Have you ever handled one of those cheaper than dirt blades?

No, only one anything like it would be my Cold Steel Kukri Machete. Works pretty good on grasses and thin stuff but ain't worth a tinkers on old, dead, hard wood!

course that's why I got my DF for, and it DOES work!

I was looking at the Knife Test of both of those. They seemed to do well with destruction test. I would think the machete is too thin for chopping wood.

I plan to givve the CTD bolo a "full tang" by sandwiching it between two steel bars. The handle was the biggest/most common complaint I saw.

model number 36809 on the CTD site?

If I can turn that $10 blade into something useful and sturdy, it'll be a worthy project. Especially considering I'll be using scraps from the last project.

My only complaint with the CS Kuk Machete is the handle as well. That think is hard as steel and about as comfortable. Sharp edges EVERYWHERE! Might take some course sandpaper to it and see if I can make it better.

Not sure. Item number dba-444

It's not real thick either but it reallyworks on swamp grasses and stuff up to an inch or so (thickest I have cut with it).

Send it to me and I'll give it an ash and cord wrap handle with a good shape to it and send it back.

The model number you showed me is not the one I ordered.

I already got a good machete from ESEE