[TrueNorth]

Hey guys and girls!

I've got a thread up in the "other weapons / knives" forum, but I want your opinion too, so feel free to check up there and give me your thoughts on the matter.

I'm looking to get a machete, probably bolo, kukri or latin styled. It's for brush clearing, wood chopping and camp-craft.
SD and hunting are not really concerns of mine just yet.

If you have experience with types or brands please let me know! I am not looking for somehting cheap, I prefer quality. Budget is under $100, from what I've seen that should be sufficient.

Anyways let me know your experiences, concerns, and brand preferences!

Thanks!

[RJMercer]

I had good luck with a Tramontina. Made in Brazil by folks that are right next door to a jungle. Good stuff.
http://www.machetespecialists.com/trmabr.html

[Mosin]

You can get a Cold Steel machete for around $20. Very good quality and worth it.
I have the bolo, but recommend against it. It's a great blade, but the handle is NOT very ergonomic. It is big, and doesn't allow for good grip. I am in the process of stippling it to try and help. When swinging the blade, it feels like it wants to slip out of my hand, and leads to much fatigue as I have to grip extra hard to fight the terrible handle design. Not only that, the handle just seems cheap...sturdy and rock solid...yet cheap. My roommate has the Kukri, and that handle is great. It fits great, has good grips, and is small enough to get a great purchase on. If I could do it over, I would refer to have his...or better yet, I would want my bolo, but with the kukri grip.

http://www.coldsteel.com/machetes.html


However, if you're willing to spend up to $100, I would get a woodsmans pal.

http://www.woodsmanspal.net/

[USEBOTHHANDS]

two-handed model

http://www.machetespecialists.com/trsucama13lo.html

one-handed model

http://www.machetespecialists.com/tr13sucamawi.html

these are awesome "cane" knives. i posted in another thread about these, but RJMercer beat me to it this time. never did get pics up.

these knives are light, inexpensive, and VERY easy to use. i have cut down 2-inch trees with 2 blows, and 1-inch ones with one chop. they are easy to sharpen and because of their shape, i usually sharped all of mine along the bottom edge, along the entire length of the flat nose, AND on the inside of the hook.

as for longevity, i am a landscape contractor by profession, i use mine year round. i have had my 2, short and long-handled, for about 15 years now.

if you've ever used a kaiser blade, then you know how heavy it is, and how much force it takes to cut stuff. out cuts it 10-fold.

it'll be the best $12 - $20 you ever spend.

[Bushwhacker]

I am a land surveyor and as a result of that I have a LOT of experience with machetes. Barteaux is the absolute best. Gerber is a good one. I have 2 Cold Steel pangas, they're too soft. Cane knives are ok for light duty. I always use a 24" Barteaux for heavy work on everything up to approx 6" hardwood. Anything larger than 6" I use a bushaxe or chainsaw. I use the Gerbers for light work. The saw on the back of the Gerber does work but not great.

[TrueNorth]

Thanks for sharing.

I have a preference for the one-handed ones, although those two-handers look pretty sturdy!

Mosin: duly noted on the bolo, thanks for narrowing that one down. Although wouldn't the handles on any coldsteel blade be the same, regardless of type?

Other than types I see a lot of different lengths now too.

Everything from roughly 16" to 28" preferences anyone, I think I'd stay on the shorter side 16-20" blades, but I would guess that the longer ones can give more power and make work easier. Any opinions?

[Mosin]

nope... handles are different, as I stated.

[HockaLouis]

Standard US military (Ontario Knife Company made now, think I have a Collins) no good eh? And isn't there a Camillus we preparedness-minded folk crow about!?