i want to pick up a machete and am wondering which produces the most versitile performance. it won't be used a whole lot, kind-of just want to have one. i've been looking at the tramontina and the ontario. which would be better for general purpose brush clearing and camp use in PA?? also where do you get a sheath fo the tramontina?? thanks
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which machete??
- Thread starter grobe
- Start date
If I had to pick just one machete, it would be an 18” Ontario D-guard in the GI plastic scabbard (made specifically for the Ontario 18” machete). The Ontario’s edges, like most machetes needs some work out of the box, but it is otherwise a very good all-round machete. If you don’t like the D guard, you can easily saw it off, but the handles on the newer molded D guard versions are more comfortable (with or without the guard itself) than the older riveted handles...and there are no rivets to come loose.
The Ontarios are also offered in a 12” blade length that makes a handy camp tool – can be carried in a cut down GI scabbard.
The Cold steel 18” Latin machete and the 18” Tramontinas (I have the one with the plastic handles) are also very good all-round machetes, but it is hard to find good sheaths for them…you will probably have to make them yourself or have someone make them for you.
The downside of the CS Latin was its lousy factory “edge” and tactical black paint "finish", but once you get it sharp it makes a very serviceable machete. The plastic handled Trams come with a much better factory edge (mine needed a little sharpening but no heavy profiling) and there is no ugly paint on the blade. The downsides to the Tram.s are that the handles are pinned instead of molded and may be a little short if you have really big hands.
The CS Latin and Tram blades are not as heavy as the Ontario so they don’t do as well on heavy brush or for chopping, but they are easier to swing for extended periods on lighter vegetation.
- Frank
The Ontarios are also offered in a 12” blade length that makes a handy camp tool – can be carried in a cut down GI scabbard.
The Cold steel 18” Latin machete and the 18” Tramontinas (I have the one with the plastic handles) are also very good all-round machetes, but it is hard to find good sheaths for them…you will probably have to make them yourself or have someone make them for you.
The downside of the CS Latin was its lousy factory “edge” and tactical black paint "finish", but once you get it sharp it makes a very serviceable machete. The plastic handled Trams come with a much better factory edge (mine needed a little sharpening but no heavy profiling) and there is no ugly paint on the blade. The downsides to the Tram.s are that the handles are pinned instead of molded and may be a little short if you have really big hands.
The CS Latin and Tram blades are not as heavy as the Ontario so they don’t do as well on heavy brush or for chopping, but they are easier to swing for extended periods on lighter vegetation.
- Frank
I don’t know that they are faulty or not, I don’t have one. They do look kind of cheap, so I wonder if they are safe and durable enough to depend on? Personally I don’t like to take chances carrying a razor sharp machete in the field, which is why I like the plastic GI scabbards for the Ontario. Unfortunately the GI scabbards are a bit too tight for the 18" Tram and CS Latin – for these I would go with a custom/homemade heavy duty leather or Kydex sheath.
The CS Latin machete handles very well (much like the Tramontina), although I didn’t care for the handling qualities of the CS Panga (awkward feeling handle and a bit too blade heavy for most machete work).
- Frank
The CS Latin machete handles very well (much like the Tramontina), although I didn’t care for the handling qualities of the CS Panga (awkward feeling handle and a bit too blade heavy for most machete work).
- Frank