machetes

I have an old Martindale that I cant find a use for. My axe is far superior for cutting wood. It doesnt cut grass or multiflora rose very well. I guess they are made more for a rain forest than a North American hardwood forest.
 
I used to use a small Barteaux cane knife, but have since changed to a Tramontina 12" or a modded 10" bolo. Good all around knives. I wish the 10" Tramontina were more widely available. The only place I've seen online in the US is here, paired with a nice sheath, near the bottom of the page.
 
MacHete said:
Myal- where did you get your Okapi machetes? I cannot seem to find a dealer in the U.S. :confused:
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I buy mine direct from Okapi ... they have ( or had anyway ) policy of dealing with individual customers who are in countries that do not have a dealer close by . There was no dealer in my area of the world when I contacted them .

I dont now of any other big manufacturer that does this , it impressed the hell out of me . I began by buying a single $2 knife .

You can try ringing around or browsing websites listed here :
http://www.okapi-knives.com/Contact Us.html

after you tried your local guys , and done looking at ebay and stuff , if you have no joy still , message me , I can probably dig one up for you if you cant get one anywhere else .
 
I like the Okapi as well. The only complaint I have about them is that the grips are too small for my hands. I put an oversize wooden grip on mine and it works well for me.
 
16"Tramontina ,but 12" Ontario or Tramontina cut to 13" if I take combination with hawk or hatchet.
 
I make sheaths by myself.I have some made out of leather,but those are more expensive than machete itself,so old jeans or some other thick material layered in three layers and glued between layers with waterproof carpenter glue,that is what I do now.Or,any leather from unusable boots or jacket would do.
 
Thanks for the link, Myal! :) Unfortunately, the only two US dealers do not appear to stock the machetes- only the folders. I'm still gonna poke around Okapi's site and figure out what models I might be interested in, and then contact the dealers about the possibility of ordering them. :cool:
 
I have a couple of Ontarios but lately I've been using a Gerber Brush Thinner. Great tool for what I do with it and holds it's edge a long time. It's the funny looking hook shaped blade with a long handle. The hook holds the vegetation in the cutting zone better than a straight blade.
 
For most work where i live, the 12 inch Ontario works really well. It is big enough for most chopping and small enough to work a a only knife if need be.
 
Enjoy the blades said:
I have a couple of Ontarios but lately I've been using a Gerber Brush Thinner. Great tool for what I do with it and holds it's edge a long time. It's the funny looking hook shaped blade with a long handle. The hook holds the vegetation in the cutting zone better than a straight blade.
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I bought the Fiskars branded one at Walmart a couple months ago, and have been pretty pleased with it.
 
Sharp Eye said:
Where do you get a sheath for a Tramontina without spending a fortune?
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Smokey Mountain Knife Works sells them for a bout $4... They don't have one for the Bolo, but most other sizes are available. For kydex,Bearthedog recommends Leatherface (I've been looking at those, price is right). For leather, you might ask Ilbruche to make you one! Or we can all hope that Pict brings back a pallet load from Brazil:D.
 
CS kukri machete
2502917571_d97caaca33.jpg

14'' Tram
2471833901_da42b24753.jpg
 
Has anybody read the new Tactical Knives issue? Jeff Randall has a great article about machetes, he talks about them as survival tools in both South and North America, interesting stuff....
 
If I ever need to cut some Cattails or Horseweeds then my machete will get a workout.
 
you guys are making me want to to buy some machetes!
:D
I have three machetes i bought when i was a teenager.
They've been hiding in my closet for well over a decade.
Two Diamond Brand and a Tramontina Bolo.
twodiamondbrandmachetesandtramontin.jpg

Lousy photo, lol.
I'm going to take the handles off and rehandle them.
Does Tramontina still sell Bolo style machetes?
 
tholiver said:
I'm going to take the handles off and rehandle them. Does Tramontina still sell Bolo style machetes?
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They do, but the only ones I can find around here, any more, are significantly thinner in the blade making them less useful for my purposes. Since yours is older, it probably has the thicker blade.

Doc
 
DOC-CANADA said:
They do, but the only ones I can find around here, any more, are significantly thinner in the blade making them less useful for my purposes. Since yours is older, it probably has the thicker blade.

Doc
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My Bolo is definitely thicker than my diamond brand machetes.
Hmmm the Bolo is 3mm thick according to my cheapy Canadian tire plastic calipers.
A buddy of mine has an even older Bolo Tramontina his father left him.
Its the same thickness as mine but feels heavier and has "Bolo Hand-forged" impressed into the metal.
That particular machete is at least 30 years old.
 
MacHete said:
Thanks for the link, Myal! :) Unfortunately, the only two US dealers do not appear to stock the machetes- only the folders. I'm still gonna poke around Okapi's site and figure out what models I might be interested in, and then contact the dealers about the possibility of ordering them. :cool:
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FWIW, Okapi machetes pop up from time to time on EBay, usually from a gent in Australia. I haven't sprung for one yet- between the weak dollar and the additional shipping I keep spending my loose change on other, closer blades.

JR
 
JR42- I have a "saved search" for machetes on eBay. I've bought several different brands/styles/vintages. Most are future restoration projects, but an occassional ready-to-use has popped up. :cool:

I do watch for Okapis, and some other makes, but geez- there is a lot of crap to sift through to find anything worthwhile. :rolleyes:
 
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