Machetes

[CAJUNLAWYER]

this is what I use and the mexicans swear by Seymour 2P-CN13 Sugar Cane Knife 13" Blade

 

[jlrhiner]

Another vote for Tramontina. Mine is 20+ years old and still in fine shape. I did shape handle, but keeping it sharp is a breeze.
Cold Steel offers a two handed machete that I've really been thinking about. I have several of their kukri style and IMHO, there not heavy enough at the blade.

 

[BubbaBlades]

For light chopping and close work, I use this Ontario blade with a micarta handle that I made from an old NASA instrument panel.

For heavier work, I use this 22 inch Collins blade that I fitted with a 1 1/2 hand Gerber handle.

I started to change out factory handles for something stronger and more comfortable back in 1967. I was cutting through mangrove swamps up to seven hours a day. The guy that was with me had been an instructor at the Army's jungle warfare school and knew a few things about chopping and blade sharpening.

Mark

 

[klondike]

I recently cleared a steep hillside of himalayan blackberries and found that a machete was the tool to use and to break through the canes a long heavy blade was the best. The tool that worked for me was a 1917 cutlass like cold steel makes.

 

[Stevens]

Here is my collection. I picked most of these up overseas when I was flogging sugar cane harvesters.
From Left: Cane topping knife from Uruguay
Louisiana "cane knife"
Guatemala Machete
Puerto Rico, Collins brand
Venezuela Papagayo brand, not for sugar cane
Costa Rica, Corneta brand
Philippines, A "Ginunting" from a coconut farm market locally hand made with wooden scabbard
Costa Rica Corneta brand with scabbard (it lives in my pickup)
Colombia chromed US bicentenial machete, INCOLMA Aguila brand, engraving reads "1776 USA 1976"
Steve W

 

[Texas Star]

Here is my collection. I picked most of these up overseas when I was flogging sugar cane harvesters.
From Left: Cane topping knife from Uruguay
Louisiana "cane knife"
Guatemala Machete
Puerto Rico, Collins brand
Venezuela Papagayo brand, not for sugar cane
Costa Rica, Corneta brand
Philippines, A "Ginunting" from a coconut farm market locally hand made with wooden scabbard
Costa Rica Corneta brand with scabbard (it lives in my pickup)
Colombia chromed US bicentenial machete, INCOLMA Aguila brand, engraving reads "1776 USA 1976"
Steve W

Your Corneta on the right looks like mine. Twelve-inch blade? But my sheath is a simple canvas one. And I think mine was made in El Salvador. May or may not be the same company.

 

[LouisianaJoe]

I have a couple of machetes made in El Salvador, that I have used for over 40 years. The brand is Corona No 152.

I also have a USN MK-2 Legitimus made by Collins in 1945.

You can find both on ebay in various conditions.

 

[woodsltc]

I have used one, with an 18 inch blade made by Ontario Knife Co. for 25+ years to clear brush and trails......takes a good edge and cuts through saplings and brush with ease.

A machete is one of the most useful tools a person can own IMO.

Don

 

[Erich]

I've had several - many were fine. The best was the Tramontina that GatorFarmer recommends up-thread (mine was 18", but that was the brand), but only in the carbon steel blade. The stainless Tramontinas I've bought have been schlock, as was the Chinese one that I picked up for free at Harbor Freight.

I'd also rather have a shorter one than a longer one - give me a 12" over a 24" any day. 18" is ideal for me, though.

 

[Stevens]

Your Corneta on the right looks like mine. Twelve-inch blade? But my sheath is a simple canvas one. And I think mine was made in El Salvador. May or may not be the same company.

That one has a 14" blade. Corneta brans machetes are made in El Salvador and in Colombia by Incolma the same Company that made the chromed one in my pix.
The Brazilians are taking over lots of that market.
Steve W

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

My dad went to an auction when I was about 12, it was the estate of some unknown "Great White Hunter". The machete he bought was an 1.5" straight 30 or 36 inch thin blade that was double edged ala broad sword. We've used it in the blackberrie jungles of Ohio ever since. You would think it would be way too long and way too heavy, but the balance is perfect and the weight is about the same as the USN ones I have, just don't walk too close behind dad in the woods!(Off topic but, there were 3-5 Gallon "coffee boilers" for water that dad later threw away, the biggest I can find now is 1.5 +/- Gal. if you find something around 3 gal, please, please, please let me know)Ivan

 

[ol' geeser]

I re-discovered a tool I was brought up calling a brush hook, the railroad section gangs called it a "bitch axe"...looks like a woodsman's pal on steroids....blade is 8 inches or so, edge to edge and about 12 inches long with a "hook" at the end and sharpened all the way around. Handle is about 4.5 ft. long. Perfect for reaching grapevine and one can clean a fence row standing up. The long handle and blade weight gives it enough power and speed to take out 5-6 ft. at a time. A 2 inch persimmon sprout is nothing.

Too big to carry in a belt sheath but doubles quite well as a walking stick, you don't have to bend over to use it, and is the easiest tool I've ever used against vines, bushes and small trees....

My buddy that owns a hardware store tells me the proper name for this instrument is a "bank blade"....whatever it is, it is a super tool to have around.

 

[Stevens]

I re-discovered a tool I was brought up calling a brush hook, the railroad section gangs called it a "bitch axe"...looks like a woodsman's pal on steroids....blade is 8 inches or so, edge to edge and about 12 inches long with a "hook" at the end and sharpened all the way around. Handle is about 4.5 ft. long. Perfect for reaching grapevine and one can clean a fence row standing up. The long handle and blade weight gives it enough power and speed to take out 5-6 ft. at a time. A 2 inch persimmon sprout is nothing.

Too big to carry in a belt sheath but doubles quite well as a walking stick, you don't have to bend over to use it, and is the easiest tool I've ever used against vines, bushes and small trees....

My buddy that owns a hardware store tells me the proper name for this instrument is a "bank blade"....whatever it is, it is a super tool to have around.

They are known as a "Briar Hook" around here