What's your favorite machete?

[B.B.M]

What's your favorite machete for woodsbuming/bushcraft?

I really like my cold steel kukri and have beat the crap out of it, But I have my eye on the ka-bar cutlass might have to pick one up

would love to see any pics you guys might have

 

[foxx]

The Ka-Bar Cutlass is great, and refered to as a machete, but I think it's a large knife. It cuts, chops, and does some machete tasks. I, and others, think of a machete as a thin, more or less flat blade, they are usually longer than the Ka-Bar Cutlass as well.
I do also like the Cutlass machete from Ontario, at 12" long and 1/8" thick, it's a short stout sort of chopper, again shorter than most machetes.
A longer, thinner machete will allow for all day use, as in jungles. Softer vegetation, and lots of it, mean you will want the reach and tip speed.

I live in KY, and still use my ESEE Lite machete, but around the house/property mostly. In the woods, I prefer my Culberson Bolok, or 12" Ontario, Junglas, or even my Ka-Bar Cutlass. I don't guess I have a favorite, they are all great to use, just depends on the trip, the sheath I want to carry, weather, and the amount of chopping I expect.
Here's the four I've mentioned...The Ontario is getting a new handle.

Culberson Bolok...heavier than the others, but more powerful as well.

 

[Guyon]

Plain old Tramontina is hard to beat. I also like the handles on the ESEE Lite Machete.

 

[jimh0220]

Gloves Guyon? You're more manly than to need gloves, right?

My current favorite (I hate to admit) is my Gerber um... ahem.... Bear Grylls Machete. Actually heavy, comfortable, and chops the crap out of everything it comes across. Too bad it has the big BG on the handle.

 

[TheGame]

Custom Bolochete from Koyote... Definitely my favorite machete. As far as production goes, Condor bolo.

 

[white avenger]

Not technically a machete, but this is just about the best tool for clearing brusk, vines, and the like that I have ever found

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Px8oMToOwEk

The Gerber Brush thinner.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

My favorites are:

The Baryonyx
Condor Viking
Imacasa 18" Cuma
Fiddleback 16"
Condor Bush Knife

 

[IUKE12]

This is my all time favorite. About 18 inches LOA

 

[kvaughn]

12" Ontario modded ala "Pict" of this forum. Outchops my Becker Brute or Carbon V Trailmaster.--KV

 

[trailbum]

Both cold steel.

 

[jimh0220]

Trailbum, is the top pic an older model CS, or a modded Bolo? Either way, I like it!

 

[Guyon]

Gloves Guyon? You're more manly than to need gloves, right?

I is a delicate flower.

 

[PayetteRucker]

I had the chance to buy a cane machete made by that columbian company yesterday for 12 bucks. If it were any other style I probably would have bought it. They seemed to be well made. I think Marbles is getting the most use as of late. Their Scout machete rocks.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

I think Marbles is getting the most use as of late. Their Scout machete rocks.

And made by Imacasa! :thumbup:

 

[B.B.M]

I had the chance to buy a cane machete made by that columbian company yesterday for 12 bucks. If it were any other style I probably would have bought it. They seemed to be well made. I think Marbles is getting the most use as of late. Their Scout machete rocks.

And made by Imacasa! :thumbup:

I have never heard of Imacasa are they well made? also whats up with the orange finish they put on the blade, will it sand off pretty easy?

 

[hiwa]

My Kabar cutlass is a proven tool for me. I love this chopper much more than my CS Kukri or Tramontina. I'm usually working in hardwoods.

 

[NightMare Silverado]

I have an elk ridge trailsman(woodsman pal) that I use for everything from trimming the bushes to clearing fishing trails.

 

[Guyon]

I bought one of the orange Marbles 18" machetes from SMKW.
Good blade but the handles are already working loose around the lanyard pin.
I'm going to have to put a different set of scale on it, methinks.

 

[PayetteRucker]

FortyTwo, I had my inklings, that high polished convex edge looked way too familiar I like the handle alot, as well as the durable cordura sheath. The stone they come with are great for reprofiling machetes, I cleaned up an Imacasa stainless 16 incher that I got in the mail last week. For 14 bucks you can't beat it. Happy balance of light weight/durability with good ergos and a good sheath system, phew. The orange will come off with common paint stripper. I think the orange looks kinda classy though, especially with an orange Mora Clipper

As for Imacasa as a whole, they have some of the best experience in the industry, and manufacture Condor Tool and Knife's product line. Their 420 Stainless and 1075 High Carbon is fantastic for the purposes of rough use impact/edged tools. Condor and Marbles come with a shaving sharp convex edge, and the 6 dollar Imacasa line comes with, well... you'll probably have to spend some time with a file and some rough grit sharpeners profiling your own edge, but again the steel quality is great, and the handles are comfy.

I feel bad for not mentioning the Tramontina in here because my 14 incher has been on EVERY trip (at least once a week) since the beginning of the summer. They're so lightweight it's foolish not to carry one as a backup or wood processing tool for a backpacking buddy. The edge has rolled in a few spots but the edge is shaving sharp, and stays that way with a pass or three of a 600 grit stone after every trip.

 

[wildmanh]

My 14" Bolo by Tramontina and 12" Fiddleback machetes see the most use so they are probably my favorites right now.