Toughest, Best made Machete on the market?

If money is no object then the Chris Caine Survival Tool might do the trick for you.

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Also Bruce Culberson or David Farmer might be able to do a custom piece right to your specs.

Also, it's a bit off the beaten path in appearance, but my Baryonyx machete will be available next year (a bit of a wait, I know) and I can tell you it chops and batons with the best of them without going over the 1/8" mark in thickness. The secret is all in the width. ;)
 
I certainly wouldn't go so far as to say that money is no object (it's a HUGE object) but $199 shipped isn't all that bad.

I'm reading some reviews about it. That's a very interesting tool

would you say it's a better user than the condor boomslang that i already have?
 
I have this Bruce Culberson Bolok, I do love it. I just don't think of it as a machete, maybe it's a short thick machete? I think of it as a chopper. It's 12" blade is 13/64" thick, and it's 5160. Seems like you might be wanting a big chopper, or a Bush Sword, more than a machete, semantics.
Bruce Culberson makes great blades, and you should also look at what Storm Crow makes. Rick Marchant also makes great looking bush swords.

Bolok
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foxx said:
I have this Bruce Culberson Bolok, I do love it. I just don't think of it as a machete, maybe it's a short thick machete? I think of it as a chopper. It's 12" blade is 13/64" thick, and it's 5160. Seems like you might be wanting a big chopper, or a Bush Sword, more than a machete, semantics.
Bruce Culberson makes great blades, and you should also look at what Storm Crow makes. Rick Marchant also makes great looking bush swords.
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My thoughts as well. Thick does not make me think machete. The Boomslang is a chopping knife, not a machete--to my mind at least. I'm going to disagree with the bush swords thing, though, as those tend to have a greater emphasis on having a fast tip velocity than the sort of piece it sounds like the OP is looking for.
 
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foxx said:
I have this Bruce Culberson Bolok, I do love it. I just don't think of it as a machete, maybe it's a short thick machete? I think of it as a chopper. It's 12" blade is 13/64" thick, and it's 5160. Seems like you might be wanting a big chopper, or a Bush Sword, more than a machete, semantics.
Bruce Culberson makes great blades, and you should also look at what Storm Crow makes. Rick Marchant also makes great looking bush swords.

Bolok
100_0957.jpg
Click to expand...

ooooooo :eek:

i like that Bolok... are those things as expensive as they look?
 
I'm sure prices are subject to change, buy Bruce makes a very thick sturdy sheath for each one, and includes shipping in the cost. I found the package to be very affordable for what you get. Bruce is a member here, and he can tell you the price, and the length of time for him to get one to you. He also has other blade designs, or can do custom orders.
It is, by far, the best edge retention I've ever experienced. I own plenty of knives, some with CPM S35VN, A2, 01, 1080, 1084, 1095, 51200, 154 CM, and of course 5160. Bruces heat treat allows for serious heavy use, I've chopped hard woods with this thing for hours, walked inside used a loaded strop, and the thing still shaves hair, all up and down the edge. No chips, no rolling, just a great edge. It's not so obvious, but the primary grind is convex, and the edge is a V grind. As it's needed, I may round those edges off when I sharpen it, if I ever have to.
It's a bit heavy, for machete type work, but I have used it when off trail, just to clear some limbs or vines in my path. I wouldn't try to use it in the jungle for clearing a path, too short and heavy. But, for Kentucky camping and backpacking, it's the bomb. It's also my #1 Zombie decapitation tool, not that I've tried that!:rolleyes:
 
My wife asked me why i need another machete last night...

The only thing i could think of was "I don't have them all yet"

is that a bad answer? She just sighed and went in the bedroom...
 
I'm still finding myself going back to my KaBar Kukri Machete for most of my yard chores. After convexing the edge, it works well on pretty much everything I've used it on, even dried mesquite without too much reworking needed after hitting the hard spots. Picked it up for 30 something a few months ago, but worth twice that to me.
 
I find KA-BAR's definition of "machete" to mean "big chopping knife" rather than a true machete. Even their so-called "Grass Machete" is on the short and heavy side. It would do great on wood, but honestly it's a little short and thick to really get the high tip velocity that lush targets demand. Very well made, but poorly labeled. :D
 
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Have you looked into Kukris? Himalayan Imports is part of this forum and they do make some fine kukris. Some are 3/8 or even 1/2 thick at the spine. Sometimes the deal of the days or blem sales will bring prices down to near the $100 range. I have the CAK and it's built like a tank.
 
I recently bought a Condor Golok and have been extremely impressed by its durability and heft. It is a THICK blade with the chopping power of a small axe. I did have to do some pretty drastic reprofiling of the blade, since mine was anything but shaving sharp out of the box. I also stripped off the epoxy blade coating for a more traditional look. But if you aren't willing to put in a little work to make these things better, why be a blade enthusiast at all? A couple hours with a file and a stone and I was able to create a much more effective convex edge with real bite. The handle is big and chunky, but it fits my large hands perfectly. It can be wearing on the arm after awhile because of the weight (I think it is almost 2 pounds) but I have yet to use a better chopper. If you are willing to put in some work on the blade (which is of great quality, 1075 carbon steel, easy to sharpen, holds an edge), then I would highly recommend the Golok. Plus, it looks good enough to hang on your wall. For the price, I don't think you could do better.
 
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maybe they make their blades, then grind off a scale and put on a new one? that's the extra 1%?
 
If you are indeed looking for a chopping knife instead of a machete, as said, then I'd definitely look at Bruce Culberson. These aren't machetes, as they are both over 1/4 thick, but they are great choppers.

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I should take a camera out more. I could get some pics of them together.
 
If you go to the British Blades forum you can check out Stu Wilson's awesome Parang A Likes.

JayGoliath, that cleaver is the bomb!
 
S7 makes an awesome machete. Kind of expensive and not many on the market, but it might be worth looking into. I would think 3/16" thick for what you describe, but 1/8" would make a better "machete".


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