H1Spyderco Machete?

[sal]

Hi Doc,

As you are probably aware, I believe that "teeth", properly made, will cut more effectively in many situations. My current thoughts are to watch the thread. Though I must admit that a 16" fully serrated Machete Mule is an interesting thought.

I think it would take some testing to determine the size and edge geometry of the serrations?

sal
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"Continual improvement is our evolutionary obligation to humankind".

[James Y]

I find the idea of a serrated machete or chopper, especially a stainless one that has been thoroughly designed and tested, to be very, very fascinating.

Jim

[Ric]

I think some guys would kill me for my opinion, but a machete should be low maintenance. I should be able to sharpen it in the jungle with a stone or cheap file.
I do not see that option for SE...

If so, both, PE and SE should be made...

[Red Leader]

I think some guys would kill me for my opinion, but a machete should be low maintenance. I should be able to sharpen it in the jungle with a stone or cheap file.
I do not see that option for SE...

If so, both, PE and SE should be made...

I think one of the guys testing a serrated machete already said that he was able to sharpen his up in just a couple of minutes or so.

You do raise a good point though, that with serrations, it isn't your traditional flat stone that is going to be able to get it done.

What with the talk of more abuse being a potential reality with hard swinging into hard materials, the potential for damage seems multiplied by an order of magnitude over what might be considered normal for a serrated pocket knife. Therefore, the idea of slightly larger, more stout serrations was floated. This could also have the added benefit of slightly fewer serrations as well, which would make maintenance potentially even quicker. I think we are in slightly uncharted territory here. I don't think the idea of a serious machete with serrations has been floated before, so there is probably some initial testing that would need to happen to find the ideal set of compromises, what with the type of steels, the thickness of the blade, and the type, quantity, size and depth of serrations. This is only the beginning.

But, the upside of a serrated machete has me willing to accept any form of additional maintenance necessary.

Perhaps the size of the serrations might be able to match that of a commonly found round file, so as to have the expediency of sharpening with something more commonly found, for out in the field, and then you could wrap with whatever grit you wanted to, to achieve whatever level of finish. However, that would mainly get the insides, not the tips of the serrations. Always tradeoffs.

[Bill1170]

Any interest in a fully serrated version?

sal

Yes, please. Full SE would be ideal for my uses.

Edited to add:
The scallops size could have a connection with both the size of what’s being cut and the type of contact made with the media. Hacking versus slicing. The whale rescue blade has smaller serrations relative to its length and that makes sense in light of what it’s intended to sever - webbing, cord, and fish nets.

I can see advantages to slightly larger serrations on a machete, from both a durability and a field maintenance standpoint. Something like an XL Sharpmaker rod with a robust handle at one end would make a good field sharpener, and could fit into a sheath that also carries the machete, not unlike the old Heiser sheaths for Randalls that had the small whetstone pouch with snap closure. Maybe a round rod in CBN over a steel embryo that won’t shatter in the field?

[cabfrank]

SE definitely.

[Mushroom]

And there I was thinking a plain edge machete was going to be a hard enough sell as is.

[sal]

The Impossible just takes a little longer.

sal

[Bill1170]

And there I was thinking a plain edge machete was going to be a hard enough sell as is.

Daring excellence is its own reward. Hopefully commercial success follows.

Pondering the comments about shock to the hands has me thinking full tang with handle scales might not be optimal in that regard, even though it has proven durability. There’s always the self-fusing silicone tape. Replaceable rubber handles?

[Fireman]

As mentioned before, a “Mule” would be great at keeping costs down because people can make their own handles and the biggest hump is the blade itself. I do have the magnamax mule. I could bolt it to a machete for testing like the whale rescue knife, it would be a great seller as a blade only option.

[vivi]

And there I was thinking a plain edge machete was going to be a hard enough sell as is.

Daring excellence is its own reward. Hopefully commercial success follows.

Pondering the comments about shock to the hands has me thinking full tang with handle scales might not be optimal in that regard, even though it has proven durability. There’s always the self-fusing silicone tape. Replaceable rubber handles?

this is one thing they got right on the scrapyard dogfather. overmolded rubber handle reduces shock and fatigue:



big one on the bottom.

slight negative angle is nice too.

[James Y]

One question: Are rubber handles (or rubber inserts on handles) prone to more wear and rotting compared to, say, solid FRN?

Jim

[JoviAl]

And there I was thinking a plain edge machete was going to be a hard enough sell as is.

Daring excellence is its own reward. Hopefully commercial success follows.

Pondering the comments about shock to the hands has me thinking full tang with handle scales might not be optimal in that regard, even though it has proven durability. There’s always the self-fusing silicone tape. Replaceable rubber handles?

this is one thing they got right on the scrapyard dogfather. overmolded rubber handle reduces shock and fatigue:



big one on the bottom.

slight negative angle is nice too.

I was just about to chime in with a similar thing about the Silky handle design and slight negative angle on a Nata chopper. It’s a two part clamshell style design that just fits over some protrusions on the full tang. I’m at home today (first day off in 12 days ) but I’ll be back on the coal face tomorrow so I’ll take some pics of the Silky handle design and how it easily comes apart.

[JoviAl]

One question: Are rubber handles (or rubber inserts on handles) prone to more wear and rotting compared to, say, solid FRN?

Jim

The Silky rubber/silicone/secret squishy stuff handles last about two years of daily use and are cheap to replace (they’re sold separately). They are grippy when wet, don’t rot and are resistant to UV damage.

[JoviAl]

I think some guys would kill me for my opinion, but a machete should be low maintenance. I should be able to sharpen it in the jungle with a stone or cheap file.
I do not see that option for SE...

If so, both, PE and SE should be made...

As a guy who literally works in the tropical jungle I have trialled sharpening the SE with my CBN Doublestuff, my brown sharpmaker rod (carried in the little tube it came in in my pocket), a 3/8 pitch chainsaw file and a bit of wooden dowel wrapped in Silicone Carbide paper. They all worked (some were prettier than others) and the SE scallops were a lot easier than a PE edge to sharpen whilst sat on a log getting accosted by mosquitoes and the odd centipede. With the wider scallops it is also a piece of cake to sharpen on a narrow belt on a belt grinder, although that level of luxury is usually reserved for the end of the day.

[JoviAl]

@sal would it be a conflict of interests (or some other legal issue) if hypothetically the handle end of a machete mule was made so a guy could fit a Silky Nata handle if they so wished?

[pinchyfisher]

+1 for Silky's handle designs (replaceable rubber).

I also think their saw sheath designs are simple, probably low cost, and effective.

With them being based in Japan (like H2...) and in the commercial/serious consumer saw/big knife market i wonder if a collaboration is in order?

[sal]

Sales are really not very important on the Mule Project. We make sure to keep the quality upon the material, grinding and heat treat is optimal We keep the margins down on Mules. We offer them without handles or sheaths. And we sell them consumer direct, to cut out the traders. All in the attempt to keep the cost to the ELU as low as possible.

The goal is to get them to as many as possible to test the material. It's a learning project, and we can get bright, knife Afi's to share their knowledge, experience and thoughts over a physical example of what we are studying.

In the case of the Machete Mule, we would also be trying to test the material and the optimal serrated edge geometry to be used hard in a relatively harsh environment.

sal

[JoviAl]

They fit on like a lock and key to some nubs on the tang. People could still make their own, but if a hypothetical machete mule has interoperability with a commonly available proven handle design it would make like very simple for commercial users in the Tree Surgery/Arborism/Landscaping/Land Management sectors to get on board.

Just a thought.

[JoviAl]

I know I’ve been banging the H2 drum throughout this thread, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the 14C28N machete I’ve serrated’s rust resistance. I don’t know the relative costs, but I would put it forward for consideration for this project. Then again I’m sure Spyderco have a vastly more encyclopaedic knowledge of what steels might be fit for purpose than I do.