Machetes

[Poodleshooter]

Does anyone have any favorites? I've got a hankering to do some brush clearing the old fashioned way on my new property.
I'll probably try to find an old bolo style machete like the one I used as a kid.

[LHS]

When I used to have to clear brush regularly, I used a SpecPlus Bolo knife in my left hand, and a cheap $8 machete from Ace Hardware in my right.

[Optimus Prime]

I prefer the Ontario Knife Co.'s saw back 18" machete. Get the GI hard plastic sheath, it has a built in sharpener.

http://www.gunsnet.net/album/data//500/7689Ontario_Sawback.jpg

[8dDUCE]

Standard issue. I have the regular spine version. I have cleared acres of land with it. Great little tool. Thinking about putting some leather around the grip, sometimes it can slip out of your hand, not good. I know better, but sometimes I rush, then good 'ol Murphy steps in. I have been lucky, no one has been around when I let go. It is rather embarrassing. Watch for wasp nests in Palmetto's....Slash, followed by thousands of buzzs, and alot of cussing. 8dDUCE.

[Optimus Prime]

Originally posted by 8dDUCE
Slash, followed by thousands of buzzs, and alot of cussing. 8dDUCE.

Ahh, the joys of clearing brush........:D

[EndGame]

There are several sources for good machetes at remarkably low prices. I'd recommend checking out the Cold Steel and Ontario offerings, and the Martindales at Brigade Quartermasters.

If you want something more in the "excellent" category, I'm pretty clueless.

[LHS]

Cold Steel's two-handed machete looks pretty interesting. I'd like to give one of those a bit of a test run.

[5KNIVES]

I've used machetes pretty regularly since the early '50's. Collins, Ontario, Coroneta and Tramontina as well as various unknown brands. No saw back models, especially Ontario's, they break too easy as it is. The real cheap Tramontinas are thinner than most but because of that they tend to sink in and hang up in wood that cant be cut with one stroke. Used to definitely prefer machetes for corn (Surveying) weeds, grass, etc. Hard to trim the grass at a tent site with a hatchet or axe.

Personal opinion they start to be too much work when youj deal with hardwoods, and 2" or thicker wood.

Then I started using an old Woodsmans Pal. I live now in an area of mixed northern hardwood and Pine, Tamarack and what have you, about the only vines are wild grape vines and similar, very "woody". For me it replaces the machetes and the hatchet. Still own several of each, as well as axes, but one of the Woodsmans Pal's is always in whatever vehicle I'm using, Just in case I need to chop or trim something.

Some very knowledgeable people, experienced in Tropical areas, consider a short 12" machete like the Coroneta or the Tramontina to be the perfect survival toool. If you're a farmer there you want the 22 to 26 inch models. Tramotins seem to be softer than most, so they dull quicker, and sharpen easier. A 7" flat mill bastard file seems to put just the right micro serrared edge on a machete.

The Woodsmans Pal is heavier, thicker, and harder than the others, I use a stone "puck" (meant for axes) to keep mine in shape, dont need to sharpen often.

[Q-gunner2]

I use machetes and love them. CheaperThanDirt has specials on ALL types of swords and machetes.

As for nests, I saw an underground one RIGHT beside my shooting bench. Put 100 rounds of .22 LR through. Came back, they were still there. Used 200 .22LR rounds on it and 10 12gauge shells. Never saw em again :D.

PS- 20 of those .22 LR rounds were shotshells- Hornet sweeping Q-2 style :cool: :D.

[azreloader]

Poodleshooter,

I like your handle. When my dog sees a poodle, she only thinks of one thing..................dinner!:rotflmao:

[HDR]

My major dislike with cheap machetes is the handle. End up wrapping the to hide the blister creating seams and edges.

5KNIVES
In the opinion of some, short works better.

Khukuris are nice also..

[Poodleshooter]

Hmmm, ghurka style...
I hadn't considered that. I wonder how they cut weeds and brush as opposed to heads and hands?

[LHS]

Originally posted by Poodleshooter
Hmmm, ghurka style...
I hadn't considered that. I wonder how they cut weeds and brush as opposed to heads and hands?

Very well. I used a Cold Steel LTC Kukri on a snow-damaged elm in my front yard once. Worked like a charm, but you better wear gloves or that checkered Kraton handle will abrade your damn hand off.

[LHS]

Short machetes are great for backpacking, because they're more maneuverable and don't tangle up in your gear as bad. However, I learned very quickly that the longer blades lead to less hand trauma when clearing large quantities of multiflora rose.

[HDR]

Originally posted by LHS
Very well. I used a Cold Steel LTC Kukri on a snow-damaged elm in my front yard once. Worked like a charm, but you better wear gloves or that checkered Kraton handle will abrade your damn hand off.

One of my gripes with the CS..

[mike3acr]

I located a Belgian WW2 surplus machete at a gun show in the 80's, I have seen a few around over the years, it has a thick blade and is more sturdy than a lot of the import machete's. I like the thick blade, I think it makes better cuts less prone to bouncing off limbs, or bending and throwing you off the limb. I'd look for something thick in a new machete, or try one of those "Woodsman's Pal's" that 5 knives mentioned. They look like a handy tool.

[LHS]

Woodsman's Pals are great cutters, but you get what you pay for, and you pay a lot.

[5KNIVES]

LHS,
Yeah, the Woodsmans Pal runs about $60 now I think, you can afford to break a lot of Ontarios or Tramontinas for that. I have to clear a lot of scrub and second growth stuff every year. The WP works well with a little practice. I'd describe it as a sort of modifed draw cut, it's a bit too heavy to get the kind of speed that lets Machetes work so well. But, even at 2 1/2 inch or so, 1 stroke can do it. Never could do that with a machete, not on the harder stuff. The hook on the end works great with the grass and vines. and for the real light work a flick of the Ka-Bar or the BK-7 does nicely.

I expect these threads will eventually show that our individual preferences are very localized.

Everyone probably makes a pretty good choice, depending on what the local Flora is. Be interesting to see.

[LHS]

Yup. I haven't used my machetes in Arizona, while I used them just to move through the woods in West Virginia. Damn that multiflora rose! I used to have to carve the crap off my favorite hiking trail about two times per year.

[blobman]

dudes how many times i gotta say it cold steel

[5KNIVES]

LHS

Multiflora, God I hate that stuff, I'd want a 30 inch machete though.

I live about as far north as it grows.

Nothing quite like having your dogs baying a hot tree 30 yards away, and 10 yards of multiflora in between. Half an hour and one creek deeper than you thought you've walked around to the tree. Thats when you figure out that the coon and the dogs are long gone! I really hate that stuff.

You CAN get through it pretty quick when the bull you didnt know was in the field lets out a bellow about 10 feet behind you. 35 years and I still have the scars.

[LHS]

I used some Brazillian machete with about a 26" or 28" blade that I got for $7 or so from Ace Hardware when I was in high school. My little SpecPlus bolo knife in my left hand, my big machete in my right, and it's rose-trimmin' time!

My pet peeve is when you shoot a deer and it crawls into the thickest patch of that shit that it can find. Then you have to drag it out without losing a pint of blood.

[HDR]

Originally posted by 5KNIVES
Everyone probably makes a pretty good choice, depending on what the local Flora is. Be interesting to see.

Yeah, I have a saw style blade for my weed whacker..


;)

[Poodleshooter]

I picked up a cheap one at the local Lowe's. It has a soft rubber handle that should be pretty comfortable. The blade is thin though, and the edge-yikes. Suffice to say I'll be recutting the edge as it appears that blind monkeys sharpened this thing with a mill file.

[HDR]

For heavy cross country use, IME, a shorter one is better. The longer issue machetes needed more room to swing, so you cut more. If the veg is thick with high temps and humidity a short bolo style blade was easier..

[willard P]

A little more money than what your looking at. but it's an fantastic tool. http://store.yahoo.com/yhst-7333098713883/18inchwwii.html

[HDR]

Originally posted by LHS
Short machetes are great for backpacking, because they're more maneuverable and don't tangle up in your gear as bad. However, I learned very quickly that the longer blades lead to less hand trauma when clearing large quantities of multiflora rose.

I learned as a rice paddy raider.. ;)

Clearing brush around the house, I prefer a standard length also. On the trail, shorter..

Poodleshooter
With a cheapie, I carry a 10" file..

[RJ Shooter]

I have a CS LTC Kukri and agree with the rubbing issue. I used it to chop out the rootage of a bush and a palm in my yard. I don't think it has much to do with the handle as much as it has to do with the weight of the beast!!!!! ;)

[HDR]

Never handled a CS Khukuri..

IMO, they are more to a hatchet than a machete.

The balance is unique and as any boxer will tell you, it takes more force to stop a punch that missed than land one..

[shinto187]

What do you think about Machetes with handguards?
I have seen them in the past, but I cannot find one on-line, I think it was made by Ontario.

[LHS]

Originally posted by shinto187
What do you think about Machetes with handguards?
I have seen them in the past, but I cannot find one on-line, I think it was made by Ontario.

Depends on how it's designed. I love cutting brush with my Cold Steel cutlass, because the guard keeps my fingers from getting gouged by thorns. It's also murder on the weapon's finish, and it did cost me $150 for the sword, so I don't do that too often.

If the guard is too small, though (like the Ontario one) it won't protect enough to be worth it, and might even screw up your grip style.

[5KNIVES]

shinto187

Had a short 12 inch Ontario with handguard I started playing with after LHS posted about the short ones earlier.

Pretty good idea I think, IF the guard is open enough for your hand, saves your knuckles and the back part of the guard seems to anchor the pinky finger nicely. Lets you get more snap into the blade swing while still having a more secure grip.

Better grip security is always good because Machetes get real dangerous when they glance or bounce, and they want to do that a lot.

Got an 18 inch w/ guard around here someplace, I think it'll prove to be an improvement.

Clearing my Mother-in-Laws long neglected garden this year gives me a good excuse to play with big knives. 8-)

That guard makes you feel a bit Piratical though.

Hey, where'd my parrot go?

LHS probably "borrowed" him . Who ever heard of a guy with a cutlass and no Parrot?

[LHS]

Originally posted by 5KNIVES
Hey, where'd my parrot go?

LHS probably "borrowed" him . Who ever heard of a guy with a cutlass and no Parrot?

Y'arrrrrrrr, matey!