Recommendation? Collins and company machete

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Nick DeMichael

Joined
May 17, 2020
Messages
6
Hello I’m new here and would like to pick the brains of those of you who are better at this. I just acquired a Collins and Co. machete and I was extremely curious of the quality and worth of this thing or wether I should just keep it. Any advice would be appreciated
 
Moved from Community.
Worth is always dependent on condition.
And as a registered member, you can ask about "Quality", but not "worth".
 
Collins & Co. started around the Civil War in Hartford, Connecticut, and was know for high quality tools. Don't know if they still are. Browse eBay to get an idea what your machete may be worth.
 
They are a solid machete and good user, though not my favorite which is the Ontario. Unless you think yours has some special historic value, just use it. Machetes in general are a cheap tool.
 
Nick DeMichael said:
Hello I’m new here and would like to pick the brains of those of you who are better at this. I just acquired a Collins and Co. machete and I was extremely curious of the quality and worth of this thing or wether I should just keep it. Any advice would be appreciated
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Do you have a photo and model number? Collins branded machetes are still made in South America. Is it one of those or a classic American machete?

n2s
 
I had always heard good things about them, which prompted me to pick up an ostensibly NOS 20-inch bolo, made in the Us. My first impression is that it is too long for a machete that heavy, or too heavy for a blade that long. If I ever get a suitable edge on it, I will find out how it works, but I am expecting an unwieldy bludgeon.
 
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Sorry like I said I’m new here. Won’t say that again. It’s my grandfathers so I don’t even want to sell it but I’m curious. I’ll add a picture for you guys.
 
Nick DeMichael said:
Sorry like I said I’m new here. Won’t say that again. It’s my grandfathers so I don’t even want to sell it but I’m curious. I’ll add a picture for you guys.
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With a company that old I am sure some are collectable. The World War II' issues seem to have some following.
 
not2sharp said:
Do you have a photo and model number? Collins branded machetes are still made in South America. Is it one of those or a classic American machete?

n2s
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If it says Collins and co, it would be an original.
The name is simply Collins now and currently owned by Truper of Mexico , most of their products are worthless garbage.
A machete made in south America I'm sure is a perfectly fine tool, but it's their Mexican made axes and hammers and such that are worthless.
 
I have an old "Legitimus Collins" Machete (no 128) made in the US that I believe is from the 40's or 50's. It is a good, solid agricultural tool. Nothing fancy-it just works. Holds an edge and takes care of my gardening needs. It still has the original leather sheath. The original ones made in the US earned such a good reputation in South and Central America that in some countries, machetes in general are referred to as "Collins" (with a spanish accent of course) in much the same manner that we use the name "kleenex".
 
Henry Beige said:
I had always heard good things about them, which prompted me to pick up an ostensibly NOS 20-inch bolo, made in the Us. My first impression is that it is too long for a machete that heavy, or too heavy for a blade that long. If I ever get a suitable edge on it, I will find out how it works, but I am expecting an unwieldy bludgeon.
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I have the 18 inch # 1077 bolo and a 20 inch #1068, which is sort of a clipped-tip panga. I ordered them from an Army-Navy surplus store around Chicago. Very heavy.

Interesting old article about Collins: https://www.fulltable.com/vts/f/fortune/az/cv/a.htm
 
I once talked with a guy who ran a surveying crew for decades, and he said he bought old Legitimus Collins machetes whenever he could find them for his crew, because he "had tried them all" and the LCs were the best
 
Nick DeMichael said:
I had no idea I had to be a gold member to post a simple picture. What is this a cult?
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In some respects yes, we are a cult.:D Technically we're more like family and look out for our own. By a membership if you like knives. It will be the best money you'll ever spend in the cutlery world. You won't find better people anywhere I assure you.
 
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