Finally an accurate and reasonable review of this machete. So tired of seeing folks try chopping larger trees with this. Pick the right tool for the job. Still a fine knife/machete for its intended purpose. Thanks
Glad you found the video helpful. I agree, right tool for the job. I could take a tree down with a pocket knife, eventually, but why would I try. It is all about time and energy (and safety) invested. Thanks for commenting
I like to carry this on my canoe trips (Ontario) to split/baton small firewood, feather stick to save my good bushcraft knife, and clear away small brush in camp. I also carry a small silky saw for bucking wood. For my needs, it is a good combination and lighter than my axe. Nice thorough review Mark. Did you once say you were in law enforcement? I retired after 30 and now enjoy my time wilderness canoeing. Cheers.
I enjoyed your review. Your stab-and-split technique of processing wood is very useful. Your review was very thorough and helped me review my choice of macheties. I use the Ontario SP53 which is a cross between an axe and a machettie. Here in east Texas we need a tool with much more drive to take out poision ivy vines and smilax briars. Your review helped reevaluate my choice and added techniques to my skill set. Thanks very much. Good video.
Man, you're in great shape. Once you started chopping and batoning, you were like "the little engine that could". Good demonstration of the machete. Thanks, my friend.
A machete style blade works best when following the grain rather than across it. In other words like sharpening a tent peg. If you can get the wood under tension as well they can cut surprisingly thick wood (a couple inches or so). It's my favorite brush clearing tool when used this way. Enjoy your videos!
Good tip. I don't often have a use for brush clearing unless I am trail blazing. I do find that slicing at an acute angle to the stem or branch does work best as you say and putting a stem or branch under strain does help as well. I found that this knife is a bit heavier than a lot of machetes making it a bit more versatile of other camp tasks, if not ideal. Thanks for commenting
I looked at this blade among other before I settled on the CRKT halfachance Parang with the 14" blade. Very pleased with it powers through most small stuff with ease. Nice video
After having watched your video on your Condor Hudson's Bay knife I think the obvious question to ask is which of these blades you prefer. Although I don't own the Chanceinhell my guess is that I'd vote for the Hudson's Bay knife. I was interested to note that when you were bucking those thinner pieces of maple the pieces you weren't holding tended to fly up. The same thing happened to me once when I was making some quick tent pegs and one of the pieces flew up and knocked the lens out of my eyeglasses. For the briefest of seconds I wondered if I'd lost an eye! Everything was fine and I was able to find the lens and pop it back in the frame but I still took the event as a cautionary tale inasmuch as you can be doing everything "right" and things can still go wrong.
Kenneth Speed Thanks Kenneth. The Chanceinhell is great for what it is designed for but overall, I prefer the Hudson Bay. I probably should have bucked the sticks vertically to avoid the flipping.Thanks for commenting
Just curious, when using the machete with a mallet for battoning, does that still count as a one tool solution? I guess you were just demonstrating how versatile it is battoning with a mallet. Or perhaps one could easily fashion a mallet in the woods with that machete. As usual, a great video. That's some hard work, I broke a sweat just watching!
Interesting question. I always thought the "one tool option" concept was supposed to be an answer to the question "what if you could only take one tool into the woods with you?". It was a bit of a workout for sure. That's part of the reason I don't do a lot of chopping with knives. Not very efficient as far as energy conservation. Glad you enjoyed the video and thank you for commenting
The can be no one axe for all uses. Choosing a single axe would be a compromise. An axe with a 1.75 lb head and 20" haft will suit most people for most tasks but will be too big for some tasks and too small for other. Thanks for commenting
I. Like it always like a bigger blade if it's a one tool option ! Indigenous ppls around the world can't be wrong I remember Hondurans laughed at my kabar lol great blade take care brother
Great helpful review. Sealed the deal for me. Thank you.
Glad I could help. Thanks for commenting
Finally an accurate and reasonable review of this machete. So tired of seeing folks try chopping larger trees with this. Pick the right tool for the job. Still a fine knife/machete for its intended purpose. Thanks
Glad you found the video helpful. I agree, right tool for the job. I could take a tree down with a pocket knife, eventually, but why would I try. It is all about time and energy (and safety) invested. Thanks for commenting
I like to carry this on my canoe trips (Ontario) to split/baton small firewood, feather stick to save my good bushcraft knife, and clear away small brush in camp. I also carry a small silky saw for bucking wood. For my needs, it is a good combination and lighter than my axe. Nice thorough review Mark. Did you once say you were in law enforcement? I retired after 30 and now enjoy my time wilderness canoeing. Cheers.
I was 36 years with Halifax Regional Police. How about you?
I enjoyed your review. Your stab-and-split technique of processing wood is very useful. Your review was very thorough and helped me review my choice of macheties. I use the Ontario SP53 which is a cross between an axe and a machettie. Here in east Texas we need a tool with much more drive to take out poision ivy vines and smilax briars.
Your review helped reevaluate my choice and added techniques to my skill set. Thanks very much. Good video.
Jim Ferguson Hey Jim. Glad I was able to provide you with something of value.Thanks for commenting
Man, you're in great shape. Once you started chopping and batoning, you were like "the little engine that could". Good demonstration of the machete. Thanks, my friend.
William Burr Glad you enjoyed.Thanks for commenting
A machete style blade works best when following the grain rather than across it. In other words like sharpening a tent peg. If you can get the wood under tension as well they can cut surprisingly thick wood (a couple inches or so). It's my favorite brush clearing tool when used this way. Enjoy your videos!
Good tip. I don't often have a use for brush clearing unless I am trail blazing. I do find that slicing at an acute angle to the stem or branch does work best as you say and putting a stem or branch under strain does help as well. I found that this knife is a bit heavier than a lot of machetes making it a bit more versatile of other camp tasks, if not ideal. Thanks for commenting
I looked at this blade among other before I settled on the CRKT halfachance Parang with the 14" blade. Very pleased with it powers through most small stuff with ease. Nice video
Charles Artificer I might have gone with the Halfachance myself if it had been available to me at the time.Thanks for commenting
Have used mine making a turkey blind and clearing brush near a trout stream for better casting. I like mine.
Great use for it. Lightweight and effective. Thanks for commenting
CRKT makes great products
I agree. Thanks for commenting
After having watched your video on your Condor Hudson's Bay knife I think the obvious question to ask is which of these blades you prefer. Although I don't own the Chanceinhell my guess is that I'd vote for the Hudson's Bay knife.
I was interested to note that when you were bucking those thinner pieces of maple the pieces you weren't holding tended to fly up. The same thing happened to me once when I was making some quick tent pegs and one of the pieces flew up and knocked the lens out of my eyeglasses. For the briefest of seconds I wondered if I'd lost an eye! Everything was fine and I was able to find the lens and pop it back in the frame but I still took the event as a cautionary tale inasmuch as you can be doing everything "right" and things can still go wrong.
Kenneth Speed Thanks Kenneth. The Chanceinhell is great for what it is designed for but overall, I prefer the Hudson Bay. I probably should have bucked the sticks vertically to avoid the flipping.Thanks for commenting
great rundown on this large blade. you'd use it for carving a spoon? I guess it would get the job done in a pinch
Better than lot of of machetes I've tried but best saved for trail work. Thanks Jim
Just curious, when using the machete with a mallet for battoning, does that still count as a one tool solution? I guess you were just demonstrating how versatile it is battoning with a mallet. Or perhaps one could easily fashion a mallet in the woods with that machete. As usual, a great video. That's some hard work, I broke a sweat just watching!
Interesting question. I always thought the "one tool option" concept was supposed to be an answer to the question "what if you could only take one tool into the woods with you?". It was a bit of a workout for sure. That's part of the reason I don't do a lot of chopping with knives. Not very efficient as far as energy conservation. Glad you enjoyed the video and thank you for commenting
Cool, good sensible review Mark.
Vinland Bushcraft Thanks Randal
Very interesting review ! Thanks for sharing !
Ciao Mattia
You are most welcome. Thanks for commenting
And at $50 in 2022 it’s still a great value.
Right on. Still my go to trail clearing tool. Thanks for commenting
Whats the best all around axe for all tasks then ?
The can be no one axe for all uses. Choosing a single axe would be a compromise. An axe with a 1.75 lb head and 20" haft will suit most people for most tasks but will be too big for some tasks and too small for other. Thanks for commenting
Nice knife, just not so good in Canada. Good test, Mark
Not ideal for our part of the world but not bad for trail maintenance. Thanks for commenting
I. Like it always like a bigger blade if it's a one tool option ! Indigenous ppls around the world can't be wrong I remember Hondurans laughed at my kabar lol great blade take care brother
kabaruser Can you imagine, laughing at a Ka-bar. Thanks for commenting brother
Hi, anyone here ever used chanceinhell in very humid or tropical regions? how does it hold up against corrosion? Thanks
Sorry, can't help you there. We live near the ocean but I have not used my Chanceinhell in that environment. Thanks for commenting