Help choosing a machete

FortyTwoBlades said:
Don't worry about Condor's stainless. I beat the tar out of mine and it holds up just fine. They're one of the only stainless machete producers I trust. Remember that "stainless steel" is a class of steel defined only by its corrosion resistance. Thus there are many stainless steels that are also suitable for high-impact usage providing the right heat treatment is used. There are also many stainless steels totally unsuited for the task. 420HC (what Condor uses) is one of the better stainless steels for making a thin long blade subjected to heavy impact. And I find it holds an edge about as well as their standard 1075.
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Good to know. Thanks. Folks...this guy really knows the machete business. Listen to him!

I wish my dad were still around to see this stuff. He was a connoisseur of machetes (or considered himself as one). He served in the Navy with a bunch of old-time Marines (he was a 17 year old kid who signed up)...China Marines, old "banana war" Marines, and Guadalcanal Marines and I think he picked up the love of them from those old school guys who'd spent some time in real jungles.
 
Ok my next question is the pack ability of the Viking. It's 26 inches and weighs 2.17 pounds. The Condor Kukri is a total of 18 1/2 inches and 1.21 pounds. The 18 inch Ontario is 23 1/4 inches and weighs 1.5 pounds. The Ontario Kukri is a total of 16 3/4 inches and 1.5 pounds. How will the extra weight and length pack?
 
There is a blade called a Condor Pack Golok if that strikes your fancy. Is is the smaller more carry friendly version of the Condor Golok, which is a much thicker style of knife.
The best machetes for cutting things are not the best for carrying around, so you have to find your comfortable compromise between good for working and good for carrying.
 
It carries fine on the hip as long as you have a halfway decent belt. It won't really fit in a pack, but would strap to the outside of one well. I find, however, that it's in my hand more often than it's in the sheath. I made myself a nylon Sam Browne-style cross belt for carrying my heavier models and it works very well for distributing the weight between the left hip and right shoulder.
 
The Jungle Machete is a great piece of work. They really knocked it out of the park with that one. :)
 
My all time favorite machete, at least currently, is one I found in an antique/thrift shop. It is, or at least I think it is, a replica made by ontario of a WWII machete of sorts. It is one of the thicker machetes I have seen, so it makes a really really good chopper.

it is a US 1943 S.W.I.

the sheath attaches to military surplus belts (which I have one) and works very well and carries easily with that set up.

here is a picture

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I have the Condor Golok, and have found it wanting. The blade is crazy thick - 1/4", and the bevel is very short and steep. When I have some free time (guffaw, snort...) I'd like to thin down the bevel quite a bit. The handle took quite a bit of slimming and reshaping - and I have big hand. It comes in a cylindrical cross section and is giant. An hour with a coarse file and sandpaper fixed that, and left a nice ball pommel on the end. That said, you get a whole lot of blade and a decent sheath for not a lot of money.

I also have a few Imasca machetes: these are much more of a working tool. I have both an 18" Pata de Cuche, and a 24". Both have their uses: the shorter blade is more useful in tighter brush, and is a bit lighter. The longer blade hits harder and bites deeper. They both came with unfinished edges and no sheath. I didn't spend more than $10 on either of them, but wouldn't give them up without a fight.
 
Faiaoga said:
:cool: Two companies have information and a wide selection:

Machete Specialists have many different models of machetes and sheaths. They also have a website with some very informative articles.

Baryonyx Knife Company (owned by FortyTwo Blades) has a wide selection. I understand they offer a premium grade of some basic inexpensive machetes for only a modest increase in price. You could purchase one of the less expensive models and have it properly sharpened by requesting the upgrade.

...
Faiaoga
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Wowza! :eek: Just checking out those two websites - Machete Specialists have an amazing :eagerness: inventory and the pricing seems ridiculous. You will pay as much for a low cost folder.... Looking to get my first machete and will probably order from them.
 
agile_1 said:
Wowza! :eek: Just checking out those two websites - Machete Specialists have an amazing :eagerness: inventory and the pricing seems ridiculous. You will pay as much for a low cost folder.... Looking to get my first machete and will probably order from them.
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Cam at Machete Specialist is a great guy. :)
 
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