I have this thing about machetes, I don’t know why, but I love them. I have owned several different ones throughout the years, and have many types hanging around my garage. Although the handle design for machetes has not changed very much, I still love them!
Who designed the machete?
After hearing about Ken Onion having the new HalfChance Parang-style machete, with a new handle design, I just had to get a closer look and see what was going on. I went ahead and ordered it, and upon opening the box I found the large machete sitting inside a Nylon sheath, but my attention is more towards the new handle design, I was intrigued to know how different it really was.
The handle is not only large, but has a rubber texture covering a solid core, making it easy to hold and great for using. The handle has a natural angle, meaning it will be easy to use for people like me with wrist issues. And the handle is only the start, it has to be able to cut and be useful of course, so I tested this out.
When I went to chop down a sassafras tree, I found that it did very well at cutting, better than I had actually expected it too. The blade has a 0.1-inch-thick Carbon Steel flat grind, it made chopping a breeze and little effort was needed to get it done. If you are needing to chop all sorts of stuff, or for long periods of time, the HalfChance will give you the chance to get the job done without injuring your wrists. That is of course, very important to me.
Now, the feel and use is great, but the finish needs to be considered as well. The good news is, they designed the finish to look great as well. Even after chopping, the powder coat covered bed blast was still looking good. There was no signs of the machete starting to flake after use either, which was better than expected as well.
Price
This isn’t a budget machete but it’s also not overly expensive. It’s somewhere in the middle. In terms of value, you won’t find much better than this. It’s on slight discount at the moment. Check today’s price.
Pros:
- Looks great
- Handle fits well
- Blade is sharp and easy to use
Cons:
- Could be hard to hold for people with smaller hands
The Verdict
Overall, I am glad I took a chance with adding the CRKT Onion Halfchance Parang Machette to my collection. It has a great movement to it, the handle fits perfectly in my hands, the blade is high quality and it looks awesome but not as awesome as the Condor Bolo machete or the Condor Heavy Duty kukri machete. There is not much more to hope for in a machete, so I think Ken Onion did a great job once again.
