Machete type knife recomendations
- Thread starter VaTom
- Start date
Wee Hooker
Member
Funny how Bunny and Smalies go together so well!
Heading to Maine next week to do some of the same.
Vulcan Bob
Member
I'll give a thumbs up for the Woodsman Pal multi purpose machete . Developed for forest rangers and such prior to WWII. The US military issued them to Air Crews and also could be found as private purchase in the PX. Mine was one such with a canvass scabbard with stone and two manuals, one for combat use and one for survival use. They still make em here in PA and ads for em can be found in most gun mags the American Rifleman.
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Texas Star
US Veteran
Two major brands are Tramontina and Condor. The first is Brazilian, the other made in El Salvador and includes a deluxe grade or two.
Go to YouTube for videos.
My son recently bought a Tramontina with 18" blade and sheath at Home Depot, less than $20 in both.
My favorite machete photo is of model Ana Beatriz Barros, with a Tramontina stuck in the lower part of her bikini and holding onto a branch over a stream in her native Brazil. If you Search for photos under her name, you'll know this pic when you see it. If you're married, better Search while your wife is away, if she's the jealous sort.
I may be the only man who has seen that pic and noticed the machete and figured out the make and blade length.
ABB recently married some billionaire,so will probably quit modelling. Pity. That girl can do things with her eyes alone that should be illegal in public, ha!
You probably want a 14-18 inch blade, and will probably want to dress down the wooden handle
scales to meet the tang, to avoid blisters. One company offers this and a sharpening service for about six bucks. I think the name is spelled Baronyx. I plan to buy an 18" Tramontina from them and get those services. But they didn't sell sheaths when I last checked. The Machete Store has sheaths, but not the handle and honing services.
I want a rounded butt like that on the machete in the pic with Ana Beatriz. Those seem not to be sold here in 18" length. You can get that shape in a 14" blade. Hers has a black handle, probably plastic. Those sold here are mostly wooden handles, in similar models.
My only present machete is a Corneta with a very handy 12" blade, a copy of the Collins No.127. (Collins ceased business about 1966.) However, that Corneta company in El Salvador is now out of business, and another firm uses that name. I bought my Corneta about 1985 in an Army & Navy store with a canvas sheath. It's been excellent, but I want an 18" one, too.
I do not mind being mistaken for Indiana Jones. (See above post with snide reference to Jones and advocating clippers.) In fact, my love affair with machetes originated with jungle adventure films as a boy.
Go to YouTube for videos.
My son recently bought a Tramontina with 18" blade and sheath at Home Depot, less than $20 in both.
My favorite machete photo is of model Ana Beatriz Barros, with a Tramontina stuck in the lower part of her bikini and holding onto a branch over a stream in her native Brazil. If you Search for photos under her name, you'll know this pic when you see it. If you're married, better Search while your wife is away, if she's the jealous sort.
I may be the only man who has seen that pic and noticed the machete and figured out the make and blade length.
ABB recently married some billionaire,so will probably quit modelling. Pity. That girl can do things with her eyes alone that should be illegal in public, ha!
You probably want a 14-18 inch blade, and will probably want to dress down the wooden handle
scales to meet the tang, to avoid blisters. One company offers this and a sharpening service for about six bucks. I think the name is spelled Baronyx. I plan to buy an 18" Tramontina from them and get those services. But they didn't sell sheaths when I last checked. The Machete Store has sheaths, but not the handle and honing services.
I want a rounded butt like that on the machete in the pic with Ana Beatriz. Those seem not to be sold here in 18" length. You can get that shape in a 14" blade. Hers has a black handle, probably plastic. Those sold here are mostly wooden handles, in similar models.
My only present machete is a Corneta with a very handy 12" blade, a copy of the Collins No.127. (Collins ceased business about 1966.) However, that Corneta company in El Salvador is now out of business, and another firm uses that name. I bought my Corneta about 1985 in an Army & Navy store with a canvas sheath. It's been excellent, but I want an 18" one, too.
I do not mind being mistaken for Indiana Jones. (See above post with snide reference to Jones and advocating clippers.) In fact, my love affair with machetes originated with jungle adventure films as a boy.
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357-RevolverGuy
Member
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SC_Mike
Member
I've got a Gerber Gator with the saw back teeth on it. Around $20 with sheath. Seems to be holding an edge so far. Plus at that price I wont spend a half day backtracking to find it should it get left behind.
For lighter work, the Old Hickory 14" knife/machete is easy to carry. It is essentially a long butcher knife. If you saw Justified, this knife will give you a chuckle.
The Condor Golok is a devastating chopper. It has an axe-like convex grind and a blade 6mm thick. It is in its element in heavier brush, with branches up to maybe 3/4" thick, but I have used it to take down a 4" Chinese elm.
I have also had good results with Tramontina machetes and the Baryonyx machete, a versatile tool with a brush hook. Baryonyx Knife Co is a good place to buy blades. You can pay a couple of bucks extra for "special grade" and he will put on a wicked edge. On the Tramontina knives, he also sands the grip flush with the tang.
The Condor Golok is a devastating chopper. It has an axe-like convex grind and a blade 6mm thick. It is in its element in heavier brush, with branches up to maybe 3/4" thick, but I have used it to take down a 4" Chinese elm.
I have also had good results with Tramontina machetes and the Baryonyx machete, a versatile tool with a brush hook. Baryonyx Knife Co is a good place to buy blades. You can pay a couple of bucks extra for "special grade" and he will put on a wicked edge. On the Tramontina knives, he also sands the grip flush with the tang.
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Grayfox
US Veteran
The Kabar Cutlass Machete has become my favorite. Its relatively short and easy to handle, but has a hefty blade that holds a good edge to cut right through most brush.
gwpercle
Member
Get a cheap one from the Army-Navy surplus store with a file for sharpening , if the grip is plastic , wrap with tape...if the plastic breaks the tape holds everything in place until you can make wood scales.
You will not be upset if it gets damaged or lost..
Gary
You will not be upset if it gets damaged or lost..
Gary
I have the same model but do not plan on sawing anything with it. The teeth appear to be for looks only.
Basic and ugly but they are good. I have a couple and you can beat the heck out of them, then take a stone to it and go at it again. A little paracord loop thru the handle keeps you playing frisbee with it
Agree that you can't go wrong with a Tramontina. They come in multiple lengths. When I have been down fishing in Brazil, the Guides had a machete and a hand carved paddle that was used also as a shovel, cutting board, etc. Survival-Pax Co. has great prices. Good luck!
Agree with the above......I've found that a good pair of clippers are best for much of my needs to trim trails to my hunting stands. When something more is needed I use an old Ontario Knife 18" machete that I've put to good use for many years.
Don
A pocket pruner or clipper is not going to nave the leverage to cut a lot of the branches I go after. To be sure, longer-handled pruner (or an axe or a saw) will very often be a better tool for some of the thicker branches, but may be awkward to carry, and may not work well on the grassier brush. I find that some kind of long blade is likely to be useful on a wider range of vegetation, even if it may not be the ideal implement in every case.
VaTom,
I have an SOG Kukri. I got it on trade and I can't imagine a scenario where I will need it. If you think you will use it and PM me your address I'll send it to you.
I have an SOG Kukri. I got it on trade and I can't imagine a scenario where I will need it. If you think you will use it and PM me your address I'll send it to you.
scoobysnacker
Member
Ray
Member
10 inch blade Tramontina machete guy here.Good and cheap.Got mine at a discount price for 10 Reals( our currency) - about 2,5 dollars.
Regards, Ray
Regards, Ray
