CONDOR GOLOK Machete - *UPDATE*- Test and Review

[Shaper]

After the 20 Strikes test, I felt like I might have need more practice with the Golok to become more proficient a chopping with an unfamiliar design. After about 10 more strikes this occurred...




I hope that it was a freak piece of stock they used in the building of my Golok, but either way this test is over for now.

ETA:FWIW...I did go ahead and cut at a few saplings out by the woodpile after the handle broke to see how it fared against smaller green wood, and I found that it was no better or worse than the 12" camp machete at that task.

[Wastelander]

Ouch, well that sucks! I can't help but wonder if the grind is part of the problem, though--goloks are traditionally fully convexed. As to the broken handle, yeah, you can probably chalk that up to bad stock. I would say rehandle it, reprofile the grind so it's a full convex, and try again

[Shaper]

Ouch, well that sucks! I can't help but wonder if the grind is part of the problem, though--goloks are traditionally fully convexed. As to the broken handle, yeah, you can probably chalk that up to bad stock. I would say rehandle it, reprofile the grind so it's a full convex, and try again

Funny...those were my thoughts exactly. I will have to find someone with access to a belt grinder and I was thinking I might do a custom Micarta handle as well. Time and money, time and money, lol.

[zombicide_x]

I really liked the look of the Golok and was thinking about ordering one. Maybe I'll get something else.

Thanks for the review

[bigmattdaddywack]

I will just get another Ontario Machete.

[sworbeyegib]

Oh man, that sucks. When I first saw th epic of the handle, and noticed the big knob of wood in the end didn't have any of the tang in it, I hoped and figure the wood was tough enough to last.

I've been using cold steel machetes for a long time, I think I'll stick with them a little longer.

[Big B]

Thanks for the review, I think I might pass on getting one of these now. That's too bad about your handle though.

[Regulator]

Yep, damn... Shoulda wrapped it in blue wire. Good review tho, to bad about the results.

[Storm Crow]

Well, that sucks. Can't say I'm greatly surprised, though. That is a very short bevel given the thickness of the steel, whick makes it very thick.

Seriously not trying to self-promote, but compare it with the bevel on the Wasteland Crow golok. The steel is approximately the same thickness, but the bevel begins much further up. That makes the angle of the bevel thinner and therefore sharper. I had wondered when you posted pics how the cutting was going to go.

As for the handle, that is fixable and possible a fluke. I've had wooden ax handles fail dramatically literally after two chops, and I've had them last for a long time. Wood, as a natural material, is more prone to breaking like that, but I have yet to find a synthetic handle material that feels as good as wood. If you're going to keep using the golok, I'd get some wood glue or 30 minute epoxy and glue it back together before flat-out replacing it. I'd guess it'll last a very long time if you line it up well and get good adhesion. And, of course, clamp it down well until it's dry.

If you're going to re-grind the edge, be very careful about keeping the steel cool. You don't want to see the temper colors run. I'd worry less about giving it a saber grind (which will actually make for a thick bevel) and more about starting the bevel further up the blade. If you want the saber grind, that's fine, but make it appropriately long enough that your bevel is at a good thinness.

Thanks for the review, and sorry it turned out so.

[Shaper]

I was honestly hoping that the taper and the forward heft of the blade would offset the steep grind causing the Golok to act somewhat more like a small axe. As it turns out, not so much.

I believe that there is still hope for this blade, but there is some work to be done obviously. I started removing the rest of handle material this evening. I have some ideas on improving the design that I will have to hash out as I go along. I will post a new thread once I get it completed.

This might take some time because I will have to go through my list of friends to get access to all of the tools and machines needed for the transformation. Despite its poor performance, I still love the look, balance, and feel of the piece enough to not give up on it just yet.

Thanks for reading guys, I really wish I would have had better news to present to everyone. My solace is that maybe I can save a few people some buyers remorse in the future by reading this review.

[Shaper]

Well, that sucks. Can't say I'm greatly surprised, though. That is a very short bevel given the thickness of the steel, whick makes it very thick.

Seriously not trying to self-promote, but compare it with the bevel on the Wasteland Crow golok. The steel is approximately the same thickness, but the bevel begins much further up. That makes the angle of the bevel thinner and therefore sharper. I had wondered when you posted pics how the cutting was going to go.

As for the handle, that is fixable and possible a fluke. I've had wooden ax handles fail dramatically literally after two chops, and I've had them last for a long time. Wood, as a natural material, is more prone to breaking like that, but I have yet to find a synthetic handle material that feels as good as wood. If you're going to keep using the golok, I'd get some wood glue or 30 minute epoxy and glue it back together before flat-out replacing it. I'd guess it'll last a very long time if you line it up well and get good adhesion. And, of course, clamp it down well until it's dry.

If you're going to re-grind the edge, be very careful about keeping the steel cool. You don't want to see the temper colors run. I'd worry less about giving it a saber grind (which will actually make for a thick bevel) and more about starting the bevel further up the blade. If you want the saber grind, that's fine, but make it appropriately long enough that your bevel is at a good thinness.

Thanks for the review, and sorry it turned out so.

Oh, and of course you don't have to self promote, SC. If I had the money, you know your Golok would of been the one I went for first.

[bigmattdaddywack]

Seriously not trying to self-promote

.


Its all cool dude

[Jeriah]

Well, that sucks. Can't say I'm greatly surprised, though. That is a very short bevel given the thickness of the steel, whick makes it very thick.

Seriously not trying to self-promote, but compare it with the bevel on the Wasteland Crow golok. The steel is approximately the same thickness, but the bevel begins much further up. That makes the angle of the bevel thinner and therefore sharper. I had wondered when you posted pics how the cutting was going to go.

As for the handle, that is fixable and possible a fluke. I've had wooden ax handles fail dramatically literally after two chops, and I've had them last for a long time. Wood, as a natural material, is more prone to breaking like that, but I have yet to find a synthetic handle material that feels as good as wood. If you're going to keep using the golok, I'd get some wood glue or 30 minute epoxy and glue it back together before flat-out replacing it. I'd guess it'll last a very long time if you line it up well and get good adhesion. And, of course, clamp it down well until it's dry.

If you're going to re-grind the edge, be very careful about keeping the steel cool. You don't want to see the temper colors run. I'd worry less about giving it a saber grind (which will actually make for a thick bevel) and more about starting the bevel further up the blade. If you want the saber grind, that's fine, but make it appropriately long enough that your bevel is at a good thinness.

Thanks for the review, and sorry it turned out so.

You going to be selling those as a regular item, or is it just the one-off raffle item?

[Storm Crow]

Mods, if this is deemed inappropriate, let me know and I'll remove it.

You going to be selling those as a regular item, or is it just the one-off raffle item?

Well, this exact one is unique. If someone wanted to commission a similar one, I'd jump on it. The benefit would be the ability to discuss design with me and come up with something exactly (or as near as my skill allows) matching what you desire, and you wouldn't have anyone else trying for it as well. The downside would be that it would cost quite a bit more than a raffle ticket, and another awesome sheath from Wastelander would add to the price.

I make some knives as I see fit and put them up for sale, but most of them are commissioned from me. In fact, discussing what the customer wants can take longer than making the blade.

I recently posted a price guide on my Helm Enterprises, Forging Division blog if you're curious about a ballpark figure.

Wow, threadjack deluxe!

[Jeriah]

Thank you for the info. I now return this thread to its regularly scheduled programming.

[Veritas]

I could google this, but it's much more fun if I just ask...

Anybody have a golok machete that they have used and abused, and it has held up? I believe Cold Steel made one, no? But has anybody used it like our friend Shaper? I would love the SC Golok, but it is a little out of my price range (for good reason, of course, but still the fact remains).

[jor-el]

http://supplies.customcutlery.com/dymondwood.htm

Wood laminate should hold up better. Go with this if repairing the org handle falls through.

[scarymonkey]

Hi Shaper.
Your latin is a bit out.
It should be......Pasco corpora hostium meorum.
[I feast on the bodies of my enemies in real Latin]

Epulamur libenter eos qui nos subiungeant.

That is the correct Latin. Of a rather high order, as a matter of fact. It uses a deponent verb and a subjunctive dependent verb. It is Latin that would do an Oxford don proud.

[Chef]

Hi Shaper.
Your latin is a bit out.
It should be......Pasco corpora hostium meorum.
[I feast on the bodies of my enemies in real Latin]

Epulamur libenter eos qui nos subiungeant.

That is the correct Latin. Of a rather high order, as a matter of fact. It uses a deponent verb and a subjunctive dependent verb. It is Latin that would do an Oxford don proud.

It's from the Addams Family movie. Dog latin that would shame even a Cambridge man.

Romani ite domum.

Oh and regarding the knifey thing this thread was originally about-- I was impressed by the knife, given the initial review. The counterweighty handle-lobe thing snapping off doesn't really surprise, me now that I've seen how this scenario played out. There's no really good way to do that trick with a straight-grained piece of wood without exposing a natural shear plane to stress. Engineered material would probably help to elevate the initial concept to a higher plane of durability.

[bigmattdaddywack]

I say Storm Crow is cool. He makes knives, so him talking about his recent projects on the same design makes sense.

[Shaper]

It's from the Addams Family movie. Dog latin that would shame even a Cambridge man.

Romani ite domum.

At least one person around here got the movie reference, Chef.

[Shaper]

Hi Shaper.
Your latin is a bit out.
It should be......Pasco corpora hostium meorum.
[I feast on the bodies of my enemies in real Latin]

Epulamur libenter eos qui nos subiungeant.

That is the correct Latin. Of a rather high order, as a matter of fact. It uses a deponent verb and a subjunctive dependent verb. It is Latin that would do an Oxford don proud.

Chef is right on, it is Dog Latin. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_Latin

However, I actually like the true version better. It has a nice ring to it. I will change it for the sake of historical accuracy, and quite frankly, because it looks and sounds much more ominous than the other translation.

Thanks for the Latin lesson, scarymonkey.

[Joezilla]

all condor items are guaranteed for life, period. It had to be a small variation in the wood, as this is the first I have seen of it. I personally took one for two weeks in the jungles of Peru, using it hard every day to make shelters and get through the forest. It sounds like you just got a bum one. The grinds have also been getting a lot better, as all of these are finished by hand. Some have more of a distal and spine to edge taper than others, especially from the first run.

Please contact me via PM, and I will put you in contact to get a replacement pronto!

[Wastelander]

all condor items are guaranteed for life, period. It had to be a small variation in the wood, as this is the first I have seen of it. I personally took one for two weeks in the jungles of Peru, using it hard every day to make shelters and get through the forest. It sounds like you just got a bum one. The grinds have also been getting a lot better, as all of these are finished by hand. Some have more of a distal and spine to edge taper than others, especially from the first run.

Please contact me via PM, and I will put you in contact to get a replacement pronto!

Joezilla knows his machetes and has a great reputation on BladeForums for it, so I would definitely take him up on this offer