Hey all, it's been awhile since I posted here. I've since picked up a few different machetes but I have no experience with Truper brand machete's and I'm having a rough time finding any information about them on the net. Doe's anyone here have any knowledge concerning them? I cam across a Caguayano model of theirs with an injection molded handle (no rivets) for about ~$14 shipped. I'm honestly planning on using it as a project blade but I have no idea about Truper's blade thickness, tapers, or type even specific type of steel. Any ideas?
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Truper Machetes?
- Thread starter ahil925
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Made in Mexico. Quality is about what you would expect from a $14.00 machete but better than most of the Chinese ones you see in hardware stores these days.
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A little rougher in workmanship. My local feed store sells them so I tried one. Seemed like the blade steel was harder to sharpen.
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I don't know much about Truper machetes but I do know that at least some are or were made in Colombia by Incolma. The Incolma video about their machete production shows handles being riveted to Truper machetes. And the packing/shipping room shows boxes/pallets marked Truper, and others. Check it out at about 3:50 and at 5:03. Incolma makes some good stuff.
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fwiw, incolma uses 'sae 1070' steel, a pretty good choice for a machete, and I like it much more than the typical 1055 you'll find in cold steel and other low cost brands
also, ontario and condor use 1075 most often for machetes - also an excellent choice
share your project idea? : )
also, ontario and condor use 1075 most often for machetes - also an excellent choice
share your project idea? : )
It's silly and dumb and perfectly unnecessary but I was planning on turning it into a bastardized cutlass/sabre thing. I was going to remove the grip and try to fit a guard the blade, add wood handle scales, then cut the blade narrower and to a sharp point. Hence why I was looking for the longest but also cheapest blade I could track down that wasn't made of chinesium. Sort of a cabin-fever project.
Henry Beige
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My inclination would be to leave it alone.
not2sharp
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It's silly and dumb and perfectly unnecessary but I was planning on turning it into a bastardized cutlass/sabre thing. I was going to remove the grip and try to fit a guard the blade, add wood handle scales, then cut the blade narrower and to a sharp point. Hence why I was looking for the longest but also cheapest blade I could track down that wasn't made of chinesium. Sort of a cabin-fever project.
There is no need to go there. The machete is a derivative of the cutlass sword.
n2s
It's silly and dumb and perfectly unnecessary but I was planning on turning it into a bastardized cutlass/sabre thing. I was going to remove the grip and try to fit a guard the blade, add wood handle scales, then cut the blade narrower and to a sharp point. Hence why I was looking for the longest but also cheapest blade I could track down that wasn't made of chinesium. Sort of a cabin-fever project.
instead of that huge amount of work, why not start with something closer to your end goal?
ontario machetes are 1075, and very solid... some of them even have guards : ) and the price is great
the 22" (27.5" oa) ct5 is the one I picked up since I found it at a canadian retailer
instead of that huge amount of work, why not start with something closer to your end goal?
ontario machetes are 1075, and very solid... some of them even have guards : ) and the price is great
the 22" (27.5" oa) ct5 is the one I picked up since I found it at a canadian retailer
Well, I already have a 24" blade Tramontina that I like very much. Main reason I'm looking at the Truper is due to its long 27" blade. Most Ontario that I've seen with the D-guard have been $25-$35 and the longest blade I've seen from them with the guard was 22" iirc. As to the amount of work, I have a decent work-shop and don't mind the time sink, so not much of a worry there. This is sort of an "I'm Bored" project.
the only problem with your idea is the thinness of the caguayano, it's only 1.5mm at the handle and tapers to 1mm
while the ontario ct5 is closer to 3mm the whole way... much better for a sabre project I expect
if the cagua isn't too thin and floppy, it should be fun
keep us updated when you test it out
while the ontario ct5 is closer to 3mm the whole way... much better for a sabre project I expect
if the cagua isn't too thin and floppy, it should be fun
keep us updated when you test it out
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I was under the impression that Incolma uses 1074 or 1075 as I believe does Imacasa. It's Tramontina that uses 1070.
not2sharp
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The blade that you marked in post 7 is primarily a thrusting weapon. It need rigidity for it to work. It looks like you will end up with something that way too flexible to pierce even light clothing.
Sorry, this is the video that I had originally intended to post
n2s
Sorry, this is the video that I had originally intended to post
n2s
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I got some 18" versions of this when BUDK was selling them. They are thin.
I'd prefer something like this, but haven't seen them sold in the U.S. EDIT: Oops, I thought it was a thin version. It's a regular #127 just partially hidden in the packaging. I have some, LOL. BUDK.
I think you'll find the Caguayano quite thin with distal taper. Tramontinas that I have do not have taper and are a bit thicker. Here's a Bellota machete similar to the Caguayano. Note how flexible it is.
FYI:
I'd prefer something like this, but haven't seen them sold in the U.S. EDIT: Oops, I thought it was a thin version. It's a regular #127 just partially hidden in the packaging. I have some, LOL. BUDK.
I think you'll find the Caguayano quite thin with distal taper. Tramontinas that I have do not have taper and are a bit thicker. Here's a Bellota machete similar to the Caguayano. Note how flexible it is.
FYI:
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My Truper machete is 15-20 years old. Pretty sure the same feed store still sells them so I will check and see what the current ones are stamped. Truper also made most of the hardware store axes around here. All stamped Mexico. But things change constantly in these things.
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It appears as though Incolma is the 800 pound gorilla as far as central/south America machete production is concerned. They have an incredible number of patterns and many lengths within each pattern. It makes sense that they can produce them at low cost for most any company that doesn't sell a lot of machetes.
Well, the Truper is already on its way. I can't complain about another machete for ~$14 shipped, so like I said earlier if it doesn't look like it'd be suitable I still have a new machete 
. I wish covid were over, there are a few swapmeet's near me that I might have been able to score an old machete from, but alas covid shut those down. I'll keep my eye out for another inexpensive donor blade either way. Alternatively I could just add the guard and leave the blade alone, keeping the project more of a slash/hacking tool. Won't know for sure till it is in hand.
. I wish covid were over, there are a few swapmeet's near me that I might have been able to score an old machete from, but alas covid shut those down. I'll keep my eye out for another inexpensive donor blade either way. Alternatively I could just add the guard and leave the blade alone, keeping the project more of a slash/hacking tool. Won't know for sure till it is in hand.