Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Blade Material, Materials
Cons: Sheath/Scabbard
Superb knife with a somewhat puzzling sheath design
This is essentially a short machete version of the 2nd. generation Primitive Bush Knife by Condor. I chops well for its size and weight, and I could easily see this as a single tool for bushcrafters and backpackers alike, considering that it it also easy to use it for finer work. I love the fact that it uses 1075 carbon steel for the blade (which seems to be covered in some kind of clear laquer, probably to protect against rust) , instead of 420HC Stainless steel, like the previous generation of this series, and the micarta handles are beautifull to look at, as well as gives a much better grip than the wood handles of the previous generation. The full tang construction gives confidence that this is a tool that will hold up to much use and abuse. While I could easily rate the machete itself as a 5, the sheat, while beautifull to look at easy to carry in a belt or waist band, reduces the overall score to 4. The sheat looks well constructed of thick letter, but I have noticed that every time I draw the knife, I cut into one of the sides of the sheath, even when using the old method of squasing the sheath when drawing the knife, as is done on Sami-knives. This reduces my confidence in the sheath, and I think it is only a matter of time/use before the knife will cut trough the sheath when drawing the knife. I guess I will have to make another sheath myself at one point. Other than that, the machete is superb.
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