Have a 2 thicker style machetes coming and looking for a good latin style. First instinct was to get the ontario 18" military machete cause of reviews but it seams like the recent reviews is its a lot of work to smooth the handle and sharpen. Actually eventually wanting a cheaper one like this and also a nicer one to so looking for options or thoughts. Looked at the esee lite but worry about the thinness of the blade. Would like to be able to do light battening. I know a machete is not for batoning but Im not abusive,Im talking small wood and I don't beat the blade,the kind a 1/8" blade should handle. Also looking at the condor 18"black machete,1075 steel,and the condor speed machete. Conserns on the speed machete is I how sturdy the slightly thinner blade and both of them look like a cheap sheaths in the pics.
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Best latin machete.
- Thread starter hobbiest
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If I were buying today, I would pick up a Condor El Salvador with the wood handle. It comes with a leather sheath which I assume is consistant in quality with the other Condor machetes I own. Easier to reshape a wood handle than plastic if you need to/want to.
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The Condor Speed Machete isn't a Latin pattern, but I'd go with that one personally, followed by the El Salvador 18".
I've been using an old Vietnam era Ontario for clearing trails and cutting strangler vines, and it has been doing that job perfectly for 20 years. It has no sheath and hangs on the wall of the cabin with the axes and saws. If it were ever to need replacing I would go with another U.S. or British Mil-spec Latin style machete.
It seems like as a general rule the central/South American manufacturers know how a machete should work. Correct blade thickness and tapering is something apparently lost on Ontario and some other USA companies. Part of that is probably the vegetation your run into in the U.S.
I'd get a Tramontina or Imacasa 16" or 18" Latin style.
I'd get a Tramontina or Imacasa 16" or 18" Latin style.
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I second that advice. :thumbup:
It sounds like you already have your heavy blade needs covered with your earlier purchases, so the Condor Speed Machete should fill your needs for a comfortable swinger. I have a couple Ontario’s and consider them to be more of a wood chopper than a light brush clearer and don't find them suited for long period swinging as they are heavy and the handle isn't that comfortable even after some modification. The nice thing about the Speed Machete is that the handle is very comfortable and encourages more of a fatigue reducing wrist flick to cut stuff.
If you want a Latin machete, you should probably follow the example of the Latins. I have found Tramontina to work well; I have also used the British Martindale (Crocodile Brand). Both work well and are not expensive. US issue Ontario is good but heavy to use for extended periods of time. Others mentioned are probably good but I have not used them
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On a related note, to the best of my knowledge there are only 2 US American manufacturers of "working" machetes around.
1.Ontario
2.Bully Tools.
The Bully is a total POS.
This is how they ship. Dead Soft.
In a word, Nope.
Now remember a working machete gets beat into the dirt and sharpened with a file...sometimes all day long. Not something that you want to do with an expensive tool.
But anyway:
Ka-Bar machetes are made in Taiwan.
Esee machetes use IMACASA blanks from El Salvador.
The Protools manufactured Woodman's Pal isn't a working machete in that it only has a 10.5" blade (have fun getting ripped to pieces by briars and being exhausted from bending over all day) and costs around $70.
The Bark River machete uses an Ontario blade and costs $200.
The Tops machetes ALSO use Ontario blades and are about $100.
I don't think Mr.Ennis makes anything even close to machete size.
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TOPS and Bark River just modify Ontarios. ESEE only makes the handles in the USA and uses blades from Imacasa. I can't see any Entrek models that are machetes. KA-BAR makes their "grass machete" but it's more of a lightweight chopping camp knife rather than a purebred machete...Woodman's Pal is, again, not exactly a machete as much as a machete-like wilderness chopper. Thick, short, and heavy.
Edit: Ninja'd by Sam.
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You may want to consider an Aranyik Latin machete. The 18 " one. I have the longer bladed one. Incredibly tough .
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The Tramontina has proved to be a real workhorse on cactus down here in the S/[URL=http://s1201.photobucket.com/user/blackhorse71/media/9D30A102-A7E7-404C-93BC-23868AF820DA_zpsu68enkt6.jpg.html]
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[/URL]W.Ty for the stuff to check out. Have a kabar cutlass that Im loving on the 1"-2" branches and was using on some weeds/brush but after hitting the dirt a little and what it did to the edge thats why I wanted a cheaper one(10.00-30.00) Wanting the nicer one for whatever and a bob bag which is why I want the light batoning. Have a condor parang and kukri on the way from a member for the heavier side.
Seen the video on the baryonyx and hope to get one by years end. Defintly different.
The El Salvador was to 18" one I was looking at. Black with the Polypropylene handle. Didn't see the wood handle yet.
Seen the video on the baryonyx and hope to get one by years end. Defintly different.
The El Salvador was to 18" one I was looking at. Black with the Polypropylene handle. Didn't see the wood handle yet.
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I believe 42-Blades (Baryonyx) has (or had) the wood handled version. I recall him commenting on it before. I have checked around and they aren't easy to find. They are a fairly new production item. My regular machete is the Condor Puerto Rican (out of production) which is much like the Swamp Master. You have to pay attention to that sharpened top edge, but I like it. I believe it's 16". I had to sand down the handles a lot to make it comfortable to use. That was a new experience for me and it worked out great with an electric sander. Stained it afterwards with Linseed Oil. I want to get the wood handled El Salvador, but it isn't a huge priority at the moment.
My little chopper is the Pack Golok. Love it. My Condor Parang is one of the least used of their machetes. I generally choose the regular Golok if I want one styled like this for light chopping. I really like the handle style on the Goloks. They are very comfortable for me.
My little chopper is the Pack Golok. Love it. My Condor Parang is one of the least used of their machetes. I generally choose the regular Golok if I want one styled like this for light chopping. I really like the handle style on the Goloks. They are very comfortable for me.
The IMACASA 1820 "Classic" is the same profile in carbon steel without the back edge ground. The blade is 14.5"
