Help Choosing A New Machete

Q

quidnunc

Joined
Jan 7, 2016
Messages
6
First, I'm new here. Second, I know little to nothing about knife-making, and I doubt that I'll be in any position to contribute anything anytime soon. I'm mainly here to pick your brains about what may best suit my needs; I know there's never a "BEST!" for anything. I registered out of respect so that I'm not "just a guest."

I've used Ontario Knife Co's 18"-blade machetes for 30+ years, and they worked well - I bought 3 of them locally more than 30 years ago for work in surveying and also for light-medium, sometimes heavy, duty land clearing when needed. They saw pretty much constant use. I have no complaints, they performed quite well until things got really cold and then they would chip, which would lead to breaking sometime down the road (again, usually only in very cold temperatures) until eventually all 3 have been repurposed. The last one broke the other day while chopping brush and buckthorn ranging anywhere from an inch to more than 5" diameter, and also for limbing the trees that had to be cut down with the chainsaw; the high that day didn't quite reach 7*F. The machete split in the center, along a more or less stretched-out "S" shape, same as the two before it.

I know I can't complain about their performance, and I'm not. They served me very well and I've pushed them hard. Back then, the only machetes worth anything to be had around here were the Ontario's. If that's still what you'd recommend, I'm fine with that, but if there is/are better I'd like to know and I figure this is the best place to ask. I also understand that some comments will be along the lines of, "Well if they lasted THAT long for ya, what's yer question?!?!" and I'm also fine with that. :)

I need a machete that is tough enough to stand up to hard work, and I need one (or more) ASAP since the work will continue for a good many more years and I'm out of machetes, so I need to make a choice right away.

Whether by brand, or style, or steel type, or whatever, I appreciate all comments and thank you in advance.

- Tim
 
I've chipped Ontario machetes just the same way. Of course, I was a stupid teenager and it took me about 30 minutes instead of 30 years ;)

Bang for your buck, I dunno if you can best a brace of Tramontina machetes. They come from Brazil where machetes are used quite a bit, they come in most any length you like, they have more spring to them than the stiffer Ontarios. This is a good thing for durability, but you may find you have to use a little more gusto to bite as deep.

However, they can be reprofiled to pretty much any configuration from a blunt thunker to a razor sharp grass slasher and touched up with a file or butcher's steel in the field.

I have a 14" Latin style for general bush whacking, a 14" bolo for thicker brush, and a 22" Latin for sharp brambles. I think I'm about 50 bucks in the hole for the set. I'd love to get a dozen more, but I don't think I'll ever wear these out enough to warrant it.

Welcome to the forum and good luck:)
 
I am with steely_gunz- I love Tramontinas! I live on Florida though, so I have no idea whatsoever about cold weather performance. I currently have the 14" bolo and did some work on the edge and handle to make it "complete" and it is excellent! The person you really want to talk to is BARYONYX, I and many others consider him to be the go to guy with machete questions. I am pretty sure he is a supporting vendor here and has an awesome online store. He will even do the blade "completion" that needs to be done on some of the machetes for a very modest "special upgrade". Hopefully he will come along and add his opinion.
Bruce
 
Welcome to BF.

Nice machetes are legion.

I know You need a machete ASAP and there are for example machetes from the following companies and many more;
Tramontina.
Condor.
Cold Steel.
Tops

but you might consider a custom machete at your leisure - then You would get a machete just as Youd like it. The Custom subforum is the place to post for a machete maker, should You go custom.
 
Thanks guys, I have taken some time over the past few days to look around online. Tramontina, Cold Steel, Gerber, Imacasa, Condor, Martindale, and of course Ontario... their Bushcraft seems pricey but I'm going to presume it's worth it, Camillus, SOG, on and on. After breaking my own first rule of not giving in to the paralysis of analysis, I sought guidance here. :) I have to head out shortly but before I go I'll check out baryonyx's work.
 
quidnunc said:
The last one broke the other day while chopping brush and buckthorn ranging anywhere from an inch to more than 5" diameter, and also for limbing the trees that had to be cut down with the chainsaw; the high that day didn't quite reach 7*F. The machete split in the center, along a more or less stretched-out "S" shape, same as the two before it.

....
I need a machete that is tough enough to stand up to hard work, and I need one (or more) ASAP since the work will continue for a good many more years and I'm out of machetes, so I need to make a choice right away.

Whether by brand, or style, or steel type, or whatever, I appreciate all comments and thank you in advance.

- Tim
Click to expand...


Sounds like something where you're chopping as much as hacking at thin tall grasses.

Were I in your shoes, I'd give a very hard look at the Tramonita bolo style machete. Light enough to work for grassy stuff, but with a little more oomph up front to chop heavier denser foliage as well.
 
Yes, I rarely use them on grassy materials, maybe the lightest use they saw was on brambles. The old farm I'm "resurrecting" is overrun with tartarian honeysuckle (I generally pull less than 4" diameter out by the roots, anything bigger has to be hacked down and kept at for a couple of years to kill it), buckthorn of all sizes, multiflora roses ("brain hooks"), barberry, hawthorn, thorn apple... and huge grapevines. Some of the old vines, older than me by almost half, are over 6" thick at their base. And it's very hilly in places, so machinery other than handheld can't be used. Generally I cut the big stuff with the chainsaw or the pole saw (like when I encounter the roses that spread out more than 20 feet!!!), but the machetes are indispensable for most of the work. Really the lion's share gets done with machetes.

Gotta run, am late! Thanks again.
 
One last thing, I'll see the replies when I get back in later today - I went to look up baryonyx and ... where would I find his online store? Sorry, combination of ignorance and flat outta time. Thanks.

- Tim
 
quidnunc said:
One last thing, I'll see the replies when I get back in later today - I went to look up baryonyx and ... where would I find his online store? Sorry, combination of ignorance and flat outta time. Thanks.

- Tim
Click to expand...

Hey sorry I guess I should have included a link when I suggested baryonyx.... anyways Skimo got it for you. If you are going to buy a machete online I would 100% get it from http://www.baryonyxknife.com/ not only does he do his own quality control, he will do the extra work for a few extra bucks, and he participates and contributes a great amount to this forum.
Bruce
 
quidnunc said:
Thanks guys, I have taken some time over the past few days to look around online. Tramontina, Cold Steel, Gerber, Imacasa, Condor, Martindale, and of course Ontario... their Bushcraft seems pricey but I'm going to presume it's worth it, Camillus, SOG, on and on. After breaking my own first rule of not giving in to the paralysis of analysis, I sought guidance here. :) I have to head out shortly but before I go I'll check out baryonyx's work.
Click to expand...

Avoid Gerber, SOG, and Camillus. I'm partial to the South American brands-Tramontina, Imacasa/Condor(Condors are Imacasa's higher end line), and Hansa all put out really good choices, and won't cost you a ton no matter which route you go. Cold Steel's are pretty decent too and aren't expensive, but I prefer the South American makers mentioned previously. Never had a Martindale, but I've heard good things, I'm gonna get their Golok at some point.
 
Nit sure about 30 yrars ago, but today the standard Ontario machete's use 1095 Steel... It's an old steel, so i woukd imagine okc could've used it then, and it is Tough enough for most folk in most scenarios, but if you're noticing issues at low temps, a tougher Steel is in order...
-The bushcraft series uses 5160, a tougher (spring) Steel.

Spend the money and get a Busse in INFI steel,
or something in 3v like a gso12 from survive!
Or even something in a2 like a Golok from Bark River,
You'd be more likely to be handing it down to your grand kids before you break it through normal hard use.
Even a custom in any of the above mentioned; All are consideraby tougher alloyed steels then 1095...

If you're looking to stay the budget route however, Tramontina should serve you well enough, as they use 1070 Steel I believe, which won't hold a sharp edge quite as well as as 1095, (less carbon), but it is tougher on impact...

Fwiw - I don't have one of the higher end offerings either, (yet), but I love my Tramontina!

*Condor and Imacasa use a similar blend, 1075 and 1074 respectively, in most of their machetes, also good choices, all a bit tougher then 1095 for impact, all just a bit worse at holding a fine edge, (but more prone to roll rather then chip).
 
Last edited:
Check out the Becker BK4. Not sure if the length will be an issue but the balance, ergos, and Blade thickness will make easy work of all you've described. At around $60 its easy on the wallet and much more versatile for a slew of other tasks.

It's named Machaxe(machete/axe)
1095 crovan manufactured in NY by Ka-Bar. It's being discontinued so the price is down just about everywhere.
 
Skimo said:
http://www.baryonyxknife.com/

I've bought from him, good guy, he can save you some time and sharpen 'em up so you get them in good shape and ready to work.
Click to expand...

Another vote for baryonyx, as your source both for machetes and machete info. Great guy!

If your looking for budget level, you should go with Trams. They are wonderful machetes...I would second the "springiness"; so they might be less effective on harder material. But you should definitely try one. Condor, Imacasa, and Cold Steel are some other good budget level. Tops machetes are customized Ontario machetes; they are good, but a little on the pricey side. The ESEE machete is another good one; it is a customized Imacasa (I think). For a more customized Imacasa (again, I believe), check with custom maker Fiddleback Forge. He does beautiful work!

Note that the last three are not going to be entry level, and are priced accordingly.

If you want a custom one, may I suggest the Fell Beast, by BF member Huntsman Knife Co. They are excellent machete hybrids; 52100 steel, heavy and hard hitting. Another wonderful custom maker is James Helm, BF member Storm Crow. They are less machete and more bush sword; but they are absolutely wonderful blades!
 
Check the Aranyik E-nep or Latin Machette. I have an E-toh as well, but that may be overkill. Search for Aranyik Trading Company - although these are Thai products, they ship from Hawaii.

Great bang for the buck, 5160 differentially hardened, nice convex edge. (And they look "badder" than most any other machette out there, haha!)
 
Last edited:
Just reminded me that I have a machete in inventory that isn't listed... was thinking of keeping it for myself but being as I made it about a year ago and haveny used it I should let it go.... will sling it up in the exchange...
10275382_733320973464205_8089859383737728854_o.jpg
 
I've done some good work with my Cold Steel bolo machete. I recommend it if you have proper sharpening tools.
 
I live in French Guyana, where 97% of the teritory is covered with heavy jungles. Everybody uses tramontinas. They are cheap, efficient and reliable and easy to sharpen. And there are so many models...
 
Hard to beat a Condor El Salvador. It is one of the most comfortable latin style machetes for my hands that I have ever used. I prefer the wood handle, but the poly handle is comfortable too especially if you have large hands.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top