What is your favourite machete?

[Gato do mato]

I have these two versions of the Brazilian army's jungle warrior's machete.
The one with a jaguar on the handle is an exclusive version for officers who graduate from the jungle course.

 

[Square_peg]

I think someone's favorite will be highly influenced but what it is they need to chop. In the PNW I'm chopping blackberries. I want something fairly long, thin, swift, affordable (it's gonna get damaged) and with decent steel. My favorite users are older Colombian machetes. But I think other S. American machetes, Brazil, Argentina, are also great, just less common. In the past 2 decades the El Salvadoran machetes have come to dominate this market. They are also fine machetes.

For collectables, I love the Collins Legitimus machetes. They're nice tools but I'd never swing those vintage models. I have 2 of them in their original embossed leather scabbards and one without a scabbard. Those are WWII vintage. OKC also made made nice military machetes. I stumbled upon one of those in a pawn shop a few years back. It's an equal to the Collins. Both the Collins and the OKC are a bit on the heavy side for PNW blackberries, not that I would ever use them that way.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

I think someone's favorite will be highly influenced but what it is they need to chop. In the PNW I'm chopping blackberries. I want something fairly long, thin, swift, affordable (it's gonna get damaged) and with decent steel. My favorite users are older Colombian machetes. But I think other S. American machetes, Brazil, Argentina, are also great, just less common. In the past 2 decades the El Salvadoran machetes have come to dominate this market. They are also fine machetes.

For collectables, I love the Collins Legitimus machetes. They're nice tools but I'd never swing those vintage models. I have 2 of them in their original embossed leather scabbards and one without a scabbard. Those are WWII vintage. OKC also made made nice military machetes. I stumbled upon one of those in a pawn shop a few years back. It's an equal to the Collins. Both the Collins and the OKC are a bit on the heavy side for PNW blackberries, not that I would ever use them that way.

The old Ontarios (like, late 1980's and earlier) are great. Actual full flat grinds and the scales only LOOKED boxy but were actually sufficiently contoured. I've had a number of old user-grade Collins machetes that have been fantastic performers, but I generally prefer injection-molded Imacasa models when an appropriate pattern match for the desired qualities exist.

 

[Square_peg]

The late model Collins machetes were imports. Still fine users but not equal to the collectables like those sent to the Southern Pacific in WWII. For my current use they'd probably be better than the collectibles.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

The late model Collins machetes were imports. Still fine users but not equal to the collectables like those sent to the Southern Pacific in WWII. For my current use they'd probably be better than the collectibles.

There were still Collins-branded machetes being made as a sub-branding by Nicholson back in the 2010s or so but they were garbage. The older Colombian Collins machetes were still excellent in build, just not as nicely finished and furnished as the USA-made ones, but they perform about the same once tuned up. The ol' horn handled Collins were probably some of the finest production machetes ever made, but we do get 90% of the function or more out of the better made Latin American makers despite the lower prestige and glam factor. Usually their only real detriment is not having full-width tangs on some models or not starting with as thick of stock with the distal taper compared to the older stuff.

 

[GrumpySoreOldBastard]

I'm another woodman's pal fan.
Handy in a boreal environment packs easily and holds a edge well.
Probably not the hot set up for canes or bamboo tho.

 

[Hickory n steel]

but I generally prefer injection-molded Imacasa models when an appropriate pattern match for the desired qualities exist.

I have yet to own an Imicasa with an injection moulded handle, but I too prefer injection moulded in general over a riveted plastic handle.

 

[Blue Sky]

I use the old standby Ontario 12” machetes and have been pretty satisfied with them. They have a rep for handles opening up under heavy use. That does happen to some, not all.

I have one that did baton/kindling work a couple of winters and the handle rivets did start to separate, so I Beckered it. Size 10 screws I believe. Snug them down, cut the end and file smooth. Does leave some ridges but that hasn’t been an issue. I probably could have countersunk them a little more but it wasn’t that important to me.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

I use the old standby Ontario 12” machetes and have been pretty satisfied with them. They have a rep for handles opening up under heavy use. That does happen to some, not all.

I have one that did baton/kindling work a couple of winters and the handle rivets did start to separate, so I Beckered it. Size 10 screws I believe. Snug them down, cut the end and file smooth. Does leave some ridges but that hasn’t been an issue. I probably could have countersunk them a little more but it wasn’t that important to me.

Consider using self-clinching fasteners instead! They're round and have an integrated serrated washer that keeps them from rotating. Then just either use a machine screw of correct length, or after cutting the ends you can use a deburring tool to chamfer the ends so they aren't sharp or crisp anymore.

 

[Hickory n steel]

I have these two versions of the Brazilian army's jungle warrior's machete.
The one with a jaguar on the handle is an exclusive version for officers who graduate from the jungle course.

Those are pretty cool.
Do you know what to search and where in order to find one , if they're actually available?

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Those are pretty cool.
Do you know what to search and where in order to find one , if they're actually available?

Looks like you can find 'em on the 'bay without too much trouble. Not inexpensive, though.

 

[Hickory n steel]

Looks like you can find 'em on the 'bay without too much trouble. Not inexpensive, though.

I tried searching but didn't turn anything up, I'll look again.

 

[Hickory n steel]

I found them, you weren't kidding when you said they aren't cheap.

 

[Blue Sky]

Consider using self-clinching fasteners instead! They're round and have an integrated serrated washer that keeps them from rotating. Then just either use a machine screw of correct length, or after cutting the ends you can use a deburring tool to chamfer the ends so they aren't sharp or crisp anymore.

Something like that would probably also work well, but at the time I needed it back in service and went with what I had. Did the job, so I was happy.

 

[Gato do mato]

Those are pretty cool.
Do you know what to search and where in order to find one , if they're actually available?

In Brazil, they are rarely found for sale. And when they are, they are expensive.

Facão Cigs Ricardo Vilar Ajuricaba Com Cabeça De Onça Marrom - R$ 2.600

Facão Combatente de selva Ajuricaba CIGS cabo marrom feito pelo cuteleiro Ricardo Vilar, última unidade a venda não fabrica mais peça para colecionador super rara foram fabricados pouquíssimas unidades peça única se vc é colecinador das facas do Ricardo Vilar essa peça não pode...

produto.mercadolivre.com.br

 

[SuburbanBarbarian]

I need to order another here soon.
I'm still hoping to get one of those small extra wide panga machetes.

This was the 1st assortment I bought maybe 3-4 years ago, and the little orange handled Barrigon pattern on top is another one of my favorites.

I got some of those in mine. The bill hook one has been growing on me. It's currently in my truck.

 

[Square_peg]

Ontario 18", has been my go to formany decades

That's a good trail machete. Short enough not to get in the way on longer hikes. And it's thicker than the Latin American machetes so it has the weight for medium size branches. It's equivalent to the Collins Legitimus machetes of that period. Good solid tool.

 

[Square_peg]

I use the old standby Ontario 12” machetes and have been pretty satisfied with them. They have a rep for handles opening up under heavy use. That does happen to some, not all.

I have one that did baton/kindling work a couple of winters and the handle rivets did start to separate, so I Beckered it. Size 10 screws I believe. Snug them down, cut the end and file smooth. Does leave some ridges but that hasn’t been an issue. I probably could have countersunk them a little more but it wasn’t that important to me.

Consider using self-clinching fasteners instead! They're round and have an integrated serrated washer that keeps them from rotating. Then just either use a machine screw of correct length, or after cutting the ends you can use a deburring tool to chamfer the ends so they aren't sharp or crisp anymore.

Or use Chicago screws (post screws).

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Chicago screws can be a little flimsy for scales applications, at least for my preferences. Great for sheath attachment bits and bobs but they're much easier to find in brass than in steel. The self-clinching fasteners and machine screws are commonly available in stainless in any size and length you like. Chicago screws can certainly work, though.

 

[mushka]

18 or20 years ago I bought 5 Tramontino 18 inch machetes in some kind of deal on line. Paid twenty five bucks for all five including the shipping. I gave three of them to friends and kept one for the yard and the other in my truck. Still use both. Also have a Gavilan 14" and a Woodman's Pal. I'm a fool for chopping and hacking implements.