Most suitable machete for the tropics

golok

golok

Joined
Oct 20, 2000
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In the tropical regions where the climate is mostly hot and wet, blades get rusty rather quickly.

And also other unsightly things happen quite quickly to the blade.

I have heard of Martindale, Ontario machete and parang from Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines being used.

I was just wondering if there are a few machete-type blades which would be most suitable for the hot and wet terrain.

Anybody who has tried a few models and has come to a reasonable conclusion?
 
I discussed this with a maker who actually lives and works there and he uses spring steel. Yes it can and will rust readily, so the primary gets pretty haggard. However with constant use the edge gets burnished on a regular basis and thus holds up pretty well. The blades are also sharpened on a regular basis (once a week), so rust doesn't set in too deeply before it is all polished away.

-Cliff
 
I have used a parang. Blade design also gives you great options for cutting up food/plants if you need that (we did). Havent had to use a machete for that kind of work as of yet (only trailclearing and campclearing) and both designs work fine for that. Yes, the blades will get ugly quickly especially in the warm and wet as parangs and machetes tend to be made of 'cheaper' steeltypes. Not much you can do about that unless you will have a machete custommade i guess. But my advice would be then: invest in a GOOD strong general purpose knife. AND get a good, affordable machete/parang (whichever you will prefer). They get the most abuse and will wear out. Less pain replacing a machete/parang (which tend to be more affordable) then a good general purpose knife (which can get up to 300 dollars i guess).

My 2 cents based on my experience. But that should not count for too much, my experience is not that extensive and naturally opinions/experiences may and will vary.
 
I own and use an Ontario that has some kind of black coating, and I live in Florida, which is technically sub-tropical. It has gotten some rust, but I use it all the time, and besides putting an edge on it, I never maintain it otherwise. I'm happy with its performance.

I just looked-it's "oxide coated"?

-Joe
 
IMO the best types would probably be the ones developed by the locals over generations of trial and error for the environment they live in.

I've never actually used on in the tropics but I have used Filipino bolos, both the Kris Cutlery Bonifcaio Bolo and several bolos of various types from local makers. I've found that bolos chop better than typical machetes, especially on wood, probably due to the convex grind vs a simple grind right at the edge. Higher end machetes might be better constructed however.

When I was a kid in Illinois (humid but nowhere near tropical levels) my dad kept a couple bolos in the back yard leaning against the house with a few other tools for the garden. Sometimes he took them in for the winter and sometimes he forgot. They were out there through the rain and everything and were used frequently. To him they were just cheap tools for use in the garden and yardwork. One had a handle rot and replaced and they all rusted. After I got involved in martial arts and lived in Arizona I dug them out of the garage and cleaned them up and they are all still functional. I wouldn't do that with any of my knives, but that does show that these cheap, functional beaters can take a lot of abuse.

I agree with the concept of a good general puropse knife and a "cheap" macheter/bolo for the heavy work.
 
i would personally take the 18" or 22" Ontario machette. can probly add a better slasher to it too, since the Ontario's are only like $20. might pair it with a Valiant Co parang, to give yourself some diversity.
 
BlindedByTheLite said:
i would personally take the 18" or 22" Ontario machette. can probly add a better slasher to it too, since the Ontario's are only like $20. might pair it with a Valiant Co parang, to give yourself some diversity.
Click to expand...
I prefer the Ontario's also.
 
Down here in the sub-tropics we use the Tramontina 18" model and a Cold Steel Panga machete (which I believe is made for them by Okapi in South Africa).
They are both cheap and are holding up well although the bare blade Tramontina model is getting a dark oxide coating from plant fluids. Both are used to chop vegetation and wood(anything from woody weeds up to and including oak). I've handled the Ontario models and they seem to be well made but what we have on hand is doing a bang up job thus far so there is no reason to spring for the Ontario yet. ;)

BTW, no rust on either model to speak of.
 
Hmmm...

Let's see. Ride around the island for a while and you will see what look to be 70 or 80-something year olds under the sun (I mean REAL photocopy-your-shadow-on-the-dirt Caribbean sun) swinging a machete, drive back hours later and you'll see them still going at it.

Hack,

hack,

hack,

and so on.

Generations of sugarcane cutters (you guessed it, with a machete) have taught them what is efficient under the hot tropical sun. It's this

http://www.rudyfoto.com/machete.jpg

actually that's the short version locally called a 'mocho'. Just try to keep that shape and elongate the base close to the handle and voilá. Keep it close to two feet long.

The following is NOT proper machete etiquette :D

http://www.quetzales.org/Images/Machete guys 5-00.gif

Try Tramontina brand, if you use them for their intended purpose, abrasion will take care of the blade for you.
 
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