Decent Cheap MachetE

S

Shann

Joined
Sep 2, 2004
Messages
5,250
Hi: I'm a newbie here. I'm just looking for a decent machete to toss in my pick up. I've looked through a lot of the forums here and see that the patrol machete gets good reviews, but its a little expensive for my purposes. I was at K-Mart and they have a Coleman for 8.99 and there is an Army-Navy surplus store down the road. However, since there is all this great information on the site, I figured I might as well try to get something of decent quality.

Also, how would I sharpen the machete.
 
All of us that were working surveying in the coastal plain area of North Carolina back in the late 80's used Ontario Knife machettes. If I were to replace mine (yes I still have it, still like it, and still use it occasionally) I would get the same thing only with a D shaped handle. Be sure to get a sheath of some kind, too.

To sharpen them we used steel files and sharpened them every morning and they stayed sharp for 8 hours of nearly constant use.

Hope this helps, you will probably get some other good suggestions too.

Chris
 
nice review, frank.


What's the intented use for the machette, Shann?
 
Probably not much, to tell the truth. A little brush chopping, something to keep in the truck and have when I go for a walk in the woods.
 
A machette isn't exactly belt-hangin' material.....:D.....why not try your hands at a "small" khukuri....say around 12-15" long....?

Can't cut grass with it, but sure does like to cut wood, food, etc. and makes for an easy belt/pack carry and if you're unlucky....for self-defense.
 
I've had good luck with Ontarios as well. Khuks are also nice, but unfortunately very addictive. :D I'm only half kidding.
 
Get the Ontario, I haven't used the D guard version but if these folks say that is the one then it probably is. The quality compared to the home depot or walmart variety is significant and I think they run around 18 bucks.

enjoy
Sam
 
Yeah, I'd vote to stay away from the Wally World version, they suck noodles in my opinion. Dull, poor heat treat etc.. Go with an Ontario, or if you can find one a Tramontina.

Lagarto
 
I'll second the suggestion on the Tramontina. A decent machete for the $6-7.99 I see them going for. I also like the Cold Steel machetes. CS imports them from South Africa. I suspect they are made by Okapi for CS. In the same price range as the Tramontinas and also quite decent at clearing this sub-tropical brush we have here in Fla. My wife and I use them with a monotanous regularity here and they are both valuable tools for us.
I actually think Mrs. misque likes the Tramontina better because I took some of the thickness off of the handle.

I haven't tried the Ontarios yet, but when I see one I will grab it because IIRC they are tempered a bit harder than the usual machetes.

STAY AWAY FROM THE COLEMAN MODEL, PLEASE! You'll thank everyone who told you this after you find some poor unfortunate who made the mistake of buying one.


All the best,
Mike U.
 
I also worked for a land surveying company where we used Ontario Machetes. We usually used the 12" model because its a tad easier to carry. I remeber one time when we were just screwing around me and another guy took out a cherry tree about 8-10" in diameter. It took about 20 minutes but it can be done. We also used files to keep them sharp. One thing though the D shaped handles can be a little rough on your hand, a lot of times on a hard impact the back of the D will crush your pinky finger, not a lot of fun. So personally I would choose one of the models without the D ring, Ontario makes them both ways.

Hope this helps.

Jamie
 
STAY AWAY FROM THE COLEMAN MODEL, PLEASE!

The coleman machete also seems to be marketed under a number of other brands. I think Home Depot carries them too. If you see one, get your hand out of your pocket and run away. These things are a joke. I once broke two of them within 5 minutes of starting a short hike. They simply bent into all kinds of odd shapes; I actually left one of them wrapped around a small branch.

But, keep an eye out for machetes made by Incolma, these are hard to find in the US; but they are usually inexpensive and very well made. The blade is only around 1/16-inch stock; but, it has a good temper, weighs nothing, and will last for many years.

n2s
 
I have three different Martindale machetes. They have different blades for different jobs. They are inexpensive and are good quality.
 
Thanks for the information. I'll stay away from the Coleman!!

If I was looking at machetes at an army navy store or at a table at a gun\knife show, is there a way to tell crap from something decent?

Oh, and despite looking for a "cheap" machete, I was searching around and found Laci Szabo's website where he sharpens 12" machete and provides a kydex sheath and with my Visa card looking me right in the eye I ordered it!

Unfortunately, it was the only thing on his website I could afford. That stuff looks pretty awesome though.
 
A thin/flat machete works best on materials that you can cut through with a single stroke; however, it tends to get wedged in thicker material. A knife with a more axe-like blade profile (thick and with a curving edge taper) works better on the thick material. My personal favorite thin machetes are the old Legitimus Collins models (they stopped US production in the 1960's). You can still find them at some surplus stores or flea markets. Tramontina, Ontario, and Cold Steel make very useable machetes. The blades on all of these are soft enough that I do my primary sharpening using a 12" mill bastard file. I finish the edge with whatever bench hone I have handy.

For heavier work I would look for a bolo machete or kukri design.
 
Just checked my old surveying machete that I liked so much, couldn't find a name but did notice it is 24 inches long. Buy a cheap machete that feels good, and is 24 inches long, and use a file to sharpen it , a machete is a comfortable whacking tool not a knife , at this length it becomes an unconscientionus motion. A short fancy tool 12inches etc., means you have to see and reach out and cut everything. A good machete is similer to a walking stick, it should be long and comfortable.
 
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