Need a machete

If you can find one ( may have been dropped after the change in ownership) the Cold Steel "Chinese War Sword" machete was one I always wanted to try.
I still might get one, tho truth be told I have no use for it, at all, at all, now that I've retired ... except perhaps for protection from hungry various "domesticated" and wild K9 species that "think" a old man riding an adult trike, or pushing a rollator walker down the highway is "LUNCH!!!" or an between meal snack. 😇
 
Swp321 said:
around the house breaking down camp fire wood, etc
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I like parangs for that type of use, or a chopper. Machetes are generally thinner.

Myparang brand has some good stuff such as the duku chandong. Something like the rtak II or ontario SP plus knives that are bigger.

Becker BK9 is decent for such things as well.

Terava skrama is a solid wood processor and chopper as well.
 
A villager finish khukri from Himalayan Imports would fit the bill for wood processing and tasks of that nature.
 
Here's some pictures of things I pick for wood processing. The marbles bolo machete is mostly there to show you how thin machetes tend to be compared to more dedicated wood processors like parangs and kukuris. But, for lighter wood, bolos do decently since they have a weight-forward design. I keep the main edge for lighter cutting and sharpened the back edge more obtuse for chopping wood with less worry of denting the edge, since machetes are also run very soft compared knives.

Depending on how much other stuff you need, I find the RTAK II balanced pretty well for some slashing work and it can baton really well. The BK9 is in a similar realm but the RTAK works for my hand better.

For pure wood chopping, the my parang heavy duku chandong or HI kukuri are what I would pick as they are thicker and split wood better. Both are also 5160 and heat treated to be used roughly for a long time. I like the myparang handle a lot.

The Ontario SP-5 is a great cheaper option, around $50. It's really close to performance of the RTAK II, IMO, and is a better value. I bought both at the same time since I'm in research mode for big knives. You could get the bolo machete and SP-5 and still be within your budget.

One disclaimer on some of these knives, like the RTAK II and SP-5, I re-profiled the edges as they came too thick for my tastes, even for choppers. If you don't want to do that, maybe a different option, like a BK9 or myparang, would be better.

The marbles machete is probably the only machete I've ever bought that had a useable edge right out of the packaging. They are made by imacasa/condor so the quality is very similar. The orange paint won't last long.

https://imgur.com/a/hC7pxA3

I included a swamp rat R9, which I really like too but they're not readily available and above your price range. The handle seems to either work for people or it doesn't and it works great for me. Better than I expected. It would stink as a machete, as is, but makes a nice camp knife and chopper. I'll strip the coating eventually. It's one of the newer additions.
 
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I'm thinking of grabbing some thin 8670 and making simple and tough machetes with wood handles at around this price point if I can find a generic nylon sheath to put them in. The benefits to the end user will be an out of the box machete that is at least paper slicing sharp with excellent ergonomics in a steel that won't quit. Just an idea at this point. But with 8670 in something like 3/32" I can give them a tall zero ground scandi or narrow saber grind, however you want to look at it, and still afford to take the time to make the ergos what they should be for an efficient and luxuriously comfortable user experience.
 
David Mary said:
I'm thinking of grabbing some thin 8670 and making simple and tough machetes with wood handles at around this price point if I can find a generic nylon sheath to put them in. The benefits to the end user will be an out of the box machete that is at least paper slicing sharp with excellent ergonomics in a steel that won't quit. Just an idea at this point. But with 8670 in something like 3/32" I can give them a tall zero ground scandi or narrow saber grind, however you want to look at it, and still afford to take the time to make the ergos what they should be for an efficient and luxuriously comfortable user experience.
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If 18", there are quite a few options out there as many latin machetes are sold without sheaths. Prices I saw this week range from $5 to $15 from large US knife retailers. I imagine Canada has something similar.

I would not recommend a zero ground scandi on a machete since they're such a rough use tool. It would perform well for a time that way but the inevitable edge damage, likely rolls, would be a nuisance.
 
I want to give people a one stop shop so they can grab a custom for a good price, take it out of the box and go to work.
 
bikerector said:
I would not recommend a zero ground scandi on a machete since they're such a rough use tool. It would perform well for a time that way but the inevitable edge damage, likely rolls, would be a nuisance.
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I understand what you're saying, but two factors: 8670 is outstandingly tough, and I would rather customers have the ability to make it thicker behind the edge themselves, rather than have to thin it out themselves, since making a more obtuse edge is much less work than making it thinner behind the edge.
 
Let's not get too far into the weeds on commerce here, as there are several other more appropriate venues for that discussion on this site.
 
I really can't complain about my trusty old cheapo Corona machete. It periodically needs to be sharpened, but so does every knife. I don't clear as much brush as I used to, but it is still a good bushwhacking machete for work.

I have other more expensive knives, not least of which is my beloved CPK Light Chopper, but that cost more than 13 times as much as the Corona back when you could get a CPK LC new. The Corona isn't as fun to hike with on my belt, but for the type of work you are describing, I don't think I would need anything more elaborate than a basic machete.

That said, I do still dream about picking up a Baryonyx machete (I think they are made by Condor?). I think they look like an awesome tool, but I have never actually pulled the trigger on one.
 
abbydaddy said:
I really can't complain about my trusty old cheapo Corona machete. It periodically needs to be sharpened, but so does every knife. I don't clear as much brush as I used to, but it is still a good bushwhacking machete for work.

I have other more expensive knives, not least of which is my beloved CPK Light Chopper, but that cost more than 13 times as much as the Corona back when you could get a CPK LC new. The Corona isn't as fun to hike with on my belt, but for the type of work you are describing, I don't think I would need anything more elaborate than a basic machete.

That said, I do still dream about picking up a Baryonyx machete (I think they are made by Condor?). I think they look like an awesome tool, but I have never actually pulled the trigger on one.
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The baryonyx machete is a great many purpose tool. The negatives: the broad blade makes it heavy and somewhat awkward to carry. But, it can handle most tasks well where I live in Michigan. It is much too heavy for a long day of clearing light vegetation, where the inexpensive latin machetes really shine.
 
Some really nice machetes you all are posting!

Quick question for the OP. Planning to use it or display it?

I own an Ontario camper machete. Couple of things it has going for:

1) Coated 1095
2) Orange D-ring handle that protects your grip.
3) Comes with simple nylon sheath
4) Budget friendly

Not a show piece so I can beat this thing up without feeling guilty.
 
It’s for use breaking down wood for camp fire, I live by the fire pit during the cooler months will not be a display piece. I ended up ordering a TOPS The Bestia. It’s 1/4” blade spine, 1095 steel, it’s heavy but not too much for day to day use around a fire. Reviews and videos are good on it. Was a little more than my budget but I think it will work.
 
David Mary said:
I'm thinking of grabbing some thin 8670 and making simple and tough machetes with wood handles at around this price point if I can find a generic nylon sheath to put them in. The benefits to the end user will be an out of the box machete that is at least paper slicing sharp with excellent ergonomics in a steel that won't quit. Just an idea at this point. But with 8670 in something like 3/32" I can give them a tall zero ground scandi or narrow saber grind, however you want to look at it, and still afford to take the time to make the ergos what they should be for an efficient and luxuriously comfortable user experience.
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Would definitely be interested in this.
 
I just got the EXPAT Darien, I can't believe how well it cuts for a small machete, the Kershaw Camp 18 is good too, just hard to find, the Ontario 18 is also good, also needs a regrind. Then the Zombie tools swords work good if you need something longer and more expensive... also work better with a regrind, as chopping tree branches requires a thinner edge than car doors. I'd love to see a machete made out of modern super steels with a more fragile thin edge.. something you would only use on wet wood.
 
The KaBar Zomstro has a thin full flat that does pretty nice double duty work as a foliage cutting tool, that can transition into de-limbing work.

Harder woods will likely cause edge rolling, as the grind is pretty thin.

The handle scales are cheesy though, and begging for a upgrade. Ka-Bar Cro-van seems to be a bit harder and more brittle than other brands, so be cognizant of it's limitations.

For 60 bucks it's a pretty nice tool. The sheath is actually pretty nice too.
 
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