Just finished giving a heavily modified Panga a workout over the last couple weeks.
First, a little background. I've had this Panga for nearly 20 years. I bought it about the time Cold Steel started selling them. It has the old style handle, similar to the Heavy Machete. I've used it for years for yard work, throwing, brush clearing, cutting practice, and all manner of other things. I've sharpened it with a belt sander, which I no longer recommend, hand stones, water stones, and files. There is a crack in the handle, but it doesn't seem to have grown in the last 2 years, so I think it came from throwing, which I no longer do with it. I have used Panga style machetes since I was 10 (41 now), and like the hook like tip for picking up items and moving stuff around.
First, the factory edge is more a suggestion than anything else. Remove it and give it a proper sharpening before use. The edge/blade are soft enough to file, and you can use a belt sander, like my Harbor Freight 1 x 30, for heavy shaping of the edge, just not final sharpening.
After removing the factor edge and using the Panga for years, I gave it a good hand sharpening, and tried cutting a 4 x 4. It went through and still shaved my arm no problem. After that I used it some more for a couple more years before deciding to add a primary bevel. I started with my belt sander, but that didn't work out, as I use it in my garage and it made way to much dust for my liking.
After sitting dormant for a couple more years, I decided to use a file and reshape the edge. I got a new half round file, put a handle on it, and went to work. Off and on for about 2 months I worked a little at a time. It was during winter and I didn't need the blade until spring, so no hurry.
I lowered the primary grind down to a convex bevel about 1/2" wide, starting at about 3 degrees per side and sweeping up to about 5 dps. Following this, I added a secondary edge bevel at about 15 dps, using a Norton Economy stone, finishing on the Fine side, which is actually still a bit coarse. I used it to take down a small bush in the yard and saw a little damage. So I measured the edge thickness. To my surprise, the edge was 0.006" thick at the top of the edge bevel. Very thin for this kind of knife.
I resharpened and then tried again, this time doing some small brush breakdown for the fire pit. This also showed a bit of damage, but this wood was far from clean, and there were some impacts off hidden brick tiles, so I don't think the wood did the damage.
Tonight I finished breaking down all the wood that was handy for the fire pit, and didn't find any new damage. It's not really a problem for me, as I'll just resharpen and remove the damage. Eventually, it will thicken up and the damage will be reduced to just barely visible. The damaged edge did not appear to affect it's use, as I didn't notice any difference in cutting up the branches and brush.
It appears that, as long as care is taken to avoid rock/ground/hidden incidental impacts, this machete can actually be used with the above thin geometry and will not take excessive damage. Some damage will occur, and machetes are used for rough work when "better" blades would be spared, so damage is inevitable. If you wonder what a truly sharp machete with good, some might say excessively, thin geometry can do, I can tell you that a Panga will hold up, provided some care is used and it's not used for digging, root cutting, etc.
I have not used any of the CS machetes since the production was moved completely to South Africa after the fire in China. However, if they are being made the same as mine was 17 years ago, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend a CS Panga, provided the buyer has some skill with a file, or will let someone get rid of that factory "edge".
First, a little background. I've had this Panga for nearly 20 years. I bought it about the time Cold Steel started selling them. It has the old style handle, similar to the Heavy Machete. I've used it for years for yard work, throwing, brush clearing, cutting practice, and all manner of other things. I've sharpened it with a belt sander, which I no longer recommend, hand stones, water stones, and files. There is a crack in the handle, but it doesn't seem to have grown in the last 2 years, so I think it came from throwing, which I no longer do with it. I have used Panga style machetes since I was 10 (41 now), and like the hook like tip for picking up items and moving stuff around.
First, the factory edge is more a suggestion than anything else. Remove it and give it a proper sharpening before use. The edge/blade are soft enough to file, and you can use a belt sander, like my Harbor Freight 1 x 30, for heavy shaping of the edge, just not final sharpening.
After removing the factor edge and using the Panga for years, I gave it a good hand sharpening, and tried cutting a 4 x 4. It went through and still shaved my arm no problem. After that I used it some more for a couple more years before deciding to add a primary bevel. I started with my belt sander, but that didn't work out, as I use it in my garage and it made way to much dust for my liking.
After sitting dormant for a couple more years, I decided to use a file and reshape the edge. I got a new half round file, put a handle on it, and went to work. Off and on for about 2 months I worked a little at a time. It was during winter and I didn't need the blade until spring, so no hurry.
I lowered the primary grind down to a convex bevel about 1/2" wide, starting at about 3 degrees per side and sweeping up to about 5 dps. Following this, I added a secondary edge bevel at about 15 dps, using a Norton Economy stone, finishing on the Fine side, which is actually still a bit coarse. I used it to take down a small bush in the yard and saw a little damage. So I measured the edge thickness. To my surprise, the edge was 0.006" thick at the top of the edge bevel. Very thin for this kind of knife.
I resharpened and then tried again, this time doing some small brush breakdown for the fire pit. This also showed a bit of damage, but this wood was far from clean, and there were some impacts off hidden brick tiles, so I don't think the wood did the damage.
Tonight I finished breaking down all the wood that was handy for the fire pit, and didn't find any new damage. It's not really a problem for me, as I'll just resharpen and remove the damage. Eventually, it will thicken up and the damage will be reduced to just barely visible. The damaged edge did not appear to affect it's use, as I didn't notice any difference in cutting up the branches and brush.
It appears that, as long as care is taken to avoid rock/ground/hidden incidental impacts, this machete can actually be used with the above thin geometry and will not take excessive damage. Some damage will occur, and machetes are used for rough work when "better" blades would be spared, so damage is inevitable. If you wonder what a truly sharp machete with good, some might say excessively, thin geometry can do, I can tell you that a Panga will hold up, provided some care is used and it's not used for digging, root cutting, etc.
I have not used any of the CS machetes since the production was moved completely to South Africa after the fire in China. However, if they are being made the same as mine was 17 years ago, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend a CS Panga, provided the buyer has some skill with a file, or will let someone get rid of that factory "edge".
