Looking for a machete

[Rhinoknives1]

What you actually want are a couple inexpensive Latin machetes. Tramontina is a good brand to look at. Don't be fooled by the fancy brands, soft, thin carbon steel and plain wood or plastic handles is what you want.

21" is a long machete. I prefer 18" for general use. I have one that is 28" and it's good for one thing but bad at most things.

What he said! In a pinch you can sharpened them with a rock.

I prefer the 18" or 14" Your height is part of the equation for a down swing along with your intended use.

Tramontina and pretty much all of the Latins come rough in handle and not much of an edge because they want to keep costs down and the locals hand sand the grips and put their own edges on them for their intended use.

I have watched and spoken with men using them in the area's far south of Mexico City where my wife is from.
Many customize or what they call PIMP the machetes with leather thong etc on the sanded handle and even name them with the name burned into the grip of scratched into the blade.

Almost all knives used to come with no edge period if you go back 100 years plus. People would do it themselves or have the cutler they bought it from put the first edge on. The didn't have all of this card board we rely on these days and people back then were much more able to handle sharpening their own tools.

It does look like Baryonxy makes some nice looking tools. Its all how deep you want to dive in? LOL

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Yup. Often a machete is the only edged tool a fellow will have down there and it gets used for quite literally everything that involves cutting something!

 

[not2sharp]

Captivity? That's not "real world usage"? FFS, the guy chops coconuts with it all day long every day! What do you do with yours? I bet you blaze a 40 foot swath through the Amazonian jungle daily huh? Is that your real world?

There's just no convincing some people.

If we all had to hack through a jungle every day we wouldn't be having this discussion, we would all know instinctively what worked and wouldn't work. Fortunately, we need not do that so reality has become what we choose it to be; for some its about splitting coconuts, for others its about chopping down hardwood trees with machetes. It doesn't matter, just go with what works best for you.

n2s

 

[Rhinoknives1]

If it were me I'd try to find a Collins & Co. Legitimus. American made and good tools. Someone posted a thread on one here within the last couple of days...by that title.

The Tramontinas appear to me to be cheap--thin in the pants--and they require an inordinate amount of final blade work when you receive them. If I were buying another machete I would probably shop one of the knife makers like Cold Steel, Condor or Ontario. I hear a lot about the Gerber Gator too; but I can't imagine....youknow.

The reason people are asking what you will be doing with it is to determine what KIND of machete you should buy. Is this your first? How do you know you want a Latin? If it 's for looks and 'cool', that's fine, but if you're going to be doing something specific there may be better.

Are you going to use it in grassland, savannah, jungle or the Maine woods? Aggressive (wood collecting/building) or passive (hiking/trail clearing) use?

Are you wanting a machete for a purpose or just to have a big knife? Practically, a 21 is OK in a Latin but cumbersome in a bolo.

FYI
Many products from Collins have been made in Latin America and shipped to the USA over the years.

 

[AntDog]

Well said n2s!

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

FYI
Many products from Collins have been made in Latin America and shipped to the USA over the years.

The older ones made in Guatemala are quite good, still, but the current Colombian ones made under the Nicholson name are rubbish though. The steel is ok (just ok--nothing to write home about but not junk) but the untapered thin stock and narrow forte make them too floppy.

 

[22-rimfire]

I was going to post that earlier but didn't. I've seen the Ontarios in batches and all the handles were misfit...would have caused hot spots within five minutes of use. Unfortunately it's similar for the Tramontinas--unfinished wood handles, no F&F, splinters still in the tang gap (In fairness, I think rough handles are typical of all the Central American machete imports). Even Opinel puts a finish on their handles. The good side of that is you can shape the wood into anything if you're willing to put the time in. You could end up with a comfortable custom handle after a while. The Ontario, though, seems hopeless--not a lot you can do with misfit composite. Except...

leather wrap or paracord them first thing. Which I often do even with good handles.

I tried electricians tape, just as bad as the original ontario handles. If you have one, always wear gloves. My baby behind soft hands don't last long when it comes to serious use with a machete. Yes, I usually wear gloves with wood handles too, but not for the same reasons. I want to protect my hands from branches and briars that I might be cutting.

Anyway, that's why I recommend wood handles. At least the common man with a hand sander can fairly quickly do some serious sanding on wood to reshape the handles to fit better. You just have to be willing to try and I know sometimes that is asking a lot when you expect a machete to be ready to use when you get it. No sanding or re-shaping with the Condor Golok machetes. Like them. Condor is Imacasa by the way.

I totally agree about length and safety. I would not suggest anything longer than 18" for somebody who is not familiar with swinging a machete routinely.

 

[EChoil]

I tried electricians tape, just as bad as the original ontario handles. If you have one, always wear gloves. My baby behind soft hands don't last long when it comes to serious use with a machete. Yes, I usually wear gloves with wood handles too, but not for the same reasons. I want to protect my hands from branches and briars that I might be cutting.

Anyway, that's why I recommend wood handles. At least the common man with a hand sander can fairly quickly do some serious sanding on wood to reshape the handles to fit better. You just have to be willing to try and I know sometimes that is asking a lot when you expect a machete to be ready to use when you get it. No sanding or re-shaping with the Condor Golok machetes. Like them. Condor is Imacasa by the way.

I totally agree about length and safety. I would not suggest anything longer than 18" for somebody who is not familiar with swinging a machete routinely.

Electricians's tape was my go-to wrap for a long time on my machetes. Then I started using leather and paracord in the '80's. And I do wear gloves.

Actually, my next one I may buy one with wood handles and sand them down to something 'custom.' Always wanted to try that on one. I like good, fitted wood handles better than about anything on a lot of knives.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

I tried electricians tape, just as bad as the original ontario handles. If you have one, always wear gloves. My baby behind soft hands don't last long when it comes to serious use with a machete. Yes, I usually wear gloves with wood handles too, but not for the same reasons. I want to protect my hands from branches and briars that I might be cutting.

Anyway, that's why I recommend wood handles. At least the common man with a hand sander can fairly quickly do some serious sanding on wood to reshape the handles to fit better. You just have to be willing to try and I know sometimes that is asking a lot when you expect a machete to be ready to use when you get it. No sanding or re-shaping with the Condor Golok machetes. Like them. Condor is Imacasa by the way.

I totally agree about length and safety. I would not suggest anything longer than 18" for somebody who is not familiar with swinging a machete routinely.

Even better than wood is injection molded polypropylene. The handle is pretty much indestructible and already fully contoured when it pops out of the mold without any gaps since it's molded straight to the tang.

 

[22-rimfire]

Are the Condor's injection molded? I assume that means no pins?

 

[AntDog]

I don't know about Condor's machetes, but the handle on my Rodan is injection molded. It's pretty comfy. That steel took an absolutely wicked convex edge too!

 

[Sam Cade]

Are the Condor's injection molded? I assume that means no pins?

Yup. They (IMACASA/Condor) have several different one piece polymer handles.

I think the Gavilans (sixth from left) that Atlanco imports for their Tru-Spec line have the best feel of any readily available poly handled machetes.

 

[22-rimfire]

May have to get one and handle it a bit. I don't necessarily like to come off as "anti plastic", but handle comfort is paramount to having a machete that does not cause undo blistering (from hot spots).

 

[Faiaoga]

Yup. Often a machete is the only edged tool a fellow will have down there and it gets used for quite literally everything that involves cutting something!

You mean involves cutting, slicing, cracking open coconuts (with the back of the blade), butchering pigs, scraping breadfruit..............and anything and everything. Those who have used machetes in any village subsistence setting know that an expensive custom design is not needed. For only about $15, I purchased a "household knife" (if my Spanish is correct) with sheath that probably handles any and all tasks for most Third World households - it was a 14 inch Tramontina with a plastic handle.

Tramontina, Martindale (Crocodile Brand) and Ontario are all brands that I am familiar with and that work well - there are certainly other good makes that I have not used. The only advice I would offer a new user is to avoid a machete that is too heavy for extended use.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

You mean involves cutting, slicing, cracking open coconuts (with the back of the blade), butchering pigs, scraping breadfruit..............and anything and everything. Those who have used machetes in any village subsistence setting know that an expensive custom design is not needed. For only about $15, I purchased a "household knife" (if my Spanish is correct) with sheath that probably handles any and all tasks for most Third World households - it was a 14 inch Tramontina with a plastic handle.

Tramontina, Martindale (Crocodile Brand) and Ontario are all brands that I am familiar with and that work well - there are certainly other good makes that I have not used. The only advice I would offer new user to a new user is to avoid a machete that is too heavy for extended use.

:thumbup:

 

[excalibur21]

Yay! More machete talk!

That story about the coconut chopping guy was wild.

I've been using an ontario 22" for the last 6 years or more. Bought a CS 18" bowie as well(garbage imo, as well as the 20" latin my friend bought years ago, the edge was all wrong, steel was too soft and they finish felt like crayons). Just recently I picked up a tram 14". And Just yesterday I bought an overpriced 18" Ontario as well from a surplus store (might return it and order it off amazon, still deciding).

Both my Ontarios have the "D" guard injection molded handle, just recently I finally chopped the guard off the 22" and filled the handle down to fit my hand better. The Ontario 22" is the perfect machete for the PNW in my opinion(i haven't gotten to handle the 18" yet), my main use for is taking out salmon berries and this machete excels at it. The blade is bigger and heavier then a traditional Latin pattern but it takes a great edge and the extra heft helps it sail through multiple stalks at a time. But where the Ontario really shines is wood processing. it's probably the edge geometry but my Ontario really does chop better then any hatchet or hawk I own so far. I have a new axe that is promising but it needs some more fine tuning.

The Tram on the other hand is the exact opposite. At 14" and the long clip I put on it is wicked fast in hand. It works well for salmon berries but the reach just isn't there. a Longer one would help that, however, it's also too thin and light for serious wood prep. It's certainly doable, i just find myself always turning to an axe of some sort instead. I use this one more as my "gardening" machete. Works great chopping English ivy off treas or chopping out ferns. It's also my new backpacking machete due to how much lighter it is. Just need a sheath for it! haha.

My next machetes will be a 22" and 18" tram or imacasa and a 12" ontario. After that I'll be pretty well set for awhile I think.

OH! If you're going to get an Ontario, get the d-guard and chop it off if you don't want it. The normal scaled handles felt awful.

EDIT: I decided not to return the 18" and sharpened it up. Took a few swings at the brush pile. The thick blade of the Ontario definitely gives it that "chopper" feel. Definetly more at home chopping sapplings then vines/grass. So if you want something for lighter plants/work i'd suggest a more traditional latin design.

 

[Faiaoga]

Sam Cade: Your machete picture is like posting a picture of doughnuts in front of a meeting of Overeaters Anonymous- a very tempting "baker's dozen". Right On

 

[Bighaze51]

This thread is right on. I ordered an 18 inch tramontina the other day. Should be in tomorrow. I'm pretty sure it said rubber handle on the description. This guy is pretty stoked.

 

[Sam Cade]

Sam Cade: Your machete picture is like posting a picture of doughnuts in front of a meeting of Overeaters Anonymous- a very tempting "baker's dozen". Right On

I've probably got around 35-40 production machetes.

Not counting customs and other big "ethnic" choppers.


I've mostly been using a customized 24" Incolma Colima with a toxicgreen/black fauxcarta handle this summer.

 

[22-rimfire]

Yep, Sam Cade is a machete guy. 42 Blades is also a very good source of info as he is a retailer and trys out stuff and has access to many of the dominant brands. Me, I was searching for a more comfortable machete a couple of years ago after really hating the Ontario's I purchased. I ended up with Condor and their leather sheath is a VERY big selling point to me. I have a pretty good assortment of Condor stuff and have been using the Puerto Rican (discontinued) a lot (like yesterday), and use the short choppers a bunch like the Pack Golok and Village Parang. The basic Golok and Parang are great machetes; the Golok was the first Condor I purchased and highly recommend it if you are looking for one in that length. I tend to stick the Pack Golok or Village Parang inside a day pack when I am out tramping around in the woods if weight is not a big concern.