Machete appreciation thread

[Beastchopper]

Beastchopper You need more Condors.

I don't have the Bushcraft Parang but I do have the Pack Golok and Village Parang. I prefer wood handles.

I chose the bushcraft parang because it has the larger blade engineered in what looks like to me a better set-up as far as the angles and locations of the grip to the striking edge. You can generate a ton of power and there's a huge sweet spot across the blade. As far as the huge plastic handle goes, I took a ferrier's rasp to it and shaved it down nicely, contoured it, and it's fantastic. I sanded the kukri machete's round wooden handle & brass pins down too and re-oiled it, but that was a lot more work and I probably have to go back to it and take off more material to make it perfect.
http://imgur.com/gallery/HxAjXwW
http://imgur.com/gallery/Y8KUwed
http://imgur.com/gallery/5nE1KM5

 

[Beastchopper]

Suppose I should share some pics as this thread could use more color.

The big'uns

Example of some of the stuff I clear

And just a nice pic of the 1311 after cutting my way through some brush for an hour.

Finally, after some work with the tram and ratweiler. The color is a bit interesting from playing with imgur's features.

Before

What's the name of that chopper w/ the black handle at the far end of the table and what kind of bank loan do I have to take out to get one?

 

[bikerector]

What's the name of that chopper w/ the black handle at the far end of the table and what kind of bank loan do I have to take out to get one?

It was called a broke back chopper made by @G L Drew out of 5160. It wasn't as expensive as you might think. He makes some pretty well-priced stuff, all things considered.

Here's the link to the original sale, no price of course. You might be able to convince him to make another as he's made a few similar ones since.
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/broke-back-chopper-sold.1661385/

Here are some better pics:
Out with me for trail maintenance

Back when it was new

 

[USMCPOP]

I've been lurking around and it seems some folks are a bit dismissive of the usefulness and versatility of machetes both at home and in the bush. I bought a cheap Gavilan cane machete last year and it's quickly become my favorite. The extra wide blade really helps with chopping. The flat tip doesn't catch on the ground or rocks the same as a pointed or Latin style machete. Best and last is the hook on the back. It is so useful for pulling thorny vegetation and moving around whatever you're working on. I would wager it's faster and better than a hatchet or boys axe for most tasks religated to the two with the exceptions of falling trees, limbing large branches, and carpentry. Though I still use the machete for all three (I'm talking about 20 ft tall young trees, no widowmakers). Anyone else prefer machetes as your go to? Any creative uses you've found for it would be cool too.

I have a lot of the South/Central American machetes, and probably an equal number of of thicker Thai choppers. I hate them! They always call out to me "You need more! Here's a slightly different pattern you don't have." After a couple hundred, I'm slowing down on purchases.

As for the cheap Gavilan cane knife with the wicked hook, I'm going to sharpen the inside of the hook to make a snagger for blackberry and wild rose canes and small vines like honeysuckle. Why waste whacking effort on floppy stuff when a quick hook and yank will do? Might make a 3 foot handle so I can get in there without getting hurt. But do dull the point of that notch a bit, as it's wicked sharp right out of the factory. Ouchy.

 

[rxavage]

I agree, that broke back chopper is pretty sweet