I am getting a new machete. Here are some I am considering, please comment: Cold Steel Machetes
there were 6 billion people on earth when the infection hit kv had a 90% kill rate thats 5.4 billion dead crashed bured out dead. - will smith(i am legand)
if memory serves the one called the Panga machete would be the (in general) quickest to swing machete, those swords that're curved away from the target are easier to swing i think, then again i may have gotten it reversed and the easier one would be the kukri blade
but that machete needless to say would be quite difficult to stab someone with lol so ultimately i'd say one more like the spearpoint or the Barong
the barong has a slight curve but its pointed in such a way so you could still use it to dig or as a spear tip if necessary
so IMO the Barong would be the best at the moment
I can't really make a good suggestion since I've only used the "Heavy" and "Latin" designs out in the field. Only if a bush ax couldn't be had/used. None of them were Cold Steel, though I hear they are of good quality, and of different make.
The "Heavy" design was pretty handy and did quite well for small jobs. Made by some old company I don't remember the name of and may not be around any more.
I've used the Latin extensively and never had a whole lot of trouble. Although those cheap $6 Walmart machetes are total crap and bent into an L shape after hard use. However one cheap one made by an unknown manufacturer in China was probably one of the best I've ever purchased. Only problem I had with it was the handle was poorly made and tried to come apart in my hand sometimes.
I could say I currently use a "Bowie", but what I've got I don't consider a machete. I'd say it's pretty close to that 12" blade except it's made by Smith & Wesson. It's held up pretty well so far. Handle is tad bit loose. It can chop, trim, and split logs about 5-7" in diameter with very little trouble at all. Haven't tried using it for any delicate work because I've got other knives and I worry about my fingers.
How any of these would fare against human flesh? Such as taking off an extremity in a single swipe? I don't know. Haven't had time/material to test them yet. If you don't have access to those weird mats martial arts enthusiasts and our resident ninja would suggest you could use this as an alternative.
Pick up some of those card board shipping tubes, some plastic bag(s), a wooden dowel, and a lot of news paper. Basically wet the newspaper, put it in the plastic bag(s), put that in the tube, sharpen the dowel, and push that through the wet newspaper/bag(s). The guy I picked that up from says it's a suitable enough to simulate a human arm. You'll have to use your own judgement on how thick the tube and dowel should be since I don't remember how thick the average arm is.
I could say I currently use a "Bowie", but what I've got I don't consider a machete. I'd say it's pretty close to that 12" blade except it's made by Smith & Wesson. It's held up pretty well so far. Handle is tad bit loose. It can chop, trim, and split logs about 5-7" in diameter with very little trouble at all.
Your machete sounds more like an axe (chopping through 5-7 in logs). (That's a compliment, by the way).
They just wrapped it around something close to a dowel rod just as you suggested.
You can alway try using a watermelon (the shell simulate the outer layers of skin and muscle and the inside simulates best the stomach below the rib cage and above the pelvis, that or a human head) or you could skip that and eat the watermelon. (yum)
"They drew first blood not me..." (Stallone in Rambo: First Blood)
Your machete sounds more like an axe (chopping through 5-7 in logs). (That's a compliment, by the way).
You can alway try using a watermelon (the shell simulate the outer layers of skin and muscle and the inside simulates best the stomach below the rib cage and above the pelvis, that or a human head) or you could skip that and eat the watermelon. (yum)
Like I said, I don't really consider it a machete. To me it's a knife.
I'd be a we bit skeptical when using it to simulate a human head. Remember a long time ago in the summer cutting open "sugar baby" watermelon. One swipe. Machete was one of those squarish ones.
My dad gave me his old machete that looked like one of the Bowie ones when I was young since he got himself a new one (Latin Style i guess.) I'm pretty sure they fare well against human skin you're able to cut thick branches off trees with them. My machete was left inside a pile of brush that was to be burned and it survived with the handle being slightly melted. If not for zombie killing, they can be used for survival no problem. Growing up on a ranch you get to use lots of tools, and a machete is a good tool. The most common task around the warmer months was to kill rattlesnakes with them. One quick toss and hitting them on the neck would sever the head off and you had a quick meal.
Machete's can cut come on problem, mad dad was able to cut off his own index finger in an accident so bone is no problem. (He quickly wrapped it up and let it heal, he can no longer feel with it or bend it but it's still healthy.)
For my 2 cents I would say get a good length machete that is made from a durable but light material. The longer it is the more rotational speed you can get, but it'll also be heavier, so there's a balance you have to take into account.
yeah i deem this picture necessary lol...this WAS a walmart class machete after being taken to a log of sorts in the backyard...needless to say it didn't survive the encounter
Back on topic, if you really want a strong blade that will stand up to some real torture, you should consider something like this: Combat Classics in SK-5 High Carbon Steel.
"They drew first blood not me..." (Stallone in Rambo: First Blood)
This is the knife that I am talking about. I was a tad bit off (about 3 1/2" to 4") on the length of the blade. Price will vary, but I picked it up at a gun and knife show for the same price listed here except I didn't have to worry about shipping. It comes with a hard plastic/nylon sheath and sharpening stone.
I think that just about any one of those would work just fine, it really depends on your preference and what you want to cut when it come to blades.
"They drew first blood not me..." (Stallone in Rambo: First Blood)
if memory serves the one called the Panga machete would be the (in general) quickest to swing machete, those swords that're curved away from the target are easier to swing i think, then again i may have gotten it reversed and the easier one would be the kukri blade
but that machete needless to say would be quite difficult to stab someone with lol so ultimately i'd say one more like the spearpoint or the Barong
the barong has a slight curve but its pointed in such a way so you could still use it to dig or as a spear tip if necessary
so IMO the Barong would be the best at the moment
I'm sure you can figure that out....
I can't really make a good suggestion since I've only used the "Heavy" and "Latin" designs out in the field. Only if a bush ax couldn't be had/used. None of them were Cold Steel, though I hear they are of good quality, and of different make.
The "Heavy" design was pretty handy and did quite well for small jobs. Made by some old company I don't remember the name of and may not be around any more.
I've used the Latin extensively and never had a whole lot of trouble. Although those cheap $6 Walmart machetes are total crap and bent into an L shape after hard use. However one cheap one made by an unknown manufacturer in China was probably one of the best I've ever purchased. Only problem I had with it was the handle was poorly made and tried to come apart in my hand sometimes.
I could say I currently use a "Bowie", but what I've got I don't consider a machete. I'd say it's pretty close to that 12" blade except it's made by Smith & Wesson. It's held up pretty well so far. Handle is tad bit loose. It can chop, trim, and split logs about 5-7" in diameter with very little trouble at all. Haven't tried using it for any delicate work because I've got other knives and I worry about my fingers.
How any of these would fare against human flesh? Such as taking off an extremity in a single swipe? I don't know. Haven't had time/material to test them yet. If you don't have access to those weird mats martial arts enthusiasts and our resident ninja would suggest you could use this as an alternative.
Pick up some of those card board shipping tubes, some plastic bag(s), a wooden dowel, and a lot of news paper. Basically wet the newspaper, put it in the plastic bag(s), put that in the tube, sharpen the dowel, and push that through the wet newspaper/bag(s). The guy I picked that up from says it's a suitable enough to simulate a human arm. You'll have to use your own judgement on how thick the tube and dowel should be since I don't remember how thick the average arm is.
I could say I currently use a "Bowie", but what I've got I don't consider a machete. I'd say it's pretty close to that 12" blade except it's made by Smith & Wesson. It's held up pretty well so far. Handle is tad bit loose. It can chop, trim, and split logs about 5-7" in diameter with very little trouble at all.
The weird mat things you were referring to were probably Tatami.
ta·ta·mi
ta·ta·mi [tə tmee, taa tmee]
(plural ta·ta·mi or ta·ta·mis) n
Japanese straw mat: a straw mat, used especially in Japanese homes as a floor covering
[Early 17th century. < Japanese ]
Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
They just wrapped it around something close to a dowel rod just as you suggested.
You can alway try using a watermelon (the shell simulate the outer layers of skin and muscle and the inside simulates best the stomach below the rib cage and above the pelvis, that or a human head) or you could skip that and eat the watermelon. (yum)
"They drew first blood not me..." (Stallone in Rambo: First Blood)
You can alway try using a watermelon (the shell simulate the outer layers of skin and muscle and the inside simulates best the stomach below the rib cage and above the pelvis, that or a human head) or you could skip that and eat the watermelon. (yum)
Like I said, I don't really consider it a machete. To me it's a knife.
I'd be a we bit skeptical when using it to simulate a human head. Remember a long time ago in the summer cutting open "sugar baby" watermelon. One swipe. Machete was one of those squarish ones.
My dad gave me his old machete that looked like one of the Bowie ones when I was young since he got himself a new one (Latin Style i guess.) I'm pretty sure they fare well against human skin you're able to cut thick branches off trees with them. My machete was left inside a pile of brush that was to be burned and it survived with the handle being slightly melted. If not for zombie killing, they can be used for survival no problem. Growing up on a ranch you get to use lots of tools, and a machete is a good tool. The most common task around the warmer months was to kill rattlesnakes with them. One quick toss and hitting them on the neck would sever the head off and you had a quick meal.
Machete's can cut come on problem, mad dad was able to cut off his own index finger in an accident so bone is no problem. (He quickly wrapped it up and let it heal, he can no longer feel with it or bend it but it's still healthy.)
For my 2 cents I would say get a good length machete that is made from a durable but light material. The longer it is the more rotational speed you can get, but it'll also be heavier, so there's a balance you have to take into account.
Because the Muppet Show said so.
yeah i deem this picture necessary lol...this WAS a walmart class machete after being taken to a log of sorts in the backyard...needless to say it didn't survive the encounter
Wow! That is one messed up looking machete. (Note to self, forgo the walmart machete)
"They drew first blood not me..." (Stallone in Rambo: First Blood)
Back on topic, if you really want a strong blade that will stand up to some real torture, you should consider something like this: Combat Classics in SK-5 High Carbon Steel.
"They drew first blood not me..." (Stallone in Rambo: First Blood)
This is the knife that I am talking about. I was a tad bit off (about 3 1/2" to 4") on the length of the blade. Price will vary, but I picked it up at a gun and knife show for the same price listed here except I didn't have to worry about shipping. It comes with a hard plastic/nylon sheath and sharpening stone.