Does anybody use a woodman's pal machete?

E

EDCguy

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I've seen these in my local surplus store and they always seems to have a light from the machete gods shining down on it. Anyways, I've been in need of a nice chopper for a while now. I've looked at axes, tomohawks, big knives and machetes. These seem to get positive reviews from youtubers but I've haven't seen a thread about it. It's like a thick stout machete. From my limited knowledge it seems they were issued in WW2 and in Vietnam to helicopter pilots for thier survival kits. I like the wieght and the coolness factor.

Do any of you guys use one? I was thinking more along the lines of the leather handled, d-gaurd one but I'd also be happy with the classic one. I'm sure one of you has one. Sorry if there is another thread on this, if that's the case, a link to it would be appreciated.
 
Never used one but did a quick search:

Absintheur said:
No Trace hiking is great but if you are going to be in a place that allows camp fires then having something to split dead wood is essential. Also in an emergency having a blade that can build emergency shelter, cut saplings for a travios , etc only makes sense. I have done month long treks in the wilderness before and most time I took along my Woodman's Pal and a Camillus military folder. There was usually a back-up folder in the pack as well in case I lost the Camillus, most of the time it was a Normark Big Swede. The Woodman's pal splits wood, builds shelters, digs fire pits, does just about any chore you can think of around camp. One suggestion, get the leather sheath, the nylon is good only to protect the blade at home but not to carry.
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Seems the woodsmans pal is the ultimate machete. I have been thinking about picking one up too. Great for small limbs, brush etc... Personally I havent used one and am pretty attached to my estwing long handled axe but if you are a lightweight nut the pal would seem to be the way to go.
 
I have one and used it recently clearing out the backside of our property. It's the D-guard, leather handled one. I like it, it it's not my first choice for a woodsbumming chopper. It's pretty short and as you probably handled it, know that it is stout and has a relatively thick blade. I did convex my edge quite a bit for better performance in chopping. Where it excels is when used in clearing operations; trimming branches, brambles/thorns and saplings. With the blunt end, it really does well to cut thorns and saplings below ground. The hook blade is useful getting into tight areas and cutting underwater vines that you can feel but can't see.

As much as I like it around the house, I wouldn't pick it for a pack-blade. It's just too heavy for the length and although the D-guard comes in handy when working around thorns, it doesn't give you much flexibility to do small-work. I'm not sure what type of steel it is, but it is machete-soft and tends to roll...makes field maintenance easier.

It's a unique chopper, well-made chopper and definitely a cool-looking chopper, but it isn't the most versatile chopper.

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ROCK6
 
The blade profile is to thick. For the weight get an Ontario and convex it.

Geoff
 
I used them for years in the field for clearing trails and for pruning Christmas trees up here in the Northwest. Fantastic tool.:thumbup:
 
Well, I've got a Condor Bush Knife, which I prefer to the Woodsman Pal. It's my favorite chopper, actually. My biggest gripe with the WP is that it seems like the brush hook was an after-thought. You can't utilize it properly because of the d-guard, and that is a pain. If it were me, I'd go for the Condor.
 
I think it's awful, personally. It tries to do a lot of things, but does none of them well compared to a properly designed piece. Does it work? Yes. Does it work well enough to make it your go-to woods chopper? Hell no. I'll take a heavy Condor, Imacasa, or Hansa instead. Hell--I'll even take an Ontario G.I. machete before I'll take a Woodsman's Pal. Great in concept--but falls short in execution. Just my opinion. :o
 
I think a lot of the negative replies are due to location.



It is NOT a replacement to a hatchet/axe in the hardwoods

It is NOT a replacement for a machete in the jungle

It is GREAT as a truck tool, for car camping and for use in the pines.

So take a hunters axe in the Pacific NorthWest, a machete in Florida and South America, and the Woodmans Pal along Appalachia and the NorthEast and you will be happy.
 
I usually use a 20" broad machete in the dense woods up here. My go-to is the Condor Viking paired with a Bush Knife. The sharpened back edge is a LOT more useful than that awkward afterthought of a hook. And the overall profile is a lot better, too. And the hook on the bush knife is actually USEFUL. :)

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I handled one in a passaround.

Junk- Cumbersome, thick blunt edge, no tip, useless hook. It would require extensive regrinding to be functional. Might as well just get a better tool to begin with.
 
I like mine a lot, and it's a good truck/tractor tool, but it would not be my first choice for woodsbumming.
the back hook is not as functional as a cutting tool if you have the d-guard like mine, but the guard has saved my hand more than once.
I have used the back hook to cut/rip small branches, but where it's most useful to me is pulling fresh cut bramble away from where I'm cutting without having to grab it with my hands.
I don't consider it an "ultimate machete", but it is a sturdy and useful piece of kit.
 
I've hear a lot of mix views on it. Some people love it, some hate it. I would prefer a knife dedicated to chopping if I were to use it as such, though.
 
I have one I picked up for next to nothing - it works. Is it the best, no. It seems to be a series of compromises, but it does work, and I would hardly call it junk. The hook works very well to trim back small branches/twigs/vines. The main blade works well to trim brush/saplings. I don't find the handle (I have the wood handled version) terribly comfortable, but it is tolerable. It is heavy for it's size, and the blade can easily take a beating. Mine has held up well, but as stated, it's not the best woods bumming tool - it is a pretty descent all-around tool, however. That said, I would not pay the going price on one - I think you would be better served w/ something along the lines of the Condor golok, or a tramontina machete for lighter material.
 
I'd like to see the edge thinned a bit and sharpened all the way out to the end. I did like the brush hook for certain situations.

DancesWithKnives
 
The concept of the hook is perfectly sound, and a wonderful idea--it's the execution of the hook that's the problem. :p
 
Brad "the butcher";7923797 said:
they make a thinner version of the pal with no guard and a wood handle as well.
I would like to try that one.
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This is the one I have... I forgot I had it until the other day. I would rather have a small axe and a machete.

I may grind on it and see what I can do with it.

Ski
 
i have used one for 10 years and loved it, as for the hook, it is great for collecting shelter material, will cut through 1 1/2 inch limbs with one swipe, and then hook up to a bunch of them and an be used to drag them to where you wnat them. i built a shelter with mine, great tool, like all things the edge was redone by me, i have batonned it, the weight of this tool is a good compromise as it does not wear you out.

i have parted 12 inch downed trees with mine, trimmed fence lines, it is compact unlike a 18 inch machete so it does carry easily. and where else can you find a combat manual for a chopper. there is a manual for fighting with the woodsmans pal. if i carried it i would not feel under knived anywhere in north america. was used a lot in the pacific in ww2 and was well respected by the troops.

alex
 
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