Collins Machete, modified

[never too sharp]

A while back, I picked up a vintage 20" Legitimus Collins machete. There where several things I didn't like about it. The handle was to big to get a comfortable grip, and there was little attention paid to the fit of the handle to the tang. Also, with the design and length of this particular blade, there was, imho, more steel than needed. This thing could have been used as a paddle! To get an idea of how much steel was removed, draw a slightly curved line from the tip to the back of the hump on the spine.The hump was left because I thought it would look better than a straight spine, it can always be ground off later.(A lesson learned from bow making: you can take it off later, but you can't put it back on.)

I tightened up the rivets and trimmed and contoured the handle a bit, then ground and filed a brush hook into the back of the blade. I took the handle down to 320 and applied a couple coats of Tru Oil.

I might just be expecting too much from a machete, and I'm not familiar with any other L.C. machetes, but the condition of this machete when I recieved it led me to believe that the handles where put on somewhat recently by someone who didn't give a rip, or the whole thing is a counterfeit. If it is a fake, then it was heat treated properly, as my poor files and grinding wheel will attest to.

 

[Bill1170]

The contouring you did to the handle looks nice, and I'll bet the grip is a lot more secure now. My limited experience with machetes is that they are inexpensive, roughly made tools for rough work, and can benefit from a little knowledgeable TLC.

I free-hand convexed my Ontario machete and it cuts much better than it did with the factory grind. Plant tissue seems to stick less to a convexed blade, allowing the tool to cut more freely than a v-bevel edge can. Mine is not a pretty job like your handle, but the thing cuts very well. I use it a lot to trim succulents in my yard.

Bill

 

[DPKnives]

Nice job Roger. It looks a ton better then it did when I saw it. doug

 

[ChapmanPreferred]

Interesting. How do you plan to use the hook?

 

[never too sharp]

Interesting. How do you plan to use the hook?

Not so sure yet. This machete really needed some steel taken off the end, so I decide to make it a brush hook instead of just regrinding the spine to the tip. I figured it would get used something like this. Right now, the inside of the hook is pretty sharp, and it comes to a sharp point. I'm not sure how it will work out when it comes to practical use, I may wind up dulling the hook and/or the point.