Machete - practical?

D

dRobinson

Joined
Feb 8, 2011
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6
I've been wondering recently how practical a machete actually is given context. I live in the south-eastern US where much of the vegetation is woodland. While traditionally used in tropical climates, the advantages of a machete are obvious in that type of environment. However, is it useful for general camping, bush-craft, and/or bug out in moderate climates? It seems a solid fixed blade, axe, and saw can accomplish nearly all tasks. So... do you carry a machete as part of your tool set and what is your experience?
 
machete is great for clearing brush, bramble, thin overhead branches, etc...
it can be used as a draw knife or for digging.
it's lightweight.

knife, saw, axe will cover your bases very well, especially if that's where your comfort zone is.

I personally like the idea of building the skill set for using a machete effectively in case at some point that's the tool available to me.
 
I don't live in a jungle, but a long blade still comes in handy for clearing brush, vines, branches, and especially thorny wild rose vines and such which seem to pop up all over around here.

I also find them to be, well, fun I guess you could say. And one other use is that if you should stumble upon some unfriendly critter, I preffer to poke at them from a distance if I can, ....haha ;)
 
Welcome to the forum. :thumbup:

I have a couple of machetes and use them in Ohio - not the Everglades, for light brush, thornbushes and such.

For tree limbs, and small tree chopping, I could use an axe or a chainsaw but I love to chop them with a large knife like my Junglas because I like knives and it really goes through them like a bat out of h*ll! :D
 
I live in southeastern OKLA. and I find the machete to be one of the most practical tools in my blade arsenal they're incredibly handy for progressing through brush and they can chop green wood there worth the weight in gold in some areas but not for every enviroment.
 
I didn't know much about machetes until I spent some time in SE Asia and S America a few decades ago while I was in the service. Now, I'd never be without one. A good $10 Tramontina is nearly priceless in some situations and I use mine just about everyday here on the ranch. I even made a "custom" sheath to carry it on the tractors.

Plus, I never leave the house without one under the seat of my truck. Got a couple stashed on the RV, as well. In that area between "food prep" and "cutting down big ass trees" the machete rules the roost with regards to versatility. I still use my HI khukri for some of the heavier chopping duties, but the machete could do the same job with a little more work on my end.
 
I live in Texas and I use the ESEE Lite Machete alot. :D

I usually pack cutting tool wise the lite machete & my CP 3MIL & a SAK Rucksak
 
I sometimes carry my 12" Ontario stream fishing where I sometimes have wade through black berries, those dang multiflora rose bushes, and so forth. I wear waders and they aren't really tough enough to force your way through these obstructions like I would with rubber boots.

I really like the 12" Ontario machetes. I keep one in each vehicle in a sheath. I find the Condor Golok to be really handly as well and you can get a great leather sheath for it for a very fair price. I tend to like more rigid bladed machetes.
 
I live in the dense Maine woods and I carry a machete with me EVERY time I go in the woods. One of the most versatile edged tools out there--hands down. :cool:
 
Machetes are cool! If one design won't fit your needs... there's always another design that will do :)
 
I was clearing out some fallen limbs and some kind of thorny weeds just over the last two days, here in Kentucky. The ESEE Lite Machete is an awesome tool.
A slight bend, and I was cutting them off at the ground. Some 6" and some 8" thick branches had fallen, and are too heavy for me to lift. It took some time, but I wanted to test out a coulple of machetes.
The Ontario 12" Cutlass, I've convexed the edge, it does well. I need to make some micarta scales for it, then it's a great tool.
The ESEE is lighter, thinner, but the lenght adds speed out at the tip. This one bites the deepest. It took some work, and a saw or an axe would have been eaiser to cut across the grain. In a pinch though, you could use a machete.
Depending on the trip/terrain I'd like one guy to take a machete and someone else to bring an axe. You'd have options while on the trail.
 
They are good in the woods if you run into any irritable 4 legged creatures, but also if you ran into any ornery 2 legged ones as well.
 
Machetes are great for everyday work in the woods. I even keep one in my garden for cutting large amounts of plants. If the length is a big deal, just get a smaller "bush knife", such as the one Tramontina offers.
 
I love my machete. I started with a cheap one & liked it so much, i have never bought another, yup, it's that good. I have beat the snot out of it on numerous occasions & it has not let me down yet. Ontario Knife Company 18" improved machete & a plastic military sheath. Full tang & made in America.
 
South East? You betcha. You'll be able to use it for all your needs unless you have an itch to split a LARGE amount of wood in one setting.
 
I've carried a 12" machete as part of my kit since 1988. It is not as efficient for clearing larger areas, but will get the job done. I chose it more for it's compactness and general utility. I carry it in an old (and much repaired) Brigade Quartermasters "Jump Sheath" - mostly to carry a file and stone for sharpening, but I also carry fire starting materials. I subscribe to the Lofty Wiseman school of thinking - the last thing to go should be your knife. And if I'm left with only one knife, I want it to have as much utility as possible!
 
Charlie Fox said:
I've carried a 12" machete as part of my kit since 1988. It is not as efficient for clearing larger areas, but will get the job done. I chose it more for it's compactness and general utility. I carry it in an old (and much repaired) Brigade Quartermasters "Jump Sheath" - mostly to carry a file and stone for sharpening, but I also carry fire starting materials. I subscribe to the Lofty Wiseman school of thinking - the last thing to go should be your knife. And if I'm left with only one knife, I want it to have as much utility as possible!
Click to expand...

Now you just need to get a Fiddleback 12" :D:thumbup:
 
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