Best all around machete?

[SBaker34]

I have used an ontario machete for the last 3 years and it has served me faithfully however I have recently lost it and I am in the market for a new machete there are so many options its impossible to know which one however what I enjoyed about my ontario 18 inch was that it was strong enough to cut down any sized tree effortlessly whilst still being sharp and long enough to trim thorn bushes out of my way.


With so many recommendations its hard to choose which machete will be strongest and be able to withstand axe work clearing trees while still cutting lighter stuff what is the best all around machete? I would prefer one AT LEAST 18 inches longer is fine or even preferred as long as it is built well enough.

Budget is under $60 or close.

 

[EMT_Lee]

From my experience, and what you've described, I would say that you should stick with Ontario. Granted, the Ontario I have is from WWII so it may be different from the new ones, but it is quite a bit thicker/stiffer than many of the other popular recommendations (Condor, ESEE, etc.). It does a much nicer job on the tree chopping for me. YMMV.

 

[NDWoods]

Condor is really starting to grow on me but I do not yet have the hundreds of hours of field experience with their carbon blades that I do with Ontarios.

Stick with the proven product that you already believe in.

 

[LostSoul]

As someone who has used a Machete for 10+ years on a daily basis as a Land Surveyor, I vote Martindale. You can pick them up from a Survey Supply store for under $20 or with a leather sheath for under $50. In the 10+ years of using a Machete, I am only on my second one. I have cut down 6"-8" hardwoods before using my Machete, but it isn't fun, but sometimes it is necessary. Like anything else, you can spend as much money as you want on a Machete but ask a Surveyor what he recommends and you'll either get a Martindale or Collins.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Condor all the way, baby! Any of their models in that length ought to do well, though I'm quite partial to the 20" Viking model.

 

[Mistwalker]

The only machete I've ever fallen in love with costs more than that. I don't like the blade shapes of most machetes though. I do have an Ontario 18 incher but I only use it when I'm working in the yard and doing stuff like chopping into the ground. I don't mind dinging it up because I hate the saw teeth on the blade. I don't like the rounded tips of most machetes. A blade with no usable point at all is only marginally above useless to me.

 

[SilverFoxKnows]

Martindales have a heavy blade but the two I had both had worse fit and finish than my $6 Tramontina. The grind lines on the 18 incher were really lop sided and the golok had about 3" of sharp and a whole bunch of dull. If you have a belt sander you might consider Martindale. Or if you can hand pick one. But I wouldn't order one, sight unseen. I know that a sample of two isn't conclusive but neither was usable out of the box. For the price I expected more.

If the machetes from Bellotto are equal to the little sickle I have they would be worth a look. I just ordered an Imacasa but haven't received it yet so I can't speak first hand to the quality. Since you know the quality of the Ontario and like the thicker blade you might stick with that. It's not the exciting answer but it's a safe bet.

Frank

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Martindales have a heavy blade but the two I had both had worse fit and finish than my $6 Tramontina. The grind lines on the 18 incher were really lop sided and the golok had about 3" of sharp and a whole bunch of dull. If you have a belt sander you might consider Martindale. Or if you can hand pick one. But I wouldn't order one, sight unseen. I know that a sample of two isn't conclusive but neither was usable out of the box. For the price I expected more.

If the machetes from Bellotto are equal to the little sickle I have they would be worth a look. I just ordered an Imacasa but haven't received it yet so I can't speak first hand to the quality. Since you know the quality of the Ontario and like the thicker blade you might stick with that. It's not the exciting answer but it's a safe bet.

Frank

Imacasas absolutely and utterly rock. I'm sure you'll love it, whatever one it was that you got. :thumbup:

 

[imaginefj]

I love my Ontario CT1s

 

[grunt soldier]

The only machete I've ever fallen in love with costs more than that. I don't like the blade shapes of most machetes though. I do have an Ontario 18 incher but I only use it when I'm working in the yard and doing stuff like chopping into the ground. I don't mind dinging it up because I hate the saw teeth on the blade. I don't like the rounded tips of most machetes. A blade with no usable point at all is only marginally above useless to me.

blah ..... sir stop bragging about your damn fiddleback 12 incher . we all can't be as lucky as you (even if you didn't point it out this time) just messing around brother and i can only assume you meant this one as you have been talking so highly of it. this is what i am holding out for as of now. the handle and grinds have it looking like the machete for me also.

 

[GEC]

I would go with another ontario 18". If not then maybe go with a Tramontina 18". You are going to have to put an edge on it, but you will get a tough as nails machete for $6.99. I have 2 of them from tramontina. the 14" and 12". About to get the 18" from them. You can't go wrong with them.
You can even look into the condor line of machetes. I hear they are great.

 

[Mistwalker]

blah ..... sir stop bragging about your damn fiddleback 12 incher . we all can't be as lucky as you (even if you didn't point it out this time) just messing around brother and i can only assume you meant this one as you have been talking so highly of it. this is what i am holding out for as of now. the handle and grinds have it looking like the machete for me also.

That obvious eh ? I was actually trying not to be...trying hard not to brag

I can't help it it's my favorite...lol, it's really sweet! I've waited years to find a machete that feels, handles, and functions like this one. Hell finding it is something worth shouting about :thumbup:

The only longer one I've ever seen that I think I'd really like I'd have to go to the Philippines and track down the maker or have one custom made from scratch. That's a LOT of trouble/money to go through for a machete.

 

[LostSoul]

Martindales have a heavy blade but the two I had both had worse fit and finish than my $6 Tramontina. The grind lines on the 18 incher were really lop sided and the golok had about 3" of sharp and a whole bunch of dull. If you have a belt sander you might consider Martindale. Or if you can hand pick one. But I wouldn't order one, sight unseen. I know that a sample of two isn't conclusive but neither was usable out of the box. For the price I expected more.

If the machetes from Bellotto are equal to the little sickle I have they would be worth a look. I just ordered an Imacasa but haven't received it yet so I can't speak first hand to the quality. Since you know the quality of the Ontario and like the thicker blade you might stick with that. It's not the exciting answer but it's a safe bet.

Frank

I've always thought that the Martindales have a pretty balanced blade. For the occasional user, a thin blade may be ok but for someone who is going to use it for heavy use, a heavier blade will make easy work out of the thick stuff. I will agree that the blades need touched up from the start, but nothing a file can't handle.

While I prefer Martindales, I think that it will boil down to personal preference and how it feels to the individual.

 

[Joezilla]

As someone who has used a Machete for 10+ years on a daily basis as a Land Surveyor, I vote Martindale. You can pick them up from a Survey Supply store for under $20 or with a leather sheath for under $50. In the 10+ years of using a Machete, I am only on my second one. I have cut down 6"-8" hardwoods before using my Machete, but it isn't fun, but sometimes it is necessary. Like anything else, you can spend as much money as you want on a Machete but ask a Surveyor what he recommends and you'll either get a Martindale or Collins.

I've found that out too. They mostly have the guyana collins though.
Consequently, Condor has been starting to have inquiries from a couple of popular surveying catologs.

 

[Joezilla]

Its kinda funny you ask this today:
I got to go through and see probably over 600 samples of different machetes from companies all around the world. Each one of them have been through rockwell tests and durability rating scales, temper tests, handle tests and bending tests. Martindale was OK, some of the newer ones seemed to have been having issues with bending back to true.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Its kinda funny you ask this today:
I got to go through and see probably over 600 samples of different machetes from companies all around the world. Each one of them have been through rockwell tests and durability rating scales, temper tests, handle tests and bending tests. Martindale was OK, some of the newer ones seemed to have been having issues with bending back to true.

I hate you so much right now. That is one big bunch of blades there! Must have been fun to paw through them all! Also, LOL TINY CLEAVER in the above picture.

Edit to add: Also I DESPERATELY want that little chef's knife-looking Imacasa in that box. The one with the same polypropylene handle as the Rodan. Looks like it'd be a terror in the kitchen OR around camp!

 

[PayetteRucker]

As someone who has used a Machete for 10+ years on a daily basis as a Land Surveyor, I vote Martindale. You can pick them up from a Survey Supply store for under $20 or with a leather sheath for under $50. In the 10+ years of using a Machete, I am only on my second one. I have cut down 6"-8" hardwoods before using my Machete, but it isn't fun, but sometimes it is necessary. Like anything else, you can spend as much money as you want on a Machete but ask a Surveyor what he recommends and you'll either get a Martindale or Collins.

I'd kill for a martindale for under 20 bucks, especially the paratrooper... but I have no idea where to look as far as survey supply stores...
42, I agree, that cleaver would be a SICK survival knife.

 

[SBaker34]

Its kinda funny you ask this today:
I got to go through and see probably over 600 samples of different machetes from companies all around the world. Each one of them have been through rockwell tests and durability rating scales, temper tests, handle tests and bending tests. Martindale was OK, some of the newer ones seemed to have been having issues with bending back to true.

So what is your favorite kind of machete?

 

[ChapmanPreferred]

I have two Martindales and a Cold Steel Bolo which have been great. I also have a couple CS Bushman blades which seem a bit more like machete than proper knives. No offense to anyone or CS, just a bit big and thin for my non-machete tastes.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

I have two Martindales and a Cold Steel Bolo which have been great. I also have a couple CS Bushman blades which seem a bit more like machete than proper knives. No offense to anyone or CS, just a bit big and thin for my non-machete tastes.

I want them to make a machete version of the Bushman. Or Condor should. They have the ability, and CS couldn't sue them for copyright or anything given that Collins made one forever ago. I was lucky enough to get the chance to handle one. Here's a few pics I was able to snap of it before I had to give it back to its owner.