Backwoodsman machete mod

messer454

messer454

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Oct 2, 2006
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I just read an article in the Backwoodsman magazine where the fellow modified a machete into a Bowie with soldered guard and all. This has some ideas running through my head for putting a little nicer handles and a guard on a 12" ontario. Anyone ever personalized a machete? Pics?
 
I've never tried to make a Bowie-ish machete. But I was interested in a smaller machete/all around utility knife that would fit easily in my backpack. My solution was to crop a Tramontina bolo. Worked out well.
 
If i may ask what is the benefits of cuting the machete short??? Isnt it better to just get a short knife?? I had never used a machete in the woods yet, but been thinking about getting the longer one to chop with and a smaller knife for everything else.

Sasha
 
Mike Stweart of Bark River knives has done a lot of work on Ontario machetes which includes changing the length. There are pictures on Knifeforums.

-Cliff
 
sasha said:
If i may ask what is the benefits of cuting the machete short??? Isnt it better to just get a short knife?? I had never used a machete in the woods yet, but been thinking about getting the longer one to chop with and a smaller knife for everything else.

Sasha
Click to expand...

Larger and tougher and cheaper than a comparable short knife. Smaller, easier to pack and more versatile than a full sized machete. Can still chop and clear brush. With mine, performance seems less than a full sized Tram bolo, but more than the 12" Tram. Very easy to sharpen. Won't break my heart if lost or damaged.

I generally avoid chopping, so my needs in that department are minimal. Decent comparable knives can get expensive and surprisingly bulky. They also tend to lag behind the Tramontina in the toughness department. I tend to baton more often than chop, and the machete shines there. And it makes a decnt all around knife.

My old backpack knife was a Barteaux 10" cane knife. Tough as anything, but a bit too light for chopping stuff (great for brush, though). I wanted something of similar size, with the same ease of handling, but a little more mass and a more utilitarian shape. Tramontina makes a 10" machete, but generally doesn't import them into the US. So I took an angle grinder to a bolo and came up with something that works for me.
 
Thanks. I been thinking more of using the machete as a choping tool... How well does the machete takes the beating when you try and baton it???

Sasha
 
The issue was Sept/Oct. I have a subcription, not sure if it is on shelves yet.

Alco141-that is what the writer did only he also soldered a brass guard on it. Not sure if I want or need a guard but did think a point on a 12" machete could prove useful and it sure would be cheap if you messed it up. Just got me thinking, I figured one of the resourceful folks here had done something like that.

Cliff-thanks I will check that out.
 
The Tramontinas baton very well. They're tempered almost more like springs than knives, and extremely tough.
 
my machete in its younger days :
100_2924.jpg


its a lot rougher now sad to say but still works good :)

I done see the point in modding it tho , if I wanted a big bowie thing , the makers I buy from send me freebies now and then :) ugly , big , kinda odd looking but at the price I cant argue with them
bigknifes.jpg
 
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