Machete sizes?

3

3wolves

Joined
Dec 28, 2007
Messages
1,061
Im looking to get a machete. I want it to be full thickness and it will be used for chopping and splitting firewood, clearing trails and maybe for quartering deer. Basically a light hatchet. Any opinions on size and blade shape?
Thanks
 
What do you mean by full thickness? Honest to goodness machetes are usually about .080" thick. The American market obsession with blade thickness has resulted in a few machetes a full .125" thick by Cold Steel and Ontario. But with few exceptions, that's about tops. Once they get thicker, they kind of depart from the machete into the big knife/chopper/bowie realm.

Brazilian Tramontinas are proven workhorses. Inexpensive, and come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Ontarios are US made and popular. Cold Steel has a variety of boutique shapes and sizes. All can be reasonable choppers and are good splitters when batoning. But of you want a serious chopper/splitter, nothing will beat an ax.
 
about 1/4 inch. I just meant not the thin ones that you can bend. I have a hatchet for serious work but this will be for short excursions/yardwork. I want the machete for the extra length. i.e you cant cut branches off trees as easily as you can with a strong machete.
 
People who use machetes usually swing them a lot, clearing trails and various tasks, a thick bladed one, which weighs more will tire you out fast and will be less affective. Also I've heard horror stories of people that got one too long and almost cut a leg off!

I would start with a Tramontina, no more then 18" and they do not bend easily and are a great, affective tool for the cost. After you learn how to use it (and still have your limbs) try an Ontario, they are thicker and can cut thicker branches, but you still won't be able to swing it all day like a tram.
6q1g6z6.jpg

good luck and be safe...
 
If you want a thick beast check out the bolos from Reflections of Asia. The curved tip bolo is as heavy as some of my khukuris. You could just get a khuk, maybe an 18" sirupati. The Martindale golok is a good short stout machete. But for a true machete the Trams are very good, don't let the low price fool you, they're tougher than they ought to be.

Frank
 
I wouldn't use a machete to spilit firewood; a hatchet will do it better.

I would also recommend a thinner machete. Heavy machetes become tiresome to use quickly.
 
Dantor said:
I've heard horror stories of people that got one too long and almost cut a leg off!
Click to expand...

First time i used the cold steel two handed machete, i swung hard because i was chopping a small willow down and the blade went completely through the little tree and hit the truck tire cutting completly through it As if it wasnt even there! and it was about a six or eight inch long gap. The same day i also hit my foot with it as i had become tired and didn't know when to quit... Thank God for steel toed wellingtons.:)
 
Another option is the survival golok by Valiant comes in sizes from 11" to > 15" and is 0.25" thick! These guys are used for chopping and splitting wood as opposed to springy vegetation like a machete. They are quite cheap. Also Bark River makes a golok, that is more expensive, but has a nice mircata handle.

The user Sodak just posted some comments on using a Kukri versus the Golok and indicated his preference of an HI Kurkri.
 
3wolves said:
Im looking to get a machete. I want it to be full thickness and it will be used for chopping and splitting firewood, clearing trails and maybe for quartering deer. Basically a light hatchet. Any opinions on size and blade shape?
Thanks
Click to expand...

Machetes are thin. Bolos, Barongs are thick
 
I like the Cold Steel line up, they have a blade style for what ever you need & they don't cost much either :thumbup: I pack a coldsteel kukri machete & love it, a little stone work & you can shave w/this thing ! It resharpens very easy & holds an edge good to.
 
sdt11670 said:
First time i used the cold steel two handed machete, i swung hard because i was chopping a small willow down and the blade went completely through the little tree and hit the truck tire cutting completly through it As if it wasnt even there! and it was about a six or eight inch long gap. The same day i also hit my foot with it as i had become tired and didn't know when to quit... Thank God for steel toed wellingtons.:)
Click to expand...

sdt11670 makes a great point. When you set about hacking brush and limbs, there is a potential danger of self-inflicted wounds. :eek:

I recommend steel toed boots, gloves, and safety glasses, at a minimum. Have a good first aid kit handy, and a cell phone. Then, be conscious of cutting away from yourself and your companions.

Then, have fun. After all, bush wacking can be great fun.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top