I'm planning on getting a machete tomorrow and need some help picking

T

The Trout

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Jan 14, 2014
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hi guys im gonna go on a camping trip tomorrow and i wanted to get a machete for whatever outdoorsy tasks it could help with. i think im gonna be limited to something from cabelas, gander mountain, sports authority, or dicks sporting goods. here's what i found so far

http://www.gandermountain.com/search/machete

http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/sear...hete&x=0&y=0&WTz_l=Header;Search-All+Products

http://shop.sportsauthority.com/search?w=machete

http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=&kw=machete&origkw=machete&sr=1

so i dont really even know what sort of criteria i should be considering, so what are some things to consider? from what little i know of knives i saw that SOG had some offerings available at those stores, that's the name that i thought was most reputable compared to gerber and some others i didnt know. i also saw one from k-bar. based on what you guys can see there, what do you think is the right choice?
 
Too bad your in such a rush. Where do you live? Are there corn knives available locally?
 
I will make this very simple for you. If you want to spend LESS than $100, get something made by either Condor or Ontario. If you want to spend slightly OVER $100, get a Tops .230 machete. Pretty much everything in the links you posted is trash (IMO) except the Ontarios from Sports Authority

For more info on the latter, see my review of same. For more info on the former two, buy them both. They're cheap


.230 in the middle
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^ best effin deal i've seen all week. Find my thread and you'll learn how mine went from looking like it did new (in the pic above) to this


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It is now so sharp that it can split a hair, and it still slices paper smoothly after 4 hours of clearing trees and brush
 
Buy from baroynx. I have and will continue to even though some large river prices are less. The customer service is worth the price and his personal inspection of each blade insures you do not receive a lemon. And somebody lightly thump this thread for deal spotting.
 
Tractor Supply Company or similar farm store and buy a Tramontina...paid $7 for mine many years ago - probably up to $10 now.

Best.
 
Since almost everyone is ignoring the "need it tomorrow" part, I actually looked at your links. If you have the opportunity to go to Sports Authority and/or Cabela's, they are the two I'd check. Spending $20 on an Ontario or even $40 on a Cold Steel will get you something appropriate. After watching reviews on the Camillus Carnivore, I won't go near them, and my Gerber Gator Jr. machete proved to be incapable of handling even the lightest duty reliably. Most of the SOGs are ridiculous designs, although I admittedly haven't used one of theirs. I own a Cold Steel Katana Machete and an Ontario SP8, and they are both beasts, and while those particular designs might not suit your needs, the construction of both is superb. I would trust their other products above the other brands you listed . . . especially Gerber.
 
Another recommendation for the TOPS .230, if you want a long, heavy machete, or the 0.170 if you want a lighter blade or don't know what you need.

The 0.170 has a better sheath (knife retention strap, molle attachments), better design (the 0.170 has a choil, for fine work, instead of a couple inches of unsharpened blade on the 0.230), and feels like it is several pounds lighter (not even close, but there's a significant weight difference).

I have both, and the 0.170 stays strapped to my 'pack, while the 0.230 stays home for yard chores.
 
If I essentially need to make a choice from available machetes in stores today, I would probably go with Kabar Cutlass Machete or one of the Cold Steel products that interests you. The choice depends on what you envision cutting. But for basic camping, I think the Cutlass will suit your needs and not doing a bunch of brush clearing. I have one of these. I have some Ontarios. Have handled the SOGs in stores.... SOG would be my next choice in line. I view Cold Steel and SOG as essentially equals. The saw edge is likely useless on any of these machetes (SOG or Ontario) for sawing firewood. Pick yourself up a folding saw from ACE or one of the home centers (Corona perhaps).
 
For a smaller model, the Kabar Cutlass works well. The blade is only 11" so it is compact, light and will do some clearing. If you need a full size model, I would probably get the Ontario.
I have used the Cutlass to clear weeds and smaller (less than 1" dia) pines in the back yard. Frankly, the edge held up better than the edge on the much more expensive Parangatang. I think that the edge on the expensive model is too thin and fine. I will probably resharpening before I use it again.
For a chopper, a real Hi Kukri works great. A small axe is handy, but intended use should determine what you get.
A heavier blade is probably better for chopping wood, a longer, lighter blade is better for clearing weeds and grass. Do you want. Something the length of a short sword with an 18" blade, or a smaller, easier to carry model?
 
Out of the options there, the Kabar, Cold Steel, or Ontario are your best bets...both the Cold Steel and Ontario WILL need some work done to render them even slightly useable though.
 
If you really must buy from one of those sources and they actually have the items online in store, go with either the Ontario or Cold Steel models. The rest is garbage. Even with those two manufacturers, buy a good file at the local hardware store because you'll have your work cut out for ya'. :)
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
If you really must buy from one of those sources and they actually have the items online in store, go with either the Ontario or Cold Steel models. The rest is garbage.
Click to expand...

I've used the Kabar Cutlass, it's definitely NOT garbage. Obviously the size DOES limit it a bit but it's still a very nice model. Heard good things about the Kabar Kukri and Parangatang too, though I don't have personal experience with them.
 
I agree. The Kabar Cutlass machete is not garbage. It is more of a big knife than a machete.
 
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