Best Tool For South East US

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medcommander

Joined
Apr 21, 2010
Messages
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Recently I have been getting interested in purchasing a new tool for woods use, and while I have some ideas on the matter I would love some advice. I live in NC and am looking for a portable tool or tool system in which to use when I am out in the woods. So without further to do heres my specifications...
1. Must be light enough for me to carry without discomfort.
2. Must be able to promote survival a variety of conditions from hot and wet to cold and snowy.
3. Needs to hold an edge well.
4. Cost less than $70 for either the one tool or the tool system.
5. Needs to be well made and sturdy (function over form)

Thats about all I can think of at the moment. Please comment with whatever ideas you may have. Heck, grab a friend and get them to comment too!

P.S. Any recommendations on sharpening systems would be greatly appreciated as well.

-Its not deja vu I moved threads because I though this title more applicable.
 
machete. The only tool I always make sure I have when I go into the swamp. Can do everything well enough.
 
I live in NC too. For $70, you might look at getting Beckers new BK16. But if you could swing $90, the BK9 would be perfect. I have one and its sharp, strong and perfect for the woods.

Or, if you wouldnt mind a 2 piece system, a ~$50 hatchet of some sort (high carbon, high quality hatchet, maybe a hardware store craftsman or a cold steel tomahawk) and a Mora would be a really good combo for about $60. They would handle anything you need really well. This would be my second pick.

Look in the Axe section of BF for a hatchet recommendation if you want to go that route.

For sharpening, a file for the hatchet and a stone for the Mora or the BK9 or 16 would be good budget options. The cool thing about the Mora is you hold the stone flat on the bevel, so freehanding will be easy. Personally I have a sharpmaker, but its $50 dollars.

If I can think of anything else, Ill come back.
 
Mora ultralight machete (7 oz.). Yo-Ho Quality Tools camp ax (1.25 lbs) - look under Striking Tools, Axes. For your pocket, any SAK that has a blade, can opener, bottle opener and awl. Email me if you need to know where to get the Mora. You should come in well under $70 for all three.

I'm in NC too. Love WCPE in WF.
 
Thanks for the ideas they've really got me thinking. I've been looking at different threads and videos and have pretty much determined that next time I go into the woods I will be carrying two things, a small folding saw and a small pocket knife. Now normally I would have chosen an axe over the saw and used the small knife for the little tasks and I thank lilknifekid for his suggestion on the matter. Three things which I belive to be very important have driven me away from the axe. I love my state but sometimes I swear it's like somebody decided to take all the nice plants and trees and put thorns everywhere, and if that wasn't enough to worry about lets add snakes with anger issues! Now while I guarantee there is somebody out there who can walk through brambles without flinching and can chop a snakes head off with one swipe of the axe I can also guarantee that person ain't me. Also I would have troubles intergrating the axe into my system. I love bushcraft but I also love to backpack, camp, and kayak. I finished a kayaking trip a couple weeks ago down the Neuse River and i can say wholeheartedly that even with the extra capacity that my boat gave me an axe would not have made it into my loadout. So now I am faced with a simple question...

Knife or machete?

In my eye a machete is a big knife used for chopping. I don't think that thickness is what makes a machete, but I find that many people disagree. I like my knives but I think a thick golok or parang would definitely do the job. Thank you to both jbmonkey and abcdef for putting me on this track, but while I love mora knives I don't think the machete you reccomended would be able to stand up to my kind of wear and tear. In all I was thinking of a thick machete about .125in thick that I could use for brush, chopping down small saplings, and processing firewood. By the way has anybody ever tried batoning with a machete? I've been looking for a while and haven't been able to find anything.

If you have any machete or knife suggestions I would be happy to hear them, and while I don't think I'll be purchasing an axe for my backpacking trips I do need one for my truck so axe fans post away! If you have a different setup which works for you please post that as well. Thank you all for your time and your advice.
 
Batoning with a machete is hard because there it is thin and flat, there is no grind on it. For the axe you might want to look at a bush axe if you plan on cutting briars, bushes etc. My dad was a surveyor, meaning he spent all day walking through the NC woods, and always used one. If you want to split fire wood or cut down trees I would go with a traditional style axe. Mine came out of an old barn, and I rehandled it.

Heres an example but Im sure you can find one for much cheaper. I would stay away from the ones mounted in the center of the blade.
http://www.benmeadows.com/double-ed...i_sku=161120&gclid=CJbDtKXey68CFYRM4AodOhhLbA

Heres a Gerber brushook/machete. I have been looking to get this one for a while.
http://www.forestry-suppliers.com/product_pages/View_Catalog_Page.asp?mi=3839
 
The only problem I have with axes is the portability issue. I have looked at the brush hook as well but from using a couple I wasn't really that impressed. The machetes that I am thinking about getting range from 1/8th of an inch thick to 1/4th. While I know most people don't think of machetes when it comes to batonning I have recently looked through the forum and saw that for most people this is the prefered thickness when batoning. Also anything of higher quality that could probably do the job better is also five times as expensive, and honestly while I try not to abuse my blades I buy them to work with not to sit on a shelf and get admired. I have no problems if I happen to break or bend a 30-40 dollar machete but I will be sorely pissed if my 200 dollar superknife breaks.

Thank yall for your comments please continue posting and I look forward to any more ideas yall come up with.
 
medcommander said:
So now I am faced with a simple question...

Knife or machete?
Click to expand...

machete. if you can only have one. people in the third world jungles and dense forests and swamps like me in florida.....carry one tool a machete. they only have enough monye to buy one tool that can do it all and they always pick a machete, cause it just plain works. part big knife and part axe. can do all tasks.....not super well, but well enough.

In my eye a machete is a big knife used for chopping. I don't think that thickness is what makes a machete, but I find that many people disagree. I like my knives but I think a thick golok or parang would definitely do the job.
Click to expand...

yep. most who deny machetes superiority, do so based on experience using the wrong type for the wrong job. done it myself and was frustrated, until i realized i had to wrong version for what i was asking it to do well. machetes are the most useful cutting chopping tool there is, imho. i have axes, and hatchets and big chopping knives, but when i only want to carry one tool into the swamp, i bring a machete. it can do everything those others can, maybe not as well, but it can do them all well enough.


Thank you to both jbmonkey and abcdef for putting me on this track, but while I love mora knives I don't think the machete you reccomended would be able to stand up to my kind of wear and tear. In all I was thinking of a thick machete about .125in thick that I could use for brush, chopping down small saplings, and processing firewood. By the way has anybody ever tried batoning with a machete? I've been looking for a while and haven't been able to find anything.
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your welcome, Sir. i have chopped down small trees, batoned, and other harsh tasks many times with trams, condors, even cheapo china made machetes. one guy has batoned, that i know of, with that exact mora insulation knife turned into a light machete. this gent up in the north east has used that mora machete, for batoning.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=LrN4_Yr0bng



If you have any machete or knife suggestions I would be happy to hear them, and while I don't think I'll be purchasing an axe for my backpacking trips I do need one for my truck so axe fans post away! If you have a different setup which works for you please post that as well. Thank you all for your time and your advice.
Click to expand...

i like the el salvador condor machete in carbon steel 1075 ? thick enough to chop down small live/water oak hybrids. i find, what i refer to as "standard machete shape" the most useful for my uses. i have and use other types but this one can do it all for me and i find condor nicely finished. on the cheaper end i like the tram machetes. allot of bang for the buck. bring along a mill file and you can keep it sharp while in the field. n. carolina isn't florida though and i can't say whether a machete will work for you or not, but 42blades....his video above is up in the far frozen north and he finds machetes work well for his use up there is hardwood tree land. so...........
 
I will also recommend a machete.
I live in Tennessee. I use a machete for almost all my cutting. It's light, carry-able, and versatile. It's not made to cut down large oak trees, but it will do anything you need for camping use.
If you want to chop down heavier trees, you could use a Parang or Golok, but they are heavier to carry.
Overall, I don't think you can beat a machete for versatility and usefulness with light weight.
As jbmonkey says, it may not be the world's best for some certain jobs, but it will do everything you need for camping well enough.
 
medcommander said:
The machetes that I am thinking about getting range from 1/8th of an inch thick to 1/4th..
Click to expand...

It would take a little work with the blade to get it to where I find it of most use (I spent a few hours on a grinder with mine as soon as I got it), but the Condor Golok is a great idea. I believe it is a very high value blade. Great character when using it. Hand forged carbon steel, it works really well. I like my Golok's alot, and they see alot of use.

I thought it needed some refining for my taste, but that was easily done.
 
Thank you everybody for your responses and advice. I have indeed decided to go on and get a machete. While I like the design of the condor golok I really hate it's sheath, and have decided to try the Ontario 18in. military machete (no sawback). Its long enough where I can get some good leverage, made of 1095 so i know it will hold a good edge, is 1/8th of an inch thick for batonning, and comes with a plastic sheath. If you have any experience with this machete good or bad I would love to hear about it. If you have any more imput on what you prefer or your ideas on the subject please feel free to post whatever. Thank you for your time and advice. If you feel bored and want to write some more visit my other thread.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/949949-Favorite-Folder
 
The onrtario 18“ machete is simply awesome. i have two of them, they are workhorses.
 
Say Heah Boys and Girls, First of all I Wish everyone a Safe Memorial Day. This is the time of the year I can travel lite. A belt knife and some sort of chopper. I made a nice lightweight kit using a Mora 2000, the Mora Hatchet and the Baccho Laplander. I can also add my pouches Victorinox Delemont Collection Ranger Grip 78 I can carry all my gear plus my other C's in a Haversack, But my Mora 2000 and the Victorinox I carry on person. Them comes prolly my Fav'd, My Rodent 5, my 2Hawks Double Bit Hatchet and my Wicked Tough Saw, A little heavier, but a much better set. I can carry the Trio on person including a Canteen if I want, But usually I carry my Haversack. But I'm also reuniting with my Condor Golok, It will never replace my Fav's Trio, But for a beater set, I can team my Condor Golok with let's say my Case Pawnee and my Corona Folding Saw and it's a cheaper alternative and I find it not that bad. Although, I wouldn't use the Condor Golok in cold weather where I would have to process alot of wood to stay warm, because I don't find the Condor Golok to be a good choice to baton wood. It simply has too much wood drag. The geometry is prolly good for a warm weather inviorment no doubt. But I can make kindling enough to sustain a fire with it. So yeah, If your looking for a less costly alternative and understand that it's more for softer vegetation and don't baton it for more then making kindling, But yet not a bad long knife to hack through the brush, Then it's a green light and get it. Don't get me wrong, It's a nice looking Golok, But again, I like my Ka-Bar Johnson Adventure Parangatang better. Like I mentioned before, I teamed my Case Pawnee Fix Blade with my Corona Folding Saw as my Trio, and it didn't cost me a arm and a leg (The belt knife is optional) I can go out with this Trio and have a great Afternoon Delight which is a hot cup of coffee on the open fire and a baked potato then I can scout and look for Fanwood, then yeah, I will recommend this, But I like the Parangatang a little better. Have a Safe One.

Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk
 
I moved to ohio just a couple years ago, but am originally from KY. Me and a buddy of mine used to go to daniel boone national forest (red river gourge) all the time for camping and blade testing. If i were to carry only one knife for around your price point, i would probably go becker myself. Most likely a bk9.
But i also preferred a smaller knife for whittling, prep, firecraft, etc. And a bigger blade for batoning/chopping. I would always recommend moras to anyone. Its like a $10 knife that is built great, looks good, great steel and grind, comfortable handle, and is very light.
Some of the cheaper big blades that we really liked was a estwing axe he had, that chopped amazing, but yes they are heavy to carry, although we always had our stuff in our packs. Then he had a condor kukri which was really great, not the heavy duty one, but the other one. It really surprised us with how well it batoned and even split wood in a swipe.
These are any of my first choices, but very budget friendly ones that surprised us. Except the mora, i choose that over some of my really nice stuff sometimes, their great.
 
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