inexpensive Machete?

U

UnknownVT

Joined
Feb 15, 2003
Messages
2,575
Advice and your thoughts please -
what's a worthwhile but inexpensive general purpose Machete?

Looking for one for typical general undergrowth/brush path clearance and cutting/chopping of small wood/branches.

Thanks,
 
can be had for $6 from SMKW. I've got the bolo. So far it's held up pretty well. Got gouged where I hit a piece of concrete with a fairly hard swing but that was user error, not the fault of the machete. One of these days I'll get a Martindale but for $6 you can't go wrong.

Frank
 
Chainsaw Bar - great knives. Tough stuff as you'd expect. Really holds an edge too:

chain.jpg


Steve
 
Many thanks guys for the responses - looks like

Tramontina for cheap

or

Martindale for quality at a bit more cost

Any thoughts and advice on optimum blade length and shape for a general purpose machete?

If length and size are individual -
how does one determine what would be the right length and shape, please?

Thanks.
 
I know Laci Szabo sells a reprofiled machete with a kydex sheath for around $35. Nothing fancy, but might be worth it for the 'custom' factor.
 
UnknownVT :

If length and size are individual -
how does one determine what would be the right length and shape, please?
Click to expand...

For length, you get it as long as you find workable as it reduces bending and stooping and the number of swings. This assumes you don't need it to do any knife like work, which limits the length to around 15" or so. Assuming you are somewhat average in height (close to 5'10"), then an 18" machete should handle most work fine and is about where I would start. For shape keep it simple, there are many specialized shapes a lot of the reason is to put the weight up front, or to develop a particular curvature for a specific style of cutting, when starting out you just get the traditional shape.

-Cliff
 
Originally posted by Cliff Stamp
<snip>This assumes you don't need it to do any knife like work, which limits the length to around 15" or so. Assuming you are somewhat average in height (close to 5'10"), then an 18" machete should handle most work fine and is about where I would start. For shape keep it simple, <snip> when starting out you just get the traditional shape.
Click to expand...

Thank you very much for the very sound advice, Cliff.

Yes, exactly, being a knife-knut, hopefully I have plenty of knives to use as knives :)

I was just going to buy the first reasonable looking cheap machete I saw since the ones I saw in places like Wal*Mart etc were cheap -
but I thought I'd ask here first...........

and I am very glad I did -

Thanks you so much everyone for your very informative input (and especially for the reference Links Don Luis) -
I learnt a lot.

Thanks.
 
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