Jared Edwards
Minnesota

Jun 12, 2021

Pros: Weight, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Finish

In my opinion, the most perfect sword design to date.

When I first saw this, I knew that I needed a couple because the specs sounded absolutely perfect. The only thing I gave it a bad mark was on finish because the 'courtesy edge' IS ground in an extremely crude and rough manner, but who cares? I got an extremely well designed sword for $35.00 as a factory second. But after a little work on the belt grinder it's fully double edged and razor sharp. A scabbard is quite easy to make out of 3/16" plywood flooring underlayment Gorilla Glued together and wrapped in fiberglass cloth and resin. You'll need at least a dozen or two of these in your bugout bag for trading purposes.

Max
Atlanta, GA

Jan 02, 2022

Pros: Weight, Blade Material, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Finish

Comes dull (as it probably should) but takes quite an edge

It’s far from pretty, but after sharpening it up it took one hell of an edge and has held it well so far. The finish makes it look dirty constantly, so this is more of a practical tool than a show piece.

Beaver Creek Woodcraft
Northern Ohio

Jun 21, 2019

Pros: Overall Quality, Blade Material

Cons: Finish

Dont underestimate the Kingfisher

I'll start off by saying everyone should own one of these. Where else can you get a battle ready short sword for so little? So initial thoughts are that it's kinda weird looking, like mash up of different sword designs. As soon as you get it in your hands, you feel the balance and notice the distal taper. It's made for business! One would think it's a thrusting weapon, and it definitely excels at that, but it's quite the cutter as well. I have been thoroughly impressed with how it cuts, despite being relatively thin bladed, it has good geometry, but still tough and resilient. Heat treat is fantastic, this sword/machete does everything right. It has what you need and nothing you dont and the price reflects that. Yes, the hickory scales are roughly fitted, but it's simple enough to smooth the rough edges yourself, its $65! I would love to see more options added to this line, something like a Gladius would be awesome.

Alex
NJ

Jun 22, 2019

Pros: Weight, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Sheath/Scabbard

Great Sword-chete!

I bought this product directly from the designer. It is an excellent machete for working around your property (IE- clearing brush, pruning trees and bushes, etc) but it is also a lot of fun for cut testing on tatami mats and water bottles. Ben Bouchard created the Kingfisher for exactly those two fields- work and fighting- and it excels in both. If you are looking at a Cold Steel sword/machete hybrid pick up a Kingfisher instead

Joey
Illinois

Jun 27, 2019

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Materials, Finish

Cons: None

Great value and product

I purchased two of these in their original run, and they are great. From well fitted handles to good blades, they are set up essentially as a poor man's short sword. I love the design, and while I do not use it much, I have practiced simple maneuvers with them and plan to take it with me this fall into the woods. A must have for survival types!

Csh
Maine

Jun 21, 2019

Pros: None

Cons: None

Greatest machete!

A fantastic tool at a great price. You would be wise to have a few of these bad boys. Dense jungle, pucker brush, zombie apocalypse? No problem! Buy this machete!

E Mackie
Maryland

Jun 21, 2019

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Materials, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Sheath/Scabbard

Unique

The design is much different than any other machete. Blade weight, and handle design allow for a powerful strike against brush. The handle guard helps prevent loosing your grip should your hands become sweaty. Con for the sheath only because it doesn't come with one.

Foresterthom
Cymru

Jun 24, 2019

Pros: Overall Quality, Blade Material, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Budget brash bashing beauty

Purchased as a bit of fun and had intended to put it to work as a hedge clearance tool for fine dressing of a laid hedge. Nice, light and very manoeuvrable in the hand, but a bit too light for my intended use. Not a criticism of the tool, just my choice for its application. Now used for light scrub clearance/path clearance and it's a lovely thing to wield.... if a little worrying in appearance to passersby. Well constructed for the price. No complaints here.

Andrew
Grand Rapids, MI

Apr 11, 2022

Pros: Blade Sharpness, Weight, Overall Quality, Materials

Cons: Finish, Materials

Not a machete, still awesome

Okay so mine came and broke right away, but I was anticipating having to work on the wood handle so I wasn't too bothered by it. Warning: the wood on the trigger finger rest in the grip of this sword breaks very easily, If I'm not mistaken hickory isn't known for being a very strong wood, and the routed beveling within the grip makes the wood prone to breakage, considering how much force the grip is putting on the handle at that point while swinging, it is understandable how it would break. Still, an easy fix with some wood glue. Bought some sandpaper to grind down the handle into something more comfortable as the fit and finish of the handle leaves much to be desired, but makes for a good diy project on a weekend. When I say leaves much to be desired, I mean it will also leave slivers in your hand if you're not careful when you first pick it up! Now, onto the pros of the Kingfisher: For the size, ridiculously lightweight for the amount of cutting power you get in it, the steel is excellent once honed properly and the balance of the blade is also insanely perfect, it allows for quick snaps/twists of the wrist to be used both offensively, (thrusting and slashing with the double edged tip top half of the blade), or defensively, using either the knuckle guard or beefy sword catching quillon on the back of the blade. Makes for a very formidable and agile one handed weapon. The grip is large enough to accommodate any size hand and allows for a variety of grips to be used. The lines in the length of this blade are not just for show, they provide a very real strength and rigidity to this machete the whole length of the blade, The distal taper on this thing shaves even more weight off of what would likely be an otherwise bulky and heavy blade to make it a quick-snap killer. I can only imagine how hard sasquatch or a bear would get fucked over by this thing. A must have for survivalist types and the low price point allows for many to be purchased for outfitting a group. Plus the finish isn't incredibly polished, which makes it definitely more passable as a tool/something to be used than something that deserves to be wall mounted. Which I'm going to do anyway because this thing is badass and once I'm done staining and polishing the wood handle, it'll be twice as badass. Truth though? It's not a tool at all. It's for killing imaginary zombies and maybe murdering someone in the instance the world falls apart. In which case, I would very much feel safer carrying this thing around than any other machete. Will update later with photos of the final product after my modifications.

John R
Texas

Jul 28, 2019

Pros: Blade Material, Materials, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Weight, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Sheath/Scabbard

Made a modification to the geometry

When it arrived it seemed too blade heavy for the style of grip. Since I have arthritis in my hands I showed it to my neighbor who also makes knives. We decided to cut the blade 12 inches from the forward part of the scales along the top of the blade. We did a slow arc cut to the edge giving the blade a piercing point and then sharpened a new edge. The balance is now excellent; and makes for a nice short machete. We added some more wood to the sides of the scales for a better grip. However, I will likely redesign the grip for my use. My neighbor then took the piece that was removed and made himself a knife. So we each benefitted from the modification. I think this design could have been better executed for comfort and balance. But I won't fault the knife on that account. Also, this probably wouldn't lend itself well to being sheathed. It is a working blade that takes a good edge. I only gave it a 4 due to my handicap using it as designed..

Matt S.
Capital Area, NY

Jan 15, 2021

Pros: Blade Sharpness

Cons: Overall Quality

Good in theory

I was very excited about this item at first. It came highly recommended by video reviews. I was not as impressed as they. The overall finish is extraordinarily poor when compared to the cost. Apart from the design, this tool is nothing to get excited about. It has a uncomfortably rough feel that is hard to overlook. Nearly every contour of the blade and handle has burrs or hot spots. These are not issues that can’t be remedied with a little work. However, for the cost of this item, it should not arrive in so much need of refinement. I’ve seen better quality in comparable items for half the cost. It does have an alluring appeal in its design but I’m dubious about the functionality of features like the knuckle guard and “blade catcher” quillion.