machete info

[shadowhunting]

anyone have any suggestions for a machete to be used in broome western australia, i am moving up there but the kimberley is a different place to me, there is a mixture of semi desert scrub/bushland and mangroves by the ocean etc any help.

 

[markksr]

How about a Woodmans Pal?:thumbup:

 

[shadowhunting]

hmmm tempting seen em still not sure, might just go for the crappy $10 ones
areas of land is pretty salty might corrode a blade fast and i dont know how to prevent that

 

[Halfneck]

Ontario or Tramontina are the machetes I prefer.

 

[GEC]

Yeah I would go for the ontario 18" model. I have one for about 5 year + with no complaints. Tough as nails. I not to sure about the Tramontina though, I never handled one so I can't comment on them.

 

[Dantor]

don't mistake inexpensive for a good user. Tramontina's are made in Brazil for people who have very little money yet need a good blade for hard use. they do a great job and last.

Ontario's are another nice machete, thicker and heavier so you can't swing em all day but great for thicker brush...

 

[Confederate]

Cold Steel makes a variety of excellent machetes. They're light weight, hold an edge very well and have a comfortable grip. Those are three crucial features. As a teenager, I used a variety of machetes. The worst traits are:

1. Heavy ones
2. Excessively long/short blades
3. Dull or difficult to sharpen blades
4. Ones w/plastic, paneled grips

This last one is particularly important, and can rapidly make your life miserable. The area between the panels can, in short order, bring blisters sprouting up all over your palm and the web portion of your hand.

Cold Steel meets all my criteria for great machetes, plus they're cheap and tough. In fact, they're so cheap you can afford to take a number of different configurations.

Regardless of the kind you get, avoid heavy, stainless blades and grip guards.

 

[joh]

I scored a Cold Steel machete in a second hand shop real cheap. It has a blade reminiscent of a cane knife and has some real hard use around the yard especially after cyclone Larry a couple of years ago. Has a good weight and hold an edge well.