How many use a machete...

G

GEC

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May 8, 2007
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How many of you guys use a machete for camping, hiking, or even around the yard as a primary chopper? I recently gravitated away from a small hatchet during the summer to a machete and folding saw. Add my LM wave and I have a decent combo for most of my needs.
My 12" and 14" tram has seen some serious work around the campsite going from splitting wood to digging a fire pit. I even used it as a spatula once or twice. Tough as nails! At one point I though the handle was going to snap off when I was batoning for fire prep.
I also have a USGI 18" I've had for years but, it was always to heavy for long periods of use. It has also seen some mild use around the campsite and heavy use cutting shrub and their roots.
As for hiking I just throw it in my pack or on my belt. It depends where I'm going whether or not that people think I'm some kind of machete wielding freak. Sheeple seem to get a little nervous around people with a machete.
I recently just got a 14" tram bolo but I haven't had the chance to use except around the yard. Does anybody have any experience with it?
 
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I have a couple of 18" machetes by Ontario and Tramontina and a 12" by Ontario.

But the ones I tend to use most are my Martindale Golok (#2) followed by a Valiantco Survival Golok (L).

These are great for maintaining my property which is primarily woods with a lot of brushy growth and vines. Not bad for clearing weeds either.
 
I use a Blackjack Panga for most tree trimming around my house. Mostly it's used on suckers that pop off the Box Elder trees. I like it's cause it's light and easy to swing all day. I have a CS barong machete i got recently. It makes a good beater and works great for the price....although the factory edge sucks.

For chopping around the house I'll use a variety of khukuris.

Generally I don't have the need for a machete while camping. I'll bring a Himalayan Imports AK bowie which serves as both knife and axe.
 
For years I have used a Case XX fixed blade machete from WW2. I have used it mainly for clearing shooting lanes for deer hunting. I has also chopped up a few squirrels and notched deer bones to break. I have a couple that cost about $50, but now, new condition ones go for three times that on ebay. It is fairly short at 10-12 inches but cuts hardwood very well. I have a number of comtemporary Ontario machetes and they either don't cut as well or are much heavier for the same performance. I plan to send my 12" Ontario to a well know forum member to have the Cohane modifications made. I won't mention his name because I don't want too many people to jump in line ahead of me.
 
One of my most used knives is a Cold Steel mini-kukri (since discontinued).

It was a 'second' (has a small notch in the spine) so I got it at a good price. Hell, I wish I'd bought two. We have a lot of growth here in summer and this is the blade I use to chop it back.

The kraton handle with its flared base is ideal for lots of swinging.

Definitely one of CS's better products, its a real pity they stopped making it.

EDC002.jpg
 
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At the suvival course I attended at the W.L.C. a machete was used countless times. It handles hardwood quite well so I am sold on them now. I sent a 12 Tram to Siguy to get all hooked up, I will post pics when I get it back.
 
I grew up swinging a 20" machete (i think it was a Martindale). As a kid it was a sword and i played pirate lots, then i was a jungle soldier or headhunter running thru the jungle (aka the forest...) good times good times!

now i use a 20" Martindale for brush clearing, etc although my Kabar Khukuri sees WAY more field time .
 
The machete has long replaced the large sheath knife in my outdoor use. A sak and a 12 inch machete from Ontario or Tramontina covers most of what I have to do. if one other tool gets carried, its Fiskars sliding blade saw. I love those things.
 
No need in my area. No underbrush.
When I was a kid though, I used one for clearing up the weeds, and vines in our backyard. I never liked it though as it hurt my hands, but it was just a surplus store cheapie.
 
16" Tramontina for clearing around the house,Tramontina shorten to 13" or 12" Ontario in the woods.Those are my main users.
 
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Yeah bro I use the 12" Ontario machete for splitting wood, rearranging coals in the fire, used it to dig, and as a shovel to cover up the fire, very versitile in my opinion. I like the price and functionality of this tool for camping. I mostly do the car camping thing wih the wife and kids but we still get pretty far away from people so I usually don't carry it on my pack. I've often thought about purchasing the cold steel or tram bolo type machete. I tell you I seen this bolo type machete at the sportsman's store I go to and it was a Condor Machete Bolo type and it looked and felt pretty good!
 
A 22" Ontario Heavy Duty most of the time around the yard for chopping branches, saplings, etc. This morning I was out cleaning up after Gustav (and getting ready for Ike) and used my Cold Steel Kukri Machete and a Kershaw Folding saw. Lots and lots of pecan branches to break down and pile up and they both worked great. The Ontario is a better chopper by far than the Kukri (IMHO), but requires more room to use it effectively.
 
If I use a 'chete, it's a 22? inch Tramontina I picked up on the side of the road. It's light and I slapped some inner tube custom grips on it to make it easier on the hands. With as many times as I have been waaaay too close to rattlesnakes down here I prefer having the extra inches of distance...
 
You betcha I do. I never thought I needed one til I got one. Unbelievably handy and purposeful.
 
Blues said:
I have a couple of 18" machetes by Ontario and Tramontina and a 12" by Ontario.

But the ones I tend to use most are my Martindale Golok (#2) followed by a Valiantco Survival Golok (L).

These are great for maintaining my property which is primarily woods with a lot of brushy growth and vines. Not bad for clearing weeds either.
Click to expand...

That Martindale Golok #2 is just about the most underrated blades in WSS. I have one and find that it's an extremely versatile tool for everything from clearing brush to light chopping. For more specialized chores I pick a more specialized blade, but you can't beat a Golok #2 for multi-use applications. The Valiant Goloks and Parangs do a fine job on heavier tasks.
 
#2 Golok is handy here. It's compact and can take on stuff a bit more woody than a traditional thin soft veg cutter machete. It'll get carried less as I move into winter save for on light trips. When I'll need to properly hit a bit of wood hard the 2lb winter ax will take the place of it. The #2 is my favorite all round chopper when there is just me. I only need to warm me, not a village, and I find the blade length handy for other things. Still, it's only a big knife, and it is way out its depth for putting the power in compared to the ax.
 
i use them, but for most chopping task i prefer a hatchet. so the machetes are , for me, mainly brush clearers.
 
I use machetes (an 18" CS Latin at this time) a lot for clearing brush, and cutting trail on my property.
 
Here is my Cold Steel Kukri (13" blade) shown here being carried by one of my colleagues in Tanzania, I've been carrying this for a while but never really put it through any "hard-use" until recently

shayo_kukri_lowres.jpg


My colleague liked it so much I gave it to him before leaving.

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It was mostly used for cutting survey lines in thick bush and bamboo (as pictured above) and it fared well. I just have to remember to replace it now before I head into the field again.

I would recommend this to anyone looking for a reasonably priced durable machete that is both easy to swing and comfortable to hold (the grips are kraton).

This particular CS Kukri is marked as "Carbon V" blade steel, does anyone know if CS still makes this Kukri of Carbon V? if so where is the best place to get one? I can't remember where I bought this one.
 
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