Machete lengths, what do you like?

Shotgun

Shotgun

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Feb 3, 2006
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I haven't had much experience with machetes apart from the one my buddy brought me from Belize. It's a really big Imicasa at 2 feet long and it can sail right through some thick branches but it's a little big. What lengths do you guys like and why?
 
Usually a 20" blade is large enough to plow through material without being unwieldy. :)
 
It depends on the material I'm cutting. I have an 18 inch blade that's 5/64 inch thick that cuts light vegetation very well. I had a 24 inch in the same thickness, but it was a little too unwieldily for me, so I gave it to a buddy. I also have a 14 inch bolo style that's just under 1/8 inch thick that I really like: it's a great chopper.

I'm waiting for the new Condor bolo in 1095 to come out. That should be a beaut.
 
I have dozens of machetes, in lengths from 12" to 30". Most of them fall in the 18" to 24" range. Many here like them shorter, but I like the "wide swath" idea. ;)

An appropriate length is going to be determined by what you want to cut, how much you have to cut and where you will be cutting it. But, length is just one consideration- you also need to think about blade thickness, blade height and shape and overall weight.

If you are hacking through dense foliage to penetrate a jungle, you will want a long, light flexible blade. If you are clearing camp and need to cut some woody stuff, a stiffer, heavier blade in a shorter length might serve you better.
 
Cold steel bolo for 10 years,right around 16" makes is a nice handy GP machete.
3 weeks ago I picked up a cold steel Sax 18" and it's the cats arse for me at least.
 
For camping and bushcraft use in Brazil I normally carry a 16 inch Tramontina. I find any longer than 16 inches and it rides on my pack. The 16 has plenty of power for clearing camp, building shelters etc and yet its light and short enough to wear on a belt.

For clearing grasses and tall weeds I use a thin, flexible 20 inch Tramontina.

For chopping through hardwoods and woody brush I like the 12 inch Ontario or the 14 inch Tramontina bolo.

In open grasslands where power cutting isn't necessary I carry a 12 inch Tramontina and use it mostly for clearing a place to sleep. In Brazil these are used alot for gardening and take the place of the trowel and hedge trimmer.

For bushcraft type stuff you really want a shorter blade. The monster blades, 18 inches and up, are really powerful, heavy hitters but that's all they do well. If that's the kind of job you are doing then you really do want a blade that big. Most wilderness survival and bushcraft tasks are better handled by a shorter blade that can do alot more without getting in its own way.

I carry a machete every time I go out in the bush and I have a hard time getting away from my modified 12 inch Ontario or a 16 inch Tramontina with the same mods. The cool thing about machetes is that they are cheap enough that you can experiment and find out what you like for the jobs you find yourself doing. The mid sized blades are the place to start, that will let you know if you want to go long or short. Mac
 
Pict is probably one of the top machete experts here. I've used the old GI 18" (ontario I think) a few times, but I've found I like the 12" size just because it's easier to pack. For what I do (clearing a camp site or over grown trail), 12" is perfect for me. Anything over 18", and I'm not too comfortable using them...they are definitly more effective at clearing.

ROCK6
 
If it's a bit heavier near the end (like a bolo), a 14" blade is good for me...otherwise, an 18" blade works well.
 
I really like this thread. I've been having a minor love affair this spring with the two very cheap machetes I have after convexing them. I think I'm going to have to get some more; like the new Condor models.
 
It totally depends on what I am doing. If I need something to hack the grass and such down, I want the 24" Tram so I am not constantly bent over like I would be if I used my 16" Panga, which I prefer for hacking limbs or my 14" 'chete that I use for general purpose.
 
ROCK6 said:
Pict is probably one of the top machete experts here. I've used the old GI 18" (ontario I think) a few times, but I've found I like the 12" size just because it's easier to pack. For what I do (clearing a camp site or over grown trail), 12" is perfect for me. Anything over 18", and I'm not too comfortable using them...they are definitly more effective at clearing.

ROCK6
Click to expand...
+1 :thumbup:
 
pict said:
I carry a machete every time I go out in the bush and I have a hard time getting away from my modified 12 inch Ontario or a 16 inch Tramontina with the same mods. The cool thing about machetes is that they are cheap enough that you can experiment and find out what you like for the jobs you find yourself doing. The mid sized blades are the place to start, that will let you know if you want to go long or short. Mac
Click to expand...
This is good advice. Where I live the main thing a machete is good for would be clearing black berry bushes or an embankment to get to a fishing spot and not grass. I was thinking 18 inch just because that's what a lot of people use but now I think I might go with a 12 or 16 and try it out.
 
i like my machetes about 18'' long and roughly shaped like this:
0808-0711-0913-4018.jpg
 
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