What is your favourite machete?

Whisperstealth said:
No one has posted about ESEE's machetes. Just a mention about using their handles on a different model. I'm very curious about that.

Is it because they are expensive? Or that they don't work? Thoughts and opinions definitely welcome!

I ask because I am considering buying one, and would like some feedback about them.

Thanks!
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I have no doubts about the quality , but yes they are pricey and I'd guess that the average member here who uses a machete as a rough n ready tool would probably rather just buy a good sub $20 south American machete and tune it to their liking.
Those Esee machetes are for knife enthusiasts, not something you'd find at an AG supply store.
 
Whisperstealth said:
No one has posted about ESEE's machetes. Just a mention about using their handles on a different model. I'm very curious about that.

Is it because they are expensive? Or that they don't work? Thoughts and opinions definitely welcome!

I ask because I am considering buying one, and would like some feedback about them.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I liked the ol' Lite Machete but it was a lot of extra money for micarta scales vs. polypropylene. Polypropylene isn't fancy, but it WORKS and works well, so from a total value standpoint I actually prefer it, especially since it's lighter and allows the blade to balance further forward as a result. The current models, the Darien and Libertariat, I'm less of a fan of, though there's nothing inherently wrong with them. They're just more optimized for the use cases of their respective designers more than they are for mine. They're a bit short and lacking in certain features I find useful.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
I liked the ol' Lite Machete but it was a lot of extra money for micarta scales vs. polypropylene. Polypropylene isn't fancy, but it WORKS and works well, so from a total value standpoint I actually prefer it, especially since it's lighter and allows the blade to balance further forward as a result. The current models, the Darien and Libertariat, I'm less of a fan of, though there's nothing inherently wrong with them. They're just more optimized for the use cases of their respective designers more than they are for mine. They're a bit short and lacking in certain features I find useful
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Thanks for your feed back, I appreciate it!

You bring up some good points. I usually like Micarta over plastic, but in this case I can see the allure of polypro. And size is important.

I don't have an immediate need for a machete, but I am looking to pick one up. I prefer to buy made in USA goods, which is one of the reasons I'm drawn to ESEE. They have another model out called the el deguello, but it's blade length is 12.75".

You've given me some things to think about, again, thanks!
 
Whisperstealth said:
Thanks for your feed back, I appreciate it!

You bring up some good points. I usually like Micarta over plastic, but in this case I can see the allure of polypro. And size is important.

I don't have an immediate need for a machete, but I am looking to pick one up. I prefer to buy made in USA goods, which is one of the reasons I'm drawn to ESEE. They have another model out called the el deguello, but it's blade length is 12.75".

You've given me some things to think about, again, thanks!
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The machetes are made in El Salvador by Condor/Imacasa under ESEE's Expat line.
 
Whisperstealth said:
Did not know that, you are a fountain of information!
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I prefer to buy American as well, but South America is the way to go for machetes because they use machetes daily there and know how to make them better than anybody else.

We can make equally good machetes and there was a time when companies like Collins did, but these days not so much.
I figure that they're needed less here so manufacturers don't care as much, and we couldn't really compete in price anyways with companies like Imicasa Tramontina and Gavilan de Incolma.
 
Hickory n steel said:
I prefer to buy American as well, but South America is the way to go for machetes because they use machetes daily there and know how to make them better than anybody else.

We can make equally good machetes and there was a time when companies like Collins did, but these days not so much.
I figure that they're needed less here so manufacturers don't care as much, and we couldn't really compete in price anyways with companies like Imicasa Tramontina and Gavilan de Incolma.
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Just for fun I hopped over to the secondary market place and searched for Collins Machete. Pretty cool. Pretty penny for a nice one as well.
 
Whisperstealth said:
Just for fun I hopped over to the secondary market place and searched for Collins Machete. Pretty cool. Pretty penny for a nice one as well.
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Just make sure it's an original legitimus and not one of the later imported ones, I don't know the full story on the later ones but I know they aren't the same.
 
Whisperstealth said:
Gotcha. They are a little expensive for me. If I buy a machete any time soon, I want it to be a user, not a collector piece.
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Look at the Marbles machetes made by Imicasa.

From that giant knife retailer in the Tennessee mountains you can get their 18" ( they currently only have the sawback with solid poly handle in stock) for $25, and for that $25 you get a good sharp edge from the factory a decent sheath and cheap sharpening stone included.

I bought my wood handle workhorse machete from them about 10 years ago and at that time they were only $14 with everything included.
 
Hickory n steel said:
Look at the Marbles machetes made by Imicasa.

From that giant knife retailer in the Tennessee mountains you can get their 18" ( they currently only have the sawback with solid poly handle in stock) for $25, and for that $25 you get a good sharp edge from the factory a decent sheath and cheap sharpening stone included.

I bought my wood handle workhorse machete from them about 10 years ago and at that time they were only $14 with everything included.
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Will do. Recently got an ESEE Cleaver from them...
 
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