machete recomendations - ESEE lite or Ontario Military?

snow and steel

snow and steel

Joined
Mar 5, 2011
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546
looking for a camping/woods machete. Would be used for clearing light brush, and camp type chores. Prefer something light weight so that I can carry it on/in my pack without weighing ton. Was considering the Ontario Military and the ESEE lite. Opinions. recomendations, other options to consider? I've used the search engine and I keep getting contradicting opinions - one will say one brand stinks, then the next thread will say its great. So I've basically narrowed it down to these two for the intended job and can't find too much horrible that anyone has said about either. would love to hear everyone's thoughts - thanks in advance!
 
Both are good. The Ontario military models have boxy handles that require a lot of reworking to make usable, as well as an obtuse and rough factory edge. The ESEE is ready to go out of the box. The ESEE is much lighter and is in general a higher quality machete. The Ontario is still no slouch, and has a primary grind on the blade, which is a nice touch. However, its thicker stock without any distal taper means it can feel a little "dead" in the hand comparatively, and it won't do as well on light targets though it'll chop hardwoods better.
 
I can HIGHLY recommend the special grade ontarios offered by Baryonyx. I've got a 12" that's been refined and reworked into a top notch piece, and the price was great.
 
Condor Eco-light machete.
They come in 14" or 18" blade lengths.
The unspoken fact is that the Esee machete uses the same Imacasa blade that comes on the Eco-light, but they put on some micarta handles.
Imacasa is a different division of the same company as Condor. In other words, the Condor Eco-light is essentially the same machete as the Esee, but with polymer handles, and a LOT lower price.
If you are looking at machetes, you need to be looking at Condor, IMO.
 
twl said:
Condor Eco-light machete.
They come in 14" or 18" blade lengths.
The unspoken fact is that the Esee machete uses the same Imacasa blade that comes on the Eco-light, but they put on some micarta handles.
Imacasa is a different division of the same company as Condor. In other words, the Condor Eco-light is essentially the same machete as the Esee, but with polymer handles, and a LOT lower price.
If you are looking at machetes, you need to be looking at Condor, IMO.
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Yup--the Condor EcoSurvivor (formerly called the EcoLight when first released) has the same blade as the ESEE Lite Machete but with an injection molded (and highly ergonomic!) handle rather than the micarta.

The reason for the much higher cost of the ESEE is that the tang is fully encapsulated in the micarta, and that takes a lot of work. They get the blanks from Imacasa/Condor and laser cut the tangs to the precise tolerances needed for the procedure, then mill out the interior of the scales to match the laser cut tang. Still a very good value for what you get, but it's a much more costly process for sure, and I [ersonally actually prefer the polypropylene.
 
snow and steel said:
So teh condor looks like a real winner then... but I wonder... should I get the ecosurvivor, or the regular el salvidor? only a $10 differance, and onther than handle color[I have to admit, I've always felt orange handles "ugly" to me] I can't see much differance other than sheath... blade perhaps slightly thicker on the regular el salvador? would that be good or bad?

http://www2.knifecenter.com/item/CN2020HC/condor-tool-

http://www2.knifecenter.com/item/CN15218HC/condor-tool-
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The El Salvador models have 1/8" stock so are heavier choppers but...also weigh more! :p

Also, like you noticed, the El Salvador has a leather sheath rather than heavy nylon.
 
+1 on the 12" Ontario from 42 Blades. Mine is very sharp and easily cuts 5/8 rope as well as some of my regular blades. He does great work on the handle and is worth the price.
 
Thanks guys. Sanding polypropylene is, quite frankly, a pain in the arse. :D
 
I own 2 Ontarios, 18" & a modified 12". Both are excellent. 18" is 20 yrs old, 12" is 1 yr old. Quality is the same in both. Both will shave hair.

I would not hesitate to buy an ESSE or the new Tops Machete, which is made in the USA, but expensive. I would not hesitate to buy a Condor machete either. They have the best quality leather sheaths.

Find something you like & go for it !
 
it's also been recomended I lok at the condor golok. thoughts?

BTW baronyx - thanks for the help! I'll try to buy from you to suport a forum member and also for the help!
 
Ontario also makes the economy line of machetes, which are from a thinner stock. Just so you know.
One thing about the thicker Ontario machetes, is that you can modify the edge, the spine, handles, etc.. Bark River did an excellent mod to the 18". They shortened it, thinned it down, did a perfect convex edge, and improved the handle material and shape.
The best thing IMO, is the balance and weight they achieved, I don't think it was an accident. I really like their 1095's HT on the Ontario's.
I've shaped the edge of my two, 18" and 12" so they shave, slice eaisly through thin paper, and yet I can beat them over and over, no chips.
In my experience, the Condor's and the ESEE are nice, I own a Fiddleback as well. But, they are thinner, and the edges take damage from hardwoods, where my Ontario's do not. So, it just depends on what you expect from a machete. Hard use on hardwoods, with some light duties, I'd say get an Ontario. If you do lots of clearing of thinner materials, and less wood chopping, maybe the thinner 1075 is right up your alley, Imacasa, Condor, Fiddleback, ESEE.
Don't forget that Blind Horse Knives makes a Machete as well, with what seems like an excellent sheath idea.
 
TwinStick said:
I own 2 Ontarios, 18" & a modified 12". Both are excellent. 18" is 20 yrs old, 12" is 1 yr old. Quality is the same in both. Both will shave hair.

I would not hesitate to buy an ESSE or the new Tops Machete, which is made in the USA, but expensive. I would not hesitate to buy a Condor machete either. They have the best quality leather sheaths.

Find something you like & go for it !
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For the record, I'm pretty sure that the new TOPS is a heavily modified 18" Ontario. Compare the profile and measurements and it's too close for it not to be, to my eye. Doesn't make it a bad machete (in fact it looks quite decent and a pretty reasonable price given the work involved) but figured I'd point out what my suspicions are.

snow and steel said:
it's also been recomended I lok at the condor golok. thoughts?

BTW baronyx - thanks for the help! I'll try to buy from you to suport a forum member and also for the help!
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No problem--I just do what I love. If you go with an 18" Condor EcoSurvivor I'm out of stock but have more one the way right now. If you end up going with an Ontario I only carry the 12" at the moment but can get any of them and it doesn't take long. I'd be happy to do up an 18" the way I treat the 12" for similar pricing.

As far as the Golok goes, it's a very nice machete/chopper, but it's a different animal. I personally wouldn't suggest it for your purposes. My gut tells me you'd be best suited with a thinner and lighter piece between 16"-18". If you were going to go with a 14" blade I'd say stick with the 14" EcoSurvivor or El Salvador models from Condor or a Tramontina bolo.

foxx said:
Ontario also makes the economy line of machetes, which are from a thinner stock. Just so you know.
One thing about the thicker Ontario machetes, is that you can modify the edge, the spine, handles, etc.. Bark River did an excellent mod to the 18". They shortened it, thinned it down, did a perfect convex edge, and improved the handle material and shape.
The best thing IMO, is the balance and weight they achieved, I don't think it was an accident. I really like their 1095's HT on the Ontario's.
I've shaped the edge of my two, 18" and 12" so they shave, slice eaisly through thin paper, and yet I can beat them over and over, no chips.
In my experience, the Condor's and the ESEE are nice, I own a Fiddleback as well. But, they are thinner, and the edges take damage from hardwoods, where my Ontario's do not. So, it just depends on what you expect from a machete. Hard use on hardwoods, with some light duties, I'd say get an Ontario. If you do lots of clearing of thinner materials, and less wood chopping, maybe the thinner 1075 is right up your alley, Imacasa, Condor, Fiddleback, ESEE.
Don't forget that Blind Horse Knives makes a Machete as well, with what seems like an excellent sheath idea.
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Personally I've never had any edge damage on my thinner pieces on hardwoods. But that's just my own experience so I'm just tossing it in the pot with yours. :) I agree that Ontario's 1095 is good stuff. But I think that maybe if you're getting dings in your thin 1075 but not in your thicker 1095 then the edge angle may be playing a role. The Mora #333's that I carry, for instance, were originally intended for cutting fiberglass insulation and come from the factory with a stupidly thin edge that will dent horribly if you try chopping so much as woody-stemmed plants with it. But after I broaden the edge angle to a (still thin) 30-degree inclusive I can chop oak palettes with it without any edge deformation. Just a thought? I could be wrong, though, and completely different forces are at play. There's a lot of things that can cause edge damage, after all!

The Blind Horse Knives machete also happens to be blanked by Imacasa, just like the Fiddlebacks, ESEE's and Marble's. Funny how both Imacasa and Ontario seem to have become the go-to sources for "dress-it-up" machetes--and I use the term fondly. :thumbup:
 
cool! the bolo is a great pice I'd never seen - in fact I'm seeing all kinds of stuff on your site I need - an order coming in soon! THANKS!
 
One big difference in the edges, I mentioned, is the Fiddleback came with a scandi sort of edge, very sharp and thin at the edge. I've convexed my Ontario's so there's more meat behind the edges. I've dinged all my machetes by hitting the fences in my yard, accidents. And, they all get chipped by rocks just as well.
So, to be fair, I'm comparing edges, not steels. I'd have to create the same edges, then do some testing by chopping the same wood. And, any machete can be convexed, or just made thicker via numerous sharpening methods.
I did put a bit of a little wave in my Fiddleback chopping a fence post. I've hit that same post over and over with my Ontario's convexed edges, and have never bent or chipped them. Again, it's the edge not the steels.
 
Here an interesting machete from Tramontina. The thing has a massive and heavy 15" blade (almost as thick as the Ontario) and a total weight of about 1-1/4 lbs.

go_image.php


n2s
 
I own and have used the esee, the ontario, and many many condors. The esee's handle really sets it apart. It fits the hand pefectly, no hotspots, and it looks amazing. Add the fact that it's an imacasa (condor) blade and you have an amazing tool. It can chop woody targets but the thickness of the stock and it's lively feel make it ideal for tall grasses. Just my .02
 
not2sharp said:
Here an interesting machete from Tramontina. The thing has a massive and heavy 15" blade (almost as thick as the Ontario) and a total weight of about 1-1/4 lbs.

go_image.php


n2s
Click to expand...

That's a "rozador" and Imacasa makes that pattern too. Wish one of my distributors would add a few more Tram. models. Seems like only the Latin/Bush pattern, bolo, and cane knife ever get to the 'states.
 
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