Cheap neck knives and machetes.

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lachy

Joined
Dec 16, 2009
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136
Hey guys. I'm interested in getting a neck knife and also a machete. Since I'm just starting my knife collection I want something cheap. Any recommendations? I want the cheapest product possible that doesn't need to be the best quality but good enough to use.

For a neck knife, I was thinking something like a Cold Steel Canadian Belt/Neck knife.

For a machete, I really don't know. I've seen some cheap Cold Steels, but I really don't know much about machetes at all.

Thanks in advance :).
 
lachy, dont think " cheap ". think quality. getting the most for your money. take a little time and read up on this forum. you'll be glad you did. let us know what you get. paul
 
A cheap but good neck knife I've found is the CKC Hiker. Good carbon steel, nice handle, lightweight, $40 including postage from New Zealand. Pretty good deal if you ask me. The other recommendation I'd make is the RAT Cutlery Izula, which is thicker, and thus more heavy duty. A great knife that comes with a bulletproof warranty, but a little more expensive. I know you said you didn't want or need the best quality available, but at these prices, I think you'll end up with one of these anyway.:D

Machetes? Go with proven brands like Tramontina and Condor. Those two immediately come to mind when I think of good cheap machetes. Perhaps someone more knowledgeable in this can help out in this section; I own an 18 incher standard Tramontina, and it's a fun blade to clear out the yard with. Hell, even with horrible knife prices in Australia, you can get a Tramontina for around $20.

I think you've started off in a great area of blade style. Machetes I didn't look into until recently (but have since been enlightened), but neck knives I have always liked. With a bit of skill and technique, you can do a lot more with a small blade than you'd think. And welcome to BFC from a fellow Aussie.:thumbup:
 
Thanks sidecutter.

Wow 7rip13a, I was beginning to think I was one of the only Aussies on here, let alone from Brisbane. Thanks for all your input, I will definately look into those brands. Also, out of curiosity, you mentioned that the CKC Hiker was $40 shipped from NZ. I was just curious about the legality of this? I know it's illegal to import knives into the country without the permit thing, but is New Zealand an exception? Thanks again :thumbup: .
 
Err... yes, technically you are supposed to apply for the B709B import permit to get knives into Australia and all that jazz, but I've never done it.:p

Having bought almost all of my knives from overseas (around 25+, not including the ones I later sold), I think I'm fairly confident in telling you that unless you're importing illegal knives like daggers (double edged blades) or balisongs, Aussie customs doesn't really mind. I've had packages checked by quarantine maybe 2 or 3 times. Especially with fixed blades, they have pretty much no problem with those. Never had anything taken. But maybe I'm just lucky in that regard.

But, to be on the safe side, maybe it's better to apply for the permit. I don't want you taking my advice, only to have customs smack you on the hand because of an error on my part.

And I'm sure there are a fair few Australians on this forum. They are just swamped by everyone else though.:) I believe there's an Australia-specific section around here, but it's not very active.
 
The Becker Necker BK11 is hard to beat for about $30. 1095 is good crbon steel for the money, and you can get an optional TDI belt clip for about $10 that makes this knife easy to clip anywhere you want if you should get tired of only carrying it around your neck.

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And for the money Cold Steels machetes are tuff as heck, and they have a great selection of sizes and styles to choose from.
 
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7rip13a said:
Err... yes, technically you are supposed to apply for the B709B import permit to get knives into Australia and all that jazz, but I've never done it.:p

Having bought almost all of my knives from overseas (around 25+, not including the ones I later sold), I think I'm fairly confident in telling you that unless you're importing illegal knives like daggers (double edged blades) or balisongs, Aussie customs doesn't really mind. I've had packages checked by quarantine maybe 2 or 3 times. Especially with fixed blades, they have pretty much no problem with those. Never had anything taken. But maybe I'm just lucky in that regard.

But, to be on the safe side, maybe it's better to apply for the permit. I don't want you taking my advice, only to have customs smack you on the hand because of an error on my part.

And I'm sure there are a fair few Australians on this forum. They are just swamped by everyone else though.:) I believe there's an Australia-specific section around here, but it's not very active.
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Thanks for that. Well I guess I'm going to have to make a decision, because I am definately interested in getting one of them. For the money, I think it might even be worth getting a blank and trying out custom handles myself. If it doesn't work out, I can just buy another.


BryFry- Thanks for letting me know about the BK11. If this CKC Hiker doesn't work out I might look into it.
 
Surprised no one has mentioned the RAT Izula.

EDIT: NVM, someone did. I second the Izula.
 
I have been using the COLD STEEL Culloden knives for nearly a decade now and have only one complaint.

They discontinued the models I use so you will have to do some searching to find one like mine.

I have a couple of the BRAVE HEART knives and like those as well, but rarely use them because they are only good for hunting here in Michigan where knife laws are both non-nonsensical and very prohibitive.

The Culloden knives are fixed blades with single edge and 3" blade length, so they are as good as it gets here in Michigan.
 
well the RAT izula is an inexpensive neck knife IMO. and the new RAT EESE lite machete will be coming out which shouldn't be too bad price wise.
 
The CRKT Folts Minimalist is a nicely designed, cheap neck knife. The blade steel isn't that good, but where else can you get micarta handles for under $20?
 
I believe CRKT makes a few inexpensive neck knives. They don't have the greatest steel & many are made in Taiwan &/or China, but they're inexpensive.

I don't know if they're still available, but the Buck Hartsook was around $20 & has S30V steel.

For machetes, Tramontinas aren't bad, but I prefer Ontarios & they do have a "budget" line of machete that I believe are around the same price as the Tramontinas, while still being made out of 1095 blade steel. In fact, I gave away a Tramontina machete to a fellow BFs member & kept the Ontario as one of my machetes. For a little more $, Ontarios other machetes & the SP8 are very good & also use 1095 steel.
 
For a machete, go with a Condor (best machetes out there--still inexpensive, but the most expensive of the bunch), Imacasa (Condor's parent company, and working class line), Hansa, or Tramontina. None of them will cost you much, and all of them will perform like a charm.

Note that on all of them except Condor will require additional sharpening with a file to get them in working order. This is standard with machetes and should not be looked at as a negative, as it allows the user to put whatever kind of bevel they want on it depending on if you're using it mostly for lightweight brush and vines or saplings and small trees.

Machetespecialist.com is the only place that carries Imacasa and Hansa in North America at the moment, and Cam is a top-notch guy. :):thumbup:
 
Thanks for the info, FortyTwoBlades. Since I'm in Australia, I can't get in contact with Cam, but I do have my eyes on a pretty sweet 18" Tramontina from eBay.
 
Cool beans. Tramontina is good stuff. :cool:

Sorry I didn't notice your location! :o
 
can't go wrong with an 18 tram lachy, the cold steel are good knives for the money. Have you looked at mora's, very good and inexpensive and a ton of different models.
Mora's have a sturdier sheath for neck carry and will have better steel, their scandi grind make them better woodworkers and slicers.
 
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