Machete Question from beginner

D

Digger - UK

Joined
Jun 26, 2003
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Ok so I am new to the world of machete. I am planning a trip to Peru in a few months and want to take a good, multipupose, light(ish) machete. I have looked at:

Becker 6
Survival Golock
Livesay
Ross Aki
Camillus

I need help, can anyone sugeest a good first machete???????
 
i dont think that becker is going to be great for you if it MUST be lghtweight. I know nothing about the others, so i could be mistaken, but usualy becker tends to use thicker stocked blades, adding more weight to the knife.
 
You might also want to check out the Swamp Rat Battle Rat or if you want something less expensive, the Ontario RTAK. Jeff Randall has used the RTAK in the jungles of South America many times.

Edited to add:

You might want to check out Jeff's web site, here is a link.

www.jungletraining.com
 
The Becker stock is thick, but the Patrol Machete is fully flat ground so it has the weight of roughly half the stock thickness, which is less than most 1/8" machetes.

For a first machete I would get something from Martindale which will cost you about $10-$20 :

http://www.cutsforthknives.com/catalogs/1/MM.htm

Don't wait until you go to Peru to try it. Use it on what you have at hand and get a feel for handling, cutting and sharpening.

Based on how it performs you may want to get a better one, and you will now be in a much better position to get a more suitable blade as you can be specific about the peformance requirements.

-Cliff
 
Welcome to Bladeforums Digger.

Another machete to consider is the Barteaux economy machetes – these are very good all-round light weight, low cost machetes.

The Ontario machetes are also very good machetes, but they are heavier and the high carbon steel used (1095) makes them more likely to break or chip out if you hit a rock or use them on hard woods, than the machetes with medium carbon steels. If you get an Ontario, get one with the new molded “D” guard handles, since they eliminate the problem of the handle rivets loosening.

Whatever machete(s) you get, have them sharpened so that they will shave and bring along a file to maintain the edges on your trip. I would also suggest that you bring one of the coarse DMT credit card sized diamond hones.

Here are a few reviews I did on some machetes in case you’re interested -


Barteaux M18 Heavy Duty:


http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=207783



Barteaux Budget:


http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=215488



Cold Steel Panga:


http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=217728





- Frank
 
a lightweight , cheap, performance powerhouse is the Cold Steel LTC.
I recommend them highly.
 
There are many different jungle knives aroun d the world.All shapes and sizes.I read a book about WWII experiences in the Burma campaign, the unit carried a number of different jungle knives plus an axe and picked the knife that was most suitable for what they were cutting.. Basically the heavier the knife the heavier the stuff it can cut. I have a machete but never use it .I find the kukri much more efficient because of its shape. My 24 oz is capable of cutting very heavy stuff but if you don't need that I would recommend my lighter ,18 oz kukri made by www.agrussell.com
 
The best machete I've ever used is a $5.00 Tramontina I picked up on ebay brand new. It has a 10" blade, wood handle, and is light and flexible. I sharpened it with a pocket stone, and after 2 camping trips and lots of fire wood chopped, it still shaves hair off my arm. I've never seen a machete that could chop as well as this without being damaged. For $5.00 I was very impressed. I blued the blade and coated it with Birchwood Casey Tru-Oil and so far (2+ years) it hasn't rusted.
 
Hate to say this - but just buy one there.

Here are my reasons:
  • Inexpensive
  • "throw-away" machete - you won't cry if you ding it up
  • you can get several... or even several dozen...
  • Ask a field worker - when you get there try to find a fieldworker and see what they are using. When it's the tool you use every day, you find what works quickly or you suffer. They'll have the right stuff.
  • you can buy files and stone there for cheap
  • you're supporting the local market by buying in Peru
  • If it gets lost or stolen, big deal. :p
  • labor over there is cheaper, so you can still get nice tooled sheaths and decent machetes for much less than in the USA. For me its the other way around - go to So. Amer. and bring back a few "toys"...:D



Now, this is assuming you would actually want to use the machete - if it's just for looks...:rolleyes:


If your heart is set on getting one here, you can't go wrong with a golok or parang. Good design, well made and look great too - better than the average machette.


If you need a knife to scare off the natives, get a khukuri from Himalayan Imports. Not the best choices for clearing vines, but a heckuva chopper and will raise more than few eyebrows...:eek:


Dan
 
Digger,
Hope your trip to Peru goes well! I have not been to Peru but spend a good bit of time in Central America. I have had most machetes listed and would have to say that it depends on what type of area you will be visiting. The more "tropical" the vegetation, the less you need a heavy chopper and the more you need a thin slicer. My recommendation would be any model that you can have convex ground before leaving. That seems to make the biggest difference in edge durability from my minimal experience. The only machete that I have used and been envied by locals with is the convex ground Ontario that Jerry Hossom did for me. I am a big fan of all things BK&T too though. It is almost guaranteed that you can buy tramontina there and they make a fine machete for lush vegetation. If you do not have a way to convex grind the edge then I would suggest spend your money on a dremel tool with a flap sanding wheel and use it on any machete there. (I have found that is the easiest way to create a convex edge without a belt grinder.)
You will probably findthat anything other than a traditional styled machete will tend to make you a target for stealing it or in some cases laughter.
 
Gotta agree with J.P. of PlaceKnives.
Was flyfishing for peacock bass up the Amazon River basin (mostly on the Unini River basin). Our guides each had a wooden handled short machete....10" blade/ 5" wooden handle. After inspecting theirs and upon return to a bit of civilization, puchased a number of them to take home I believe the final price was 7 for $20.00 USD. The ones I got have a plastic handle rather than wood...no wood handles on ones that size in that small shop in the small village where I got them.
Very nice balance and good for light use. Carbon Steel blades. Not highly hardened but decent ..just very utilitarian. The guides sharpened them on a smooth rock and kept a very sufficient cutting edge on theirs.
They are made by Tramontina in Brasil. Sizes they had available were from the 10" blade all the way up to something in the area of a full meter in length with a good looking curve in the blade on the larger ones.
Suggest you might wait until you near your destination to purchase what is locally available and Enjoy your trip! :D
 
Cold Steel makes some great ones for the money. I use a mini-light one from forging my own paths when I 'brush bust' in the Cascade Mountains and absolutely love it. It also has other usages...
 
I would buy a good Nicholson 12" mill bastard file at home and take it with me to Peru. I would get a local machete according to local recommendations as to length and weight. I would sharpen it and maintain the edge with the file. Be careful when file sharpening a machete. I've got some major cuts that way.
 
We went to Peru last year.
I did not take a machete with me but used one that the jungle lodge we stayed at supplied.

On the outbound trip I then bought a few.

My advice; buy a machete locally.
They sell them at places called "fereteria" i.e. hardware store.

I bought 2 Tramontinas and a GAVILAN from Colombia.
The Tramontina's turned out terrible just as the locals told me; soft, easily rolled edge, do not hold an edge.

The Gavilan on the other hand is still a surprise.
I ruined a good file back home sharpening it; and I have been using it since on all kinds of stuff and it still is quite sharp.


So I would buy a Gavilan or a Belota (another well regarded Colombian brand) of between 18" to 22".
The trouble is they are sold unsharpened and without a Vise to hold it even with a good file, you will have a hard time to get it sharp.

You could take it to a local shop called
"herreria" and they will sharpen it for you on a grinder.

One last piece of advice: if you are not used to handling machetes be very carefull when swinging out there in the jungle.
The heat and humidity are terrible and if you are not acclimatized and get tired a machete can be dangerous.
 
its best to wait until you get there to obtain a machete...they are cheaper and plentiful...as someone stated great hand-made leather sheaths can be found relatively easy down there too...buy a few as sovenirs and take them home...if you dont have much experience with a machete then you should be very cautious about using them...emmergency health care down there leaves much to be desired if available at all...then there is the risk of infections...careful!
 
If you end up buying a machete in Peru make sure you get one that has the tang flush with the handle - even the smallest gap will rub you raw.

Use a thin glove if you can, when using the machete. If you can't, then keep a handkerchief handy - sweaty palms make for a quick disaster.

Dan
 
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