American made Buck machete and otf oddball topic

Lesknife said:
Recently I’ve been thinking about getting either a Buck Froe or Tallon and this thread got me curious about what makes a machete.
Out here in our part of the country there’s not a lot of overgrowth or brush but occasionally some areas will have a bit to clear out to make camp or clear a path or weeds grown up along side of a building and such.
When I was a kid my dad had one about 20 inches long that was made from a mower blade that we used around the farm and ranch. It was very crude but it got the job done.

So I’m curious if the Froe or Tallon would work as a machete in this regard for clearing a patch of brush or weeds in occasional situations? Or are they to short for that kind of use? Thanks in advance.
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it works on heavier stuff that doesn't chop in one swing. on lighter stuff the speed you can use and thinner stock and geometry of a machete does better. kinda depends on. where ya are and what youre whacking through. I dont mind smaller machetes 13" blades or even 18". if im not trying to clear big areas at a time.
 
Lesknife said:
Recently I’ve been thinking about getting either a Buck Froe or Tallon and this thread got me curious about what makes a machete.
Out here in our part of the country there’s not a lot of overgrowth or brush but occasionally some areas will have a bit to clear out to make camp or clear a path or weeds grown up along side of a building and such.
When I was a kid my dad had one about 20 inches long that was made from a mower blade that we used around the farm and ranch. It was very crude but it got the job done.

So I’m curious if the Froe or Tallon would work as a machete in this regard for clearing a patch of brush or weeds in occasional situations? Or are they to short for that kind of use? Thanks in advance.
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I think they are too short, but I own neither.

My favorite is a short 14 inch, nice leather sheath, wood handle shaped to keep your hand from sliding off, or forward, and a slight curve to the blade. Enough forward weight to easily cut but still not front heavy. It balances about an inch or so in front of the handle.

I think handle design on a good machete is as important as blade design.

Bigger blades work better, but you have to carry that length. I find the shorter to be a good compromise between effectiveness and ease of carry.
And it's a blast to cut watermelon with.

I've had a froe in "my cart" for weeks now. I haven't purchased any BOTM's lately, so......... luckily, there's not many froe pics to push me over the edge.
HA.
 
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For me a Machete is a dirt cheap rough and dirty working tool from south America that I work hard and put up wet, sometimes a quick blast of WD40 but usually not.
I want a light fast blade that still provides good cutting power and really sings when I'm using it.
I just don't think knife companies need to be making a tool that belongs in the garden section of the hardware store.

I love Buck, but if they made a machete I know it would not have any trait I'm looking for in a machete aside from a blade and handle.

Now if Buck made this I would buy one. ( it was new in this picture )


If they ever think they could make a machete that would sell well they should go for it, I don't wish they'd make one and wouldn't buy it but I won't complain if they do.
 
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Lesknife said:
Recently I’ve been thinking about getting either a Buck Froe or Tallon and this thread got me curious about what makes a machete.
Out here in our part of the country there’s not a lot of overgrowth or brush but occasionally some areas will have a bit to clear out to make camp or clear a path or weeds grown up along side of a building and such.
When I was a kid my dad had one about 20 inches long that was made from a mower blade that we used around the farm and ranch. It was very crude but it got the job done.

So I’m curious if the Froe or Tallon would work as a machete in this regard for clearing a patch of brush or weeds in occasional situations? Or are they to short for that kind of use? Thanks in advance.
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Too heavy i think to be a machette.
 
Hickory n steel said:
For me a Machete is a dirt cheap rough and dirty working tool from south America that I work hard and put up wet, sometimes a quick blast of WD40 but usually not.
I want a light fast blade that still provides good cutting power and really sings when I'm using it.
I just don't think knife companies need to be making a tool that belongs in the garden section of the hardware store.

I love Buck, but if they made a machete I know it would not have any trait I'm looking for in a machete aside from a blade and handle.

Now if Buck made this I would buy one. ( it was new in this picture )


If they ever think they could make a machete that would sell well they should go for it, I don't wish they'd make one and wouldn't buy it but I won't complain if they do.
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not just south and central America. used around the world wherever there is jungle and lots of growth. many place the only cutting tool they have or need. that important. also made around the world too Africa, Asia and such.
 
I really doubt Buck will pursue an OTF knife since the debalicle with the knife laws that put a OOPS! concerning the Buck auto. They don't even fix them they throw them in a pile and send out New knives to suppliers since they can't ship if they fix them. With a new president I would suppose he does not want to make a mistake without checking all angles of non-conformance. I would like to ask if Buck is still confronted with the law or are they allowed to ship autos. I have a Buck auto and hope it lasts forever.
 
JOE NOWICKI said:
What is he talking about ? I don't understand, never heard of a 110 fixed blade? Is this a joke or what. I been away and need some catching up.
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101 was the 110 fixed blade. discontinued now. see David's thread on the 101.
 
jbmonkey said:
not just south and central America. used around the world wherever there is jungle and lots of growth. many place the only cutting tool they have or need. that important. also made around the world too Africa, Asia and such.
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Yes very true.
I just get 'em from south America myself because they're so prevalent.
 
Hickory n steel said:
Yes very true.
I just get 'em from south America myself because they're so prevalent.
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yeah cause we live in North America. the makers down in Central and South America are popular here.

I have ones from all over the world. mostly Central and South America though as well.
 
I think there is a perceived and associated value problem with the word machete. Folks expect them to be cheap, as that has become the norm.

An American manufacturer cannot compete in that environment. And if they tried, well, you know how folks are.

People complain that a well made machete from El Salvador is overpriced. What would Buck charge?
I'm sure it would be double.

The inexpensive ones I've been exposed to have crappy nylon sheaths.... if they even have one, and inferior handles. I cannot bring myself to use them long enough to judge the quality of the blade.

I guess I would be interested in how well Top's really does in that market.

I don't see it working.
There's some decent imports out there.
Most folks won't pay the money for them.
Fewer yet will pay more..
 
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I'd love to try a Buck machete! I have 3 currently, by far the best and most used is a Cold Steel bowie 18" I bought some 13-14 years ago, not even sure what steel it is, but it's brute tough, much thicker material than my gerber or the old Tramontina so it's not all sawblade wobbly like most machetes are, takes a wicked edge and holds it pretty well under hard use. Was only 20 bucks too.

Make something like that and i'm in for one or two.
 
GPyro said:
I think there is a perceived and associated value problem with the word machete. Folks expect them to be cheap, as that has become the norm.

An American manufacturer cannot compete in that environment. And if they tried, well, you know how folks are.

People complain that a well made machete from El Salvador is overpriced. What would Buck charge?
I'm sure it would be double.

The inexpensive ones I've been exposed to have crappy nylon sheaths.... if they even have one, and inferior handles. I cannot bring myself to use them long enough to judge the quality of the blade.

I guess I would be interested in how well Top's really does in that market.

I don't see it working.
There's some decent imports out there.
Most folks won't pay the money for them.
Fewer yet will pay more..
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I think it also depends on the sellers and buyers intention for the tool.

An economical machete is found next garden / ag tools and usually lives in a garage tool shed, whereas a more premium machete usually coming from a knife company tends to be found with camping / outdoors gear and is marketed to enthusiast for recreational purposes.



I suppose because I don't have interest in such a tool it really doesn't matter what I think because I'm not the potential intended market, people like me are always gonna view machetes as an economical ag/garden type tool and the other side will be perfectly happy to pay for the more refined tool they want.
 
texpat said:
I'd love to try a Buck machete! I have 3 currently, by far the best and most used is a Cold Steel bowie 18" I bought some 13-14 years ago, not even sure what steel it is, but it's brute tough, much thicker material than my gerber or the old Tramontina so it's not all sawblade wobbly like most machetes are, takes a wicked edge and holds it pretty well under hard use. Was only 20 bucks too.

Make something like that and i'm in for one or two.
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wonder if that cold steel is 1055 steel like the current ones for last half decade or so? cold steel tends to move steels sometimes on some products. i don't mind 1055 for a machete myself or 1075. id prefer a Buck made 5160 one though.😁
 
GPyro said:
I think there is a perceived and associated value problem with the word machete. Folks expect them to be cheap, as that has become the norm.

An American manufacturer cannot compete in that environment. And if they tried, well, you know how folks are.

People complain that a well made machete from El Salvador is overpriced. What would Buck charge?
I'm sure it would be double.

The inexpensive ones I've been exposed to have crappy nylon sheaths.... if they even have one, and inferior handles. I cannot bring myself to use them long enough to judge the quality of the blade.

I guess I would be interested in how well Top's really does in that market.

I don't see it working.
There's some decent imports out there.
Most folks won't pay the money for them.
Fewer yet will pay more..
Click to expand...
well said and very true
 
GPyro said:
I think there is a perceived and associated value problem with the word machete. Folks expect them to be cheap, ….
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That is a factor of how machetes are used. They are used to cut low to the ground and through heavy brush. Which means they will come into frequent contact with all sorts of hard damaging material liked rocks and concrete.

n2s
 
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jbmonkey said:
wonder if that cold steel is 1055 steel like the current ones for last half decade or so? cold steel tends to move steels sometimes on some products. i don't mind 1055 for a machete myself or 1075. id prefer a Buck made 5160 one though.😁
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Oh yeah 5160, that sounds perfect to me too, the Buck Bos Brushkiller!
 
The last time I needed to chop weeds I used a 620 and promptly got a blister on my hand..I DO think Buck could make one with a great handle if they wanted to. And that would be worth a few extra dollars to me for that kind of tool. Plus any big Buck with a blade over a foot long has my attention.
 
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