Machete vs. hatchet

If you're talking about a thin, Central American style machete, I'd take the hatchet. But Condor makes a few "machetes", like their Golok, Barong and Panang, that are made from 1/4" thick steel, and are more like extended heavy knives than like the thin machetes I grew up with. My preference would be for one of these.
 
As mentioned, depends where you're at/going and what you're doing.

I don't clear a big 'ol space for my camping - i like to keep a small signature, but thats just how i was taught.
 
shangchi108 said:
If you're talking about a thin, Central American style machete, I'd take the hatchet. But Condor makes a few "machetes", like their Golok, Barong and Panang, that are made from 1/4" thick steel, and are more like extended heavy knives than like the thin machetes I grew up with. My preference would be for one of these.
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There are many Central/South American machetes with thicker blades as well--we just tend not to see them up here for some reason. True, they aren't 1/4" thick at the spine (though the Condor models that are that thick have an extreme distal taper, so bear that in mind) but many are 2mm-1/8" thick or have broad blades that compensate superbly for the thin stock.

Putting your mass behind the cutting edge instead of to the sides allows for deeper cuts for the same energy used since less "work" in the physics sense has to be done. :thumbup:
 
Machete for me too. Much more versatile tool for overall use. I just find that machetes and big knives are overall better choppers for me.

It was re-emphasized to me again yesterday. Just for giggles, I got my BSA hatchet that's been customized a bit with epoxy cord wrapped handle, blued finish, and convexed 25 degree edge. It's not shaving sharp, but it will slice printer paper held by the corner relatively well. Put it up against my Kabar Potbelly with 7" long, 1/4" thick blade, chopping a hard, dry, treated, 1x6 board.

It was no contest. The Potbelly beat it by a mile. It took 3-5 chops of the axe to match 2 chops of the Potbelly, and the Potbelly cut much cleaner than the hatchet did.

So a big knife or machete is my choice. If I need to hammer something, there'll be a rock or log around for me to use.
 
bladefoolish said:
......I've always been a hatchet guy, but hey, you machete fans can try to change my mind.
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Carry what you want, but personally I would like to see how you use what you carry, even if it's only splitting wood :D

Is this really too much to ask? :D




Kind regards
Mick
 
SouthernCross said:
Carry what you want, but personally I would like to see how you use what you carry, even if it's only splitting wood :D

Is this really too much to ask? :D




Kind regards
Mick
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Well, these days how I USE it is either to cut less than 3" diameter wood into campfire sized pieces, to cut off smaller limbs, and use the flat side as a hammer. For larger jobs I use a chain saw and a gasoline powered wood spiltter. I used to live in North Central Texas, now in Northwestern Pennsylvania, and rarely found the need to hack a new path through the wilderness. If I did, I'd use a machete. But my camping is usually purely recreational, and I try to avoid anything that resembles work.

But, if you're easily amused and, want to see me chopping wood, I'll take some next time and trade ya. (Oh, and did I mention that I don't really like Swiss Army knives?)
 
Today I've carried my Gransfors Wildlife on a hike through the forest.Tucked into the belt it rides very comfortably on the hip and quite securely too :thumbup: It's perfect size for day hikes - it aslo chops excellent for its size and can be used as a knife in an emergency ;) I love it :D
 
I cant figure out what a hatchet is used for. I use a ontario mil spec machete for anything my axe wont do. Its got some good weight and size. Cuts in deep for chopping, easily takes of small twigs and branches from bigger logs. I used it today as a hammer, to hammer in a wedge while splitting wood (using the flat side of the blade). I get is paper slicing sharp and it holds an edge great. Aside from coming out of the box a butter knife. I use it to baton with on small to large logs. I had it bent 3 inches off axis while taking apart a huge knot, once I got it out it went right back to straight. It is a tad heavy for clearing light brush and I usually let my harbor freight 18" machette do that job. Which all jokes aside is a good machete. Its better than most other cheapo ones I have tried. Blade doesn't bend and handles very comfortable. The saw back is nice but I never use it. I did have to tape the handle up a bit when it started to come apart. but t costs $3.50 so I got my moneys worth and I got a new one when I brought it back to the store. The handle only came apart after I chopped up a few 6" logs. Should have got the axe for that job but the axe is all the way on the other side of the yard and I am standing right here so, obviously thats not an option.
 
Everyone had good points, ie............. location, task at hand and weight. Down here in Florida I find the Condor long parang is the best tool for me.
 
I know a lot of people on here wouldn't think of going into the woods for a weekend without several large edged tools, but I rarely find them necessary. I typically carry a small folding pocket knife, and a moderate fixed blade (with a 4" blade being the biggest I would carry, and usually less). I don't go into the woods intent on hacking a bunch of stuff up just to play around with my machetes and hatchets.

If I'm in the backcountry (meaning we've hiked in some distance), and if I am in a place that allows fires (not always a given in my part of the country), I might bring a small machete, since it is much lighter than a hatchet. With a small folding knife, a fixed blade and a chopper, I can process any firewood in the backcountry that I would need to. But most of the time, for backcountry fires which I tend to keep pretty small, I wouldn't say I truly need all three of those tools.

In a frontcountry camp - meaning at a car camp where I'm not concerned about weight, I bring an axe.
 
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IMO, two different tools for different jobs. Where I hunt, there is way plenty of thick bush where swinging a hatchet to get through would just be silly. I'd imagine that further west, you don't worry about that kind of brush and a hatchet would be way more usefull.

Right tool for the job, IMO. Here, I'd take the machete.... no doubt.
 
I have used the cheep cold steel pangas on hardwood for a long time. They work but they get damaged but still work. They are light and you can also baton with it.
 
Unless its dead summer, I always take an axe, and either my Vic one handed Trekker, Wenger soldiers knife, or a fixed blade smaller than 8" overall. I guess in the Northwest, an axe seems more useful...
 
If you do run into a wall with the need of having both- get a light khukuri. I would pick a Sirupati in a heart beat.
It will compromise on things you want to do but skill set will make it easier.

I like leverage when using a tool. That being said a machete fits the bill and what i always use. I haven't come to a point i need to chop logs to build cabin and if i must do so, i have my Silky saw ready.

Pant-puller (heavy blade) is a big no-no for camping/hiking trips.
 
I've been carving a couple miles of trails crisscrossing all over the place across my new property, cutting through blackberries and trees and evil thorny hardwood shrubs. I've yet to find a piece of wood or plant that a hatchet would take down any easier than a machete would, and that includes a bunch of "sucker" trees up to 6" thick. A 22" tramontina bites so deep into green wood that it literally takes 3 hits to knock down a smaller sized tree. 2 hits to take a 2 inch deep chunk out of one side, then one more into the back and a light push sends em' falling...
 
Not that the machete wouldn't come in handy; there are plenty of blackberries, devil's club, and less aggressive undergrowth that would make one very useful in the Pacific northwest. But, I read the book "Hatchet" as a young man and it was very formative in shaping my outdoor attitudes. All you need is a hatchet..... Or a machete..:D
 
Not that the machete wouldn't come in handy; there are plenty of blackberries, devil's club, and less aggressive undergrowth that would make one very useful in the Pacific northwest. But, I read the book "Hatchet" as a young man and it was very formative in shaping my outdoor attitudes. All you need is a hatchet..... Or a machete..:D
 
nezpercelands said:
Not that the machete wouldn't come in handy; there are plenty of blackberries, devil's club, and less aggressive undergrowth that would make one very useful in the Pacific northwest. But, I read the book "Hatchet" as a young man and it was very formative in shaping my outdoor attitudes. All you need is a hatchet..... Or a machete..:D
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What a wonderful book. Also spurred my love of the outdoors and of survival. I think I had read it at least 6 times when I was younger.
 
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