Let's talk MACHETES!

J

J.Davey

Joined
Feb 10, 2004
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What are some of your favorite machetes, and why? Post pics if ya' can (unfortunately I can't). I'll start us off.

My favorite machete at the moment is the Gerber Bear Grylls Parang. Love Gerber and Bear or hate them, if you use this machete you cannot deny its quality and usefulness. The design looks cool, it works great, and it's a bargain for the price. I worried about the lowish Rockwell hardness (around 48-50), but have had no problems, and it's held its edge much better than expected. It's also a breeze to sharpen back up (especially with a Hewlett 1-2-3 JewelStik).

I also love my Cold Steel spear point machete. That thing will take a beating and beg for more. After two years of use and abuse, it's still going strong.
 
Machetes are some of the most underrated edged tools out there. On average, they are lighter than hatchets but more versatile. Lots of great machetes to choose from and most of them are low priced. Right fnow, I'm looking at the Condor 18" Outback machete, 420HC steel 53 rockwell.
 
I love my Condors, Imacasas, Fiddlebacks, Hansas, Cold Steels, and Tramontinas. Lots of different patterns and makers out there to choose from! My long-time favorite is my 20" Condor Viking. :cool:
 
My favorites are my 28' tramontina , Marbles bush machete, and my condor golok. Ontarios are also good but a little thick for my taste but I love there little 12" cuttlass it's a good knife/machete hybrid tool.
 
There are so many flavors, and varios uses. The machete can be as versatile as knives in style and purpose, lenght and thickness, blade shapes, weights, handle thicknesses and materials, etc...
The Ontario's are great, I've not tried their economy line, which are thinner. I just got their 18" long, 1/8" thick model, and also have the 12" Cutlass. I like the Cutlass the best, for a short chopper/drawknife/utility tool.
The Condor/Imacasa blades are good as well. They come sharp NIB, unlike the Ontarios. Convex an Ontario, like the Condors, and then you have a tool.
I personally don't like the Cold Steel machete handles. The edges are way uneven, and I don't think they take or hold and edge.
Most important is that you get the right machete for the job/environment. If you are clearing a path through jungle, you will be pinch gripping that handle all day, it better be sharp, light, and long enough.(ESEE Lite Machete for example)
 
I like thicker machetes, so Ontario have been my favorite for years. For lighter work like grasses and vines I prefer a tramontina.
 
whetrock said:
My favorites are my 28' tramontina
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Wow, that's really big! For that matter even if you actually meant 28" it would still be a bloody big machete. ;)

My favourite is my ESEE Lite Machete - nice handle and great Condor blade. I bought the Condor sheath instead of the ESEE one.
 
I hear you with the Cold Steel issues. They're good for the money, but they and Tramontina are a bit softer than I usually like, and the CS handles are usually quite chunky and the edges need a lot of work. The one I own personally is the two-handed panga, and let me tell you that thing will mess some stuff up! The rest of the line just doesn't give many options that aren't available someplace else for just a little more money and a lot more quality. :)

foxx said:
There are so many flavors, and varios uses. The machete can be as versatile as knives in style and purpose, lenght and thickness, blade shapes, weights, handle thicknesses and materials, etc...
The Ontario's are great, I've not tried their economy line, which are thinner. I just got their 18" long, 1/8" thick model, and also have the 12" Cutlass. I like the Cutlass the best, for a short chopper/drawknife/utility tool.
The Condor/Imacasa blades are good as well. They come sharp NIB, unlike the Ontarios. Convex an Ontario, like the Condors, and then you have a tool.
I personally don't like the Cold Steel machete handles. The edges are way uneven, and I don't think they take or hold and edge.
Most important is that you get the right machete for the job/environment. If you are clearing a path through jungle, you will be pinch gripping that handle all day, it better be sharp, light, and long enough.(ESEE Lite Machete for example)
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I only have one machete but it has been an extremely useful tool for me. The thing chops like a small axe and is nice and compact.
Kabar Kukri machete.
SDC10541.jpg
 
I've got a Kabar Cutlass machete and it's a cutting MACHINE. I don't think of it as a machete myself, just a large knife that is fabulous for it's size. For me, real machetes start at 14" blades and go from there.
 
12 inch Ontario economy model and several Tramontinas. I think they are all quality blades and do a fine job for me.
 
Collins Legitimus, made in Guatemala. 40 years old and still going strong...both of them.
 
I must admit, I expected a lot more discussion on this thread, seeing as how machetes are awesome! The usual suspects of machete talk popped up (FortyTwoBlades, Vorpal Blade, and bladerique), but I thought more would pop in. And where are your pics??? Actually, I can't complain about that since I don't have any way of uploading my own pictures. C'MON, SLACKERS! };->
 
Haha...I haven't been able to get out and about as much as I'd like. My time has been precious lately and exercising the horses takes priority on me getting chopper time out in the woods. :p
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
Haha...I haven't been able to get out and about as much as I'd like. My time has been precious lately and exercising the horses takes priority on me getting chopper time out in the woods. :p
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Well, Forty TwoBlades, you're excused...but just because I want my Thai Enep! I kid, but not really.:D
 
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