A first look at a reground Woodsman Pal (ESSE Lite Machete used for reference)

[@stalinschicken3432]

Florida bro here ... 18" tramontina and a file and cut like this all day, scary sharp goes through 2" limbs (pepper tree) like butter. Thanks for the video.

[@CliffStamp]

Yeah, there is kind of an argument here right. If you take a Tramontina and adjust the edge to the same angle as the ESEE - well it will cut basically the same and they have decent grips. I can see an argument for that.

[@stalinschicken3432]

@@CliffStamp cool yeah the tramontina works for me and I can get it where I need it with a simple file and I don't need the file mutch I don't check angles with it I just do it like I feel it, staying consistent with the angle, and don't get all scientific about it. I tune it by hand with a puck I keep in the truck. Oh and the finger test.

[@CoffeeAndSteel]

Glad to see you are back! Always loved your videos, and challenge videos in particular!

[@CliffStamp]

Thanks, I'll have another up this weekend after up update this.

[@michaelxwhite]

Yes, more cliffstamp!!!! Love ya bro! 🙂

[@ScoutCrafter]

Hey Cliff, We used the WP in the service and I own one, it's a nitch tool for sure. We used them for saplings where the sapling would be "folded" over 90 degrees and stepped on with your boot, then the hook of the WP placed under the now horizontal sapling near the base and the tool was then rocked backward using the head of the tool as a fulcrum cutting upwards. Like I mentioned it was designed for a very specific use that I never was 100% sold on. Thanks! 😃👍

[@CliffStamp]

Interesting, how big a sapling are we talking about, just roughly? That method is for safety I assume?

[@ScoutCrafter]

Cliff Stamp mostly under an inch but big enough that couldn’t pull out of the ground. 😃👍

[@docnightfall]

The rounded tip on the Fiskars brush hook achieves the same goal as the unsharpened segment of the Woodsman Pal-- a resilient tip that allows the blade to impact the ground without damage. But the Fiskars has a generally more useful blade shape.

[@CliffStamp]

Yeah, don't disagree with that logic.

[@threeriversforge1997]

I agree with your assessment of the WP. Got one because I thought it would be decent enough, but it's a marginal tool as it comes from the factory and you can really see that it was designed for the government who needed something that troops could use and abuse in the field, which they knew would happen. It's nose-heavy, tweaks the wrist, and generally doesn't cut all that well. A good bill hook or slasher common to the Hedge-laying trade... now that will get you through the brush as good or better than the ESSE machete. And they're even more "traditional" since they were what the machetes were based from.

[@JimiJamesIII]

Thanks for the vid! Seems to cut pretty well. Take care.

[@CliffStamp]

Yeah, it is decent now reground, still trying to find a place for it.

[@kaizoebara]

I got a machete that performs as well - probably S-American made - for ~10€ from a German tool shop. I got it from their brick&mortar store to be able to check for straightness of the blades. There wasn't any edge to speak of, but a bit of file and stone action fixed that. After establishing the edge geometry I simply use a combination pocket stone (coarse SiC and medium Al²O³ - roughly equivalent to Norton's India) to touch it up. I still use a file to fix larger nicks, when I've hit a stone etc. Hasn't let me down on soft vegetation up to green hardwood branches. Really useful for clearing overgrowth.

[@CliffStamp]

Yeah, if you are willing to do a bit of work, clean up and reset an edge, a basic machete can do really well.

[@kaizoebara]

@@CliffStamp I hear Marbles branded machetes (made in El Salvador, most likely by Imacasa, the same guys who make the blades for the ESEE machete) come with a rather decent edge geometry despite the low price. You'll have to some filing anyway at some point if you are going to use the machete for its intended purpose. I cleared the overgrown orchard of an elderly relative and there were at least half a dozen occasions where the machete incurred edge damage that required a file; hidden rebar/angle irons, nails, stones, rocks, the lot.

[@REKKnives]

Oh man I've missed your videos and interaction, are you back? At least somewhat?

[@CliffStamp]

For awhile, things are slow (all classes closed, I work in education).

[@REKKnives]

@@CliffStamp glad to hear it 👍

[@marka9292]

How much extra cutting ability do you think is added by just the extra speed of the lighter longer machete?

[@CliffStamp]

That's a great question, but the angles are still really different. Even with the regrind, the ESEE is much lower through the tip (~8 dps) and so much thinner stock. I could swing the Pal as fast, but I would not want to, it just doesn't cut as well, risk of deflection and such. I think it is just more suited to harder/heavier brush and slower swings. It really needs a decent grind through, ideally it should be full flat, to ~0.015-0.035" depending on what you want to cut, brush or wood. But you really want a decent 2" grinder for that.

[@harvestblades]

Cliff I would love to know what specifically you love about ESSE Lite machete vs say their standard or other manufactures.

[@CliffStamp]

In short : -decent handle (ergonomics/durability) -length/blade thickness/thickness/weight for high speed -edge angle is sufficient for durability, high cutting ability -steel is very durable/easy to grind -warranty -Randall is a decent guy I don't see a lot of competition for it.

[@CamberLucyBella]

I always loved the lood of this tool, and I designed a couple like it with what I hoped were improvements. Jeremy made them for me exactly as I asked, and the workmanship is of course great, but I made some errors in my design for sure.

[@CliffStamp]

Yeah, I like the billbook pattern, this one is an odd one. Even with it reground, it still is a hard thing for me to place where I would want it. I would really like to talk to someone who loves it, especially as-boxed.

[@chadengelhardt5809]

Collin- I’d like to see more details on this project- did you post your design somewhere? What changes will you make? The bill hook seems food for moving material as well

[@sarinhighwind]

Cliff just jumping back in the youtubes randomly. hello brother. =)

[@CliffStamp]

Hey, we only have a short time left, there is a plague, murder hornets are sweeping across Canada, there are swarms of locusts in India - pretty sure this is the rapture!

[@sarinhighwind]

@@CliffStamp haha Glad you are okay. I didn't really see you posting in your forum the last few times I've checked.

[@CSGraves]

The _Rapture?!_ Looks like I'm gonna be... 'left behind', just like the 2000 Kirk Cameron film by the same name, jajajaja

[@jwatterson69]

Will you be doing any updates in the CCST (Chris Caine Survival Tool)?

[@CliffStamp]

I don't own that any more, I gave away the last one I had. It is still doing well. I really liked that design, just had bad luck with the execution on mine.

[@shurdi3]

Surprised they don't advertise it to the tacticool crowd as coming with a built in Punji trap maker

[@CliffStamp]

Coming in 2021, the Pro version.

[@concealmenttraining9371]

Love it

[@viseshseernam39]

sharpen the hook park of the woodsman Pal and push cut the lower part should work better

[@scrubking]

Please do more knife sharpening videos.

[@CliffStamp]

Check out this channel : kzbin.info

[@duncansq47]

My esee junglas is probably my best chopper .

[@CliffStamp]

Yeah, great knife.

[@MFD00MTR33]

Are those finger/toe shoes?

[@CliffStamp]

Yeah, very light soles, close to barefoot with just a little sharp protection.

[@Smiling_mike]

👍🇺🇸👍

[@Droverification]

lmao...hacking into rocky ground with a machete while basically barefoot...then marveling at edge damage. Try using the hook on the other tool to cut close to the ground without damaging your tools.

[@simonwells6977]

Secateurs....