Condor Parang vs. Golok vs. Thai Enep vs. Viking Machete

S

Stiletto Raggio

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Jan 29, 2000
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I am looking to get my first Condor, for general purpose/BOB use. This will be going with an Estwing Rigger's Axe, so I am more interested in its ability to clear brush, draw cut and do general camp chores than heavy chopping. Of the four models I've mentioned, here are the primary advantages I see to each:

Parang: relatively thick stock but not a deep blade, so the weight is not excessive, and the handle looks the most comfortable of the four. The blade looks well suited for draw cutting. It weighs the same as the Golok but has 3.5" longer blade and OAL. This is probably the front-runner right now.

Golok: definitely more on the chopper side than the Parang, but with similar benefits. I have actually handled this model and found it well-balanced.

Thai Enep: the curve and thickness of the blade look like it would be especially good for brush clearing but less good for draw cutting. I have read mixed reviews of the handle and it seems like it might slip if one is a bit fatigued.

Viking Machete: This one made the list because the combination of the back end and the thin blade seems to make this the best for brush. These features would also seem to make it a poor for draw cutting. Not sure how I feel about the handle.

Opinions and experience here? Opinions on the sheaths? FWIW, this will be replacing a Gerber Gator machete which I found out after the fact has a woefully short tang. I will be donating that to one of my friends' zombie apocalypse kits.
 
I know you have probably already bought your camp knife but I looked and tried all these and found that the Ontario Knife Company kukri was great for chopping and draw cutting. Yes this is a old post but people may be looking for an answer.

Viking machete is not worth it. Great for briers that's about it.
Parang can slip out of your hand with fatigue.
Enep will draw cut pretty well if you grip the blade and turn it to a 45 degree.
Golok is a straight chopper great for using it to chop sugarcane.
 
I think unless you are pretty experienced using/swinging a machete, you should stay away from machetes over 20" in blade length for safety reasons. I guess if I were cutting down a field of tall grass/reeds, maybe the 20"+ length would be preferred.

I like the Condor Village Parang and Pack Golok quite a bit. I like the wood handle and I agree that with fatigue it could easily slip out of your hand unless you have really big hands. But I think the wood handles are the most comfortable and easiest to modify to personal tastes. For the tasks mentioned, I like the Swampmaster.
 
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