What's a good machete?

FortyTwoBlades said:
I'm biased, of course, but I also think it provides many of the functions of the Woodman's Pal...but with increased performance and a bunch of extra tricks up its sleeve. :)

And as far as axe-like chopping goes, it was designed to handle everything from grass and briars up to 6" diameter trees. A buddy of mine took the head off a deer with one hit. :D No way the handle can loosen as it's injection molded right to the tang.
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Ooh that's pretty
 
This is technical but...for all this choppiing maybe you should look at a bolo?
 
Bolos are one of many possible heavier chopping patterns. Other options also include long pangas and tapangas, heavy cane knives, etc. :)
 
Try the Kershaw Camp series (10, 14 and 18 inch versions). It's a bolo design, weight forward. I bought one for camp chores, including chopping and I've been pleased. Reasonable prices and so far seems tough, sharp and easy to sharpen.
 
Not to take away from 42Blades awesome design, but I'm suprised no one has mentioned the Ontario. It, in it's various lengths from 12"-18", and 1/8" thickness is a great HD machete. The 14" maybe the ideal camp knife: light, tough, and cheap. It's in 1095 and is bomb-proof. The Tram bolos are good choppers as well, but I'd go with Ontario IF you decide aganist the Baryonyx. That Baryonyx looks very cool and 42 knows his stuff, so he'll steer you right:thumbup: For lighter vegetation, the Condor 14" Eco-whatever they call it know, is perfect.
 
The RTAK 2 will baton better, if that's a deciding factor. And here are some customer photos of the Baryonyx Machete next to some well-known reference pieces for an idea of scale.

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Comparing weight, the Baryonyx Machete is 1lb 10.6oz while the RTAK-2 is 1lb 14.5oz (according to Nutnfancy) but I'd gladly put the Baryonyx up against the RTAK-2 in a chop-off.

Graphic content warning, but here are the pictures of the deer decap: Click 1 Click 2
 
I have to say it the Gerber gator Jr is for some odd reason a decent thing because i used it to chop down and process 2 large trees that most bushcrafters with high quality knives wouldn't dare chop down all while being dull as a butter knife from the start.
 
For a short chopper, I like the Condor Pack Golok. It is not a substitute for a real axe, but certainly a hatchet as far as chopping goes. Also like the Condor Village Parang. Both of these are pretty heavy choppers and that's what I use them for.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
The RTAK 2 will baton better, if that's a deciding factor. And here are some customer photos of the Baryonyx Machete next to some well-known reference pieces for an idea of scale.
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My primary blade will be more than large enough for batoning so that won't be an issue.
 
I have both and there is no comparison when chopping. The Baryonyx generates a lot more speed and momentum. The RTAK is no slouch, I like it very much as a large knife/small machete. I also have the Junglas and would like to point out that the RTAK has a much thinner grind and edge. Because of this I feel the RTAK has an edge in performance but the Junglas will take more abuse. I have damaged an RTAK and Ontario sent me a new one in like eight days with no questions asked. I have used the Junglas hard with no such problems. You pay a little extea, but the Junglas has a way better sheath and handle than the RTAK.
 
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FTR-14c said:
I have both and there is no comparison when chopping. The Baryonyx generates a lot more speed and momentum. The RTAK is no slouch, I like it very much as a large knife/small machete. I also have the Junglas and would like to point out that the RTAK has a much thinner grind and edge. Because of this I feel the RTAK has an edge in performance but the Junglas will take more abuse. I have damaged an RTAK and Ontario sent me a new one in like eight days with no questions asked. I have used the Junglas hard with no such problems. You pay a little extea, but the Junglas has a way better sheath and handle than the RTAK.
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That may be true but the Junglas on amazon is 199$ while the RTAK 2 is 78$ and if you ask me that's a HUGE difference which my budget won't allow for.
 
TheBushWookie said:
That may be true but the Junglas on amazon is 199$ while the RTAK 2 is 78$ and if you ask me that's a HUGE difference which my budget won't allow for.
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I would not spend $199 on a Junglas, I think I paid $165 for mine a few years ago. With the RTAK, as long as you are not abusing it, I feel it will do most tasks better because of the thinner goemetry. I did a little work on my handle and love it now.


 
FTR-14c said:
I would not spend $199 on a Junglas, I think I paid $165 for mine a few years ago. With the RTAK, as long as you are not abusing it, I feel it will do most tasks better because of the thinner goemetry. I did a little work on my handle and love it now.
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I've heard horror stories of massive chunks coming off of the blade so do I have to worry about any of that?
 
TheBushWookie said:
I've heard horror stories of massive chunks coming off of the blade so do I have to worry about any of that?
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I believe the RTAK is designed for efficiency not hard use.

I learned the hard way. I had massive chunks come off the blade of my older 1095 version. I'm not sure how the new 5160 holds up. I have been using my replacement for light to medium duty with no problems. It has its limitations.

If you are looking for a hard use machete that performs like an ax, the RTAK may not be a good choice.
 
FTR-14c said:
I believe the RTAK is designed for efficiency not hard use.

I learned the hard way. I had massive chunks come off the blade of my older 1095 version. I'm not sure how the new 5160 holds up. I have been using my replacement for light to medium duty with no problems. It has its limitations.

If you are looking for a hard use machete that performs like an ax, the RTAK may not be a good choice.
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Then I guess that settles it, I'm going for the Baryonyx machete.
 
But FortyTwoBlades I'm abit curious, in your size comparison picture for the baryonyx machete what is that odd fixed blade knife at the bottom of the first picture? also what's with the "colorful" sheath?
 
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