Kukri vs Machette

drop bear

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Why take sand to a beach. When traveling try sampling the local wares and training. Working blades develop from community, culture and needs. Rather than traveling with a bunch of long steel pick up what you need when you get closer to where you are going. Travel lighter and only take the essentials. When traveling foreign lands bring cheap blade as it will likely be traded anyways, no sense losing top notch.

And a good lead up to "buy a mora."
 
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PhotonGuy

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Why take sand to a beach. When traveling try sampling the local wares and training. Working blades develop from community, culture and needs. Rather than traveling with a bunch of long steel pick up what you need when you get closer to where you are going. Travel lighter and only take the essentials. When traveling foreign lands bring cheap blade as it will likely be traded anyways, no sense losing top notch.

Ever been to South Africa? Any experience or advice? I do plan to research it more but one thing is for sure, knives and blades aren't free like sand at a beach and if I can get a good quality blade for a lower price in Africa than here at the USA than perhaps I will get it there but I am still doing research.
 

RhythmGJ

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I have been to Ghana, and there were machetes for-sale and in-use everywhere. I didn't get a chance to check them out closely in the market (I was more interested in finding a djembe), but when I go back, I'm thinking of picking-up some blades and shipping them back. I have to assume they'll be better and cheaper than what you can get at Harbor Freight or Walmart!


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RhythmGJ

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PS-- If you practice your "dickering" skills, you will be better able to get optimal pricing. The traditional markets really do practice the art of price negotiation, and often the assumption will be that Westerners are loaded with cash, so they will start by high-balling you. Stand firm.


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Tez3

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PS-- If you practice your "dickering" skills, you will be better able to get optimal pricing. The traditional markets really do practice the art of price negotiation, and often the assumption will be that Westerners are loaded with cash, so they will start by high-balling you. Stand firm.


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That goes with the Gurkha kukris lol, the Gurkhas here will haggle for everything even taxi fares and it's amazing that it works because it's not something we are used to here. I think their reputation goes before them though they never cause any trouble at all, they just smile and are very polite which can be quite intimidating!
 
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PhotonGuy

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I have good experience with the company Cold Steel and from what I've seen of their stuff most of what they sell is better than what you will find at Harbor Freight or Walmart. They sell both machetes and kukris although I don't know if they do business in South Africa.
 

Tez3

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I have good experience with the company Cold Steel and from what I've seen of their stuff most of what they sell is better than what you will find at Harbor Freight or Walmart. They sell both machetes and kukris although I don't know if they do business in South Africa.


Are they Nepalese kukris?
 

Transk53

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I believe that a twin blade Machete would be cool. Two parallel along the blade. Could slice through a knee and hand it to the victim. Boko Harem could be volunteers.
 
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Tez3

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Yeah should be made in Scotland.


Mmm, well at least for us that would be a patriotic buy :D Buying stuff from Taiwan annoys me, buying stuff that should be made in the proper country of origin annoys me even more.
 

Transk53

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Mmm, well at least for us that would be a patriotic buy :D Buying stuff from Taiwan annoys me, buying stuff that should be made in the proper country of origin annoys me even more.


Yeah guess it would. For me Taiwan is essential. Some chips are God like!
 
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PhotonGuy

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The first one looks really nice but its a bit expensive, $130. They've got some other ones that are much less.
 

jks9199

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For a machete, why spend more than you have to? As a rule, you don't need or wasn't a blade that's going to take a beating in use to cost a fortune. You want a decent steel that'll hold a working edge tolerably well, be resilient enough to take the beating, and tough enough to handle the abuse. Full tang, of course, and a comfortable handle. For a working kukri... Much the same. I understand that railroad track and car lead springs have been very popular sources of steel in the past. For a ceremonial kukri, sure get fancy. ( never heard of a ceremonial machete...)

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drop bear

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For a machete, why spend more than you have to? As a rule, you don't need or wasn't a blade that's going to take a beating in use to cost a fortune. You want a decent steel that'll hold a working edge tolerably well, be resilient enough to take the beating, and tough enough to handle the abuse. Full tang, of course, and a comfortable handle. For a working kukri... Much the same. I understand that railroad track and car lead springs have been very popular sources of steel in the past. For a ceremonial kukri, sure get fancy. ( never heard of a ceremonial machete...)

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They have machete in fancy. Not sure if ceremonial.

machete porn.
VALIANT CO. - New Antique Traditional Blades
 

Buka

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Ever been to South Africa? Any experience or advice? I do plan to research it more but one thing is for sure, knives and blades aren't free like sand at a beach and if I can get a good quality blade for a lower price in Africa than here at the USA than perhaps I will get it there but I am still doing research.

I've been there several times. I know you'll find these things during your research but - if you rent a car, they drive on the left in South Africa, if you've never done that before, the first few days are really confusing, especially turning. A lot of the car rentals are manual transmission, if you want an automatic you need to request it. And you need a locking gas cap. Any picture driving license is valid, so you're all set.

You need a cell phone. Find out if yours will work there. But if you use it a lot the international rates will cost you a bootload. (seriously) Depending on how long you're staying, might be better to get one there, and their service. I think the emergency number is 10111.

If you plan on traveling by bus - bad guys always work the bus depots, always, so be careful. If you're in the cities at night, stay away from the business or night districts. If you're marked as a tourist they'll eat you alive. Just don't go to those places at night.

If you are out and about, "in the woods" (more like dusty scrub) there's more to worry about than coyotes, wolves or bears. Always remember YOU ARE IN AFRICA. Besides the animals, they have seriously nasty snakes. Black Mambas, Puff Adders, Boomslangs in the trees and Cobras, all kinds of Cobras, and God knows what else. I'm quite sure you'll see them (at least I hope you see them)

It's also the "murder by stabbing capital of the world", so behave yourself. :)
 

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