custom machete

Sorry for the long absence guys. Bureacracy and projects have made it tough to keep up with all the forums.
Here's my 2 cents:
1) There are indeed a few good stock machetes. Frankly, of the group I'm evaluating now,the Valiant Co. Parang Bandol has my Deepest Respect, it being the most potent chopper. The Myerco Machete/Axe combo is another good off the shelfer. The Ka-Bar Cutlass Machete is one amazing chopper due to it's excellent grip. grind away all the coating and fix the bevel on it and it would be my second choice for off the shelfers.
2) I did design a 'custom' Mach~Axe with the help of Justin Gingrich (Ranger Knives). No2 of the series is on tour as part of a Pass-around that I started in Knifeforums.com.
No1 is also a decent pry-bar as well as being a somewhat heavy Machete/Axe combo. The real star however, turned out to be effort No3 (picture4). This takes a lot of cues from the classic Parang design and with some attention to geometry, goes beyond most parangs to make it an unbeatable all- around short Machete.The key is the way that the blade drops to below the knuckles- as do most Kitchen cleavers. I took this No3 out for a test last week and it did what it was suppposed to- cleared vines, harvested 1.5" diameter saplings and chopped and split like there was no tomorrow.
As many know by know, I insist on testing these blades on the kitchen chopping block as well. No3 butchers very nicely indeed, just cutting through bones as though they were butter. Pictures make them appear larger, heavier and less wieldy than they really are. If hard pressed to choose between the Valiantco Parang Bandol and my No3 Mach~Axe, I'd take the No3 Mach~Axe for it's versatility! The least impressive product was the Myerco Combo Machete/Axe. That grip it has- has got to go!
So here's the link.
http://www.imagometrics.com/GoBags/Machetes.htm
If you visit Knifeforums.com search under Mach~Axe for more details.
Happy Chopping!
 
jca21 said:
i own an outcast and here is what im gonna say.

its a decent knife for what i paid for but it needed some modifications.

the handle is the first thing you should consider working. it was kinda small for me and felt like it was slipping outta my hand when i was chopping. paracord wrap on the handle solved that issue.

next the factory edge on it does not bite to well. reprofiling and convexing the edge is what i'd suggest.

i have also removed the black finish off of my D2 outcast and given it a polish.

a buddy of mine recently got a D2 outcast and was jealous that mine could chop better then his :D

i've even used the outcast as a prybar to pry off long sections of ceder to use as planks on shelter roofs.

so keep in mind you may need to modify it a bit to make it "your" knife :D

cheers
Click to expand...

Any chance you could post some pics?
 
I just discovered Blackjack knives and surfed on the Black Panga. Looks like quite a tool for $69. Anybody have knowledge on this one?
 
It does look cool and like quite a fighter /stabber. Is that what you're looking for? The give-away is the grip geometry. A chopper has to 'hold on' to your pinkie on the wind-up without a 'stop' or 'hook' at the butt of the grip, you not only have to expend too much effort 'keeping the grip' you may loose it altogether- ouch!
That's the first feature I look for- "how the grip holds your pinkie on the windup"
 
talon, you have to show me that 10inch D2 Hartsfield chopper someday....we'll go thrash some bamboo thickets. you bring the Hartsfield, I'll bring the native blade....
 
I would buy the black panga, send it to Bill Siegle for some mods (shorten it and sharpen it up) and ask him to make a kydex sheath for it. That's if Bill still takes mod commissions.
 
foxyrick said:
Never mind a custom machete, just find one of these:

favtwo01.jpg


Al Mar Pathfind. 14" blade (near enough), stainless, razor sharp on both edges. Has cut a few trees down in its time and cleared campsites in very bushy areas.

Rick.
Click to expand...

I agree with you by the way there called a kukiri I got my kukuri in nupal for $30 it the proper jungle knife the nepal army use.
 
Valiant.co machetes makes machetes are capable, razor sharp, have a nice finish (engravings, sculpture, nice wooden shealth), are hand made, and cost less than many production folders.

No need to look further.
 
foxyrick said:
Never mind a custom machete, just find one of these:

favtwo01.jpg


Al Mar Pathfind. 14" blade (near enough), stainless, razor sharp on both edges. Has cut a few trees down in its time and cleared campsites in very bushy areas.

Rick.
Click to expand...


Totally off-topic, and I hope I don't incur a hijack citation, but just what is that item in the extreme lower right hand corner? A striker of some sort?
(Excellent kit, by the way.)
 
Did someone say "custom machete?" How about a handle modification and a convex edge courtesy of Scott Gossman?

Machetemodificationbygossman.jpg
 
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