Machetes: essential gear, or just bring as needed?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Machetes: essential gear, or just bring as needed?

Posted: 10/5/2014 12:14:40 PM EDT

Guilty pleasure...I really like a good machete. Or 6. But do you guys think one should be in every camping/bug out bag, or should you just pack one if you expect a need to clear grass and brush and whatnot?

Also, what machete do you recommend? This can totally be a machete pic thread

Posted: 10/5/2014 12:36:18 PM EDT

[#1]

I'm not sure I need one, they would be nice to have. I'm limited on weight and space though.

I carry a zero tolerance 0300 folder as my main knife, a Multitool as a backup.

I'm really just trying to save weight. I want to be as light as possible.

If my AO was a real deal jungle or swamp though, definitely. My AO is urban sprawl. I think it is whatever your application must be for the terrain you plan to navigate.

Posted: 10/5/2014 12:52:48 PM EDT

[#2]

http://www.machetespecialists.com/

Posted: 10/5/2014 12:59:13 PM EDT

[#3]

Quote History

Quoted:
http://www.machetespecialists.com/

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Been hanging out on their site. Great info and pretty good prices. But I do value the input of the arf survival forum.

Posted: 10/5/2014 1:14:51 PM EDT

[#4]

Depends on AO , here in the "Big Thicket" it is pretty much a necessity

Posted: 10/5/2014 1:26:19 PM EDT

[#5]

Depends on the area your in
Brush, undergrowth prevalent ? Then yes a machete is handy

Otherwise I feel much better with a solid well made small ax - I prefer the smaller ax to a hatchet

Posted: 10/5/2014 2:32:35 PM EDT

[#6]

I keep one in my truck and one in the kayak. Been thinking i need one on the quad too. I've gone through a bunch of cheap ones, just got the bigger Gerber. Its decent for $25 or what ever it was, but the saw leaves a lot or be desired.

Posted: 10/5/2014 3:01:47 PM EDT

[#7]

I don't use them anymore. They suck for working with wood. You can't even strip a sapling with them. Green or dry, forget it. Waste of energy. A small hatchet or ax is far more useful.
Maybe if I still lived in the south, but here in the PNW, a hatchet or ax is the way to go. I have replaced all my machete's with ax/hatchet.

Posted: 10/5/2014 3:05:09 PM EDT

[#8]

I'd place a Machete below a good general purpose knife, a good folding saw and an axe or hatchet. A good machete is a nice tool to have in your toolshed, though. My $0.02. YMMV.

Posted: 10/5/2014 4:54:19 PM EDT

[#9]

Absolutely essential. Don't waste bullets on zombies unless they are the fast ones.

Posted: 10/5/2014 5:18:27 PM EDT

[#10]

I have a Tramontina as part of my emergency camping/SHTF kit, but wouldn't carry it in my light bag. For $20 shipped, everybody should have at least one, whether you'll use it a lot, or a little.

Chris

Posted: 10/5/2014 5:40:25 PM EDT

[#11]

I just picked up a 14" Tramontina Bolo machete from Survival Pax for about $15 with shipping... I ground the handle to remove wood until there was no gap, flush with the blade... the bolo profile gives it a good balance, but has a thinner blade than my Collins SA (Guatemala)

http://www.survival-pax.com/Tramontina-14-Bolo-Machete.html

Posted: 10/5/2014 6:47:00 PM EDT

[#12]

I have a Machete, esee5 and a x5 hatchet in my pack. Love all three of them.

ETA: but I use my Husquvarna 19" forest axe more than anything.

Posted: 10/6/2014 12:06:51 PM EDT

[#13]

I'm going with essential. A 12" or 14" (preferred) Tram is very hard to beat. It will do a lot of things well that a big honking knife does poorly.

Posted: 10/6/2014 2:39:38 PM EDT

[#14]

They are pretty useless in my area.

When you do find a brush lot it is mostly briars, so you are much better off just going around.

Posted: 10/6/2014 4:28:03 PM EDT

[#15]

I used to use them daily in work around upstate NY they were essential to what we were doing which was more or less carving caves through the woods, brush and scrub lots for surveying. We needed to do this because for surveying you need to see from station to station. We also used them for making stakes for flagging, cutting wood here and there for fires for lunches and other stuff. I've used most brands but honestly the South American ones like Tramontina were excellent and
cheap. Martindales were nice but nothing special. USGI were ok but short, thick and kind of clumsy as compared to long thin South American ones. I hated the D type handles on Barteaux machetes- they seem like a good idea until you use one a lot and then we invariably removed them. You find it useful to be able to shift your hand around for different tasks and the knuckle guard prevents that. Steel/blade wise the Barteaux machetes were ok though I guess.

You don't have to pay a lot to get a decent machete but it does pay to look for one with a good quality handle. Chinese made machetes are generally junk and have handles that crack or shift on you. South american made machetes that were really made for work will generally have a half way decent handle. Sheaths are usually junky, get a good leather one from Allen Precision or Chicago Steel tape or someone, or maybe make one from Kydex?

For camping and hiking I've found them a lot less useful, I still keep them around and sometimes pack one, they can be useful for making shelters but so can a decent axe. The one task they excel at is clearing large areas of brush, honeysuckle, mountain laurel etc. quickly so unless you really anticipate having to do that you probably don't need one.

If you live in a cold area sometimes the blade will snap and break- usually it would happen when temps are in the 0s or 10s and you are cutting hardwood. It seems a lot rarer now than it used to be. It is unpleasant when it happens, particularly if someone happens to be downrange.

I wouldn't call them useless but there are more useful tools I'd bring first.

Posted: 10/6/2014 4:57:53 PM EDT

[#16]

Useful for hunting in certain parts of Oregon. Invest wisely, I didn't and the front fell off. This happened Saturday when it was 80 degrees.

Posted: 10/6/2014 11:03:14 PM EDT

[#17]

I like to have some top end heft but not too short.
These are ideal but I cannot find one at decent price. Growing up my friend had one it was awesome.

In the kudzu jungle and planted pine forests a machete makes quick work at hacking a trail.

Posted: 10/7/2014 9:21:17 PM EDT

[#18]

Quote History

Quoted:
I like to have some top end heft but not too short.
These are ideal but I cannot find one at decent price. Growing up my friend had one it was awesome.

In the kudzu jungle and planted pine forests a machete makes quick work at hacking a trail.

View Quote

The Martindale Paratrooper is kind of similar.

http://www.machetespecialists.com/martindale-paratrooper-with-canvas-sheath.html

The Martindale might be a bit smaller- kind of like the U.S. M-1917 Bolo Knife, but with a thinner blade.

Imcasa make some smaller Bolo style ones too:
http://www.machetespecialists.com/nsearch.html?section=01zIwPbAYhnvJys70OBnQZlsEbzbco3U34muRYLUpcGmvRyJ2_Yyw-&query=bolo&searchsubmit=Search&vwcatalog=yhst-29358752693524

Posted: 10/7/2014 10:30:36 PM EDT

[#19]

I have a Gerber (the shorter one) that I have used here in Michigan and out west in the texas pan handle. It does ok here but a saw of ax is better, with my preference being on the saw. Out west however it worked very good on the scrub brush. Definitely area specific

Posted: 10/8/2014 7:07:44 AM EDT

[#20]

Quote History

Quoted:
....... Sheaths are usually junky, get a good leather one from Allen Precision or Chicago Steel tape or someone, or maybe make one from Kydex?

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I make my own from thin-wall sewer pipe.

Top:

12" Tram.. Great for general duty.

Bottom:

12" Ontario (heavy weight version)....More of a woods machete.

Posted: 10/8/2014 8:12:18 AM EDT

[#21]

I could be happy with an 18" machete and a Swiss Army Knife.

Posted: 10/8/2014 9:56:47 PM EDT

[#22]

I have a cold steel gurka kukri style machete and a gerber long w saw back was given to me also. Living in alabama, it is a lot of saplings, undergrowth, like a jungle, and I have really liked the gurka style and have all but purchased the expensive cold steel models. There are places I use my hatchet and prefer at camp, I just run a gerber one, it has been great for the last 4 years. The rear head is not a great mallet, but works.

Posted: 10/8/2014 10:17:05 PM EDT

[#23]

Southern US I'd say yes.
Seems like I can do most anything with an 18" US Ontario machete for clearing brush, vines, cleaning up for a campsite quickly.
And it seems to be able to cut sizable wood for a fire. An axe or saw may be better for several days of firewood gathering though, but for quick camps on the move a good machete can't be beat.
An ax or hatchet by itself wouldn't work as well imho (southern US).
The Ontario 12" beavertail machete seems to be a fair compromise for pack size/weight.

I would like to try other machetes to see if there is an improved version or one that would serve me better.
I've tried some from HD and some Blackie Collins ones and was not impressed; and like said above the D handles have to go.
ymmv

Posted: 10/11/2014 4:52:43 PM EDT

[#24]

Every time I go out. The machete is one item that I never regret having. Although, it is bulky and I have to strap it to my pack.

Posted: 10/11/2014 6:27:10 PM EDT

[#25]

A good machete is a versatile tool.

You can cut brush of course, cut wood for fire or shelter, butcher game, cook on it, dig with it, use it as a weapon....

It has many uses.

Posted: 10/13/2014 8:12:08 AM EDT

[#26]

As a generic term, I would assume you are specifically meaning your typical “Latin-brush” style of machete which often is shown with Ontario or Tramontina. Most are high-carbon steel, thin blades ranging from 10-24 inches and designed mostly for grasses or light, leafy vegetation. Of course there are many different varieties developed regionally for different vegetation:

Although I really want to pick up Fiddleback 12” machete, my top choice of a couple dozen machetes is a BHK (now split) machete. It has a longer handle and an excellent 14” convex ground blade. Speaking grinds, the convex grind will surprise many at how well it chops and will easily give a hatchet a run for hit’s money. The only caution is making sure you can maintain and keep the edged touched up in the field.

ROCK6

Posted: 10/16/2014 10:58:58 PM EDT

[#27]

Quote History

Quoted:
As a generic term, I would assume you are specifically meaning your typical “Latin-brush” style of machete which often is shown with Ontario or Tramontina. Most are high-carbon steel, thin blades ranging from 10-24 inches and designed mostly for grasses or light, leafy vegetation. Of course there are many different varieties developed regionally for different vegetation:

<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ROCK-6/media/Blades/DSC04035-1.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v440/ROCK-6/Blades/DSC04035-1.jpg</a>

Although I really want to pick up Fiddleback 12” machete, my top choice of a couple dozen machetes is a BHK (now split) machete. It has a longer handle and an excellent 14” convex ground blade. Speaking grinds, the convex grind will surprise many at how well it chops and will easily give a hatchet a run for hit’s money. The only caution is making sure you can maintain and keep the edged touched up in the field.

<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ROCK-6/media/Blades/DSCF0041_zpsc37ebb23.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v440/ROCK-6/Blades/DSCF0041_zpsc37ebb23.jpg</a>

ROCK6

View Quote

Great info. I noticed you have the (Condor?) Golok. Thoughts? Looks heavy enough to maybe serve as a midway between a machete and a hatchet.

Posted: 10/17/2014 3:55:40 PM EDT

[#28]

Took with us my crappy cold steel latin machete and it worked fine for clearing out a spot for the tent.

It made short work of some wood for the fire pit. We used a pack saw first to get it down to 12" long pieces. Then took the machete to them for kindling. Stuff was dry and never used more than a match to lite it.

Its fine for breaking down cardboard boxes and being "creative" with a rotten tarp.

But, its not an axe... only an axe is an axe.

Posted: 10/17/2014 4:45:14 PM EDT

[#29]

The Duke of Wellington during the Napoleonic Wars said, and I paraphrase, "You can follow an army by what it discards from its packs."

With that in mind, a machete is one handy tool but I classify it as a squad tool much as they were used in the jungles of WWII and Vietnam. Not everyone in a party is going to blaze a trail.

Its with this in mind, the fact that going off into the woods to live is a last resort where an axe would be better, and the odds you ever need to go on foot, it will be down a road not blazing a trail, I do not recommend a machete to anyone who doesn't have an every day need for one. Like a rifle and keeping old Lord Wellington in mind, you need one for some bugout, there will be plenty laying around. Even a cheap one, they are heavy and will be one of the first items discarded from a pack.

All that being said, the damn sure are handy if you live near or venture near the woods. Contrary to popular board philosphy of the best of the best, if you use a machete, any machete, you are going to ding the hell out of it. A $100 plus tool is not high on my list of "Oh boy, I'm going to wok underbrush" and find barbed wire. I've had many over the years, mostly Military Surplus which you have to sharpen to even use but my current favorite is the
Gerber. followed very closely by the SOG. Both models are inexpensive but decent steel with a good edge out of the box. The models I like feature a long blade with saw back. Keep in mind, like pack weights, machete weight is a big deal. Heavy is bad especially if you are stroking these things for hours on end. What I like most about these two models is both feature a solid handle with no split to wear blisters in your palms.

There you go, for a pack "No" but for home/homestead survival "Yes". Inexpensive if you use them. SOG or Gerber.

A machete is something if you use them, you want to be able to throw a grind stone too, not a wet stone.

BTW, I also like the telescoping Gerber limb cutter. My house is surrounded by forest and its been extremely handy and durable for cutting small limbs away from things. I also like the Gerber Hatchets due to ease of use, mainly eight, and quality of the edge, but this I caution others, that plastic handle will break if you don't know how to use a hatchet. Once again though, I use hatchets not for camping but at home a lot. Every spring I use them to cut poison oak and small limbs. I have a number of those as well but its the cheap ones I use most. I go through this stuff and buy on sale and have broken or damaged my share of "OH SHIT, that cost a fortune."

Now knives, I have some damn fine knives but I still buy disposables for cutting boxes etc by the gross.

Tj

Posted: 10/17/2014 6:53:27 PM EDT

[#30]

Quote History

Quoted:

Great info. I noticed you have the (Condor?) Golok. Thoughts? Looks heavy enough to maybe serve as a midway between a machete and a hatchet.

View Quote

Condor's Golok is a decent tool, but as you suspect, it's heavier than your typical Latin machete. It's more geared towards thicker vines and tougher vegetation as you'll get tired swinging that around for light vegetation and trail clearing.

I have difficulty disagreeing with TJ, but I really believe the simple, 12" machete is the universal survival tool. For the cost and if sharpened properly (and you have the ability to sharpen in the field), it's by far the most effective survival tool one can have. Yes, I have some experience in South America where machetes are used as an extended appendage for the locals, but I saw kids to grown ups wield large machetes like a pocket knife. They cleaned fish, prepared vegetables, fruits and game for dinner; used as a plate, cooked with them, dug with them, used them as a draw knife to strip bark and make cordage, they could handle them like a paring knife and make a furniture in minutes. Granted the effectiveness of the tool is directly proportional to the skill of the user, but I've seen and believe a simple machete will perform tasks from pocket knife to hatchet. Paired with a saw, it could replace an axe in most boreal climates...an axe is still more efficient for serious wood processing, but from a survival perspective, a saw is even more valuable. Still, I highly value a decent machete. I don't always take one backpacking, but for serious BoB, truck or short-hiking distance camping, I really like having one handy.

ROCK6

Posted: 10/18/2014 8:45:26 PM EDT

[#31]

In my AO, Machete no.

Woodman's Pal, Yes!

Very handy bushwhacking in pines. Used one for the first time in Maine fishing the Allagash waterway in the 90's.
(Now they do not want people "improving" the trails.) I also have an old school Frank and Warren, from 1966. Great tool.

Posted: 10/20/2014 8:27:30 AM EDT

[#32]

Quote History

Quoted:
A machete is something if you use them, you want to be able to throw a grind stone too, not a wet stone.

View Quote

THat is worth repeating. We never used stones, always files and usually sharpened our machetes every morning when we used them a lot. If you were going to be afield with one long term it would be nice to have a sheath that combined storage of the machete with a pocket for a file. I have a Martindale that came with a sheath like that and it was pretty handy, (though later on I replaced the file with a Mora so I had a chopper and a decent cutting tool together.)

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Machetes: essential gear, or just bring as needed?

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