Best latin machete.

I bought the Tramontina 5 pack for less than $50. It's 5 different shapes and sizes. I'd post a link but I doubt the seller is welcome here. Just google for it. It's a great deal!
 
Just got back from out of town and have them. First thoughts,both are dull(expected),like the coating on the ontario. Like the grip on the 14"tramontina as is unless grip tape makes it to thick. Trimontina feels light and nimble and should like for all things 1" or smaller. Ontario feels good for chopping only, a little on the heavy side which I didn't think I was going to feel as I swing a hammer a lot. Question-What are they thinking with the squared out handle on the Ontario around the fingers and does this material sand well? Rounded on the back but squared out like a 2x4 at the fingers makes it uncomfortable.
Based on these 2 feel I might like the tramontina bola. Not sure if I like 18" yet, lighter machete might change my mind.
 
hobbiest said:
Just got back from out of town and have them. First thoughts,both are dull(expected),like the coating on the ontario. Like the grip on the 14"tramontina as is unless grip tape makes it to thick. Trimontina feels light and nimble and should like for all things 1" or smaller. Ontario feels good for chopping only, a little on the heavy side which I didn't think I was going to feel as I swing a hammer a lot. Question-What are they thinking with the squared out handle on the Ontario around the fingers and does this material sand well? Rounded on the back but squared out like a 2x4 at the fingers makes it uncomfortable.
Based on these 2 feel I might like the tramontina bola. Not sure if I like 18" yet, lighter machete might change my mind.
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No idea what they were thinking with the scales on the Ontario. The whole point of molding scales is that you should be able to make highly contoured forms with minimal post-manufacture shaping processes and yet they made them so boxy it's not only suggested to sand them down to make them comfortable, it's basically required. They're a hollow scale, by the way, so be careful about how deeply you shape them. Old (90's-ish and earlier) had better formed scales of a bakelite-type material but when they switched to polypropylene they dropped the ball in the mold design. Older ones also had better/deeper primary grinds and so felt lighter in the hand.
 
That explains a lot. I could swear my dad had a ontario when I was a kid but don't remember the handle like that. How much do you think I can sand? Matching the round on top to much? Might have to make new grips for it this winter. And the grip is a little loose. Just punch the rivets?
 
hobbiest said:
That explains a lot. I could swear my dad had a ontario when I was a kid but don't remember the handle like that. How much do you think I can sand? Matching the round on top to much? Might have to make new grips for it this winter. And the grip is a little loose. Just punch the rivets?
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Yeah you can just pry the scales off. The compression rivets can almost always be reused afterward. You can take a few mm off the plastic without issue, though--they're fairly thick.
 
Think I want to try to make a micarta handle for the ontario. Without starting another thread in the knife making sec can someone suggest a good spot for me to get it? Be my first one but think I need two 2"x6"x3/8" Lots of them stop at 1 1/2" plus I don't need top of the line but don't want to end up with junk from someone that just started making it a week ago. Don't want top of the line expensive rather since its going on a cheaper machete.
TY
 
For the mid to lower price range I think Condor is best.

And for the upper price range I make a pretty good machete :D They are expensive but if you want the highest quality you might like one of my Fell Beast machetes.





They are 23.5 OAL and have a 17.5 inch blade. .108 thick 52100 with a spring tempered spine and 57-58RC edge. Warrantied for life against breakage and come with kydex.

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Congrats on the name change. Much more professional looking.
I wish I could get one of your beasts, they look like so much fun!
 
Hobbiest, now you know why I don't buy ontario machetes anymore. Good luck with the handle project.
 
Very nice looking machetes huntsman. Since I consider condor on the upper end for my price range Im afraid to look at the prices. :)

22-rimfire I can see that. Using it as a learning process though cause I want to learn about knife making this winter so thought a handle would be a good project.
 
Huntsman Knife Co. said:
For the mid to lower price range I think Condor is best.

And for the upper price range I make a pretty good machete :D They are expensive but if you want the highest quality you might like one of my Fell Beast machetes.

They are 23.5 OAL and have a 17.5 inch blade. .108 thick 52100 with a spring tempered spine and 57-58RC edge. Warrantied for life against breakage and come with kydex.

ad665ad1-1fd6-49fa-b298-b04cdbee56ce_zpsc3b9124f.jpg
Click to expand...
Those are beautiful, excellent work.
 
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