Machete/Bolo recommendations?

D

Dave568

Joined
May 24, 2005
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Since there isn't a machete/bolo forum here, I figured this would be the best place to post it, since it is the most relevant. I am looking for a machete or bolo for bushcraft that will be suited for various camp chores. I need something decently durable and reliable, and it needs to be able to handle small saplings easily, because that will be what it is used for mostly. I have been looking around online and in stores, but the only machetes I can find near my house are crappy Coleman ones from sporting goods stores. If anyone can suggest a good one for me, I'd really appreciate it. I'm looking for something with a sheath as well, which has been another problem - I've been finding lots of machetes that don't come with sheaths online. I'm looking for something in the $30-40 range or lower.

Thanks.
 
I don't have one yet, but I've heard the Ontario 12" machetes with the D-guard are really good. They require a bit of work to get in tip-top cutting shape, but they're worth it. I've found them for about $18 online. Not sure if that included a sheath or not. Also, the Tramontina bolos are supposed to be great. Not sure if this is cool or not, but here's a couple of links to tests of these particular machetes over on the other forums. Tramontina 14" Bolo Test Pics. Ontario 12" Test Pics. Hope this helps, :)

Josh
 
http://www.reflectionsofasia.com/bolo.htm

I've got the batangas with the 15" blade. Amazing deal for $20. Good users, the HI guys would call them "villagers", not wall hangers. They come with a wooden scabbard that holds the blade far more securely than the canvas job my Martindale golok came with.

Frank
 
Does anyone know where you can order a Tramontina Bolo and a sheath from the same website? I can't seem to find any with sheaths...
 
+1 on the Tramontina Bolo, excellent blade. Good luck finding a sheath. I've spent nearly a decade in Brazil and I've never seen a sheath for these. Mac
 
My Tramontina came with a crappy canvas sheath, which I reinforced with a corrugated cardboard liner wrapped with duct tape. Still crappy but it's worked so far, about 10 years.
 
Kyp Degal said:
They require a bit of work to get in tip-top cutting shape, but they're worth it.
Click to expand...

I just picked up an Ontario 18" with a D-guard (I haven't tried it yet). What did you do to your ontario to get it cutting tip-top?
 
My Ontario Machete is about 25 yrs old. 1095 steel rocks.
The nylon sheath has never been the greatest, but, it's still intact.
 
Bulgron, I don't have one yet, it's next on my list after the custom I'm having made. But from what I've heard, to make the handle comfy takes a bit of work. Most people cut off the D-guard and sand the grip a bit. And the blade usually needs sharpening, of course, as with pretty much any machete. I would also grind the edge back closer to the handle, and strip the coating for less resistance/friction while cutting. I've heard you can make a sheath for the Ontarios out of 2" thin black PVC pipe, I'll see if I can dig the tutorial up for y'all.

Josh
 
Thanks, Kyp.

Why do people cut off the D-guard? Save on weight or something? It doesn't feel in the way right now, but as I've said I haven't had a chance to use the machete yet.

I'm taking the machete to my father-in-laws over Christmas and he has all sorts of power tools that I can use to tweak the machete, so that tutorial would be much appreciated.
 
I think most people that remove the D-guard do so to make it more comfortable, and because for those of us with larger hands, it's a bit cumbersome. I know when I handled a 12" with D-guard at my local Army surplus store, I didn't care for the guard. It's in large part due to personal preference, I imagine. I did find the PVC sheath tutorial, though it's really just a few posts describing roughly the process. Link I also ran across a thread with some good info on sharpening machetes: Link Hope this helps. :) I'm hoping to pick up a 12" myself soon. My brother-in-law has the equipment needed to modify it, so I'm hoping to be able to talk him into helping me out on it.

Josh
 
I'll second the Reflections of Asia Bolos. For 20 dollars how can you loose. They're great steel, the handles are buffalo horn, and the tang goes all the way through the handle and is peened over a keeper. I've had one for over a year that I use to trim the hedges. Its kept a razor sharp edge the whole time, and I've only had to steel it back into shape. I liked it so much I ordered another, and it was awesome too.

www.reflectionsofasia.com

I'm not affiliated with that company, btw.
 
Aproy, thanks for the link. That's a great price and looks like a good value. I think I might have to get one of those.
 
You can't go wrong with Ref of Asia guys. I own two. I spent maybe 20 minutes with scotchbrite pads on the handles, then soaked them in mineral oil for 24 hours. Man they're just beauties.

I've got the #1 and #3. The #1 is lighter, a little thicker of blade than a standard machete. I've used mine for over a year in my yard with no edge issues. The #3 is heavy duty. Them buggers beg for use. There is NO mirror polish on my blades, but the heat treat is well done.

I do want a couple of Martindales, and that Tramontina too, but thats just because I'm a knife freak.

If you want a monstrous Bolo that is impressive for its mass, then go with an HI. Mine, which was a dud that I rehandled, has a 1/2" thick spine and weighs over 2 lbs! How bout a pic? This pic is of my HI Bolo, and my Valiant Survival Golok. Nobody has mentioned Valiant yet, but they make a helluva knife. IMO, though, a little too pretty to be beatin around in the woods with. JMHO.
 

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Amen on the Reflections of Asia bolos. All remarkably comfortable in the hand, too. I kind of prefer the Ilocos ones (with the horn handles) over the Batangas ones (with wooden handles). Choose your blade configuration (that is, if you choose, rather than just get one of each, which is easy at this price) with the awareness that the broader-bladed varieties are very robust and heavy. If you want the same kind of lightweight, speedy tool that you have with a standard stamped-metal production machete, you'll want one of the narrower-bladed bolos; the "curved tip" and "jungle" Ilocos models especially, and the round-tip one, to a significant extent, are pretty heavy. Which makes them great for heavier chopping jobs. Make sure you oil up the sheaths pretty well, though--the leather usually starts out pretty dry and stiff.
 
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