Windlass OSS Smatchet – Full Tang High Carbon Steel Knife, Blued Matte Finish, Hardwood Grip, Aluminum Pommel & Leather Sheath

What I wanted was EXACTLY the Smatchet used by US and UK forces in the Second World War. This Smatchet is exactly that, and I am well satisfied with it. This OSS Smatchet is an exact reproduction of the original model from the Second World War. It is exactly the weapon described and explained in Major Faribairn's book "Get Tough: How to Win in Hand-to-Hand Fighting" and conforms exactly to the illustrations in that volume. The configuration of the hilt (as distinguished from the hilt found on some other modern-made weapons calling themselves "Smatchets", but which are actually Bolos) is exactly correct and allows for the "close-in blows" described by Major Fairbairn in his book, far better than the US Model 1917 Bolo grip does. The finish is not a fine polished finish, but it is not meant to be. It is meant to be fairly non-reflective and it is meant to be an accurate reproduction of the kind of weapon that one would find in a Second World War arms room. The weapon is sturdy, properly sharpened for its purpose, and to the standard of the original weapon. I am aware that some have found fault with this weapon. The critics seem to want a different weapon entirely --- either a new redesign based upon the Smatchet, or else a polished presentation version that probably never existed in the field, or else something like a US Model 1917 Bolo. If you want a proper Smatchet, I can recommend this one. If you want a Bolo, then buy a Bolo.

Junk, and at that price... I mean I know at $100 you can't expect a whole lot, but come on?! The handle is awful, not even a reproduction bad. Words don't even describe how bad the edge is. The sheath is, I don't even have words for how bad the sheath is. There is no retention at all and it is some sort of fake leather plastic on a piece of wood. This is $100's worth of garbage. You can get a Cold Steel smatchet in their machete line for $20 or so and it will be leaps and bounds better than this thing. And it must be a cold day in hell for to recommend anything from Cold Steel.

Not worth it. The blade finishes horrible. The edges are non-existant.

Poor craftsmanship. This item is way overpriced. Poor quality and a rip off the consumer who buys it. I felt the last opinion was harsh but they hit it right on. It is worse than stated. Asked for a return but they could not handle the fact that I did not have a printer capability.

I like it but it wasn't what I expected. Extremely overpriced if I were to buy it after seeing it I probably would have only spent $30.00 at the most.

cheap quality

Just the photo should tell you this is not a smatchet. The dorsal side of the smatchet was only edge a third of the way down. This blade doesn’t look to be edged at all and there is definitely not the top edge. Look at the grip.. the guard..