Chopping trees with a tramontina 18 inch

[FortyTwoBlades]

: ) lol, since this thread seems to be possibly a troll type setup or fishing attempt, we have managed to keep it funny and onside ; )

but seriously, if you were all designing your own machete, would you follow the 18 tramo (aka traditional - ultra simple - straight w slight curve) or do a kind of larger tip kukri/bolo type tip. At 1/8th it would be quite lightweight, but 3/16th would be a chopper

what steel would you use (and before yall jump on 3v, keep the cost in mind: ) - a 2 foot piece of 3v in that width would be near $100
...

if i actually had in mind chopping bamboo/rubber/hardwood, 3v might do the trick, but at least 3/16ths and a sort of semi ffg - seems like an interesting project ; ) ... or just go to 1/4 inch and call it an axe-blade ?

I did design my own machete.

A couple of them, in fact, although the Baryonyx Machete above is the one that's strictly a tool. The Kingfisher, below, may be a machete, but it was designed as a sword made using machete manufacturing methods. It can be used as a tool, but it's sort of like artillery swords--they were a sword first and foremost, but got commonly pressed into tool usage.

 

[dirc]

I didn't manage to get the first run as they all sold out quite quickly ; ) the best part is the long blade size really allows for some custom work, ie. if you wanted to shorten it by 3 inches, no big deal, and you could do a droppoint or even a clip or something and it's still substantial

I really like them both. Any chance you'll do a sprint run in 80crv2? : ) I would promise to pre-order

 

[bikerector]

: ) lol, since this thread seems to be possibly a troll type setup or fishing attempt, we have managed to keep it funny and onside ; )

but seriously, if you were all designing your own machete, would you follow the 18 tramo (aka traditional - ultra simple - straight w slight curve) or do a kind of larger tip kukri/bolo type tip. At 1/8th it would be quite lightweight, but 3/16th would be a chopper

what steel would you use (and before yall jump on 3v, keep the cost in mind: ) - a 2 foot piece of 3v in that width would be near $100
...

if i actually had in mind chopping bamboo/rubber/hardwood, 3v might do the trick, but at least 3/16ths and a sort of semi ffg - seems like an interesting project ; ) ... or just go to 1/4 inch and call it an axe-blade ?

I have a fascination with something of a mix of the bolo and kuhkri. Less forward angle and a slight recurve while leaving the ball shape tip of the bolo out there for forward weighting the blade. The OKC SP-53 almost gets it but it's too heavy and needs a little more bulge in the tip for knuckle clearance. I think the Fox knives kuhkri or pathfinder would be great. Becker bk4 with another 4-5in would be pretty sweet as well.

I like 3/16" but a good distal taper is sweet too. For cutting wood, I prefer a less flexy blade as I feel they deflect too easily and can shoot of the wood surface as crazy angles. I feel like I've had a few that will do that after hitting the wood and instead of cutting straight into the wood it will start to conform around the wood grain or knots and kind of scoop out the wood. Of course, I could just have horrible technique.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Any chance you'll do a sprint run in 80crv2? : )

Sorry--no chance whatsoever. Imacasa doesn't work in that steel.

 

[USMCPOP]

I wouldn't tackle a 16" tree, but I like these when it comes to tough stuff. Good thickness and weight, nice convex edge. The incurved one with the 15" handle bites into bamboo pretty well.

Some people use a slightly larger one to cut sugar cane all day long.

For chopping limbs, the heavy straight ones on the right work about like a hatchet. They're forged from old leaf springs.

 

[Dirtbiker]

I did design my own machete.

A couple of them, in fact, although the Baryonyx Machete above is the one that's strictly a tool. The Kingfisher, below, may be a machete, but it was designed as a sword made using machete manufacturing methods. It can be used as a tool, but it's sort of like artillery swords--they were a sword first and foremost, but got commonly pressed into tool usage.

I'd like to see variations of this blade in the future. All based off this handle. No guards, a shorter blade, maybe a clip, warn cliff, or drop point.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

I'd like to see variations of this blade in the future. All based off this handle. No guards, a shorter blade, maybe a clip, warn cliff, or drop point.

The interest is appreciated, but the handle was designed for a very particular context, and is unlikely to make an appearance on any other models. It wouldn't be a good handle for a "normal" machete made for tool-exclusive use.

 

[tltt]

It was old. I never knew that tramontinas used 1070. Makes sense why they are so valued. Tough as nails.

Collins for a good bit of the 20th century settled on 1080 with an Rc. of 50-52 for most of their machetes. They did use 1044 for the #1250 Canadian bolos during WWII though. They also tried to get their foreign plants to use 1080 (or equivalent), but some didn't. Lots of variables in the the foreign Collins models.

 

[tltt]

I did design my own machete.

The Kingfisher, below, may be a machete, but it was designed as a sword made using machete manufacturing methods. It can be used as a tool, but it's sort of like artillery swords--they were a sword first and foremost, but got commonly pressed into tool usage.

Very neat, sort of a modern espada ancha .

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Very neat, sort of a modern espada ancha .

The required performance characteristics were the main design influence, but it draws inspiration from knuckle bow Khyber swords, Chinese butterfly swords, European arming swords and military sabers, and even certain polearms.

 

[dirc]

I like your machete design also, ... only seems perhaps a bit too wide? - if it's stiff enough to also act as a shovel, then that's great and I guess the extra weight really makes it axe-like while using relatively thin stock. Nice

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

It's not intended to act as a shovel by any means. The width is both due to the spatial relationship between the forward edge, the bifurcated point, and the rear-facing hook, but also to concentrate the mass directly behind the edge rather than to its sides. It can go through a 3.5" birch in 42 seconds.