I don't think there is a better blade for outdoor work than the Ontario Machete.

[kgriggs8]

I have tried many different outdoor large blades but the best one I have ever found is still my $13 Ontario U.S. Machete. I have the 18" blade. I have used this for about 20 solid years now and it has never bent or broken. I have had to shapen it many times but it seems to hold an edge for a decent amount of time and is easy to sharpen.

I have tried many other blades that all costs much more. I have tried a lot of the HI Kukris and NONE of them are even half as good at doing real work as the Ontario. I'm not sure what the HI Kukris are good at but the Ontario beats them at everything I have ever cut. I have tried camp knives like Ranger RD-9s and various other machetes but the 18" Ontario seems to be the best.

I have not tried the Bark River Golock but I am starting to lose faith that I will ever find a better blade. I think this is one of those rare cases when the first thing I bought was the best. I normally have to buy a bunch of something to find something that works but the Machete worked right away. I was just seeing if I could find something that would be even better. I looks like that is not going to happen.

 

[Cliff Stamp]

I'm not sure what the HI Kukris are good at ...

It depends on the model. The heavier ones like the Ang Khola's are made to cut thick woods. Machetes both tend to bind excessively on such woods and can have excessive vibration on the harder woods.

-Cliff

 

[BPrepared304]

I have a shorter Beavertail Ontario and really like it, but it does not have a sheath. Hoping soon to learn soon Kydex crafting and fix this problem.

 

[Bastid]

and it was necessary to bring up a 6 year old thread to post that.