Good Beater Machete?

I just got my marbles machetes today, and they're awesome.
They came nice and sharp, and the only work they need is some sanding on the handles.
I don't know how the handles on the tramontina are, but I'm sure they have varnish to remove.
Even if the handles are more finished, I'd rather have a handle to sand versus a blade to sharpen.
The sheaths are very nice and definitely worth the price of the machete itself.

If you don't take bluearkflash up on his offer I'd definitely get a marbles workhorse machete.
 
Tramontinas need a little sanding to flush the scales with the tang, but the finish and quality of the wood is generally better than that of the Imacasa/Marbles machetes, but the Imacasas have better blades due to their distal taper in most models.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
Tramontinas need a little sanding to flush the scales with the tang, but the finish and quality of the wood is generally better than that of the Imacasa/Marbles machetes, but the Imacasas have better blades due to their distal taper in most models.
Click to expand...

The scales on my Marbles machetes are a bit oversized as well, but I knew that they were going to be a no frills working tool so I don't mind doing a bit of sanding and shaping to get them where I want.
I did notice the slight distal taper, and thought it was a nice touch.
 
Modoc ED said:
I was in a Walmart store about 16-years ago and they had $3.98 machetes on sale for $1.98. I bought two. One lives in my truck the other in my wood shed or on my tractor. Both have been great and both get used regularly. They sharpen easily. I thought they'd bend, crack,or just plain break but no, they're doing just fine.-
Click to expand...

Well, I dunno about 16 years ago, but the cheap machete they sell now sucks. After putting an edge on the one I tried, I just took a light test swing against a piece of cardboard. And the handle completely split in two, and the edge rolled. I repeat, a light swing at a chunk of cardboard broke the handle and rolled the edge.
 
There is an old Collins Legitimus in my tool shed which has been in service for longer than I can remember. It is bolo style piece that has a well tempered blade. If you were lucky enough to find one like that, I'd gladly tip my hat to you. Of course, many here have suggested getting the lowly Tramontina. These are great tools, but I'd select an 18 inch Ontario first.

My weathered Collins machete has wooden slab handles which I have sanded down to prevent any pinching. I believe this tool would serve you well as a 'beater'. My vintage machetes sport buffalo handles, which may be prone to splitting due to age and severe use. I have long since retired them!
 
I would choose one that has wooden handles so you can sand it down for a better fit (more easily). I used a electric hand sander and it worked very well. I was a bit nervous about doing this at the time, so I did it in stages to eventually get it where I wanted it. Stained the handle afterwards. This was a Condor discontinued Puerto Rican model which had real blocky handles from the factory and it gets used a fair amount since it's in my work vehicle and always available.
 
Bluearcflash said:
I have an 18" Tram that I can send you if you'd like. I bought it and a shorter bolo style and much prefer the bolo. It has a semi-convex edge because I ran out of sand paper but its still better than the factory edge was. I used it one time and the edge has some patina. I'll let you have it for the one time price of $Free.99. As you stated you are a minor, it would be nice if you okayed it with your parents first. Tell me what you think.
Click to expand...

I'd really appreciate that. I'm sorry for responding late, I just checked with my dad and he says ok as long as I'm responsible with it.
 
Awesome 👍
Now you can take the money you would've spent on a machete and either but a plastic scabbard at the army surplus store, or buy an oak board and you and your dad can build a wooden one.
 
Hickory n steel said:
Awesome 👍
Now you can take the money you would've spent on a machete and either but a plastic scabbard at the army surplus store, or buy an oak board and you and your dad can build a wooden one.
Click to expand...

Or save it and get a Condor machete when you get a chance. Definitely more expensive, but well worth the price
 
I love the CS kukri machete. Can definitely take abuse.
Q5FED0t.jpg
[/IMG]
 
I haven't used them hardly at all, but I'm impressed so far with a couple Imacasa 14" "pata de cuche" pattern. Got them for $15. a pair, delivered. Now they are more like $10 delivered.

Also just got a 14" and an 18" Marbles of the same pattern, with Marbles sheaths at a crazy low price, about $15. each delivered in 2 days. Supposedly made by Imacasa (or at least in El Salvador), slightly thicker and with infinitely better factory grind on them.

I'd like to thank Blade Forums and the knowledgeable members here for helping feed my machete addiction. I already have dozens upon dozens of hand-forged choppers and pig-stickers I acquired in Thailand. I figured I needed a few wimpy, light-weigh blades that make a swooshing sound when you swing them. :)
 
USMCPOP said:
I haven't used them hardly at all, but I'm impressed so far with a couple Imacasa 14" "pata de cuche" pattern. Got them for $15. a pair, delivered. Now they are more like $10 delivered.

Also just got a 14" and an 18" Marbles of the same pattern, with Marbles sheaths at a crazy low price, about $15. each delivered in 2 days. Supposedly made by Imacasa (or at least in El Salvador), slightly thicker and with infinitely better factory grind on them.

I'd like to thank Blade Forums and the knowledgeable members here for helping feed my machete addiction. I already have dozens upon dozens of hand-forged choppers and pig-stickers I acquired in Thailand. I figured I needed a few wimpy, light-weigh blades that make a swooshing sound when you swing them. :)
Click to expand...
I bought the same 2 marbles machetes and love them.
I've been using the crap out of my 18"er since I got it and I absolutely love it.
I chop into the ground a lot hitting rocks ...ect and inadvertently hit wire and stuff in the bamboo on the side of my house ,all the dings I get in the Steel are easy to file and stone out in no time at all. I would use the included stone to keep a razor edge on this thing if I was using it on the trail or something, but for quick damage control during use around the yard it's perfect.
I keep the last few inches of the blade less sharp so it's more durable, and I've had zero issues with chipping. With all of the dings I've had to remove I've had very minimal loss of steel because unlike other either crappy or just harder machetes you'd have real chipping and loss of steel.
One of my favorite things about this machete is how it sings when using it, the steel has such a nice ring to it and for some reason that makes yardwork into a pleasant activity.
 
Last edited:
The first picture is most of my hard use fixed blades, excluding my Ontario's. The second are my two CPM 3V slimline Machete's I have at the moment. Both are great, but the larger one has been the best. Able to take the most punishment. I am having the maker make me another with a standard sweeping edge. I use those more than any knife I have, they take punishment like champs!!!

IMG_0019.jpgIMG_0017.jpgIMG_0024.jpg
 
I'd go shopping at Baryonyx knives online. You will find what ya need there.
 
a Trexler Ranger, you in Trexler, PA? Near the Lehigh Valley Velodrome? Drove by there years ago on some business at a local electric company. I used to live/work in northwest NJ.

For Hickory n steel: I didn't like the black paint with white tiger stripes on the little Marbles 14". Put some oven cleaner on it, which took off the white stripes in a hurry. But the black paint - WOW! That is tough stuff. I used some JASCO paint stripper (with methylene chloride) and it was a fight all the way! I still have a black blade after about 4 applications of stripper, and I resorted to slathering it on and then scraping with a razor blade within a minute, like you would scrape off a sticker. TOUGH STUFF.

Interesting part is that I can now see what appears to be a medium-dark wheat straw color underneath. The temper color. Ah ha! No blue, purple or whatever. I doubt I'll get all the paint off without sanding, but it looks gnarly and cool now.
 
Awhile back, Harbor Freight had a sale on theirs. I think they were around $5 each. I picked up 8 of them. I have one stowed behind the seat of each truck, one in the back of the Jeep, and one by each BOB. That leaves one for yard work...and it's done a decent enough job handling that task.
 
USMCPOP said:
a Trexler Ranger, you in Trexler, PA? Near the Lehigh Valley Velodrome? Drove by there years ago on some business at a local electric company. I used to live/work in northwest NJ.

For Hickory n steel: I didn't like the black paint with white tiger stripes on the little Marbles 14". Put some oven cleaner on it, which took off the white stripes in a hurry. But the black paint - WOW! That is tough stuff. I used some JASCO paint stripper (with methylene chloride) and it was a fight all the way! I still have a black blade after about 4 applications of stripper, and I resorted to slathering it on and then scraping with a razor blade within a minute, like you would scrape off a sticker. TOUGH STUFF.

Interesting part is that I can now see what appears to be a medium-dark wheat straw color underneath. The temper color. Ah ha! No blue, purple or whatever. I doubt I'll get all the paint off without sanding, but it looks gnarly and cool now.
Click to expand...

OH, mine isn't their survival machete.
Mine is the 14" blade scouting machete with the orange coating which I like.
I got the scouting machete and standard 18" blade Latin machete which was falsely listed as a 24" workhorse machete, it is 24" oal but it didn't have the nicer handle shape like the one pictured.
I have since modified both handles.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1469432-My-improved-marbles-machete-handles
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top