5pc Colombian surplus military machete assortment ?

jbmonkey said:
I expect you're gonna get the least popular models and one or two you'll like at the minimum. course could be the least popular are the ones ya like. either way good pile of steel for working with. if price is right, that ain't a bad thing.
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That's pretty much what I'm expecting, but as long as the unwanted machetes are something my neighbor or somebody can use then it won't be too bad.
 
Yeah, I'd like a couple different billhook patterns. Guess I'll just have to sharpen the top side of a panga and have a semi-billhook. Somewhere in my stash, I have a couple heavy duty hand-forged billhooks with a solid handle socket. Made by Hmong hilltribe blacksmiths 40 years ago.

I need to cut back the 19.5" tapanga, as it's very thick and heavy. It's the old Martindale # 202 pattern. It might handle better at 14" or 16".

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They're supposed to arrive tomorrow, I'll definitely post some pics of what I wound up with whenever they arrive ( probably won't actually be tomorrow)
My mail goes to a PO box and I usually never know till it's too late that something will ship through FedEx , the box is sitting less than an hour from me but around here they like to let packages sit for a few days before transferring them to USPS.
 


So far I really like the little one, sharpened it up real quick and it's great.
Its interesting that the large panga is marked with the British name Spear and Jackson.

I think I'm going to keep the little one, the billhook, and the parang.
The 22" and the tapanga I'll give away.

I'll try the parang before I decide if I like it.
 
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The little one and the billhook I am absolutely keeping, that billhook is awesome.


I just let my neighbor choose between the panga and tapanga, and he chose the tapanga.
He said he's been using those crappy $10 Walmart machetes or a Bear Grylls he was gifted, this should be a major upgrade.
 
That little dude is definitely the one that caught my eye, with a decent sheath its size would make it ideal for hiking/camping.
 
Lee D said:
That little dude is definitely the one that caught my eye, with a decent sheath its size would make it ideal for hiking/camping.
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It probably would and I have a decent sheath to put it in, but for me they'll all be landscaping tools around the yard.

I just don't have the knowledge of when to spray for the various kinds of weeds that grow around my yard, not to mention the bamboo and oleander some idiot planted between us and the neighbors decades ago and the grape vines that just showed up in our my backyard.
I should probably learn when to take care of that crap, but using a machete is more fun than using a chemical sprayer.
 
Anyone ever heard of JMK machetes before ?
I can only assume Incolma makes them under contract for someone because the somewhat distinct rivet heads are identical to those found on Incolma wood and faux wood handles, and I searched and could not find any other Colombian machete manufacturers listed anywhere.

There's only a few brands listed in the incolma catalog , but those are obviously just the names they own and theres no telling how many companies they contract for.
 
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Hickory n steel said:
Anyone ever heard of JMK machetes before ?
I can only assume Incolma makes them under contract for someone because the somewhat distinct rivet heads are identical to those found on Incolma wood and faux wood handles, and I searched and could not find any other Colombian machete manufacturers listed anywhere.

There's only a few brands listed in the incolma catalog , but those are obviously just the names they own and theres no telling how many companies they contract for.
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In the Incolma promo video at 5:06, there are boxes in the shipping area that have the JMK logo. The worker is packing Truper machetes. I received some marked MOB - Merchants of Britain. They are just a supplier/wholesaler. Another was marked with the name of a Spanish company that makes hand sickles. They only list 1 machete in their catalog, so I suspect it was made by Incolma.


You got a good selection. I do like the shorter spear-point machete. What is the brand label on it? Is there a model #?

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USMCPOP said:
In the Incolma promo video at 5:06, there are boxes in the shipping area that have the JMK logo. The worker is packing Truper machetes. I received some marked MOB - Merchants of Britain. They are just a supplier/wholesaler. Another was marked with the name of a Spanish company that makes hand sickles. They only list 1 machete in their catalog, so I suspect it was made by Incolma.


You got a good selection. I do like the shorter spear-point machete. What is the brand label on it? Is there a model #?

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Good call, I rewatched the video and didn't catch that.

So far I love the 14" orange handled spearpoint machete.


It's Gavilan Incolma.
 
I decided to rehandle the 22"er.
I've been thinking about how the length could be useful, but I didn't like the handle.

When you take into account how much oversized the plastic scales are that enclose the tang with what I ground in I'm gaining about an inch of handle area.

I'm gonna use some pallet wood or something, it's just a machete that I won't be babying so I dont need anything fancy.
 
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That short one with the orange grip looks like a #164 Barrigon pattern, though there are a couple others that are similar. The # 284 guapote is close, but has more of a clip tip as opposed to a rounded Kephart spear point style.

The handles on some of these are quite small (riveted plastic ones) while others are quite large (wooden).

If you ever get down by Richmond, VA, bring some stuff and we can trade. Or just go out and terrorize the neighborhood.
 
USMCPOP said:
That short one with the orange grip looks like a #164 Barrigon pattern, though there are a couple others that are similar. The # 284 guapote is close, but has more of a clip tip as opposed to a rounded Kephart spear point style.

The handles on some of these are quite small (riveted plastic ones) while others are quite large (wooden).

If you ever get down by Richmond, VA, bring some stuff and we can trade. Or just go out and terrorize the neighborhood.
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Interesting, thanks for the info.

The handle on this little one is just about perfect.
The thickness tapers out towards the back, and the shape and overall size just works well for a machete this size.

I really don't understand why they'd make a handle with just barely enough room for your hand.
I like more handle than that so I can use a bit of a wrist flick.
 
Well that handle was a failure, it split on me so I went back to the drawing board.
No big deal though because that handle was quick and dirty.

A broken axe handle, some brass pins, epoxy, a twine wrap to cover up the gaps ( handle is wider than the machete tang) and the blaze orange duct tape just to cover everything up.

This light thin 22" blade with a long handle should be one helluva brush and weed slasher .
 
Wow, I'm pleasantly surprised that the variety pack actually had decent variety. I'll have to give it a try!
 
I have two 5 packs coming from different stores. I had originally bought one and then saw a Memorial Day sale for $19.99. I’ll take pics when they come.
 
Triton said:
Wow, I'm pleasantly surprised that the variety pack actually had decent variety. I'll have to give it a try!
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Go for it.
They may not have the kind of steel someone might want for bushcraft and such,but as the simple working blades they were meant to be they're great.
 
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