machette recomendations

condor has a bunch of good machetes available now. All with very good leather sheaths. not the new bushcraft series, but I have been using and enjoying them for several years now. The Brian Andrews machete mod is extremely well done as stated above.
be safe... Ted
 
The condors are great...best value for the money as they can cut right out of the box. I like the Imacasa brands more than the Tramontina as far as the cheap $3 machete goes. Now I'm a bit biased since I have a crush on the company, but I have seriously thought the steel on the Imacasa sharpens better out in the field. Don't get me wrong , Trams are good too though, especially if you have time to mod them. They are readily available here in the US too. Depending on where you are at should depend on your thickness. If I was in south carolina I would carry a tapered Imacasa machete. If I went up north, I would either bring a Thick condor, an ontario or an axe.
 
Same here,
I purchased Imacasa products before Condor came out (Imacasa is the parent compnay or viceversa) and you can see in their construction that they are better than Tramontina, Cold Steel, even Martindale, not to start a flame just my opinion. Even in their website they publish Rockwell Hardness, testing, etc... their steels were harder, the handles are permanently attached, no rivets, hard plasctic not rubberish.

I purchased the new Condor line (3 differenet models of machetes) but have not being able to use them. How is the Stainless performing?
 
those KSFs are nice. are they ontarios that BRKT has refinished? or are they just called "modified ontario" as in the shape?
 
those KSFs are nice. are they ontarios that BRKT has refinished? or are they just called "modified ontario" as in the shape?

They started as the heavy 18” Ontario’s.

Heavily modified (see Derricks site for the full list of mods), and custom sheath added.





"If you're not living on the edge, …you're taking up too much space."

Big Mike


Forest & Stream
 
They started as the heavy 18” Ontario’s.

Heavily modified (see Derricks site for the full list of mods), and custom sheath added.





"If you're not living on the edge, …you're taking up too much space."

Big Mike


Forest & Stream

I see....thanks for the info. I didn't know that....thought they might have been specially made by BRKT from their famour A2 steel and thinking what a steal they were.

what is Derrick's site?

what is the blade steel on the machete and the RC?
 
Another vote for Condor! I have three of their machetes, and they've trounced the competition in my book. Super nice stuff. Edge retention is fantastic (I tend to be wailing on relatively sizable trees with mine and hardly ever have to touch up the edge) they're stiff enough that not much energy is lost due to shock or vibration, and the heft/balance is great. I can't say a single bad thing about them.
 
Ive got the 12" Ontario with a BG Andrews mod done by Siguy of this forum. I did an informal chopping comparison with a C.S. Carbon V Trailmaster and an original Becker Brute both sharpened by Siguy. Done on an 8" oak log. The Ontario out chopped both of them.--KV
 
I have a 12" tram that is serving me well. I stropped it on my 1000 grit and it is scary sharp. Last weekend the blade grazed my father-in-laws hand when he was using it. It sliced open his skin with no pressure/effort at all. He needed 6 stitchs from Urgent Care afterwards. But the steel is soft, the edges rolls/chips easily. The wood handle is nice.
 
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