Im looking to buy a machete. So far I'm looking at a condor parang or the Thai ens. I like the Thai enns because it seems it can be thrusted. Im also thinking about a kukri. I need it for clearing 2-3" privet. I also want to be able to use it for camping chores. Any recommendations? I'm leaning towards a smaller knife with an axe or a machete. The problem with the machete is you can't really use it to hammer. I guess a tree limb or a rock could remedy that. Tyb
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Who makes good machete
- Thread starter bluerain
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- Joined
- Sep 5, 2010
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- 2,691
Seems like you're looking for a chopper more than a machete. Machetes are longer, thinner, and excell at cutting vegetation, grasses, brush. Sure, they can chop wood, but there's a point where it's just better to get an axe, hatchet, or hawk.
Something like an Ontario, the 1/8" thick ones, are pretty good choppers, and a bit heavy for lighter vegetation. If you need a thinner blade for machete tasks, like clearing trails, there's lots of options, mostly from Central and South America.
Condor, Imacasa, Martindale, Tramontina, all make affordable machetes. Then, it's just deciding what blade profile, length, and handle type you want.
Then there's the modified Imacasa's, like Fiddleback Forge, ESEE, or the Blind Horse Knives machtetes. These are more expensive, but they have micarta handles, and some have better sheaths(Blind Horse seems to have a great sheath).
Kukri's are choppers, just too heavy for machete work. Yeah, they can do a job, but so can a machete. It's just a matter of how long can you swing the tool that's either too heavy or too light for the job?
Something like an Ontario, the 1/8" thick ones, are pretty good choppers, and a bit heavy for lighter vegetation. If you need a thinner blade for machete tasks, like clearing trails, there's lots of options, mostly from Central and South America.
Condor, Imacasa, Martindale, Tramontina, all make affordable machetes. Then, it's just deciding what blade profile, length, and handle type you want.
Then there's the modified Imacasa's, like Fiddleback Forge, ESEE, or the Blind Horse Knives machtetes. These are more expensive, but they have micarta handles, and some have better sheaths(Blind Horse seems to have a great sheath).
Kukri's are choppers, just too heavy for machete work. Yeah, they can do a job, but so can a machete. It's just a matter of how long can you swing the tool that's either too heavy or too light for the job?
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The Svord machetes are now starting to come with double-layered heavyweight rubberized fabric sheaths rather than leather. Bright yellow, but very tough.
Poop Fungus
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- Sep 13, 2012
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- 79
people in Columbia (and other places that have jungles) make good machetes
Cross Bones
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I looked around, and ended up with a $20 kukri from Cold Steel. I haven't had a chance to use it yet, but I enjoyed taking a file to it. Now it seems like it can handle more tasks. I want to take it on a Cottonwood retrieval trip soon.
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- Mar 8, 2008
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- 26,131
I love my Fiddlebacks. I'll admit that I find myself reaching for my Condor Viking or Imacasa cuma more often though.
Some good machete companies:
Cold Steel (Made by Lasher Tools of South Africa)
Hansa
Condor/Imacasa (Imacasa is Condor's parent company)
Tramontina
Martindale
Bellota
Incolma/Invermec/Gavilan
Collins (vintage)
Marble's (made by Imacasa under contract)
ESEE (blade for the Lite Machete made by Imacasa under contract)
Blind Horse Knives (blade blanks made by Imacasa under contract)
Fiddleback Forge (blade blanks made by Imacasa under contract)
Ontario Knife Co.
TOPS (.230 Machete is a reworked 18" Ontario)
The above is an incomplete list but gives some names of some of the popular brands and makers.
Some good machete companies:
Cold Steel (Made by Lasher Tools of South Africa)
Hansa
Condor/Imacasa (Imacasa is Condor's parent company)
Tramontina
Martindale
Bellota
Incolma/Invermec/Gavilan
Collins (vintage)
Marble's (made by Imacasa under contract)
ESEE (blade for the Lite Machete made by Imacasa under contract)
Blind Horse Knives (blade blanks made by Imacasa under contract)
Fiddleback Forge (blade blanks made by Imacasa under contract)
Ontario Knife Co.
TOPS (.230 Machete is a reworked 18" Ontario)
The above is an incomplete list but gives some names of some of the popular brands and makers.