-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Machetes
- Thread starter Teague
- Start date
- Joined
- May 15, 2008
- Messages
- 512
google Ben Meadows Inc. and take a look a Barteaux Machetes. I bought a couple based on a freinds recommendation....better (IMHO) than CS's and more flexible and durable than Ontario. Anrkst6973
- Joined
- Jun 19, 2006
- Messages
- 103
Of the two, Ontario makes a more solid machete. Cold Steel has more patterns available. Both have negative talk surrounding their company practices, if that is relevant to you.
Consider Tramontinas; good tools, and you'd be hard-pressed to find a better priced tool (assuming SMKW's free-shipping). Tramontinas are what I use, and to good effect. They are thinner stock, supposedly softer, and less prone to chipping out. The 12" fits in the $4 sheath, and the Bolo is very versatile.
Martindale also makes good machetes. Thicker than Tramontinas, but my sample is very old. Seems like a great workhorse.
Supposedly the Linder Convex machetes are good, too. Thick stock of stainless.
Search the Wilderness & Survival forum; there's a few threads going about machetes.
Consider Tramontinas; good tools, and you'd be hard-pressed to find a better priced tool (assuming SMKW's free-shipping). Tramontinas are what I use, and to good effect. They are thinner stock, supposedly softer, and less prone to chipping out. The 12" fits in the $4 sheath, and the Bolo is very versatile.
Martindale also makes good machetes. Thicker than Tramontinas, but my sample is very old. Seems like a great workhorse.
Supposedly the Linder Convex machetes are good, too. Thick stock of stainless.
Search the Wilderness & Survival forum; there's a few threads going about machetes.
Last edited:
Absintheur
Banned
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2008
- Messages
- 3,280
If you want solid and strong you can't beat a Woodman's Pal.
I have also been giving a Schrade Bush Knife ( a copy of the Al Mar Pathfinder) a workout in my yard trimming saplings and clearing brush along the river bank and it is doing a great job as well. These are available at Brigade Quartermasters for under 40 bucks.
I have also been giving a Schrade Bush Knife ( a copy of the Al Mar Pathfinder) a workout in my yard trimming saplings and clearing brush along the river bank and it is doing a great job as well. These are available at Brigade Quartermasters for under 40 bucks.
Last edited:
of the 2 you mention i'd have to go with the ontario, great bang for the buck.
you might also want to pick up a few tramontinas as the price is right and the quality is very good according to a majority of the posters on the forum. haven't had any experience at all with barteaux but i've heard good things about them.
you might also want to pick up a few tramontinas as the price is right and the quality is very good according to a majority of the posters on the forum. haven't had any experience at all with barteaux but i've heard good things about them.
I like Ontarios cause they are thick and bomb proof but tramontinas are what I use when I'm working in the field/yard for 6.00 they cheap enough to get every single model and decide which you like. I've got a CS 12" Bowie machete and it seem stout enough but I havent had it sharpened yet but someone whos opinon I trust says they will hold up to hard work and if you need to use it as a possible weapon the new gen CS machetes have decent points on them in case you need to stab something where the Ontario and the Trams dont. Be ready to do some serious sharpening or take it to someone cause most machetes are dull to really dull.
- Joined
- Jun 1, 2007
- Messages
- 290
I won't be buying another Ontario until they fess up and start playing fair.
+ 1 On the Schrade Bush Knife :thumbup:
+ 1 On the Schrade Bush Knife :thumbup:
I've had two 12 inch Ontario's and beat them up pretty good with no ill effects. The thicker blade handles wood better, and chops better. I have a little 10 inch English made bush wacker that my dad made out of a longer English machete. He cut it down to a 10 inch sheepsfoot blade thing so its like a small golok. Works great.
Ontario, Martindale, and Tramontina are some of the best bang for the buck hard working tools out there.
Ontario, Martindale, and Tramontina are some of the best bang for the buck hard working tools out there.
- Joined
- Jul 22, 2007
- Messages
- 1,045
Like an above poster stated, both companies have conntroversy surrounding them. Although Cold Steel seems to get more press, Ontario is just as guilty in their attempt to get rid of Rat Cutlery.
Both make good tools, but I'd go with Tramontina. Order one or two from SMKW, get free shipping.
Both make good tools, but I'd go with Tramontina. Order one or two from SMKW, get free shipping.
- Joined
- Jan 4, 2007
- Messages
- 417
I recently purchased myself a new machete , I shopped around and looked at a few different brands.
I used to use a ex Australian army bolo style machete I bought in like new condition at the markets for $10 au ,its awesome , but after seeing it for up to $100 in disposals stores I wanted a quality beater.
A lot of the machetes i looked at were complete garbage , with flat edges etc.
I could only find cold steel machetes in the heavy machete style , similiar to a cane knife , not the pattern I was after (I was going for another bolo) and they were expensive at about 30$.
looked at the Tramontinas and they were pretty decent , but ended up going with a Martindale , but in a different pattern.
works like a charm , takes a good edge , using one of those swiss istor sharpeners on it.
I can take out branches with one swipe , or a couple of chops , depending on the wood.
I can remember the crocadile brand on machetes that were used around the place , the neighbours had em etc.
Might still get a Tramontina , just to try it out.
One thing I like on the Martidale is the slight 'blood groove' or fuller on the blade. Id expect that would give it a bit more strength and rigidity.
Ive also seen Okapi & Ontario machetes on the net , but never tried them.The Ontarios are fairly expensive here , about 4 X a Martindale or Tramontina ( which priced about the same).
I used to use a ex Australian army bolo style machete I bought in like new condition at the markets for $10 au ,its awesome , but after seeing it for up to $100 in disposals stores I wanted a quality beater.
A lot of the machetes i looked at were complete garbage , with flat edges etc.
I could only find cold steel machetes in the heavy machete style , similiar to a cane knife , not the pattern I was after (I was going for another bolo) and they were expensive at about 30$.
looked at the Tramontinas and they were pretty decent , but ended up going with a Martindale , but in a different pattern.
works like a charm , takes a good edge , using one of those swiss istor sharpeners on it.
I can take out branches with one swipe , or a couple of chops , depending on the wood.
I can remember the crocadile brand on machetes that were used around the place , the neighbours had em etc.
Might still get a Tramontina , just to try it out.
One thing I like on the Martidale is the slight 'blood groove' or fuller on the blade. Id expect that would give it a bit more strength and rigidity.
Ive also seen Okapi & Ontario machetes on the net , but never tried them.The Ontarios are fairly expensive here , about 4 X a Martindale or Tramontina ( which priced about the same).
- Joined
- Jan 4, 2007
- Messages
- 417
Yoda4561 ,
I shouldve said , the Martindale I bought was still 20$ au , and it didn't come with a sheath. But yeah , priced the same as the Tramontina , in the same shop.
I shouldve said , the Martindale I bought was still 20$ au , and it didn't come with a sheath. But yeah , priced the same as the Tramontina , in the same shop.
i'll second them, i bought a pair off smokey mountain for $5.99 each with free shipping for anything over $10. they have around 6 different models all around $6-7
I have two machetes. One is the Ontario cutlass, the beefy 12". It is stout and is part of my truck box survival kit though I do use it, limbing and batoning wood for the fire pit. It is my "chopper". But, it needed some work. I dremeled and sanded the handles pretty much flush with the tang, smoothing out the sharp edges. I also reworked the edge. It is a chopper not a brush cutter. The other one I got as a kid, I'm 43. It is mark U.S. but made in Brazil. It is a thin blade 20ish inch cutting machine. It is what I take to the property to bushwack and trailblaze.
In your shoes. I would get two Tramontinas. The small one and one of the larger ones. I have seen a 10" but they are rare. Possibly the 12 and the 18...
Also, if looking small, I really like the looks of the Linder 10" convex blade machete. I may have to get one to tray out.
In your shoes. I would get two Tramontinas. The small one and one of the larger ones. I have seen a 10" but they are rare. Possibly the 12 and the 18...
Also, if looking small, I really like the looks of the Linder 10" convex blade machete. I may have to get one to tray out.
Some time ago, I raised a similar question ("Need a Real Snot-Whacker") and ended up buying a Kabar Cutlass Machete. This thing is a real workhorse for trees, branches, and saplings. I also got a standard machete for willow tree branches so that I can mow under them without holding my arm in front of my face. Great combo.
Oh, and thanks to everyone for their advice. I was holding my thanks until I did a complete review but never got around to it.
Oh, and thanks to everyone for their advice. I was holding my thanks until I did a complete review but never got around to it.
The Cold Steel Two Handed Machete is a neat item, but there is no point to it, it has a flat leading edge. But it will chop all day long, you can get quite a swing with it. But, I have found that you do need two hands for it, using it with one hand is a bit awkward.