Machete Modifications?

Always been a knife guy and big chopper guy but last year I bought 3 Tramontina machets. A 12” and a 14” and a 18”er and I gotta say with just minor sanding of handles to make the blade tang flush with handles and some minor reshaping and then dipping them in boiled linseed oil after and just some basic file and stone sharpening they have become my most used big knives. We even use the 12” for cutting up watermelons. Lol. And soooo affordable. I would recommend trying them and for like 30 some bucks you can get all three sizes. The 14” one is what I would get if only can have one 1DA89202-7317-4359-804D-5C7ACE917859.jpeg2610062B-220E-4DDC-B9B9-FD4480E4FF4E.jpeg0DECC28B-9AF2-497B-B876-B85630A8959D.jpegimage.jpg
 
Also I only used sanding paper by hand and steel wool and a file and stone to do all my mods. No expensive tooling needed to buy. As affordable they are just get one and modify it till you are happy with it. Very fun and not out any real money if you don’t like it. But I bet you will love it with some real use.
 
This Gavilan bolo is my favorite machete, the blade sings like crazy , and it performs so damn well.
I didn't do much to it, just a handle reshape and some waxed wrapping
20220921_162316.jpg
It's pretty thick till the edge starts, then it has an excellent distal taper out to the broad tip.
Really has a lot of speed and power in the cut, and I wish I could find another.
I got it in my last 5pc assortment from sportsman's guide and cannot find another online, I've looked and and looked but just can't find another.


It's not my most used machete because it's the one I take the best care of, but it is the one I like the most.
 
here is my similar trio. and I second your thoughts on these blades

VppK6m6.jpg
 
I guarantee you've never seen anything like this before.




I believe I bought 3 different gavilan machete assortments from Sportsman's guide maybe it was just 2, but I wasn't afraid to modify any of them that I didn't just outright give away.

This was no exception, a bill hook machete that I used quite a lot.
Recently I had some work to accomplish so I modified it to get that work done and it worked so well I've continued to use it.
Gave it a compound bend ( I'm not concerned about ruining the temper in part of it ), and attached it to a piece of broken axe handle.
 
A Spanish (Flores Cortes) D.E Benito Banana machete that I reshaped a little & sharpened, I didn't get a before photo so below is a poor catalogue image.

nN4FSHG.png

KPaiyHx.jpg


A thick heavy blade that has a sort of "raindrop" forge finish, in the store some were sanded bright & some still had this sort of oil finish that I assume was left after tempering, I like it & adds a bit of rustproofing.
Putting it to work.

xqJAADI.jpg
 
I've really enjoyed reading through this thread, with so many interesting makes and mods throughout, that I've never seen before.
Wanted to share a couple of pics of one I own, that's not seen very often.
This is my Fiddleback Forge 12" Machete, professionally modified and finished by Andy Roy, of Fiddleback Forge Knives.
These were offered in 12" and 16" lengths, Imacasa made, in El Salvador, and sent to Fiddleback Forge as unfinished blades, IIRC.
fiddlebackforge.com

Fiddleback Forge Machete

NOTE: Sheath varies from photos. Fiddleback Forge Machete These are real machetes. They're made from 1075 steel, with proper and traditional machete heat treatment performed by craftsmen in El Salvador. Fiddleback Forge has designed the handle to give protection for your fingers that just you...
fiddlebackforge.com fiddlebackforge.com


 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top