Help me pick a tough fixed blade to keep in the truck

Surfingringo

Surfingringo

Joined
May 25, 2013
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Hey guys, I'm looking for a tough fixed blade to keep behind the seat in my truck. Its main job will be chopping the tops off of pipas (young coconuts) and any other random jobs I run across at the beach or on the road. I live in a rural area in the tropics and spend a lot of time outdoors so it's not unrealistic to assume it would see some hard use and abuse.

I am mostly a Spyderco fan and have some nice high end knives with fancy steels. In fixed blades I've got some customs with thin grinds but nothing that I would be comfortable using like what I'm talking about. I guess what I'm basically asking for is a small chopper. A short $15 machete from the hardware store would probably serve me fine but I don't want to waste the chance that discover a new knife. ;). So suggestions on something in a tough steel that would handle this kind of work would be appreciated. I would like to keep it fairly cheap since I'm not planning to baby this one. Let's say under $75 or so. Thanks
 
maybe something like a More Leuku or one of the Svord machetes. They're lightweight and utilitarian. Simple and inexpensive.
 
I would choose one of my Condor machetes. If most of the cutting is with soft vegetation, then the Condor El Salvador. If the cutting is more in the way of tree limbs or small trees, then a short heavier machete of your preference. I like the Condor Pack Golok and Village Parang. But they have other models that would accomplish the same thing.

Knives.... Kabar Becker BK-9, ESEE Junglas, or Condor Boomslang.
 
I keep a BK-7 and a Mora HD Companion in my truck (along with a small axe and bow saw) -- not much you can't do with those two.
 
Checked out all the suggestions so far. Condor Boomslang looks nice but it's a little bigger than what I was looking for. Mora Leuku looks good too but I don't see it for sale anywhere?
 
If you want something super nice, bombproof, versatile, and just awesome, I highly recommend the Busse SARGE 7...having read many of your posts and reviews, I think this is a design you'll really appreciate. Geometry that will work for many different jobs. And I think INFI is a perfect steel selection for your tropical location.

It may be a little nice to just leave in your truck (although you'll end up wanting to bring it every where with you anyway), but you'll be able to use it as hard as you dare and it'll keep coming back for more.
 
I'm thinking a heavy_ish cleaver of some sort would be the most appropriate tool. That or have something heavy nearby to thump the spine of your blade with. [video=youtube;IQigtWfGyJQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQigtWfGyJQ[/video]
 
In my truck I keep a Cold Steel Bowie Machete and also an Estwing 26 inch Camp Axe.

Both of those are fairly low priced and affordable with a 75 dollar budget.....The Estwing Axe could handle anything that the bowie machete can't handle.
 
Becker MF-ER. 2,7,9? I have some Benchmade fixed blades i could sell you but doubt you would take them and i woouldn't give them up either.:D Though Spyderco fan too. I have a BM 510 could sell for $55 if your interested?
 
sideways said:
I'm thinking a heavy_ish cleaver of some sort would be the most appropriate tool. That or have something heavy nearby to thump the spine of your blade with. [video=youtube;IQigtWfGyJQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQigtWfGyJQ[/video]
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Hehe. That would be nice if they fell out of the tree already peeled like you get em in the grocery store. That trick doesn't work so well with the husk on. ;). Btw, that is indeed a good way to open one once it's already peeled but she's doing that about ten times harder than she needs to. Just tap it lightly as you spin it around and it falls perfectly in half. Neat trick.
 
Looks like I also ignored the $75 price in my suggestion except for the Condor machetes. I just got the Condor El Salvador, so it is new to me and I love it. Previously when I want some stiffness and a bit of length I use a Condor Puerto Rican (discontinued); current version is the Swamp Master which is 16" vs the 14.5" on the Puerto Rican. That cutting edge on the top is handy as it grips vegetation and can be used for cutting too if needed.

I would recommend the Condor Golok, but I think a bit of weight will benefit you although the regular Golok is a great machete (14"). I use my Condor Pack Golok a lot for just occasional cutting that I need when I'm in my truck. I think the slightly longer blade than say the Kabar Becker BK-9 is beneficial. You really aren't limited on blade length carrying it in your truck.

The Condor Hudson Bay is cool, but I think it would be better if the handle was a bit thicker.
 
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The more I look at all the suggestions, the more I think I'm just going to head down to the local hardware and pick out a good machete. Lots of folks work with machetes down here so they have a big selection. And a lot of those being suggested (like condor) are made down here anyway I think.
 
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Surfingringo said:
The more I look at all the suggestions, the more I think I'm just going to head down to the local hardware and pick out a good machete.
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Hardware stores don't sell good machetes, they usually have some crappy Fiskars toy machete or a flimsy half tang junk machete.
 
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