a reasonable step up
if my SP53 didn't fit the bill. We'll see.
I don't think I'll go to Baxter this trip. We're heading into tourista season here,
and I want solitude. There's nice wildness south of there.
Someday, though. Thoreau walked there on Katadin.
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22-rimfire
Member
The new Pack Golok is pretty chunky. I weighed it on my scales at 25 oz (blade only). The 14" bladed Condor Golok may actually be easier to use, but not for heavy chopping or camp chores. The hammered look is appealing as it is on the Hudson Bay. The handle is fatter than the regular Golok which lends itself to a two handed hold. I think the Pack Golok might be improved with a slightly thinner bar steel. But I guess it depends on what you are going to use if for. I look forward to trying it out in the coming weeks.
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DAdams
Member
Interesting thread. After reading this and owning nothing more than a cheap ChiCom "machete" I feign this Fool can certainly justify some $$ soon departed.
Nem enjoy your adventure and R/R.
Nem enjoy your adventure and R/R.
AStone
Member
Good to see you in a blade thread, DA. It's good that we expand our purview beyond revolvers and rifles on occasion.
wheelgunslinger
Member
Katahdin can be hardcore. Totally a treat though.
AStone
Member
It's heeeerrrreeee!!!
It just arrived.
For now, just one word:
WOW.
Description with pics coming before Tuesday.
Not sure if I'll post it here or in a separate thread. Maybe both.
Maybe we'll leave this thread for discussions about 'short 'chetes in general,
and I'll start a different thread for ongoing review and discussion about the SP 53 (and related models like SP 52, etc).
me said:
It just arrived.
For now, just one word:
WOW.
Description with pics coming before Tuesday.
Not sure if I'll post it here or in a separate thread. Maybe both.
Maybe we'll leave this thread for discussions about 'short 'chetes in general,
and I'll start a different thread for ongoing review and discussion about the SP 53 (and related models like SP 52, etc).
DAdams
Member
Looking forward to your review.
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