From Thai Swords to the Cold Steel Thai Machete
Founded in 1980, Cold Steel is one of the most popular machete manufacturers in the world. Cold steel manufactures a wide range of machetes that are highly rated on the market. One of its unique machetes is the Cold Steel Thai Machete. Thai machetes take inspiration from the Thai swords that were used to conquer the Chinese invaders over 4000 years ago. Thai swords were characterized by a very long blade and handle and were commonly used as fighting swords.
The secret for Thai sword fighting was using the center-near pivot that allowed for high rotation speed and complex movement patterns and use of the grip for blunt strikes. Thai swords were commonly used for self-defense as the long blade length allowed for a wide space between the user and attacker.
Cold Steel Thai Machetes, on the other hand, come with an exquisite design that resembles that of the Thai Swords. The machetes are made of high quality materials and come with a limited lifetime warranty. In this article, we will provide a comprehensive review of the Cold Steel Thai Machete.
What Exactly Is a Thai Machete?
Thai Machetes are a unique line of machetes that are manufactured and sold by Cold Steel Inc. The machetes were designed by a Thai Martial Arts expert, Lynn Thompson. With his extensive training in Thai Marital Arts and taking inspiration from the ancient Thai Swords, Lynn Thompson developed a two-hand machete that is commonly referred to as the Cold Steel Thai Machete, or simply a Thai Machete.
Lynn was an active practitioner of the Thai Martial Arts since 1980. He was studying Thai Boxing with Bill Berg and the late Franco Ernie. Together with his training partner, Ron Balicki, they explored Muay Thai and Krabi Krabong to get a clear understanding of the culture of the Thai people as well as their ancient weapons. Lynn is said to have loved the Thai sword so much, which inspired to design a modern Thai sword, which is currently referred to as a Thai Machete.
Thai Machetes represent a culmination of more than 4 years of development and refinement. Just like the Thai Swords, Thai Machetes are well balanced and feature an incredibly sharp cutting edge a sharp tip.
Even these swords are commonly used in pairs when practicing the Thai Fighting Arts, these long curved machetes are superbly versatility. They are light enough so you can swing them with one hand, but an extraordinarily long, which means you may be forced to grip the machete with your two hands for extra leverage and cutting power.
Features of the Cold Steel Thai Machetes
Design
The Cold Steel Thai Machete comes with a unique, but elegant design. The design of the machete resembles that of the Thai Swords, which were used in Thailand to fight the Chinese invaders. The blade is extra-long and has an incredibly sharp edge plus a pointed tip. The handle has rounded design and is also extra-long so you can grab the machete with both of your hands and swing it with ease. The lanyard hole at the bottom part of the handle allows you to hang the machete safely in your garage when it is not in use. Overall, the Thai Machete is beautifully designed and is built with quality materials for enhanced durability and performance.
Blade
The Cold Steel Thai Machete comes with a 22-inch blade that is forged from 1055 High Carbon Steel for maximum strength, toughness, and an incredibly sharp cutting edge. The blade boasts a Matte Black Anti-Rust Finish for enhanced corrosion and rust resistance properties. Just like other top-rated Cold Steel machetes, the Thai machete has a blade thickness of 2.8mm making it ideal for the toughest cutting jobs.
The steel blade of this Thai machete has excellent edge retention, which means you do not have to keep sharpening the machete before work. The primary grind of the machete is established at the factory, which means you will need to sharpen it with a sharpening stone to regain an incredibly sharp cutting.
The blade is easy to sharpen and it is usually hardened to a Rockwell Hardness rating of 57 to 58 degrees to enhance its edge retention properties. Unlike other standard machetes, the Thai machete does not break or chip easily. It retains its razor-like edge even when exposed to the toughest cutting conditions. With an overall length of 36.5 inches and a weight of 29.4 oz., you can easily swing this machete especially if you hold it with your two hands.
The Thai Machete is characterized by an extra-long, wide blade with a curved cutting edge, which makes it a perfect option for clearing brush, as well as slicing grass, vines and light foliage with ease. The blade extends to the handle to form what is known as a full tang construction. The full tang helps to enhance the strength of the machete as well as its durability.
Handle
The Cold Steel Thai Machete comes with a 14.5-inches long polypropylene handle with a flattened oval grip that won’t twist or turn in your hands. The handle design is similar to that of the ancient Thai swords only that it is made of high quality polypropylene material. The handle does not become slippery and when wet, making the Thai machete ideal for all climatic conditions. The round textured designs on the handle ensures that you have a firm and secure grip, making it easy for you to slice grass, vines and foliage with ease.
The machete comes with a limited lifetime warranty which guarantees you are buying one of the top quality machetes on the market. It also comes complete with a heavy duty Cor-Ex sheath for easy storage and transportation. You hang the sheath on your back especially when travelling with the machete for a long walking distance, e.g. in the jungle.
Tips on How to Care and Maintain Your Cold Steel Thai Machete
Machetes are one of the most commonly used blades in the world. Thus, it is important to care and maintain your machete to keep it functioning optimally. In this section we will discuss the various ways you can keep your machete functioning optimally for long.
Tip 1: Keep the Blade Sharp
Just like knives, a sharp machete is safer than a dull one. Thus, you need to ensure that the blade is sharp before using your machete. There are many ways of sharpening machetes as discussed below. Note that some machetes do not come with an edge from the factory and will need to be sharpened upon arrival. For these machetes, it is recommendable you use heavy duty sharpeners as they are specifically designed to remove significant amounts of metal. Here are the most common machete sharpeners.
Belt Sanders
Belt sanders are one of the simplest methods for heavy sharpening. They are also the most popular among professionals. It is recommendable you get started with a belt sander, especially if your machete comes with a factory grinded edge. Belter sanders allow you to apply light pressure with little effort, and thus it is easier for you to sharpen your Thai Machete or any other machete you may have.
Grinders
Grinders are commonly used for aggressive sharpening. This makes them an ideal option when it comes to removing initial dullness, large nicks or for restoration purposes. Grinders can be purchase on amazon for under $40 and can be used to sharpen nearly any garden tool, mower blade and other implement. The only requirement is to set up a work area with enough space to draw the entire length of your machete across the wheel in one smooth motion in order to create a consistent edge.
Hones and Mill Files
If you are looking for less expensive machete sharpeners, then you can opt for a heavy duty hone or a mill file. These can be also be used to give your machete its initial edge. Mill files are good for sharpening large blades and are not so aggressive like wheel grinders that will damage their machetes.
Whetstones
This is another way to sharpen your machete to give it a polished edge. For this method to work perfectly, you need a whetstone, some water and a beacon if you are using an artificial stone. But check out our best knife sharpening stone review in order to know more about sharpening stones.
Tip 2: Keep the Blade Oiled
If the blade of your machete is made of carbon steel, you should cover it with a light layer of oil to prevent rust. Oil prevents moisture from corroding the blade. Consider using non-detergent oils, preferably 3 in 1 oil. Remember to dry your machete after it has come into contact with water or moisture. Stainless steel machete blades are resistant to rust and thus they are easy to maintain. You can also them regularly, although it is not necessary.
Tip 3: Store Your Cold Steel Thai Machete Properly
Always store your machete in a dry environment, where moisture or humidity will not damage the blade. If rust forms on the blade, make sure you wipe it off to pre4vent further damage to the blade. It is recommendable that you always store your machete in a sheath when you are not in the field. However, make sure you oil the inside of your sheath to keep moisture from the blade.
