User Panel
Posted: 8/14/2011 5:27:06 AM EST
History:
I bought a bolo-style machete with a really heavy blade. It had a wooden handle and the handle split after about 6 months. Next was a Gerber Gator machete. I used it for about 30 minutes before the blade broke off right in front of the handle. The next victim was a SOGfari machete. It took about 5 minutes before the last 6 inches of the blade broke off. Maybe 5 minutes later, the blade shattered. For the record, I'm not trying to cut down a brick house or make big rocks into little rocks. I'm trying to clear some brush and trees from around my fence line and clear out food plots at my hunting club. Who makes a good machete that won't fall apart when being used for something other than walking around with a machete on your side? At this point, I'm thinking about going to one of the custom knife guys in the area and having a handle made from something like G10 for the bolo. |
|
Ive been using a Cold Steel Magnum Kukri, and I love it.
I had to put my own edge on it, like every blade I buy, but once I did, Ive had no problems with it. Cold Steel |
|
Ontario Knife Company (OKC). Had it for about 5 years now. Made in USA. Keeps a good edge, rock solid and the blade is thick. Last machete i'll ever own.
http://www.knivesplus.com/ontario-machete-qn-1-18sbk.html |
|
When I used to survey, I've had them last forever and had them snap off. The biggest thing is use the end (like the sweet spot with a baseball bat) if you get too far back on the blade it might snap off. I guess it's just the nature of the beast. Strong enough to hold and edge and not bend VS. snapping the metal.
I don't remember the brand. We got them from a Survey supply store. I know i friggin hated the ones with the orange handle that had a loop of plastic to protect your fingers. All it did was crunch the shit out of your fingers if you hit something and the machete twisted. I do have one of the Ontario ones. But haven't used it too much. |
|
I have a ww2 machete with the scabbard made by Wilkinson sword in Sheffield England...forgot about it until I saw this thread.
|
|
Kurki style blades are the absolute best machete's, IMHO, they slice better than straight blades which is really a benefit when whacking through thorns or multi-flora which you don't want springing back into you.
The Cold Steel ones are great for the money. |
|
Quoted:
Kurki style blades are the absolute best machete's, IMHO, they slice better than straight blades which is really a benefit when whacking through thorns or multi-flora which you don't want springing back into you. The Cold Steel ones are great for the money. I have both the CS Kukri and the long-ass regular machete; good tools. HOWEVER, my niece married into a Costa Rican family and her old man is getting me a REAL machete from down there..............Melissa asked me if I'd be interested and I about broke my neck saying, "YESSSS!!!" My sister, Melissa's mom, just got back from a visit and commented on how every swinging dick down there carries a machete around like we carry cell phones. She described the machete and mentioned the weight and heft and the hand-tooled sheath and I nearly swooned. Yes, pictures will be posted when it shows up later this year. |
|
I was also a surveyor for about 8 years in the heavily wooded northeast. A machete was a daily tool that stay on your hip 100% of the time you were out in the field. I went through quite a few, before I finally found that Ontario Knife Company mil-spec machetes were by far the most robust and best. I like the Ontario machetes because one, they use 1095 carbon steal and thicker blades that don't bend or flex (will get into why thats good in a second) , they also have the saw backs which are good for moving piles of brush full of things like poison ivy or briars just by plunging it into the middle of it and using the saw to grab the clump. The finish also resists rust and they hold and edge really well. As for why stiff blades are better, they are less likely TO bite into what ever you are cutting and NOT wrap around it instead, which of coarse as the blade springs back (all this happening while you are in the middle of swinging it) and has a tendency to go towards your legs, shins, and sometimes off hand.
The typical AR-15 mindset would dictate that anybody that gets cut was being careless and stupid but I can tell you from personal experience that it's in-experience with cutting with a machete as believe it or not there is skill involved, sometimes shit happens. I had to have minor surgury on my hand because I hit it one afternoon with my machete when I was out cutting line. I've seen guys hit their thighs and calves before as well because of glancing blows and un-checked follow throughs. And on a final note, when I buy a new Ontario machete, I buy a new bastard file and I totally strip down the factory bevel on it so instead of 2 bevels on the blade, I have a completely re-profiled deep "V", much like a conventional sword. I then take it and hone it on a range of wet stones ranging from 250-5000 grit and turn it into a razor. I do this because 1) the stock bevels do not allow the machete to be very sharp, 2) you spend less energy cutting with a razor sharp blade then you do a dull one, WAY LESS, and 3) the re-profiled blade turns the machete from a mildly capable chopping tool with no cutting ability to a superbly capable cutting tool, with excellent chopping abilities. While I have literally cut down 15" trees with my Ontario before while trying to kill the last hour of the day (It was on line and that bastard needed to go ) 90% of the things you will cut will be under 2" and a reprofiled razor honed Ontario with a guy using it that actually understands the basics of cutting will cut through that in one shot will a little effort. The biggest piece of green oak I've ever cut in one shot with mine was 2.5". Oh and last thing....length. Length of the blade is important. 12" blades are toys, your hand will get cut up using it, not to mention they are too wieldly and you are more prone to get minor cuts with them. 18" bladed machetes are probably the best all around, they balance well, cut well and give you enough reach to protect your hands from briars etc in most cases, Everybody I know that works day in and day out with a machete, including myself uses a 18" blade. The 22"+ blades are too big in most cases, you need ample room to swing them, and they are more prone to breaking. 22"+ blades also don't cut harder more solid woods well because there is so much leverage against that little 5" handle they have a tendency to twist in your hand a glance off larger sapplings and limbs. This is extremely dangerous as larger blades mean more mass, more force and deeper cuts. I've seen some horribly gruesome cuts from 18 and 22" Ontario blades (not even sharp ones at that). 22" bladed machetes work wonders on light brush and briars however. I find that any hooked or curved type bladed machetes tend to no cut through but want to more or less chop. Most also aren't long enough to generate any real force compared to a larger type machete. New guys in the field tend to use, khukri, bolo, goloks, mini brush hooks and they all end up giving them up for a traditional latin style machete like the Ontario's. I've been on camping trips where guys bring out their new toys and I bring my work machete and off coarse, beer+testosterone= cutting contest. Nothing to this day has even remotely come close to my work machete, but then again the blade profile and honed edge are on a totally different level that I'm sure the others would do better if they had users who could care for them like I do mine. YMMV. Sorry for the novel, hope this helps. If you have any questions PM me, I'll answer any to the best of my knowledge or experience will let me. |
|
Have had a US marked 18" Ontario machette for over thirty years. Chopped brush, trees, weeds, wood, used it for buchering deer and hogs. still works great.
|
|
Quoted: I was also a surveyor for about 8 years in the heavily wooded northeast. A machete was a daily tool that stay on your hip 100% of the time you were out in the field. I went through quite a few, before I finally found that Ontario Knife Company mil-spec machetes were by far the most robust and best. I like the Ontario machetes because one, they use 1095 carbon steal and thicker blades that don't bend or flex (will get into why thats good in a second) , they also have the saw backs which are good for moving piles of brush full of things like poison ivy or briars just by plunging it into the middle of it and using the saw to grab the clump. The finish also resists rust and they hold and edge really well. As for why stiff blades are better, they are less likely TO bite into what ever you are cutting and NOT wrap around it instead, which of coarse as the blade springs back (all this happening while you are in the middle of swinging it) and has a tendency to go towards your legs, shins, and sometimes off hand. The typical AR-15 mindset would dictate that anybody that gets cut was being careless and stupid but I can tell you from personal experience that it's in-experience with cutting with a machete as believe it or not there is skill involved, sometimes shit happens. I had to have minor surgury on my hand because I hit it one afternoon with my machete when I was out cutting line. I've seen guys hit their thighs and calves before as well because of glancing blows and un-checked follow throughs. And on a final note, when I buy a new Ontario machete, I buy a new bastard file and I totally strip down the factory bevel on it so instead of 2 bevels on the blade, I have a completely re-profiled deep "V", much like a conventional sword. I then take it and hone it on a range of wet stones ranging from 250-5000 grit and turn it into a razor. I do this because 1) the stock bevels do not allow the machete to be very sharp, 2) you spend less energy cutting with a razor sharp blade then you do a dull one, WAY LESS, and 3) the re-profiled blade turns the machete from a mildly capable chopping tool with no cutting ability to a superbly capable cutting tool, with excellent chopping abilities. While I have literally cut down 15" trees with my Ontario before while trying to kill the last hour of the day (It was on line and that bastard needed to go ) 90% of the things you will cut will be under 2" and a reprofiled razor honed Ontario with a guy using it that actually understands the basics of cutting will cut through that in one shot will a little effort. The biggest piece of green oak I've ever cut in one shot with mine was 2.5". Kept mine very sharp also. (But only with a file) It sure makes a huge difference. Never cut myself too seriously. Once I cut through the top of my boot with the tip. Barely cut my foot but had just changed out of my tennis shoes. Another time (Pretty creepy!) I was carrying my machete upside down using it sorta like a walking stick while climbing a steep bank and also wearing cotton jersey gloves. I fell and my hand slid down the nice sharp blade. I was like "Oh shit I just cut the hell out of my fingers" and was about half scared to look. Cut through two pairs of gloves and ended up with stitches in two fingers. I was more concerned with my boss. He turned ghostly white when I told him I need to go get stitches. He said "BS!" and I said "do you want to see?" He said "NOPE!". |
|
Quoted:
I was also a surveyor for about 8 years in the heavily wooded northeast. . Interesting read. It sucks that it's such a chore to find a real machete here. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
I was also a surveyor for about 8 years in the heavily wooded northeast. A machete was a daily tool that stay on your hip 100% of the time you were out in the field. I went through quite a few, before I finally found that Ontario Knife Company mil-spec machetes were by far the most robust and best. I like the Ontario machetes because one, they use 1095 carbon steal and thicker blades that don't bend or flex (will get into why thats good in a second) , they also have the saw backs which are good for moving piles of brush full of things like poison ivy or briars just by plunging it into the middle of it and using the saw to grab the clump. The finish also resists rust and they hold and edge really well. As for why stiff blades are better, they are less likely TO bite into what ever you are cutting and NOT wrap around it instead, which of coarse as the blade springs back (all this happening while you are in the middle of swinging it) and has a tendency to go towards your legs, shins, and sometimes off hand. The typical AR-15 mindset would dictate that anybody that gets cut was being careless and stupid but I can tell you from personal experience that it's in-experience with cutting with a machete as believe it or not there is skill involved, sometimes shit happens. I had to have minor surgury on my hand because I hit it one afternoon with my machete when I was out cutting line. I've seen guys hit their thighs and calves before as well because of glancing blows and un-checked follow throughs. And on a final note, when I buy a new Ontario machete, I buy a new bastard file and I totally strip down the factory bevel on it so instead of 2 bevels on the blade, I have a completely re-profiled deep "V", much like a conventional sword. I then take it and hone it on a range of wet stones ranging from 250-5000 grit and turn it into a razor. I do this because 1) the stock bevels do not allow the machete to be very sharp, 2) you spend less energy cutting with a razor sharp blade then you do a dull one, WAY LESS, and 3) the re-profiled blade turns the machete from a mildly capable chopping tool with no cutting ability to a superbly capable cutting tool, with excellent chopping abilities. While I have literally cut down 15" trees with my Ontario before while trying to kill the last hour of the day (It was on line and that bastard needed to go ) 90% of the things you will cut will be under 2" and a reprofiled razor honed Ontario with a guy using it that actually understands the basics of cutting will cut through that in one shot will a little effort. The biggest piece of green oak I've ever cut in one shot with mine was 2.5". Kept mine very sharp also. (But only with a file) It sure makes a huge difference. Never cut myself too seriously. Once I cut through the top of my boot with the tip. Barely cut my foot but had just changed out of my tennis shoes. Another time (Pretty creepy!) I was carrying my machete upside down using it sorta like a walking stick while climbing a steep bank and also wearing cotton jersey gloves. I fell and my hand slid down the nice sharp blade. I was like "Oh shit I just cut the hell out of my fingers" and was about half scared to look. Cut through two pairs of gloves and ended up with stitches in two fingers. I was more concerned with my boss. He turned ghostly white when I told him I need to go get stitches. He said "BS!" and I said "do you want to see?" He said "NOPE!". Yeah I know that feeling. When I cut my hand, as "Hollywood" as it might sound, I had just re-honed it the night before and after I hit my hand with it, it oddly didn't hurt, probably because the blade was so sharp and the cut stayed closed. I remember being like "FUCK" I knew I was cut bad but didn't see any blood. For a half second I remember thing damn maybe I got lucky.....nope I lowered my hand, the blood rushed to it and opened up the cut.......what a mess. Cut a few tendons and notched the bone pretty good. Needless to say I had a whole new respect for cutting after that, and I started keeping my offhand close to my chest to keep it out of the way, as even my first crew chief had been cut in this way. |
|
Quoted:
Ontario Knife Company (OKC). Had it for about 5 years now. Made in USA. Keeps a good edge, rock solid and the blade is thick. Last machete i'll ever own. http://www.knivesplus.com/ontario-machete-qn-1-18sbk.html I've broken several of those, they can be too brittle. The handles are brittle too. The only ones that I've had last a long time are the better Latin American ones. Corneta, Imacasa, etc. I have an El Salvadoran Corneta that has withstood over 20 years of abuse. the 22" ones are just the right size and shape. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Ontario Knife Company (OKC). Had it for about 5 years now. Made in USA. Keeps a good edge, rock solid and the blade is thick. Last machete i'll ever own. http://www.knivesplus.com/ontario-machete-qn-1-18sbk.html I've broken several of those, they can be too brittle. The handles are brittle too. The only ones that I've had last a long time are the better Latin American ones. Corneta, Imacasa, etc. I have an El Salvadoran Corneta that has withstood over 20 years of abuse. the 23" ones are just the right size and shape. Mine gets a lot of use around the house and see's bigtime duty during hunting season. Haven't had a single issue with this one. Obviously YMMV. |
|
Quoted:
Have had a US marked 18" Ontario machette for over thirty years. Chopped brush, trees, weeds, wood, used it for buchering deer and hogs. still works great. +1 |
|
|
Quoted:
I have old school longish one think it says legitmus something or other http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp153/bucknailer63/001-5.jpg That looks a lot like my Corneta. Those were the best ones to fish out of the hardware store bins, but there were a few other types that were almost as good. I wish I had bought 10 of them. Around here the machete bins have disappeared and they carry packaged Chinese ones. ETA, now I see what you did there, lol. |
|
I use the SOG SOGfari 13" machete for yard work and trail maintenance on the mt bike trails. Never had an issue with it in a year of hard use.
|
|
Quoted: I've used one of these for a long time. If you're having blades break, they are way too hard. 45-48 Rc is best for a machette in 1074 or 1095 steel. Have had a US marked 18" Ontario machette for over thirty years. Chopped brush, trees, weeds, wood, used it for buchering deer and hogs. still works great. I cut the last 2 inches off mine because I have no use for the up-sweep. |
|
|
|
i've got a "coronet" from costa rica. excellent blade. use it at the ranch all the time.
-tom |
|
Quoted: Quoted: Kurki style blades are the absolute best machete's, IMHO, they slice better than straight blades which is really a benefit when whacking through thorns or multi-flora which you don't want springing back into you. The Cold Steel ones are great for the money. I have both the CS Kukri and the long-ass regular machete; good tools. HOWEVER, my niece married into a Costa Rican family and her old man is getting me a REAL machete from down there..............Melissa asked me if I'd be interested and I about broke my neck saying, "YESSSS!!!" My sister, Melissa's mom, just got back from a visit and commented on how every swinging dick down there carries a machete around like we carry cell phones. She described the machete and mentioned the weight and heft and the hand-tooled sheath and I nearly swooned. Yes, pictures will be posted when it shows up later this year. I have 2 Cornetas I bought in San Jose. They are awesome. |
|
Quoted:
Ive been using a Cold Steel Magnum Kukri, and I love it. I had to put my own edge on it, like every blade I buy, but once I did, Ive had no problems with it. Cold Steel Ditto. Had to put an edge on, but has hacked through quite a number of things up to and including fallen pine tree branches without the least bit of trouble. |
|
|
|
I bought the cheapest one out of Smokey Mountain Knife Works at least 10 years ago.
It lasted through my angst filled teens, an acre of woods, and absolutly 0 care. It has sat in my parents dank basement, and has rusted a bit, but I am sure with 5 minutes of care it would last another decade. ETA: I can not tell for sure if it is the same thing, but look at the Imacasa ones. For less than $10, you really cant go wrong. |
|
used a martindale, imcasa, woodmans pal, when i worked surveying.
my advice is to go to a place that repairs surveying equipment, and buy the first one you see light rust on. im not sure why but the rusted ones seem to be more durable
|
|
Try a imacasa or tramontina. I've got a imacasa that has worked great for the last 20 years.
Are imacasa and corneta the same? Mine has that horn on it also. It was made in salvador. |
|
|
|
Quoted:
Ive been using a Cold Steel Magnum Kukri, and I love it. I had to put my own edge on it, like every blade I buy, but once I did, Ive had no problems with it. Cold Steel I swung a machete 3 days a week, 8 hours a day minimum for 5 years and that machete was the biggest piece of shit I had ever used. Do not waste your money. It is entirely too short for any real chopping and the handle felt extremely akward. I'd rather chop with a baseball bat, seriously, I can't put my contempt in words for that dog shit machete. Ontario blade are nice but are rather heavy and the majority have a squarish handle that becomes uncomfortable after an hour. Tramontina is the winner. |
|
Corneta machetes are excellent. They use great steel that really holds an edge. The blade is tough, flexible, and I've never heard of a broken Corneta.
They're old school traditional style machetes. Not a high tech modern interpretation. And they WORK. However, I don't know if the company is still in business. I did a search and found a few being offered for rather high prices, and they were all "vintage". But there are several good machete manufacturers. CJ |
|
|
|
Quoted:
woodman's pal. I can't imagine breaking this thing. http://www.knifecenter.com/knifecenter/woodman/images/c.jpg THIS! Have cut everything from saplings to vines to pine and oak trees up to six inches in diameter with mine. Super handy. Sharpens very nicely. Still made in america too. |
|
A little further research, it looks like mine is a Promedoca made in Domican Republic. There are lots that have Corneta in the name. I have also had the Colombian Gavilan/Incolma, they were similar but the handles weren't quite as good. Tramontinas were also common and I've had at least one of those. I cannot find one anywhere online with the same handle (which is practically indestructible and why I like these the best) except vintage ones.
Anyway, the blades on all these Latin American ones are good (pretty much all the same). You just have to find one with a good length, shape, and a good handle. |
|
Quoted:
Ive been using a Cold Steel Magnum Kukri, and I love it. I had to put my own edge on it, like every blade I buy, but once I did, Ive had no problems with it. Cold Steel Works for me, too. |
|
Thanks for all of the replies. I'm going to look around at the ones that have been suggested.
|
|
|
Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. One new winner* is announced every week!
You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers.
AR15.COM is the world's largest firearm community and is a gathering place for firearm enthusiasts of all types.
From hunters and military members, to competition shooters and general firearm enthusiasts, we welcome anyone who values and respects the way of the firearm.
Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter to receive firearm news, product discounts from your favorite Industry Partners, and more.
Copyright © 1996-2024 AR15.COM LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Any use of this content without express written consent is prohibited.
AR15.Com reserves the right to overwrite or replace any affiliate, commercial, or monetizable links, posted by users, with our own.