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#198187 - 03/17/10 01:26 AM Machete advise
EchoingLaugh Offline
Member

Registered: 09/20/09
Posts: 158
Loc: MO, On the Mississippi
My current machete finally gave up its ghost. (broke) I am in the market to replace it. I have been doing research on a suitable replacement and now I have more questions than answers. My old machete was a cheap no-brand that I bought approximately 10 years ago. It was carbon steel and survived my teen-age years and all of the abuse I could heap on it (including tumbleweed attacks, brush clearing, improper storage, breaking pavers (the back edge), being tossed into and around the bed of a truck with other heavy/metal objects, and even saw service on the levy breaking up pallets into stakes.) I have been looking around on the web and have noticed that there are new designs and several companies. I primarily will use a new machete to clear brush and break up branches. I have about an acre of land that I need to clear, so I will be spending a lot of time and effort piloting this tool around. I like the longer varieties (18-24 inches) and do not see using a shorter one (12-14 inches) to great effect in my situation.

Do you have any advice on brand name or styles?
_________________________
Jim
Do you know where your towel is?
Don't Panic!
I have an extra.

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#198188 - 03/17/10 01:33 AM Re: Machete advise [Re: EchoingLaugh]
GauchoViejo Offline
Journeyman

Registered: 03/06/08
Posts: 94
Loc: Argentina
In my experience, Collins makes the best machete, although there are some other good ones around, like the Ontario. As for the length, it depends on how tall you are. Normally people get machetes in a length that when held in their hand with the arm in a relaxed position at their side leave a 1-inch gap between the tip of the machete and the ground.

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#198190 - 03/17/10 01:50 AM Re: Machete advise [Re: GauchoViejo]
dougwalkabout Offline
Crazy Canuck
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 02/03/07
Posts: 3240
Loc: Alberta, Canada
About 10-15 years ago, I bought two machetes marked "US 1943 SWI" from a local knife/military supply shop. Outstanding. They are still going strong after hard use. I would take them anywhere, with confidence that they would perform well. Somebody told me they were Ontarios, but I have no way of confirming that. I wish I could find a couple more.

On the other hand, I strongly suggest you avoid the Cold Steel machetes. Absolutely awful. You can make something better out of a lawn mower blade.

My two cents'.


Edited by dougwalkabout (03/17/10 01:53 AM)

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#198191 - 03/17/10 01:52 AM Re: Machete advise [Re: GauchoViejo]
EchoingLaugh Offline
Member

Registered: 09/20/09
Posts: 158
Loc: MO, On the Mississippi
I am 6'1". That is one of the reasons I am looking at longer rather than shorter machetes. Thank you for the advise, I will look into Ontario.
_________________________
Jim
Do you know where your towel is?
Don't Panic!
I have an extra.

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#198192 - 03/17/10 01:56 AM Re: Machete advise [Re: dougwalkabout]
EchoingLaugh Offline
Member

Registered: 09/20/09
Posts: 158
Loc: MO, On the Mississippi
Originally Posted By: dougwalkabout
About 10-15 years ago, I bought two machetes marked "US 1943 SWI" from a local knife/military supply shop. Outstanding. They are still going strong after hard use. I would take them anywhere, with confidence that they would perform well. Somebody told me they were Ontarios, but I have no way of confirming that. I wish I could find a couple more.

On the other hand, I strongly suggest you avoid the Cold Steel machetes. Absolutely awful. You can make something better out of a lawn mower blade.

My two cents'.


I have heard that about the Cold Steel in my research. Thank you
_________________________
Jim
Do you know where your towel is?
Don't Panic!
I have an extra.

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#198194 - 03/17/10 02:10 AM Re: Machete advise [Re: EchoingLaugh]
hikermor Offline
Geezer in Chief
Geezer

Registered: 08/26/06
Posts: 7705
Loc: southern Cal
I bought a machete in the open air market in Oaxaca some years ago. A great tool. I believe it was a Collins, perhaps a Tramontina. I just purchase dwhat was working for everyone else.
_________________________
Geezer in Chief

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#198197 - 03/17/10 02:22 AM Re: Machete advise [Re: hikermor]
EchoingLaugh Offline
Member

Registered: 09/20/09
Posts: 158
Loc: MO, On the Mississippi
I have found a lot of glowing reviews of the Tramontina . I thought about just ordering one, but I have never used/owned one. Thank you,
_________________________
Jim
Do you know where your towel is?
Don't Panic!
I have an extra.

Top
#198198 - 03/17/10 02:35 AM Re: Machete advise [Re: GauchoViejo]
Art_in_FL Offline
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 09/01/07
Posts: 2432
Most any of the utility grade machetes, avoiding the $8 discount store models, are good enough to do anything you need them to do. A lot of them are coming out of South America where they know their machetes. You can find good ones at any feed store, farm supply, or shop catering to landscapers.

The ones you see at the discount stores, and big box hardware stores are inferior if your not paying $20 to $25. I've noticed that the good quality ones don't often come with a sheath. On discount store models the sheath seems to be something of an apology for the overall quality.

I still am hacking away with a $12 in '79' dollars Tramontina (24" LOA - wood handles utility grade made in Brazil) and a 36" USGI machete I got at a yard sale for $2. I've had both for better than twenty years. Pinged and abused, with a bit of rust, they just keep working.

Both are utility, nothing special, grade tools made of indifferent mild tool-steel, enough carbon to spark well if you hit a rock, but little enough that they tend to blunt their edge after a few minutes heavy use. Anyone with experience knows to carry a file if your going to be using a machete a lot and to smooth the edge frequently to keep it cutting smoothly. A file is a lot faster than a stone.

Cold Steel, a marketer of edged tools made in Asia that steeps itself in macho cache and heavily caters to wannabe types, does market a line of good, and relatively inexpensive, machetes. I have fiends who have bought them and was favorably impressed by their balance and quality. Nothing wrong with Cold Steel as such. They do sell some good products at reasonable prices but you have to dig through the hype and posturing.

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

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#198202 - 03/17/10 04:07 AM Re: Machete advise [Re: Art_in_FL]
akabu Offline
Journeyman

Registered: 10/23/02
Posts: 97
Loc: Brooklyn NY
Ontario for the North thicker also check Condor, if your Veggies are Greener {soft} lighter weight Blade[faster] also understand that your arms will feel it with a longer heavier blade over prolonged use
http://www.ontarioknife.com/machetes.html
Info on Machetes to help
http://www.machetespecialists.com/
Look here for Mods and Use to help your decisions before you buy.
http://www.youtube.com/user/Colhane




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#198203 - 03/17/10 04:17 AM Re: Machete advise [Re: akabu]
akabu Offline
Journeyman

Registered: 10/23/02
Posts: 97
Loc: Brooklyn NY
Also look at Asian style Blades Parang's Kukuries..ect.many cover from soft to hardwoods.

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