machete vs large knife???

I think most machetes' have a much lower rc hardness than your standard survival knife.. THis makes them difficult to break but prone to bending and contributes to the edge rolling or even chipping if it's taken down to too fine an edge..But I'm not a real steel buff or edge master sharpener... so that's just my guess
 
I'm not knocking machetes. They are awesome for brush clearing, trail clearing and use on green vegetation. When it comes to work on dried out seasoned wood, I'd prefer a heavier bladed knife for that. I saw 2 machetes edges fail this past winter when we went to Hawk Mtn.
Scott
 
I find machetes rather useless compared to other options: axes, hatchets and large knives. Too much flex, not enough edge-holding, not strong enough, don't bite as well, and are awkward to handle and carry. Now, if I was going to a jungle, I would have use for one, but not here. Especially when it's cold, machetes with their thin, soft blades just plain fall apart like glass.
 
All depends on what you are cutting and as Elen said, if it's colder, thicker is better.
I do really like my 12 inch tramontina, though. It's very light and easy to swing, takes an edge quick and easy and holds it for a surprisingly long while.
 
back in Nova scotia I have a 23" tramontina and I used it ALOT around the yard. We had an Ice storm and a large poplar fell over our drive way. it was about 8" thick and had multiple limbs 3"-4" thick. about 20 mins later is was out of the way, but had some nice sized dings in the edge. Over all though there wasent sever damage over all, just a roll's.

something else too, with a good edge on it,(file sharpened) It would clean slice a 3" poplar, it was amazing.
 
After camping for some 60 years, I have never really had to chop anything to make a good camp. Therefore I really have no use for a thick heavy knife. The 12 inch Tram will easile chop anything I might ever have reason to chop and for me is much better for cutting and clearing brush that a shorter thicker knife. Thats just me though. Give me a 12-14 inch Tram and a Mora and turn me loose. I Do carry the heavies knives if I am Boat or truck camping but otherwise give me light and thin.
 
I've used both and for a typical outing in "the woods" an 18" Ontario coupled with a 4" fixed blade and a SAK or mulitool was enough. For hiking in and camping (using a stove) I would leave the machete at home. For years I'd throw everything but the kitchen sink in my bag or car and come home without even touching most of it. I'm getting too old for that.

As has been said over and over again here and elsewhere-match the tool to the needs.

Will I be building a log cabin? Better bring the Hudson Bay Axe and two man saw (and the buddy to get on the other side).

Will I be building bonfires using seasoned hard woods? Again, better get the axe and splitting tools.

Will I be clearing a trail for Dr. Livingston? Better bring the machete.

Will I be fighting lions and tigers and bears with my bare hands? Better bring that 14" Busse.

Will I be clearing sight lines for a tree stand? Shucks, just bring one of those nifty folding camp saws (quiet and clean...) or a pair of pruners.

Will I be making a sapling and tarp shelter? hmmm...heck I can do that with a SAK.

Will I be fileting fish? How about a filet knife?

Will I be gutting North American game? How about a nice 4" fixed blade skinner and bone saw?

Will I be riding in my car to a typical American state 'camp ground' and using an existing site? hmmm...I could probably get away with a three bladed stockman and plastic knives, forks, and spoons.

Not trying to bust on anyone (well to be honest I guess I am...), but maybe we should just admit that the reason we carry those large 'camp knives' and all our other gear is because we just plain ENJOY it....

We enjoy hacking at stuff...
We enjoy sharpening stuff...
We enjoy feeling like we are prepared for the end of the world even though there's a supermarket 20 minutes away.

There is nothing wrong with appreciating, carrying, and using, a fine blade no matter what size it is, but rarely does it fall into the 'need' category in *my* opinion.
 
Mongrel, Well said and true. I don't do much car camping... The camping I do engage in is usually on state land off trail. I think the term "need" is probably over used. In my last trip as I mentioned I couple my 12 inch tram with a great custom necker (stomper E.W.O.K.) a necker or a folder will do everything I require a knife to do 9 out of ten times, and before I joined this forum I'd think nothing of going camping for 2 or 3 days with a sak as my only knife. THis particular time I was glad I had a long blade.. as i had caught the tail end of a 3 day down poor and everyhtin was wringing wet. using a long sharp blade as a draw knife I was able to free alot of dry shavings and than get some good kindling from the core of logs that appeared saturated.. It's still warm here relatively speaking so I could have survived without a fire that night but I'm sure glad I didn't have to.
 
Thanks for the kind words guys.

Again, I should clarify that I LOVE a big knife, and I LOVE to cut and hack and chop and shave and whittle. When I can I even bring along five or six throwing knives and an old hatchet just because I LOVE to throw things into wood :D once in awhile.

But for just plain getting the job done it really doesn't take much.

:thumbup:
 
Lions and tigers and bears, you say?

Bring 'em on, I say!
One of them little machetes would probably bounce right off a big bear's melon. ;)

But this on the other hand...

Busse%20CGFBM05_DSC1703.jpg


...will also chop dry, hard maple like a small camp axe.

Big knives are fun.

Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
Am I the only one that always took a hatchet/machete/large knife since I was old enough to be allowed one?

:p
 
desmobob said:
Lions and tigers and bears, you say?

Bring 'em on, I say!
One of them little machetes would probably bounce right off a big bear's melon. ;)

But this on the other hand...

...will also chop dry, hard maple like a small camp axe.

Big knives are fun.

Stay sharp,
desmobob
Click to expand...

Know why it's called a Battle Mistress? Because it's what girls carry. :p

That's not a knoyfe, this is a knoyfe:
GiantChitlangiBowie08.jpg


J/K Nice Busse. :D
 
Cpl Punishment said:
Know why it's called a Battle Mistress? Because it's what girls carry. :p

That's not a knoyfe, this is a knoyfe:
GiantChitlangiBowie08.jpg


J/K Nice Busse. :D
Click to expand...

I meant to ask you what knife that was when I saw you post it in another thread, is it a HI piece? I can't help it, i just want one of those!
 
I was struggling with this when I started making my first few "sierra machetes" or the big camp choppers. What I've done is keep the thin blade idea of the machete (though at 1/8 inch) and give it a bit of oomph for a small (by machete standards) blade by adding breadth, then taking it away again with the long bowie clip! Kind of a weird thing to describe but they chop well-

TonyM has definitely put his through the paces, and posted some pics in other threads (I think anothe blade fromsomewhere broke during the log splitting, have to find that thread). I've been doing them in the 7-10 inch range and they do a good job as general use knives as well as choppers.

That all being said, the name comes from the environment. I dunno but I'd pack something thicker like scott and richard make in a different landscape. And hell, I had a lot of fun with that big bushbeater I did. Geometry matters a lot, as Scott said.

For carry, I personally think the low carry with a thigh strap or a baldric work best, but if you can get a sheath with the option to pack mount, that's good, too.

I took a lot of inspiration from the old short military 10 inch machete I picked up once upon a time.
 
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Koyote. I like the heck out of your thinking on this one. I guess thats why I like the 12 inch tram. I do quite a bit of boat camping we often get on a big Canadian lake and spend the week hunting and fishing before returning to camp. I have used the tram to cut meat and make shelters, I have even filleted a few pike with it although I almost always have a fillet knife along I also usually have a good hatchet in the gear box of the boat. I love that Koyote knife as well. I use my JK Camp cook knife a lot for outdoor cooking chores. OK I also like the Tram because it's cheap.

I have done a lot of bear hunting up there as well and I don't care to hunt them with a knife, not even a Busse.:D I prefer the 45-70:thumbup:
 
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