Ideal Machete, Pict, this is aimed at you really

T

Temper

Joined
Oct 30, 2002
Messages
3,011
Guys,
Since I got a fetish over Axes and Hatchets I am also feeling the need to add a machete to my collection. I am actually looking for the ideal spec as I am contemplating having it custom made. I know that I can get a Tramontina for $X but I dont want one for the same reasons that I dont wear a cheap watch even though it will tell the time as well as my Rolex.

So, I am thinking of about 3mm (1/8th Inch) 3V with a Micarta handle or possibly some natural wood that I would treat with Linseed oil. Can anyone suggest the style, length, stock thickness and weight that they have used to the best effect/used with the least effort?

I live in Japan, it can have some thick bush areas, but I am not ruling out a trip to the real jungle in the future, so, as the boy scouts say, 'Be Prepared'

Any comments based on first hand experience warmly received.
 
Temper,

Thanks for your confidence in my opinion but I'm probably not the best guy here to ask about custom knives and high grade steels. I appreciate such things as fine blades and fine watches but my reality is very firmly in the Tramontina/Timex realm.

I do not, and I mean ever, carry gear that I think is inferior or can't do the job just to cut costs. Is there better gear out there, or better blades than the ones I use? Certainly, but I can't afford them for myself let alone afford multiple copies of them to place in the hands of newbies.

I understand how a low cost Tramontina wouldn't inspire much pride of ownership. Here in Brazil they are viewed as everyday blue-collor tools of the trade and sell well because the cost is low. Machetes are lumped together in the same class as bush hooks and hoes here; consumable goods that are supposed to be used hard and worn down with repeated sharpening.

There are higher grade machetes on the Brazilian market but they are all mass production competition to Tramontina. Tramontina also makes a fancy line of machetes that are more for show than serious bush use. The Brazilians are far more inclined to spend big bucks on a custom or high-end production knife and leave the dirty work to a low cost machete.

My advice would be to gain some experience in your local bush with a few lower cost blades and seek the advice of people who live in the places you'd like to visit. Machete designs vary quite a bit the world over but the 18 inch Ontario and the 16 - 20 inch Tramontina are the jack-of all trades designs that have broad application. You can find such a blade in just about all of the major makers lines.

In woody bush a heavier blade works better IMO. If you're busting trail through fleshy green tropical bush a longer but lighter blade saves your arm. A longer blade also gives you a reach advantage and cuts a wider swath. They are also a pain in the rear to carry on a belt.

My personal favorites are the 14 inch Tramontina Bolo and the 14 - 16 inch standard model. I like the 14 inch bolo enough to want a custom kydex sheath for it.

I'm sure you'll get plenty of responses from people better qualified to answer your original question. Mac
 
Thanks for the reply :) I dont need to ask about materials, I am pretty much up to speed on them, only the style and sizes. I was thinking about the 18" Ontario style as well, so that may be the one I go for.

This isnt about snob factor or thinking I have a better tool. I know that the guy swinging it is more important than the material the blade is made from, I just like high end tools.

Here is another question that may throw a bit more light, what absolutely would you not recomend that advertises itself as a Bush Knife/machete?
 
I don't like the "D" guard machetes or sawbacks. Stick with clean lines and avoid gimmics. The plain-jane machete is a multi-function tool as is, cutting gut hooks and bottle openers into the blade is counterproductive.

Micarta handles are great provided they fit your particular grip. The handle of a machete is very important. The tool gets used for long hours busting trail. Clearing a campsite in dense thickets will give you a workout as well. The main problem I encounter from the lower cost machetes (that I swear by) is getting blisters. If I were to buy a custom machete I would want a handle that fit me well that wouldn't develop hotspots on my hand. On my Ontario I ground off a good bit of plastic to soften the impact and give it a rounder profile. On my Tramontinas I sand the wood smooth but otherwise leave it untreated.

A machete's sheath is real important too. On a custom machete I would expect a versatile kydex sheath with various ways to attach it to belt or pack. The sheath should also drain well and retain the blade without any straps or snaps as the machete is in and out of the sheath alot in actual use.

Leather sheaths look cool IMO but they are really bad in wet environments. Here in central Brazil we go from tropical downpours in rainy season to near desert conditions in the dry. A wet leather sheath is really hard on the blade. All of my loaner machete's are in various stages of ugly due to wet leather sheaths. "Ugly" in and of itself does not affect a machete's performance as long as you keep it sharp. Mac
 
Is that the reason for a wooden sheath, better water protection. It might also help float a knife is one ends up swimming, something to consider with big knives on a canoe trip.
 
It would have a full functioning Kydex sheath with adequate drainage. I would most likely GunKote the blade too as 3V is quite susceptible to pitting. Would you recomend a smooth finish for the Micarta and use a lanyard or a more non-slip/rougher finished handle?

Good thought on the floating sheath, I wonder if it is thrift, availability of materials or something else that makes them use it.
 
How well do you think the Becker Patrol Machete would hold up in your neck of the woods?
 
Temper,

Smooth handle with no texture. The worst blisters happen when your hands are wet. In tropical environments this is very often. A textured handle (IMO, YMMV) tears up my hand over extended use. That's why I like the plain wood handle of the Tramontina, sanded smooth with no treatment or varnish. You can grip the wood fine, even when wet but it doesn't tear at your hand.

Rick J,

I have never used the Becker Patrol Machete but it seems like a winner. I use a BK-7 alot here and like the steel and the handle.

What people don't realise from casual hacking is how much of a workout a machete can give you when you have to hack and hike at the same time. I try to choose my route so I can avoid it. I would rather walk three Km on a trail than hack a half Km in dense brush. Then you get to your campsite and have to clear brush for a half hour when your forearm is already ragged out. A heavy machete is great for chopping but is tough on the arm for travel.

There is a big difference in weight between the 18 inch Ontario and the 16 inch Tramontina. In light but dense vegetation, like head high grasses, you just want to launch the machete through it but let the brush stop the blade at the end of the swing. A heavy blade sails right through and you end up forcing the blade to stop at the end of the swing. That wears out muscles in your forearm that you will need at the end of the day.

Not all machetes are created equal and need to be selected based on the type of vegetation most likely to be encountered. Mac
 
i agree with the Ontario 18" machete. if you don't like it, modify by cutting the blade to 10" and you have a great camp knife. a great chopper still...
do you need a long machete? might look at the RTAK, much like a short machete.

dhawk
 
I dont actually need one at the moment, but you guys know how it is :D

I have held a RTAK and hated the handle, I looked at the Patrol Machete and liked it then read about failures, so the jury is still out on that.

The design I am looking at is really just to satisfy my wants rather than needs in all honesty, I still want it to be Kick ass though even if it doesnt see anywhere near enough work to justify the cost. :o

(Knife nerd, guilty as charged :cool: )
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top