I need a 'round the yard machete

Xringshooter said:
I am still a bit new here (the forum) but I just ordered a Himalayan Imports Khukuri (the 15 inch Ang Khola) and it looks like just what the doctor ordered for doing things like you want to do around the property.
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That's way too heavy for green wood and overhead chopping. Something longer, thinner and whippier would work better in the OP's situation.

You'd get a lot of hand fatigue using a khuk in this situation. Personally, it may even be dangerous to be chopping overhead with one for long stretches.
 
CWL said:
That's way too heavy for green wood and overhead chopping. Something longer, thinner and whippier would work better in the OP's situation.

You'd get a lot of hand fatigue using a khuk in this situation. Personally, it may even be dangerous to be chopping overhead with one for long stretches.
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I have to agree. I have a 15" Ang Khola from HI and it's a great chopper for certain jobs, like chopping up firewood at the campsite. But it's far too heavy for general yardwork, IMO. If you're dealing with light brush and grasses, the light machete will swing faster and won't wear you out nearly as fast as a Khukhri.
 
Wally world machete.. seen one break first swing into a 2" sapling. Glad I didn't waste my own money on it...

Kukri is a good blade, but not for machete work. Too thick for that type of work.
 
I absolutely disagree with the suggestion of using the Wal*Mart machete. Biggest waste of money EVER in my opinon. For the same money you can get yourself a stock Tramontina that is vastly superior in quality, even if it needs a little elbow grease out of the box. For not a lot more you can get one that's brought up to par and the performance is easily ten times that of the Wal*Mart one. That particular machete has done more to turn people off to the tool than any other machete on the market. Stories of the blades bending into S shapes from striking light brush abound.

If the Wal*Mart machete works for you that's all well and good and I mean no disrespect, but I find them downright repulsive--especially when you can get true long-lasting quality for so little extra.
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You got me all wrong with this . I DON'T shop Walmart AT ALL . What I meant was not that a Walmart machete was the one to get , but rather that just an inexpensive one from "whatever" store should do around the yard . If you want something that can REALLY take , buy a Busse Battle Misstres ! But at around $750 it's probably a little overkill for around the yard .


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HOLD MY BEER AND WATCH THIS !
 
Mike-The-Knife said:
You got me all wrong with this . I DON'T shop Walmart AT ALL . What I meant was not that a Walmart machete was the one to get , but rather that just an inexpensive one from "whatever" store should do around the yard . If you want something that can REALLY take , buy a Busse Battle Misstres ! But at around $750 it's probably a little overkill for around the yard .
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A Battle Mistress wouldn't be a good choice in this case either. Not even the Bushwhacker Mistress. Too short, too thick, too heavy. Thanks for the clarification, though, as you did reference a specific model--albeit inadvertently. :)
 
I've had very different experiences with cheapo harbor freight type machetes. I got a few chinese made cheapies to do stuff I knew would dent and chip the edges. The few that most people call garbage have handled everything I've given them and are still going. They even hold an edge okay. Not the best, but good enough. Maybe I got lucky?

That said for the low cost of a good quality tram there truly is no reason to not spend the 10-15 bucks on a tram and call it a done deal.
 
Martindale is good stuff so long as you've got the means to put an edge on them and flush the scales to the tang. My only other complaint with them is they have the tendency to have a slight warp to them from heat treatment but some firm bending in a vice fixes that. Excellent steel on them, and the beech handles are gorgeous. They also bear the high distinction of being the single best machete maker at tapering their models. Imacasa is the only other company I know of that knows how to taper a machete right (and I fine job they do!) but Martindale really does it NICE.
 
Check out the Ka-Bar Grass Machete as well. It's only a 14" blade, but it's a mean chopper.
 
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