Survival Knife: Hawke's Hellion VS. ESEE Knives Junglas Machete

I

ihazblade

Joined
Sep 18, 2011
Messages
7
New poster here, so I preemptively apologize for any 'newbie' questions:

I took the new Buck Hoodlum knife on a camping trip in California last week, and was extremely disappointed with it's lack of performance in that setting. I'm not trying to bad mouth Buck Knives (I have a Buck Stryder I love), but it did a poor job of even chopping the most simple of shrubbery and poison oak. With that said, I'm looking for a suitable replacement for a camping/survival knife. My prereqs for it are:

1. Be able to handle chopping through the most common shrubbery found in the North American woods/forest. I'm not talking trees, I mean shrubbery/bushes.
2. High quality steel/blade that won't crap out on me. i.e. when I used the Hoodlum, there was actually coating coming off of the knife after only a bit of use:thumbdn:

In a nutshell, I want something that's a good machete but is suitable for a camping/survival situation. They both look like great knives, and any suggestions/experience would be appreciated!

Here's links to the 2 knives:

http://www.eseeknives.com/junglas_machete.htm

http://www.mykelhawke.com/knives
 
I'm always skeptical of big knives with sawteeth. At best they are gimmicky. At worst the saw teeth can act as stress raisers that contribute to a broken blade. It's not a high probability but it is there.

BTW I skipped the Hoodlum for that very reason :thumbdn: potlifter notch :thumbdn:
 
RandomAyes said:
I'm always skeptical of big knives with sawteeth. At best they are gimmicky. At worst the saw teeth can act as stress raisers that contribute to a broken blade. It's not a high probability but it is there.

BTW I skipped the Hoodlum for that very reason :thumbdn: potlifter notch :thumbdn:
Click to expand...

Haha...I hear ya! the potlifter 'feature' on the Hoodlum was laughable, but I was drawn to the light weight and hollowed out handle.

I think the Esee Jungla is in the lead between my 2 choices. Watching this vid right now makes me even more impressed w/ it:

[video=youtube;865jIoeuDPY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=865jIoeuDPY[/video]
 
The Junglas is a great knife, but if you're just chopping through shrubs you might be better off with a cheap machete, like a Tramontina or Imacasa. In fact, Jeff Randall always says that the Junglas is their most useless knife and that what you really need is a cheap machete. That being said, I completely ignored his advice and am very happy with my Junglas.
 
I haven't owned or even handled either of these but just based on specs I'd go with the Junglas
I'm not a big fan of saw teeth on knives and can't see any reason for sharpening the end of the spine. Both would impede batoning and would diminish the blade structurally and functionally.
Just my 2¢ :D
 
The notch wasn't built mainly for potlifting, is was more for scoring bone to make it easier to break, if I remember correctly. Also, if you are not going to chop much, and just shrubs, a Machete is a better bet. (Not the Junglas, it's more of a knife) A cheap Tramontina, or a Condor would suit you better in my opinion.
 
I'd say that you are looking for a machete. I like Cold Steel Machetes, others don't.
If you're going using a knife with a coating expect the coating to come off.
I understand that Condor makes a very nice machete with a very good sheath.

If you want an alternative to a large knife/machete try a pair of small pruning shears and a small fixed blade knife. That way you can still clear brush using the shears but also use the fixed blade knife for survival.

I know this is a knife forum etc etc. But I think this is the most PRACTICAL option for cleaning brush and also having 'survival' capabilities.
 
Last edited:
All excellent suggestions - but I probably should have added that I'm looking for a machete that can double as a 'survival' knife; i.e., build shelters, handle firewood duties etc. But at the same time, I don't want it to be too large that I can't throw it in my bug out bag.

BTW, I agree that it's necessary to supplement your collection with 'cheaper' knives/machetes - however, I'm looking at this one as an investment. In other words, if I had to 'bug out' and rely on this knife for survival chores in California, would it be a reliable, high-quality tool?
 
If you're dead set on a machete take a look at Condor. They make a variety of good quality machetes.
A long knife is really not the same thing. What do you plan on using your survival knife for? I don't consider clearing brush to be a 'survival' task.
 
ac1d0v3r1d3 said:
If you're dead set on a machete take a look at Condor. They make a variety of good quality machetes.
A long knife is really not the same thing. What do you plan on using your survival knife for? I don't consider clearing brush to be a 'survival' task.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I should have been more specific - my goal is to find the highest quality tool that can do double duties as both a knife and a smaller machete. My purpose for it is clearing brush, chopping firewood, and building shelters. I know that an axe or dedicated machete would be a more specific tool for the task - however, I'm trying to find a true 'high-quality' multi tasker - I realize it's a compromise, but that's what I want to lighten my load.

I'm sure the Condor would be an adequate machete, but after owning knives for over 25 years, I just have a bad taste in my mouth from having cheaper tools/knives under-perform or give out when I put em to the real world test.
 
Sounds like the Junglas then.

I'm partial to res c handles- very comfy, so I go to the Swamp Rat or Scrap Yard.
 
rpn said:
Sounds like the Junglas then.

I'm partial to res c handles- very comfy, so I go to the Swamp Rat or Scrap Yard.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I think I'm gonna spring for the Junglas.

I went to the Scrap Yard website - looks like I"m gonna have to check out their knives. I love the picture of the guy dumpster diving on their web page!
 
If heavy chopping is your primary purpose, then of course the Junglas would do better than the Hoodlum because it's half a pound heavier. However, for some people it's hard to justify an extra half pound in steel to lug around.
 
The coating on the junglas is very durable as well i've chopped with it alot with not alot of wear.
If you add the molle panel to the front of the sheath you can hook any molle compatible pouch for stuff that you like.

take it easy
cricket
 
You may also want to look into the TOPS Power Eagle 12. I'd take that over the Hellion any day.
 
Based on what the OP wanted. My suggestion is this. Buy a high quality yet inexpensive Ontario 18" or 12" machete, for around $23. Take the money you saved & buy a DREMEL tool & a few attatchments & make it just the way you want. I did it. It is NOT difficult. Just get a spray bottle for water & keep the blade cool when doing the mods. Stop every 10 seconds or so & spray the spot your working on to keep it cool. Then take the rest of the money saved & have a custom made sheath. In the end, you will have something that is EXACTLY the way you want & YOU did some of the work on it. I just gotta get a custom sheath now for mine.

100_1170.jpg

100_1168.jpg

100_1169.jpg


Bowie tip, 2 finger choil, 3.5" of jimping, flat spot for fire steel, D-handle modified.
 
ihazblade said:
All excellent suggestions - but I probably should have added that I'm looking for a machete that can double as a 'survival' knife; i.e., build shelters, handle firewood duties etc. But at the same time, I don't want it to be too large that I can't throw it in my bug out bag.

BTW, I agree that it's necessary to supplement your collection with 'cheaper' knives/machetes - however, I'm looking at this one as an investment. In other words, if I had to 'bug out' and rely on this knife for survival chores in California, would it be a reliable, high-quality tool?
Click to expand...

Dude, every day hundreds of millions of people step into the world to work their backbreaking jobs in jungles, forests and fields with nothing more than a $3 Tramontina. It is the same tool they used to build their home, harvest their firewood, prepare their food and maybe protect their holdings.

Knowledge on how to use a tool trumps expensive knife every day.
 
Cold Steel Khukri machetes come in 2 sizes IIRC and will do double duty as survival tool and machete.
 
Based on your choices, I favor the ESEE. I have read good things about it. One of which is it's expensive. I probably wouldn't purchase either. Take a look at the Kabar Cutlass Machete as a big chopper or mini-machete. My favorite machete these days is the 14" Condor Golok. But I believe it is a tad long for you. Cheaper... the Ontario 12" machete works. I would spend some time on the handle to make it more comfortable. With the Kabar, you can pretty much use it as it comes.
 
I live in California too and spend a lot of time in the boonies, and quite frankly, you don't want either of those blades.

You want a plain old machete. Cheap, durable, useful.

Perfect for hacking away most of what you'll see up here with the exception of the mountain woodlands.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top