Similar...but Better Built Machete???

Kestrel452 said:
A well-built, good looking machete that will hold an edge for a while and resist corrosion.
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What other special qualities are you looking for? Hickory n Steel and I have gone round and round on the Condor vs Imacasa thing before. The difference basically boils down to I generally prefer a more finished product and really like the Condor Sheaths. I also find the orange paint on the Marbles machetes pretty eye catching. I have been willing to pay the extra for the Condor product with the leather sheath but not some of the $100+ machetes that are made that are out there.

I was thinking you need something of moderate length, traditional in design, fairly rigid but not excessively rigid, and some sort of stainless steel to resist rust. A good handle would be a big plus. That's why I suggested the Condor Swampmaster machete. The hooked shape is quite useful. Apparently Condor is shifting from 420HC to 1075 (both were available for a while) to only 1075 on that particular machete. I did a quick search and the 420HC ones are still available. I in fact may buy one before they are all gone. It seems to work real well overall.
 
Your choice of machete really depends on what kind of work you will be doing with it. The heavier, thicker machetes like many of the Condors, tend to be better choppers. The lighter, longer blades like Imacasa and Tramontina are easier to use for longer periods in lighter brush and canes. I like the Condor Golok for chopping and thicker branches. In brush a Tramontina works better for me.

The Baryonyx machete works well across a wider range of conditions.
 
Kestrel452 said:
It would be nice to have something more robust, as it's for my SHTF tool stash. That's why I'm a little nutty on how well it holds an edge and resists rusting.
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The good old SHTF stash..... the tools that never get used.... Got it. (Just kidding.) Just about any of the name machete will hold an edge if you don't cut dirt and rocks. But it's a question of how long with normal use? The rust thing.... just pay attention and wipe it down with oil after a day's use.

The beauty of machetes are their lower cost generally and being a very effective cutting tool (in comparison to regular large knives). I think you need a good sheath if for no other reason than to store it where it won't be cutting into other stuff. If you use a machete a lot, most keep a sharpening stone available. The scythe stone or puck type sharpening stones are generally coarse and work well on machetes. Baryonyx has quite a few choices available.

I generally give a thumbs down on Ontario machetes. Most are very uncomfortable to use. Handles are the key. You shouldn't have to wrap tape around a handle to make it usable. But wear gloves which tends to be my advice when using any large blade in the outdoors.
 
A couple of folks have said Condor, and +1 to that. I have a Condor Golok, it is a heavy beast but wow does it chop. Bring that thing along--if you can stand the weight--and it works as a machete, hatchet, and other large knife tasks. Another one that I don't own, but have looked at and would consider for this role, is the Ontario Bushcraft machete. Spendy at around $100, but uses a great steel 5160, and gets a lot of good user reviews.
 
John A. Larsen said:
Google "Skrama Knife" very strong, great cutter, and postage from Finland is only $9.99. John
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I'm not sure yet how great a yard tool the Skrama will be. It will be a great camping tool, if I ever get a chance to go camping. It is a pretty good chopper, is great at processing wood, but so far has been just okay for me at the limbing and brush-cutting tasks that the Golok and the Baryonyx machete excel at.

I haven't had it long, so no doubt I have a lot to learn about how to use it.
 
If all you want is a big knife that can do yard work, get a Becker BK5 for $50.

Otherwise, I would look at a Fell Beast if you have the coin, or something South American if you don't.
 
I had a Tram since the mid 1980's and it still doing good work.
19-3ben said:
This right here is your answer. I have put my tramonitas through some nasty stuff. You can spend more if you want to but you'd be hard pressed to find a better machete that's actually good at being a machete.
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