Beefiest Machete

Tyrkon Lawson

Tyrkon Lawson

Joined
Oct 31, 2003
Messages
8,583
Recently I purchased a Condor Bolo in carbon steel. Awesome chete. :thumbup: Though I am new to machetes (not choppers) it seems to be one of the beefier machetes on the market. My Linder Machete has an even thicker blade but the handle broke on it after relatively little use. :(

Anyway, I was wondering what the more robust machetes on the market are. The thicker the better. Length isn't so much an issue here but I do prefer approximately 17" to 20" oal length. Customs are great but mostly interested in productions as they tend to be less expensive. Hopefully, something that is readily available. And I am mainly looking for one for chopping wood, batonning, etc... and less for light vegetation clearing (I have ones for that already).

Thanks in advance guys. :)
 
I've always found the standard Ontario and similar machetes of 21 in. length to be the absolute ideal. The length gives a tremendous tip speed, as well as keeping the user at a decent distance from potentially whippy briars and branches in case you miss you mark, they're relatively sturdy and cheap.
The speed gives much greater cutting power than extra weight or beefiness. I've used a variety of machetes in my quarter century in the field doing land surveying and cutting through ceder and briar thickets as well as taking down trees up to around 8 in. in diameter. IMO you simply can't beat a standard 21 in. machete for cost and effectivness/efficiency.:)

IMO and in my experience, beefiness in a machete tends to push what one wishes to cut rather than actually cut it. This causes the branch or briar to whip rather than cut away and fall. My beefy blades are my dedicated choppers and my axes/hatchets/hawks and I don't cut brush and saplings with these. I think you are better off with a standard machete in the range of 10-20 dollars in cost.
 
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ttoney83 said:
IMO and in my experience, beefiness in a machete tends to push what one wishes to cut rather than actually cut it. This causes the branch or briar to whip rather than cut away and fall. My beefy blades are my dedicated choppers and my axes/hatchets/hawks and I don't cut brush and saplings with these. I think you are better off with a standard machete in the range of 10-20 dollars in cost.
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Yup! You want a broad blade--not a thick one! It kind of defeats the point of a machete if you make it too thick.
 
Broad huh? Well then it looks like the Condor Bolo I have will be at the top then as it has that extra swell at the last 4"-6". I just finished chopping up some fire wood with it this morning and that forward weight really makes it bite.

How's the Martindale Golok? Pretty thick I hear yet compact.
 
If you want hefty but short then check out the Imacasa Burriquito. Here's a pic of one I modified and sold here on the forum--It's a stubby beast!

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Tyrkon Lawson said:
Broad huh? Well then it looks like the Condor Bolo I have will be at the top then as it has that extra swell at the last 4"-6". I just finished chopping up some fire wood with it this morning and that forward weight really makes it bite.

How's the Martindale Golok? Pretty thick I hear yet compact.
Click to expand...

Yup. I think bolo style and the length I like is really a matter of personal preference. Like I mentioned, I've spent alot of years cutting through ceder and briar thickets and the extra length helped me reach more stuff without getting whacked in the face too much.
 
I use the Condor 20" Viking machete up this way. Works wonders!
 
I'm currently making a 22" long .14" thick by 1.5 inch wide cpm-3v light-chopper/machete. I do this part time though, and am busy with language school until August. I think it's going to be pretty baller, honestly. It looks something like an overgrown Cold Steel GI tanto...but more primitive. The object with this one was to make a deeply hollow-ground CPM 3v bar as ergonomic as possible; cheaply. I was planning on selling it once I got bored with it (the usual practice). If you're still looking for one in nine months...?
 
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