Are there any good thick production machetes

B

benchmadebob

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May 12, 2008
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i want 1/4 inch thick machete with a 12 inch blade i dont know if it would still be a machete but i wont something like that and have yet to find it. my reasoning is the i have my 12 inch ontario and it chops realy well but it gets stuck because its 1/8 and i think if it was a 1/4 it would baton/chop even better. but i dont think theres anything out there that come close to those spec. So if you know anything that might fall into the specs im looking for please tell me.:cool:
 
Don't know if that could be called a Machete at a 1/4" thick. Get a HI Bowie
 
i think that the ontario is about as thick as machetes get. 1/4 thickness at 12'' long seems like it would be killer on you arms though. i would try convexing it, because my tram used to bind up in things but after i convexed it, it hasnt been an issue.
 
We need the Horn Dog. He has the biggest selection of large choppers that I have ever seen. Hopefully he will be along to make some suggestions.

BTW, sticking is about geometry. Ontarios come stock with a horrible v-grind on them. I would expect them to stick, regardless of thickness.
 
I like choppers too, and this is an old pic. Lots more in the collection these days.

The bottom right knife might be something like you want. It's a custom David Wesner (Kelsey Creek Knives).

Edit: Don't forget the Becker Patrol Machete. Also in the pic below...

Choppers3.jpg
 
The BRKT Golok has a 11" blade and is about .22" thick. I have been using one to clear tree limbs after Ike and it cuts anything 1" thick and under in one easy chop. Very sharp. For bigger stuff it's ok but since it's blade height is only 1.3" it is a little light for a blade that thick.
 
There are plenty of 10" choppers 1/4" thick. Machetes work best if they aren't too heavy, so most are 1/8" thick or less. The RTAK is 3/16" thick. The Busse Battle mistress is about .25" thick. If it is a 12" blade that is thick, you are getting into kukris. The Cold Steel Gurkha has a 12" blade that is 1/4" thick. The BRKT Golok is a great chopper with an 11" blade that is about .215" thick. The Scrap Yard Dog Father at 10" is a fine chopper. Some of the old USMC bolo machetes are .25" thick. You can find those on ebay. For the world's most expensive "machete", you could get the Busse Nuclear Meltdown Fusion Battle Mistress.
 
tonym said:
Thats sweet, I never saw that, when did you get it?
Click to expand...

unfortunatly, it is not mine. i saw it in a thread in general knife discusion. the link i posted before is to the thread that has a few more pictures of it and some of the specs.
 
Barteaux, made in USA from L-6 steel, and the Corona Clipper, from ACE Hardware are prettythick, not 1/4" more like 3/16". The "Sugar Cane" knives
I have a Valtiant Trading Co. "Laduk Besar". It is thick.
 
You really need to define what you are doing and use then look for the right tool. Machetes are great for lighter vegetation and stuff under 1-2"...beyond that you may need a heavier chopper. The problem with a heavier chopper is that they are...well...heavier:p Fatigue will play a big role. I say this, because if you've ever used a machete to clear a trail, you get pretty worn out with that it's a lot lighter than most 1/4" choppers.

Before you start shelling out cash on a mega 1/4 or 5/16" behemoth chopper, try getting your Ontario convexed...that may improve chopping (awaiting a modified 12" Ontario by Brian Andrews:D). If you constantly chopping into thicker, harder woods, you need a tougher edge.

I need to take a new photo (Ilbruche now has my Becker Brute), but Bill Siegle makes some excellent choppers; if you don't need a pointy tip, Bark River's Golok is a masterpiece that chops and battens like no tomorrow. I have an older Livesay RTAK and it's a great chopper, so Ontario's may be okay (if it doesn't break on you:o).

MachetesandGoloks.jpg


LargeChoppers.jpg


BRKT Golok
DSC02324.jpg


Fehrman; BRKT EVO-1; Siegle; Livesay RTAK; Browning Barker-Crowell
LargeChoices.jpg


Somebody mentioned Valiant Goloks and they are also excellent heavier choppers...thick and convexed.

It's easier to recommend the right tool if you define what your requirements are...

ROCK6
 
Here's a pic of that Wesner (actually, two of them):

Wesnersb.jpg


And ROCK6 is right. Bill Siegle makes a nice knife. Great knives, ROCK6!

JK8.jpg


And here are the Linder machetes I mentioned above:

Linders2.jpg
 
I broke out the calipers on a Linder: .152"

Not as thick as I thought, but it was considerably thicker than the Tramontina I spec'ed: .88"
 
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