The Fiskars Machete Axe is completely ridiculous on many levels, and that’s why it is one of my favorite machetes. It’s like something a bored 14-year-old would draw during algebra. When I doze off at work I dream of battling space androids with this thing strapped to my back.
But is it a good machete? At just under $40, I’d be lying if I said it was the best value for the money. But it’s so damn goofy that I can’t help but love it, so if you want to get one too I’ll completely understand.
You can click here to get one now on Amazon, or keep reading for my full review.
Blade
As the name implies, it’s a little bit machete and a little bit axe. I’m tempted to call it the mullet of machetes, but that doesn’t quite work since it’s clearly marketed towards the middle class yard warrior demographic.
The 18″ blade has a sexy satin sheen that appears to be the result of bead blasting. It’s very smooth and slick, which leads me to believe it has some sort of lacquer finish as well.
I couldn’t find out what kind of steel Fiskars uses for this machete or any of their other garden products. Once I have a chance to torture test it a little more I’ll report back with my impressions.
In terms of sharpness, it’s usable,but certainly not “ultra-sharp” like it says on the Fiskar’s product page. While I don’t expect all machetes to come from the factory with a shaving sharp edge, for $40 price tag I would have like it to be a little more dangerous right out of the box. Maybe Fiskars had a guy from their safety scissors department filling in when they made this machete?
On a related note, I feel like the irregular shape of the blade could make it harder to sharpen effectively.
There are some holes in the axe portion of the blade. I’m guessing they are there for weight reduction, but it’s also possible they were simply added to amp up the rad factor.
There are a number of notches on the back of the blade that have vaguely saw-like appearance. They look kind of cool, but you’d have more luck carving a turkey with a butter knife than using this to saw through a branch. I can’t actually imagine this design feature was seriously intended to be a saw, but if not then why put the notches there at all?
Of course, these aren’t the kinds of questions to ask when considering a purchase of the Fiskars Machete Axe. It is designed to look neat and perform reasonably well for a handful of weekends throughout the year, which is exactly what it does.
Handle
The handle on this thing is absolutely gigantic and really helps drive home the “anime sword” vibe, but it has some practical benefits as well. Just listen to the Fiskars website:
The comfortable performance handle design features an intelligent texture pattern and lets you choke up for precision work, grip the middle for general use or grip the end to swing with maximum force.
I can’t tell you what’s so intelligent about the texture pattern, but I will say that the handle feels great. The upper part of the handle is a hard molded plastic and the lower portion is a nice, grippy orange rubber. It’s not too fat, not too thin. Just the right amount of beefiness.
Holding the bottom end of the handle extends the swinging arc by about 5″ and lets you really put some power behind your swings. Even with the subpar factory edge I could see this thing doing some legitimate hacking.
I agree that choking up on the handle is better “precision work,” but the tip-heavy blade makes this machete less than ideas for jobs involving a lot of short, quick movements.
It looks like the handle was molded onto the blade, so the seal is nice and tight.
Sheath
The Machete Axe’s sheath doesn’t have a belt loop and can’t be opened or closed without using both hands, so I’d call it more of a carrying case.
It’s well made and feels tough. The outside is made of medium weight, foam-backed nylon and the inside is a smooth synthetic material.
It’s not the burliest sheath I’ve come across, but unlike the sheath for the Fiskars-made Bear Grylls Parang I was not able to rip it apart with my bare hands.
The case’s only job is to protect the blade while it’s being stored in the garage during the winter, and it’s more than suited to that task.
Overall Impressions
If you’ve read my Bear Grylls Parang machete review you’ll know that I’m not a fan over overdesigned, ubermarketed products that emphasize flash over substance. But the Fiskars Machete Axe is so unabashedly weird that it crosses over into a different realm altogether.
The sci-fi design is wild but well executed. It looks and feels like a prop from a movie I’d really enjoy watching.
Despite all the good-natured ribbing, this tool does feel well built. The lack of blade sharpness is a bummer, but otherwise the fit and finish is above average. I don’t know how it will hold up to the test of time, but my initial impressions are that the quality is good.
The boring, grown-up part of me feels compelled to tell you that the $40 dollars you could spend on this product would be much better spent buying a $20 machete and a $20 axe.
But my inner teenager loves this thing and would gladly buy it again. When my friends come over and I show them my machete collection (as is customary) this is always the first one that gets picked up. Sometimes fun is better than practical.
If you’re interested in purchasing this machete, please consider doing so through my affiliate link. It won’t cost you a dime and it supports my crippling machete addiction.
Specs
| Total Length | 29.5" |
| Blade Length | 17.5" / 44.5 cm |
| Blade Thickness | .105" (about 7/64") / 2.7 mm |
| Sheath Included | Yes |
| Weight | 1.84 lbs / 835 g |
| Weight w/ Sheath | 2.24 lbs / 1016 g |
| Warranty | Lifetime |
| Country of Origin | China |
| Model Number | 385101-1002 |
Visit the official Fiskars Machete Axe product page.