Collins Legitimus machete info

For the good old Collins machetes(pre 1966/67), your only chance is the secondary market. These are slowly creeping up in price, and there are many patterns to choose from. In D.E. Henry's excellent book "Collins Machetes and Bowies, he lists close to 1300 Collins products, over half were machetes:).

After 1966, they sold off their factories, etc... Stanley(the tool folks) bought the trademarks, etc... I think some factories might have been sold off, I'm not sure of that, though.

Their great old factory is now an antique mall:(:).

Quality varies on the new ones, but is no where near the quality of the old ones. They can be found at many of the on-line Army-Navy stores, and Ebay. The best of the new breed I've seen were from Mexico(heavier blade stock). The new ones are between $10-20, not including sheath, older American made ones generally start at $20, and go up from there. Your best bet in a working model is probably an old military one in excellent condition.



HTH:D:).
 
I just posted a Collins Legitimus and Company Machete from WWll,No191
which means it was slated for the USMC.
See pics on eBay,auction #290252135539
Also for info.on Collin's machetes get the book:COLLINS MACHETES and BOWIES,1845-1965,by:Daniel Henry.
You can find the book at :abebooks.com.
Hope this helps you
don;)
 
The one I have was made in Guatemala and is a very fine machete with the basic plastic handle. My dad bought two of them at an Army Navy store in 1967 or '68.
 
They're getting harder to find, but they're very fine machetes. Imacasa makes some very good machetes of about equal caliber. I'd call them the modern equivalent--in fact many of their patterns are based on the old Collins ones.
 
I have four, two made in the USA and two from Guatemala or was it El-Salvador? Don't recall but its not the USA on my other two that much I do recall. All very nice though and extremely nice in unused condition for the two made here. I'm particularly fond of my two stamped Made in the USA! :thumbup: I'm really happy I snagged those when I could get them cheap.

For a while there lately a lot were showing up on the favored auction sites. You can still see them often enough but as someone said already the prices are creeping upward. I've seen some lately that are well used for much more than I paid for my unused ones.

STR
 
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