Favorite brands for outdoor tools?

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mrszeontestpilot

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My husband was at the store today, and almost picked up a no-name machete... He said there weren't many options, but I thought it would be better to wait than buy some cheap piece of junk that's going to end up broken pretty quick. This got me thinking... What are some of your favorite brands for things like machetes, axes, hatchets, etc? I'm currently looking into Condor Tool & Knife, but curious if there are any others worth looking into. Nothing expensive, just efficient and durable.
 
Tramontina is my favorite brand for machetes. They make a darn good product and while they are cheap, they are definitely not junk. At a few bucks a piece he can pick out a couple different ones and find which one works best for his purposes. My personal favorite is the 14" bolo model.
 
My favorite general purpose machete is the Condor El Salvador with the wood handle. Tramontina's are generally good machetes.

On axes and hatchets..... it depends on how much you are likely to use them. I would not get a Condor hatchet or axe based on what I have read. But they may have improved on them in the last year or so. Gransfor Bruks and Wetterlings are probably the top two manufacturers. For a general purpose hatchet you are not likely to carry far in the woods, I am pretty comfortable with the Estwing.
 
Imacasa and Tramontina are cheap because they are project machetes. They are sold to people who expect to put their own edge, to their own standards, on the blade. Both are great, inexpensive tools. But if you don’t do sharpening, look elsewhere.

Condor is a Central American machete built to North American standards. Somewhat more expensive because they come with better fit and finish, and usable edges.

Edit: If you buy an Imacasa or Tramontin from this BF member http://www.baryonyxknife.com/, he's sharpen it up and smooth the grips for a few dollars more. It's still a bargain for a great tool.
 
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The axe I've had longest and used most is a Wetterlings. Got a nice W.Gilpin axe from ScruffUK the last time I saw him, re-hafted and very nicely cleaned up :)
 
Machetes----Ontario, but Tramontina will also serve. Moore Maker has a machete that appears to be made by Ontario.

Axes---Council, made in the USA. The axes that have the brand Collins or Truper on them and are made in Mexico are acceptable.

Hatchets--Eastwing. Here again, the Collins and Truper hatchets made in Mexico are acceptable.
 
Cold Steel "heavy" machete and magnum kukri machete. (you'll need to clean up the edge, not a big deal, 5 or so pulls through the Gatco medium/fine sharpener is all it took on mine) I think they have 1055 carbon steel blades.
Eswing, True Temper, or Condor axe/hatchet.
 
Estwing makes a mighty fine hand axe- carried mine on many a camp trip and hike through the years. I'd trust that little guy anywhere, and it's done a lot of work for its size. Think of it as the Peanut of axes- punches way above its weight.

For a larger axe- for felling or heavier wood work- I cleaned up a rusted and beat old Plumb axe head I got for $10 at a flea market. Tramontina and Condor make very nice machetes.
 
Sword and Shield said:
Estwing makes a mighty fine hand axe- carried mine on many a camp trip and hike through the years. I'd trust that little guy anywhere, and it's done a lot of work for its size. Think of it as the Peanut of axes- punches way above its weight.

For a larger axe- for felling or heavier wood work- I cleaned up a rusted and beat old Plumb axe head I got for $10 at a flea market. Tramontina and Condor make very nice machetes.
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I agree Estwing is a great tool, I liked the hatchet so much I bought the larger one use them almost daily in spring, summer, and fall




Pete
 
I like::
- Estwing for current production axes and hatchets,
- Ontario, Tramontina and Condor for machetes
- Becker for outdoor/camping knives
 
Raymond1000 said:
Imacasa and Tramontina are cheap because they are project machetes. They are sold to people who expect to put their own edge, to their own standards, on the blade. Both are great, inexpensive tools. But if you don’t do sharpening, look elsewhere.

Condor is a Central American machete built to North American standards. Somewhat more expensive because they come with better fit and finish, and usable edges.

Edit: If you buy an Imacasa or Tramontin from this BF member http://www.baryonyxknife.com/, he's sharpen it up and smooth the grips for a few dollars more. It's still a bargain for a great tool.
Click to expand...


Good point Raymond. I enjoy little projects like redoing the handles and cleaning up the edges but others may not. Since we all love pics these are my handles. On the left is the re-shaped handle on the 18" Tram. On the right is the refinished handle on the 14. I put about 10 coats of BLO and sand progressively up to around 2000 grit for a silky but still grippy handle. The 18 handle is blocky and uncomfortable as shipped so I made it more like the 14" which is butter.

The edges were good but many people complain about the tips - which are left blunted on the Tramontinas. I don't mind as it adds a level of safety, can stick it in the dirt with no worries and it is not a crucial part of the blade for what I use if for (trail making).

View attachment 540470
 
Spam,

You make a good "point" about the lack of "points" on their machetes. A machete, for their usual uses, don't need to be real pointy. When I resharpen a machete, I don't even bother with sharpening the last inch or so of the blade, much less the tip. There are a lot of better "pointy" tools than machetes for pointy jobs.
 
Personally, I prefer the Condor Golok over every other machete I've tried. The blade is a bit thicker than a standard machete so it makes for a heavier chopper. The ball on the butt of the handle really helps to keep it from flying out of your hand as you start to get tired. Of all my large chopping blades, this one is hands down the best. One thing that sets Condor apart is that they make really nice sheaths that actually come with the machete. For me, the sheath makes or breaks any fixed blade because I won't be taking it anywhere if it doesn't have a decent one.

 
Spameater12003 said:
Machete = Tramontina. Should be able to get one for well under $20. Just a great tool.
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This all day long. They make a great Machete. Made in Brazil and intended to be a working tool.... you'd think that a Machete company in Brazil, might know a thing about Machetes..... and they do.
 
Machete - I have a Condor Golok. It is a real work horse and I can work a long time with it. Light weight and well balanced.
Small Axe - Granfors Bruk. pretty much the same can be said for it as the Condor.
 
henryhide said:
Machetes----Ontario, but Tramontina will also serve. Moore Maker has a machete that appears to be made by Ontario.

Axes---Council, made in the USA. The axes that have the brand Collins or Truper on them and are made in Mexico are acceptable.

Hatchets--Eastwing. Here again, the Collins and Truper hatchets made in Mexico are acceptable.
Click to expand...

Eastwing= Estwing. Sorry.
 
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