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The Forseti Steel Percy Fawcett Damascus Steel 12″ Machete is named after famous adventurer and explorer Percy Fawcett and features a stunning 12 Inch Damascus Steel Blade with a Tali Wood handle. It features a hole for lanyard attachment and a very attractive handmade leather sheath and would be just at home in the jungle as it would on display in a cabinet or over a fireplace.
Full Review
I’m already a big fan of Forseti Steels range but this is by far the biggest knife I’ve reviewed from them. If you feel like you aren’t wandering into the jungle anytime soon that’s ok ! This knife is just as great for chopping up fire wood in camp as it is as a talking point above a mantle over a roaring fire during an epic story telling.
So Who was Percy Fawcett ?
Percy Harrison Fawcett was a British officer, explorer, and archaeologist. After leaving the army, he embarked on several trips to the Amazon river between 1906 and 1925.
Fawcett left on his final trip in 1925, along with his son and son’s friend. Fawcett was a romantic and believed in the legend of a lost city in the Mato Grosso region of Brazil. Fawcett decided to travel light and without any local support. He believed this would make them less noticeable to the native tribesmen who were often hostile to explorers. Fawcett sent a letter to his wife in May of 1925, telling her that the trio was about to enter the unchartered territories of the Amazon.
Unfortunately, no one heard from the three men again. There are many theories about what happened to the trio but no one knows for sure. Numerous excursions were embarked on to find Fawcett’s remains and many of the people in these excursions lost their lives. To this day, no one knows for sure what happened to Fawcett and the ancient city he was searching for has yet to be discovered.
What is Damascus Steel ?
Damascus Steel was originally forged in India, Sri Lanka and Khorasan from a type of steel called Wortz steel about a 1000 years ago. It was renowned for its sharpness and strength and its swirled pattern that was distinctive.
The Forsetti Steel Blade
The Percy Fawcett Machete is a high carbon which means you get a very VERY sharp edge from it. There is a slight trade off though with this type of steel compared to stainless steel and that is that the damascus steel will require you to be more careful in the wet with it. I suggest anytime you use the knife for anything ‘dirty’ you wipe the blade clean and dry and also regularly wipe the blade with a light mineral oil ( or even household cooking oil) just to its wiped and then buffed clean. This thin layer will ensure the edge stays keen and the blade doesn’t get a few rust spots on it.
Handle
The handle is made from Tali wood which is wonderfully closely dovetailed to the thick metal Tang through the centre. Tali is weather and insect resistant. Tali is often used in interior and exterior, including heavy construction, decking, floors and anything which is exposed to the outdoors.
Leather Pouch
The Forseti Fawcett Machete comes with a leather pouch /sheath that can also attach to a belt loop.
Gripes
I love the design and I’m impressed by the blade. Usually this is the bit where I have a bit of a moan about one thing or another but I find it hard to be critical about a knife that balances hand made unique appeal with quality and price. My only real gripe is how quickly they seem to sell out. If you look at the Forseti site they make these handmade knives in small batches and they can sell out FAST… in fact I’ve seen some sell out in a matter of weeks and not return.
Lifetime Guarantee
All Forseti Knives come with a lifetime guarantee.
Verdict
The Forseti Steel Percy Fawcett Damascus Steel 12″ Machete is named after famous adventurer and explorer Percy Fawcett and features a stunning 12 Inch Damascus Steel Blade with a Tali Wood handle. It features a hole for lanyard attachment and a very attractive handmade leather sheath and would be just at home in the jungle as it would on display in a cabinet or over a fireplace.
PURCHASE $148.99A word of warning ….
In the four weeks since I reviewed the Forseti Hemingway Knife it has totally sold out. These artisanal hand made knives are all made in small batches. I would expect that the Fawcett Machete will also have the ‘sold out’ icon added to its listing on the site so if you like what you see act like Fawcett himself and seize the moment. You wont be disappointed.
PERCY FAWCETT DAMASCUS STEEL MACHETE SPECIFICATIONS
- Overall Length: 18″
- Handle Length: 6″
- Blade Length: 12″
- Blade Material: Damascus Steel 1095/15n20
- Blade thickness: 5mm
- Tang: Full Tang
- Locking type: Fixed Blade
- Damascus pattern: Twist
- Number of layers: 256
- Handle Material: Tali wood
- Includes a hand stitched, custom full-grain leather sheath
Each machete is handmade from natural materials. There will be some variations in color, steel pattern and overall look. The machete you receive will have the same attention to quality and detail as the one pictured but may differ slightly in appearance.
About Forseti
The secret to forging authentic Damascus steel knives has long been lost, but Forseti Steel stays as true to the tradition as we can by commissioning blade-smiths with Damascus ancestry to hand-make all of our blades. The artists behind the enamoring water-like patterns of folded and pounded steel have all learned their skills and techniques from the generations that worked the metals before them.
In addition to paying tribute to the Damascus practice in technique and appearance, Forseti Steel shows its respect for history’s heroes, legends, and characters with our knives’ names and inspiration. The 12″, Hugh Glass Hunting Knife, for example, honors the the mountain men and frontiersmen who tried to tame this land and is a blade we are certain Hugh Glass would have wanted to carry on his expeditions.
All of our knives are made by hand. You read that correctly. Every one of our knives are painstakingly crafted one at a time. That is why no two knives are the same. The knife you receive will be similar to what you see on our site, but will vary slightly due to the materials used and individual craftsman that builds the knife. Our quality and craftsmanship is unparalleled. For that reason, we offer a 30-day unconditional money-back guarantee. If you don’t like the knife for any reason, send it back and we will refund 100% of your money, including shipping. Plus, each of our knives comes with a lifetime manufacturing defects warranty. We promise, you will not be disappointed.
