Long blade for the Amazon

Gerberblades said:
A Busse Fusion Battle Mistress, or a Fusion steel heart would probably be the best knife for you. The FBM is around 16 inches, and the FSH is 14 inches long, and come in various blade coatings, blade thicknesses, handle colors, and handle thicknesses. You could probably pick one up on the exchange, or at the Busse company store, here are the links:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=804

http://www.bussecompanystore.com/


Good luck
Bill
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As much as I like Busse, I don't think it is the right choice for this application. You sure as hell wouldn't break it, but it is too thick and heavy for slashing light/jungle vegetation all day. As has been noted, the machete is the way to go.
 
I agree that the Busses would be too heavy for a whole day of clearing, blade geo probably not the best either.

Ill second the BRKT Golok if you wanted something with better steel and build quality than a cheap machete. More pesos too of course.
 
I'd just buy one locally - besides the wisdom of not walking around with a blade that might be worth a small fortune in the Amazon, I think folks tend to respect you when you show a willingness to use and appreciate the same tools they do. I spent a month hiking around the jungle in Guatemala and southern Mexico and I carried a machete that I'd purchased locally. I would recommend carrying your own bastard file for sharpening - finding someone to sharpen your blade for you can be a hassle and you'll need to put an edge on it after you buy it (as well as maintain that edge). Just having that file will make you a lot of friends.

And I'd bring a few $9 and $10 stainless moras to trade and give away. And carry a SAK for everything else. If you really want to make friends you might want to think about bringing some .22 ammo.

If you buy a $100 golok or fancy Kershaw D2 chopper, you're just going to be another gringo showing off what no one locally could hope to afford to buy. Not my idea of a way to make friends. If someone showed up at my house and wanted to crash on my couch and they were wearing fancy Rolex watches and lots of gold jewelry and an Armani suit - well, I'd think they were crazy, wierd or just plain arrogant.
 
My vote would be an Ontario machete with a finger guard like this one shown bleow. I did some hiking im mexico and I really wish I had a finger guard. I would also recommend you get a good sheath, if you can find the combat grade plastic sheath
These new, improved machetes have 1 piece molded "D" handles for no more loose rivets. They are available in a choice of black or orange handles. These machetes feature 1095 carbon steel, black oxide finish, full tang construction and .125" thick blades.


okc12_orange.jpg
 
Good point akennedy73. Ill change my idea to be in line with what you said, I didnt think about that. Good one
 
CWL said:
... be prepared to have everything stolen from you. Flashy knives are very noticeable to the locals.
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Sad but true. On the sunny side, though, be prepared to leave a knife or two with locals who are particularly friendly and helpful. It will be a much appreciated and used gift. :)
 
Econaut, wait until you arrive at your destination, then buy what the local people there use. You may want to bring a good small knife with you, either a Mora or a folding pocket knife, but a 12 inch machete is a fine all around tool, and if you are going to actually be cutting a lot of vegetation like clearing a trail then a machete with an 18 to 22 inch blade will do that with less effort. Choose a long machete based on how tall you are. A tall man can use a longer blade efficiently. A 12 inch machete on your belt and a longer one strapped to your pack might be a convenient way to travel. Try to order Ron Hood's video on the trip he took to visit an Amazon Indian tribe several years ago. It will show you very well how the natives there use machetes every day.
 
akennedy73 said:
... If you buy a $100 golok or fancy Kershaw D2 chopper, you're just going to be another gringo showing off what no one locally could hope to afford to buy. Not my idea of a way to make friends...
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+1 I totally agree with you. And moreover, as someone else already stated... chances are you will get it stolen from you. Better buy one or two when you get there. I never handled any Mora but as far as I have read here on BF they are great knives for the money... I am sure you could get a few of them and give them as gifts during your trip. I will pair the bastard file for the machete with a doble sided wetstone so you can keep your SAK sharp and use it for small chores.
Mikel
 
I would personally go with a 20 inch Tramontina for clearing trails and campsites and a shorter 12 to 14 inch for on my belt. The 12 inch Ontario is a good size to carry on the belt but they aren't sold here in Brazil. The 14 inch Tramontina Bolo is a great blade but hard to find a sheath for.

Machetes are disposable tools, you buy them and use them until they are too knicked up to sharpen again. I sharpen in the field with a small mill file but it needs to be protected from rust.

For heavy work like clearing trails you need length as this will save your back preventing you from having to work bent over to clear low and it will give you the reach to clear high, they also work better in tall grass.

I wouldn't bother with spending money for a high end blade for this type of work. None of them are designed to chop rocks and all of my machetes have tried to so many times that a high end blade would just get destroyed in short order. IMO it is far better to invest in a good kydex sheath for the belt machete of your choice and then buy several to fit it. Mac
 
get a 10-14 inch blade and it will do everything you need to do.
 
Some people here recommend the Martindale golok (its the top one in the pic)
http://www.loink.com/product/888/39
Of course i don't own one or live in the jungle so i can't vouch for its usefulness. However it looks like it would be good for the conditions you describe.
A Machete/golok of some kind plus a SAK or multitool plus a Mora (2000/triflex/clipper etc) sounds about right.
Someone above recommended a Buck 102, thats a great little knife as well and just about as light as the moras.

Either way remember to bring good sharpening gear with you.
 
Again another vote for a Martindale machete,they have various patterns and export a lot of their products to Latin America,Africa and Asia.Team it up with a multitool and remember everything will get damp,eventually.
 
Forget about all the expensive knives, which includes our RTAK. Also forget about stainless or anything to keep your blade from rusting. Buy yourself a cheap machete once you get in country and carry a companion pocketknife or small fixed blade and you'll be equipped just fine. Thick knives, expensive knives, cool knives and a whole lot of other types are just not needed in the Amazon. Machete, machete, machete, machete.
 
When I spent some time in the Philippines, I used what the locals used, a bolo. In your case, a machete.

I also carried a SAK (Swiss Army Knife), Leatherman wasn't around yet. I also picked up a local Balisong for a larger folder which came in handy. You may want to find something indigenous when you get there. Like others said, anything fancy has a way of disappearing.
 
Becker Patrol Machete, with Kydex sheath! Unfortunately out of production, but you still may find some.....

14", light and easy to carry. Also, you won't stand out or look unusual, packing a machete! I wouldn't consider it for any heavy chopping, but good for the light stuff.
 
I agree with the inexpensive machete +file idea, but I would add some sandpaper and a mousepad to that. It only takes a few minutes to clean up the edge, and it will be much more durable than a filed edge.
 
you might try asking this question in the rat cutlery forum as those guys traipse through the Amazon on a regular basis.
 
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