Material for machete handle

Speaking of machetes, another board mentioned a store Online that'll grind down the "proud " wooden scales on Tramontina machetes to the tang, and they sharpen the tip, all for about $6.00. I think I'll order one from them when I find that address again. They have a store logo that looks like a Hornbill bird's beak.

I think I'll opt for an 18" blade and the rounded back of the handle. They also have the more square butt, if you'd rather, on some models. (See post No. 16 for that shape.) You can choose from a 14" or 18" blade, or a bolo machete. Maybe others.

If ordering new, the Corneta and similar lines from El Salvador have good synthetic handles that are shaped like some old Collins designs. I have a Corneta with what I think is a polypropylene handle, Model 127. I think that was also the old Collins model number. Mine has a 12-inch blade and is quite handy, but a bit short for some needs. I think this poly handle is a lot less brittle than the plastic on old Collins machetes. I agree that if you have a good old Collins blade, it's worth a new handle. I think some of the old handles were Bakelite or similar brittle plastics.

The ESSEE firm has a Light Machete with a good Micarta handle, but I've seen only pictures. It's pricey for a machete, about $75.

Texas Star said:

a store Online that'll grind down the "proud " wooden scales on Tramontina machetes to the tang, and they sharpen the tip, all for about $6.00. I think I'll order one from them when I find that address again. They have a store logo that looks like a Hornbill bird's beak.

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Could it be these guys? Baryonyx Knife Company

The ESSEE firm has a Light Machete with a good Micarta handle, but I've seen only pictures. It's pricey for a machete, about $75.

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Esee uses Imacasa blanks.

I have a bunch of machetes and the Tramontia and Imacasa machetes are by far the best tool for the money, but they are just not a cool as a Collins Legitimus from WWII.

Guy-Harold-

That's them!

Thanks. Have you ever ordered from them?

Anyone else here? Were you pleased with the service and the products?

Texas Star said:

Thanks. Have you ever ordered from them?

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I have never ordered from them but hear very good things about them. They have also been very helpful to me when I had some questions about setting up a skythe and snath even though I did not purchase it from them.

If you're from East Texas, get some Bois D'Arc (Iron Wood). Just cut a limb off of a tree, and get to work with your carbide saw blades and a file. This is tough stuff, and looks really good when finished.

rburg said:

The last water buffalo I saw was in a restaurant, and she didn't take well to being called a water buffalo. I doubt if all of us combined could wrestle that fatty down to get any material.

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And I bet she wern't standing in front of the salad bar either ! Well known fact that the American Water Buffalo's food of choice is Mac & Cheese and brown gravy

Smith357 in post 16 gives a great solution. Osage orange is a Texas tree, it was brought north by the Osage indians who used it for making bows. It is rot resistant beyond compare. Some places call them hedge trees.

The 160 acre farm we just sold in Kansas had a half a mile of fence on the east side. My wife's grandfather built the fence in 1940. My wife and I pulled the posts a few years ago and built new fence. the bases were still the original 10" average. the tops had weathered down. I thought I could just break them off with a 55 HP tractor bucket. Nope, they don't break.

It is a pretty wood when finished. I've seen a few hand made bows that are good looking.

When I was a kid I broke the handles in a bayonet Dad brought back from WW 2. We had an apple tree with a dead limb. Poor choice it split easy. I ended up using oak. I still have it some where, the oak survived.

Smith357 said:

Could it be these guys? Baryonyx Knife Company





Esee uses Imacasa blanks.

I have a bunch of machetes and the Tramontia and Imacasa machetes are by far the best tool for the money, but they are just not a cool as a Collins Legitimus from WWII.

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This guy seems to really know his blades. I have not ordered from him, but he carries a lot of knives that interest me, like Mora, Opinel and Condor, plus Marttiini, Filmam, Aitor, Svord, Case and Otter.

Thanks for all the feedback! I do like the idea of using a Texas wood like mesquite or Osage Orange (we called it Bo Darc). I sure cut a lot of line thru both while working there and can attest to their toughness! Both are pretty hard to find here in Virginia though.

A friend suggested finding a thick poly cutting board and cutting the scales out of that. If I can find one thick enough I might give it a try.

Also, I have a stack of wood veneer, each sheet about 1/16" thick, that I bought at a yard sale years ago. I could glue up my own "plywood" about 1/2" thick and use that. Maybe use Gorilla glue? Has anyone ever tried something like that?

LT

Doublebit said:

Thanks for all the feedback! I do like the idea of using a Texas wood like mesquite or Osage Orange (we called it Bo Darc). I sure cut a lot of line thru both while working there and can attest to their toughness! Both are pretty hard to find here in Virginia though.

A friend suggested finding a thick poly cutting board and cutting the scales out of that. If I can find one thick enough I might give it a try.

Also, I have a stack of wood veneer, each sheet about 1/16" thick, that I bought at a yard sale years ago. I could glue up my own "plywood" about 1/2" thick and use that. Maybe use Gorilla glue? Has anyone ever tried something like that?

LT

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BoDark is a mispronunciation of bois d' arc, a French term.

In Dallas, there's a Cadiz street, pronounced as Katys. A Spaniard would never guess the spelling, from the way hicks here pronounce it. I tried to find it once and until I showed the name to someone, no one knew what I meant. I was astounded and disgusted.

I also like wood. Osage Orange and Mesquite would be great choices.
Oak is nice.
Marine plywood scraps would be just dandy.

Texas Star said:

BoDark is a mispronunciation of bois d' arc, a French term.

In Dallas, there's a Cadiz street, pronounced as Katys. A Spaniard would never guess the spelling, from the way hicks here pronounce it. I tried to find it once and until I showed the name to someone, no one knew what I meant. I was astounded and disgusted.

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Texas Star I think you'll like this one.

Bois d' Arc was also another name for Osage Orange or Hedge trees. It made the most fearsome bow used in the Americas by the natives. See link.
Caddo Bows and Arrows

And for all history buffs;

Most names of areas or towns in North America came from the native Americans or by bringing town names from England or Europe. When Some one left Pittsburgh for example they might name their destination stop Pittsburgh.

One area name always puzzled folks of this bent. The Ozarks.

Being from there I always wondered.

It was so simple, think St. Louis, fur trade and expansion west.

Before I retired and we left STL I read an article by a college professor. He loved digging into the fur trade history and old records.

He came across a detail in one of the Fur Companies ledgers about their folks going to the SW to trade. This trail is what later became old Route 66 and is now I-44, St. Louis to Oklahoma.

The book keeper referenced this and other trading trips to that specific area as; went to trade with the O's and Arc's. Some how it morphed into the Ozarks.

His shorthand for the Osage and other indians in the Bois d' Arc's. Yes french was the predominate language in St. Louis and by the fur trappers like Laclede, Robidoiux (SP) and others.

Welcome to the O's and Arc's folks. Please debark and watch your step, Bo d' Arc trees have nasty thorns.

I broke a thorn off in my foot when little, forgot about it, it was cut out 30 years later. Still hard as a rock.... So I know Bo d' Arc intimately.

I think Bois d' Arc means, Bow Wood. If Patvince sees this and my French is "off", he can correct me, as a native speaker.

Marshwheeling said:

This guy seems to really know his blades. I have not ordered from him, but he carries a lot of knives that interest me, like Mora, Opinel and Condor, plus Marttiini, Filmam, Aitor, Svord, Case and Otter.

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I take it back. I have now ordered from him, a pre-order for his machete/brush hook, which he has manufactured by Condor as a private label. I have been wanting to try this one for some time, but it has been sold out. This thread prompted me to look at his site, where I found that he was taking orders again.

I just re-handled a machete, I made some home made micarta from some thrift store black jeans and fiberglass resin.

Smith357 said:

I just re-handled a machete, I made some home made micarta from some thrift store black jeans and fiberglass resin.

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Wow! Guy-Harold, you always impress me. I'm astounded at your skill and creativity. but this is just exceptional.