Machete thread!

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Whitlashflash

Joined
Aug 28, 2011
Messages
86
I absolutely adore machetes of all shapes and sizes, and have been using one since I was a child living in Australia.
I didn't know what it was at the time, but now that I did some research, it looks like a Colima style blade.

Now that I've recently moved out of town into a densely wooded area in SC, USA; I've decided to buy a few more.

I've been looking at Imacasa, and Tramontina.
Does any body out there have recommendations on these?

Also, which blade styles should I use? Latin? Bolo? Another Colima?
I'll be cutting lots of vines, saplings and kudzu (Evil stuff :mad:)

Also, post pics of some of your machetes that get some hard use, or just stories in general?

I think they're such awesome inventions. :D
 
tramontina and imacasa are good brands, i would also add condor to your list of companies.

a latin machete should do well for you. baryonyxknife.com (a good seller and member here) carries both tramontina and condor.

i got a good friend of mine an 18" condor eco survivor, he's very happy with it.
 
I have a few condors. I like em, but I'm looking for a cheap user and abuser.
I have a duku chandong parang I got from Malaysia... Handmade by a Sarawak fella, I think.
The thing is gorgeous.
 
Whitlashflash said:
I have a few condors. I like em, but I'm looking for a cheap user and abuser.
I have a duku chandong parang I got from Malaysia... Handmade by a Sarawak fella, I think.
The thing is gorgeous.
Click to expand...

on baryonyxknife.com the condor eco survivor is $30 with a sheath, that's not very expensive. the 18" tramontina is $15 (no sheath).

the fit and finish on the condor eco survivor was excellent by the way.

if you have a few condor's why not use them? for good budget machetes both tramontina and imacasa are good.
 
Thanks! Do you use a machete frequently?
I tend to use one for everything. (My parang right now)
In fact, I go out of my way to find excuses to use it.
The wife thinks I'm insane... :D
 
If you're primarily tackling vines and kudzu check out the Imacasa "cuma" model. I have a (discontinued) 18" one that Joezilla was kind enough to snag for me and it's great for that kind of work. I'm partial to the Condor Viking as it handles both hardwood and greenery very well, but I can understand if that's outside the price range you were looking at.

Be prepared for plenty of pics this weekend. :D


You also might find an American scythe with a bush/weed blade on it might do very nicely. :cool:
 
jimnolimit said:
on baryonyxknife.com the condor eco survivor is $30 with a sheath, that's not very expensive. the 18" tramontina is $15 (no sheath).

the fit and finish on the condor eco survivor was excellent by the way.

if you have a few condor's why not use them? for good budget machetes both tramontina and imacasa are good.
Click to expand...

It's worth noting that the Tramontina has been an in-house fit/finish/edge makeover. ;)
 
Wow, the Cuma is pretty friggin sweet.
I might just get one...
I have a feeling I'm going to be buying a fair few machetes at this point.
I have a LOT of "New Growth" clearing to do at the new place.
 
+1 for Condor. I love my modified Golok
DSC04019.jpg
 
I know I'm not Singularity, but the bolos hold up GREAT. The cane knife isn't a Tram though. Looks like it has a maker's mark on the blade, but I can't read it in the photograph. I like the form of it, though!
 
Machetes are AWESOME !!! That is all ! LOL OK, not really. There is more. I love them as well. One of the most functional "bang for the buck" cutter there is---period. I have even batoned with mine. They are cheap enough that you can even mod them for a particular thing if you want. I LOVES me some machetes.

Here is one i modded.

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FortyTwoBlades said:
I know I'm not Singularity, but the bolos hold up GREAT. The cane knife isn't a Tram though. Looks like it has a maker's mark on the blade, but I can't read it in the photograph. I like the form of it, though!
Click to expand...

I looked at your products, and I'm totally digging the Trams there.
But I see no Imacasa? Do you like trams better then, or?
 
Nice parang! I got an 18" Latin pattern Tramontina from FortyTwo and I highly recommend his. He knocks the sharp edges off of the handles, smooths it all out and puts a nice edge on them. He can tell you more about it though. I am also in SC and have to deal with the same sorts of things you do. This Tram of mine is so sharp and capable, I can wrist-flick through smaller stuff. Crazy. It works great for Kudzu, brambles, blackberries, vines, saplings, etc.

I wish I could afford the Condor Viking, but even a longer Tram would be nice some times. They are so cheap, I'll get one eventually.

Whereabouts in SC are you? Sounds like you are well-traveled!
 
Whitlashflash said:
I looked at your products, and I'm totally digging the Trams there.
But I see no Imacasa? Do you like trams better then, or?
Click to expand...

I love Imacasa. They're Condor's parent company, and I own quite a few myself! ;) The reason I don't have any at the moment is I'm still in the "startup" phase (worked in the industry for many years, but only been "on my own" for a tad over a year now) and orders with Imacasa have a $2500 minimum order--which is a TON of machetes! I may have just found an alternative source but I can't say for sure yet. Imacasa, unlike their Condor division, has no established distribution in the United States at this time which makes smaller orders impossible. :)
 
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