Is the Machete getting more popular?

Use it trimming brush in the yard. Tried it in the field, got sick of repairing the edge.

Too thin for most wood, beats it up. If I need to chop something larger than my wrist I use an axe or saw. Most of North America was conquered with an axe and or knife.

If I move to the tropics it will be at home. Till then its a toy.

Right tool for the job.

Skam

Exactly how I feel. Convexing will not always help. I've convexed alot of them. Some hold up some don't. The steel is just too soft to work it hard. They were designed, HTed and tempered for light soft vegetation. IMO, jungle tool it is, hardwood timber it ain't.
Scott
 
Couldn't agree more:thumbup:

IMO machetes are awesome tools, but as with all other knives they are are more useful in some enivronments than in others. Its no coincidence that America was 'conquered' by people using axes, whilst in South America and Africa machetes were used and are still far more popular than axes to this day.

Broadly speaking I'd agree, but then we also must consider the objectives of a person at a given location. That “conquering” thing was a scale well outside anything I'd be doing. Frankly, unless it is an area of truly remote wilderness in which case a big phat ax rules I have my reservations about much of the cross grain hardwood chopping going on. It is certainly seldom relevant to me here and from what I've seen on this forum there isn't much of a need for it there either for most people. In those rare instances when it comes up for me the bow saw is usually first in. Done like that the playing field is a very different for the machete, ax, hatchet, big knife thing to play out on.
 
Is it just in my twisted MacHete loving head, or is MacHete starting to get more popular ....
(Quote edited by MacHete- duh!)

Stop it Joe- you're embarrassing me! :o Funny though, I don't feel any more popular. :confused: :p ;)

Machetes have (obviously) always been popular with me, and I have noticed more attention being paid to them on the forums. But- I still am not seeing any more of them in the woods (although to be fair, I really don't see other people in the woods much), and am not noticing an improvement in the selection or quality of machetes available at local hardware, outdoor or farm supply stores. :(

I think the choir is still the only group hearing the sermon, so-to-speak.
 
Its the full sized genuine issue ontario. Original grind and edge angle.

Maybe convex will help some. I dont believe I am using it wrong:confused:

Anyway, where I live wood spends 7 months of the year with either cold sap or frozen so its of limited use to me anyway. I mean axes bounce off half the time.

They are designed for the tropics and its vegitation there is no denying that.

Skam

If you're only using it on full-blown trees then, yeah, you'll have an impossible time in the winter/chilly months. As you said, even axes bounce off of it. The place where a machete excels is doing everything BUT taking down multiple and/or medium to large trees. Small ones (up to 4" diameter) I've managed to get through without too much of a struggle, but you do have to work at it a bit more than you do with an axe, for sure. But you're also not always in deep woods, either. Ever try clearing out anything OTHER than trees with an axe? Really sucks. :thumbdn::D

Couldn't agree more:thumbup:

IMO machetes are awesome tools, but as with all other knives they are are more useful in some enivronments than in others. Its no coincidence that America was 'conquered' by people using axes, whilst in South America and Africa machetes were used and are still far more popular than axes to this day.

I think you're viewing it in the wrong context. As a developing country you're going to be using your tools mostly for flat out clearing land so that buildings and towns can go in instead. If I were under the circumstances where I knew I had to chop down a whole bunch of trees I'm most certainly going to to for the axe every time. But if I'm just out woods-bumming in an area where I may find dense undergrowth of the grassy or woody-stemmed variety, as well as small trees and scrub branches clogging my way, I'll stick with my machete.

Think of it as taking the approach of folks who take a big knife into the woods instead of an axe. Now just make the knife a really really big knife and you're talking about what a machete can do. But of course, YMMV. :)
 
Back in the 40's, my Dad always had one of those army-surplus machetes we all know and love, but I never saw him do anything with it and he wouldn't let me play with it.

Ten years later, I was haunting the local Army-Navy surplus store, drooling over those "camp-pal" machetes with a bow guard and brush hook (also the bin full of surplus Navy MkII Kabars, only $5, I could never put $5 together).

Those "camp-pals", if that's the correct name, are still on the market, I'm surprised nobody here talks about using them.

Ten years later, my wife and I started back-packing and I picked up a short heavy French-army surplus machete, which I teamed with a civilian Kabar and a scout knife.

Twenty years later, I bought a 17" Tramontina which I have since used for a variety of bushwhacking adventures here in northern New York. And no, I don't find that blade length excessive, I actually like it for the blade energy.

Two years ago I bought a Filipino bolo from Reflections of Asia. It has a much thicker 12" blade, I like it but it hasn't won my heart yet over the Tramontina. I haven't given it a real chance because of the weight.

I also have a lighter home-made machete that I made out of an industrial hacksaw blade from the local foundry. The jury is still out on that one.

I like the machete in the woods. I'm not out to take down a tree, just cut up small stuff or clear branches on a trail. I also like my pocket chain saw which is extremely handy for thicker stuff. Beyond that, my power chain saw.

I have a small assortment of axes, hatchets and 'hawks, but unless I'm handsplitting wood, I rarely use them.

Good thread :D
 
Last edited:
Those "camp-pals", if that's the correct name, are still on the market, I'm surprised nobody here talks about using them.

I've been mulling over choices lately, and theWoodsman's Pal is definately in the race.
attachment.php


attachment.php


Also in contention are the red machete's Joezilla has for sale in his thread, and the KSF machete.
DSC08807.jpg
KSF_Machete_with_Script.jpg
That Bark River is alot more pricey the the Ontario it's made from, but it's sweet nonetheless.
 

Attachments

  • 481.jpg
    481.jpg
    8.1 KB · Views: 330
  • 284-3.jpg
    284-3.jpg
    7.1 KB · Views: 330
Might I also suggest Brian Andrew's (oof the map oufitters) modified Ontario..It lacls the m,icarta of the BRKT version buth his convex edges are the best
 
In the southern US, I find the machete to ge a great choice. I have a heavy duty Ontario 12". Reworked the edge and dremeled the grip for comfort. It always go with me. I love hatches and axes having a S&N Hudson Bay and an old Norlund camp hatchet a I reworked. But, the machete get the nod when it comes to camp/woods work.
 
I only have one machete. A WWII era Martindale crocodile. I put the best edge on it that I could. Not quite arm hair shaving sharp but close. I then took it and an Estwing hatchet to cut a path. Most of the cutting was thorny locust saplings. The machete just didnt work. Maybe if it were sharper . The hatchett was the way to go. On the other hand Cattails and horse weeds , the machete rules.

Just my limited experience with them.
 
Might I also suggest Brian Andrew's (oof the map oufitters) modified Ontario..It lacls the m,icarta of the BRKT version buth his convex edges are the best

I've always wanted to pick up one of Brian's modded machetes...how does that work? Do I buy it and send it to him, or does he have modded ones available?
 
Until you live in the tropics its hard to imagine just how much plant growth there is once rainy season gets going. The Brazilians have two solutions made by Tramontina and a Bic.

I don't really know if they're more popular now I live in a part of the world where they always were in style and with good reason.

In the bush my machete touches on just about every survival task I need to perform from making shelters, clearing ground, travel, firemaking, water procurement. In the US we say "Up the creek without a paddle", in Brazil the equivalent expression is "No mato sem facão" (in the bush without a machete). Most of my wilderness techniques revolve around my modified machete and until heavy winter sets in I don't see any reason to change them in North America. Mac
 
I hope it isn't getting more popular, as then it would be covered by certain unwanted laws. In one of the parks I went to it said no hatchets or saws. However, I was in the clear with my machete :D
 
I only have one machete. A WWII era Martindale crocodile. I put the best edge on it that I could. Not quite arm hair shaving sharp but close. I then took it and an Estwing hatchet to cut a path. Most of the cutting was thorny locust saplings. The machete just didnt work. Maybe if it were sharper . The hatchett was the way to go. On the other hand Cattails and horse weeds , the machete rules.

Just my limited experience with them.

My guess is that it isn't the sharpness. It is a guess because I've no experience of thorny locust or their machetes. But if their machetes are ground at all similarly to the Martindale #2 I think it is a fair guess.

After doing quite a few #2s now I can quite safely say that what follows the cutting edge is a hell of a lot more important than sharpness at the very edge. Even putting a hair shaving edge on it wont fix that. In fact, when I do them the actual edge is last to be done. Even though I bring the edge to quite a fine finish to make it harder for particles to be chipped from the matrix that's only about 10% of the work. Everything else is about changing the geometry of what follows it. Actually, I could do the 90% profiling of the rest of the blade and leave the actual very cutting edge exactly as bad as it was when I bought it and it will way out perform a NIB one that I'd taken to shaving sharpness only.
 
Last edited:
Yes the machete is in right now. Check out the new Fall fashions. The Machete coat with matching vest is all the rage.

machete2.jpg
 
I've been to the Philippines twice ( got married there in '94 ) , and they are very common everywhere. They still use a short-bladed knife to dispatch any animal . But cutting large chunks of meat , bush and bamboo , and stuff like that, a machete ( bolo ) is what I see people there use. They usually have small shops in towns there that make them from scrap metal and stuff ( old leaf springs , water buffalo horn handle . )

:thumbup: :cool:
 
I have a machete I bought from the Philippines , its thinner than the factory jobs I have , but to my hand , a whole lot better . Its just made for cutting , hackin and slicing

Kinda has to be used to be appreciated :)

I got machetes and golocks from 12 inch - 24 , thick and thin , factory grind and what I put on them , but by far the best yet for me is the rough hand made job I got .

I think its the difference between a tool made for a job for the mass market , and a maker who makes tools for the jobs he is doing himself .. my opinion tho
 
Back
Top