new member with machete questions

C

cwoods

Joined
Mar 11, 2013
Messages
3
Just found this forum and hoping for some help in finding the best tool for the job. I live in Alaska and am out in the woods as much as possible. My yearly moose hunt alone is reason enough for me to spend money on a better bushwacking tool. I have been using a army surplus machete until using it up and buying a Walmart special last year and spending the better part of a full day whacking 1"-3" alders with it getting the machines to all the game bags. The Walmart special worked me over even more than the old relic I used before it.
I would like to find a very worthwhile upgrade and am at a loss with all that's out there to choose from not to mention the Khukuris I discovered on the net which looks great for the bigger stuff but not sure how long you would want to slash at the alders we fight through. Boy I sure would love some suggestions from those of you who are knowledgable on "bushwhackers "!
 
Welcome to Bladeforums!

Lets see if we can get you some advice in this Outdoor Gear forum.
 
Lots of very good options out there--I'd suggest a look at the offerings by Condor and Imacasa. A Condor 15" Bolo or 18" El Salvador would likely suit your needs well, or an 18" Eco Survivor if looking for a lighter blade.
 
Check out Colhane on youtube. He is a machete genius. For hardwoods he recommends an Ontario 12". He mods them to work even better. I've done his mods and love them.
 
Can't go wrong with a Condor machete & for the money the Tramontinas are awsome, they just take a little TLC !
 
rnpollard said:
Check out Colhane on youtube. He is a machete genius. For hardwoods he recommends an Ontario 12". He mods them to work even better. I've done his mods and love them.
Click to expand...

Personally I think it's completely unnecessary to put a scandi portion at the base. Just sharpen the whole dang thin nice and thin (15 degrees per side) and it'll carve wood like a Mora and the edge still holds up under chopping or batoning. ;)

On Ontarios I often like to bring the edge up to the point where the secondary hollow grind is eliminated.
 
Thank you for the feedback fellas. I just ordered an 18" Condor El Salvador.... Almost ordered one of the Tops but figured mabey that would be overkill and unnecessary? Anything I can do to the Condor to make it even better?
 
They're pretty good to go out of the box. Maybe a little light edge refinement, but they're more than ready to go.
 
Thanks 42, Im hoping I see the difference over the one I bought at Walmart last year....no matter how much I tried to sharpen it most every blow had 1/2 the effect of my hunting partner right next to me swinging his 30 yr old military issue. Im just hoping 18" is enough length now.
 
It's easily about 800% better than the Wal*Mart piece of garbage. :)
 
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