Ka-Bar Cutlass Machete Impressions

[Guyon]

Two words: love it. I have a lot of big knives, and this one is up there on my "cool factor" list. Just an efficient chopper in a nice size with good ergos.

Recently, I found a bunch of downed pecan limbs in my yard and put the Cutlass to work chopping them up for the fire bowl.

The Cutlass made short work of the limbs, and I was impressed with it's ability to chop. It can easily take out 1"+ limbs in a single chop.

Here's another example of a clean cut on a smallish limb.

After some experimentation, I found that the sweet spot (for me at least) lies in the upward sweep/curve of the blade toward the handle.

Larger seasoned pecan? Not a problem for the Cutlass.

The 1085 carbon holds a good edge, but it is also easy to sharpen.
Below is an example of sharpening as well as an example of how NOT to lose it over a minor edge ding.
I took a ding while chopping some of the pecan because I hit a small rock embedded in my chopping stump.
Here it is after I hammered it back into place and steeled it a bit.

Then I just took a file and matched the angle of the edge. A few passes on each side, and the ding disappeared from sight.

For the price, it's hard to beat. Good handle ergos compliments of Tooj.
Nice balance on the blade thickness. It does some serious work, but it's not so thick as to be cumbersome.
Three more words: Get you some. You won't regret it IMO. :thumbup:

 

[BRL]

O boy o boy o boy I can't wait! Great photos and information.

 

[stabman]

Got any spine pics?

 

[ocnLogan]

Awesome, I love threads like this.

In the photo you so helpfully identified the sweet spot... is the tip up in that photo? Its just a bit hard to tell because of how close up it is. I think I've got it right, but just want to check.

 

[Guyon]

Got any spine pics?

Ask and ye shall receive.

Here's an in-hand pic too. The "hook" on the handle is comfortable and functional.

Awesome, I love threads like this.

In the photo you so helpfully identified the sweet spot... is the tip up in that photo?

Yes, tip-up in that picture.

One more shot I forgot to include above.

 

[BRL]

Such an awesome shape. Does your handle rattle?

 

[Guyon]

No handle rattle.

 

[Snakedoc]

The 1085 carbon holds a good edge, but it is also easy to sharpen.
Below is an example of sharpening as well as an example of how NOT to lose it over a minor edge ding.
I took a ding while chopping some of the pecan because I hit a small rock embedded in my chopping stump.
Here it is after I hammered it back into place and steeled it a bit.

Then I just took a file and matched the angle of the edge. A few passes on each side, and the ding disappeared from sight.

Thank you for posting this! The same thing happened to the blade on my BK9 and I worked it out pretty much the same way. Small dings and rolls happen when a blade is used and too many people don't know how to rectify the issue.

Thanks for the review, I am putting one of these on my wish list!

 

[parbajtor]

Nice chetty. How would pecan perform as a knife handle material? Does it get lots of figuring?

 

[stabman]

I think I may have to get one.

 

[BRL]

w00t mine was waiting for me once I got home!

 

[Guyon]

w00t mine was waiting for me once I got home!

Sorry. Can't believe you until I see some wood chips flying.

 

[foxx]

I'll second how good a value the Cutlass is. I've used mine more than other more expensive knives/choppers for lots of work around the 5 acres. Lots of limbs and thick weeds to trim. It has be used hard, dulled, sharpened, dinged, sharpened, and keeps coming back for more. No handle rattle at all, not that I expected it, but have others had that issue?
After hours of use, no blisters, hot spots, or problems. My hands are med/large size, but my fingers are a bit shorter than they could be. The handle is a bit fat for me, but has not been a problem. I use a lanyard most of the time anyway, to allow me to put two fingers on the end of the handle, and to prevent loss. Yet, it's got enough grip not to be slippery anyway.

 

[ocnLogan]

w00t mine was waiting for me once I got home!

Congrats Man! I hope to see a review sometime soon.

In other news, I folded, and my War Sword will be here tomorrow (hopefully they actually leave it at the door, otherwise it would likely be Monday before it comes... ).

This next week is crazy for school, but after that, I should have some sort of a review up sometime .

 

[BRL]

In other news, I folded, and my War Sword will be here tomorrow

Congrats Man! I hope to see a review sometime soon.

 

[RABII]

Guyon, an endorsement from you is like a book endorsement from Oprah...it's GOLDEN! Kabar won't be able to keep that model in stock now!

 

[cramsey3006]

I love mine. It's one of those blades that you can promote all day long, but until someone takes the plunge, buys it, and uses it, they just don't understand that it IS THAT GOOD.

 

[B.B.M]

Awesome review and pics! What kind of tang do they have?

 

[Guyon]

It's a radiused tang that goes all the way back to the lanyard tubing. There's a picture of one around here somewhere.

Here we go. It's BRL's WartHog, but same basic tang on all of Tooj's knives...

 

[B.B.M]

It's a radiused tang that goes all the way back to the lanyard tubing. There's a picture of one around here somewhere.

Here we go. It's BRL's WartHog, but same basic tang on all of Tooj's knives...

Thanks for the pic I'm pretty rough on machetes I like a good through tang, the cutlass or either the kukri is definitely one my want list! (just can't make up my mind)