Design the perfect machete.

[tholiver]

I thought Ethan Becker already did that.

Cool!
I bought one of those on fleabay a while back. The un-ground blade blank without-any-handle version.
Thats probably my next rehandling project, of course i need to actually belt-sander it first though.
So thats the original grind straight from the factory?

 

[Horn Dog]

Cool!
I bought one of those on fleabay a while back. The un-ground blade blank without-any-handle version.
Thats probably my next rehandling project, of course i need to actually belt-sander it first though.
So thats the original grind straight from the factory?

No, I'm sure I had sharpened it at least once by the time that pic was taken. I have been in search of the ultimate machete for some time. It may be a pointless search. The Becker is made of 0170-6C steel and is thicker than most machetes. The inexpensive Tramontinas with a good edge work quite well. The Condors with their polished convex edges in 420HC and polypropylene handles are darn near unbreakable. The Cold Steel machetes are also very rugged. It would be hard to build a machete any better than those.

 

[Myal]

I thought about this a lot , because it was making a machete that got me into knives to begin with

how are you going to transport it most , in a car , on your belt , slung across your back ?
what will you be using it on most ?
how long will you be using it at one go ?

these things combined dictate your length and weight .

and if its going to be a one knife does all jobs from axe to caping knife to kitchen knife and every other you will need to do on the camp site , or if its a machete ...

I began makig knives by turning out machetes out of leaf spring for my own use , then bought some in out of africa , now , Im buying them slowly from valiant co , who in turn sells them bashed out of leaf springs

my needs went froom cutting large amounts of bamboo like grass and cane , to clearing reeds and weeds and light twiggy stuff , to chopping heavier timber

your own personal preference will be THE deciding factor on what is the perfect machete tho , cos while it will be perfect for you , the next guy probly will want something radically different for his perfect tool ...

just my 2c

 

[Myal]

double post .... sorry bout that

 

[Horn Dog]

...your own personal preference will be THE deciding factor on what is the perfect machete tho , cos while it will be perfect for you , the next guy probly will want something radically different for his perfect tool ...

just my 2c

Exactly right, Myal. There can be no one perfect machete. I like a 12" Ontario camp machete for carry, but if I am clearing brush, I want my 22" Tramontina. For chopping woody roots and limbs, the CS Panga works best. My farorite all-around machete is the Tramontina 18" latin style. It is thin and light, easy carrying, but can chop wood well enough and clear a trail. It has to be the best $6.00 tool ever made.