Short machetes?

Shotgun

Shotgun

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Feb 3, 2006
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I have a 24 inch machete and although it's a mean cutter it's a little cumbersome so I wanted to try a smaller one. I see that 18 inches is a pretty popular length but was wondering what the shortest length would be for a machete that would still be pretty useable. I want to do light brush clearing, mainly overgrown trail heads, and some chopping/batoning. Are there 12 inch machetes out there and do they do okay? Would something even shorter work? Something like a 8 inch camp knife only skinny.
 
I like the 14" regular Tram,not the Bolo.The Bolo is fine but I like the regular one a little better.I would not suggest any heavy batoning with it though.It is too thin which is what makes it excell at cutting light brush.You will need to do some file work to get the edge you need but after that it rocks.
 
there are 12 in machetes out there:
ontario 12in
tramontina 12in
I strongly reccomend an 18 inch condor outback machete.
 
None of us here are the just one knife Idea but I really like the cheap old 12 inch tram. I keep it really sharp and it really does serve pretty well to clear brush but small enough to use as a knife. It is not the heavy duty jungle type tool but it serves me well for camping. I also have the Ontario 12 inch. I have heavy duty ones as well but in ND they don't see much use, we are short of jungle up here.:D
 
I have a POS Chinese Golok. As it stood was next to useless but on a whim I lopped the blade down to 21cm. Now that was just done by eye ( ie 21cm isn't a magic number) Now it is super handy, a great kindling splitter and quiet handy around garden.
I'm working on some smaller/shorter machete/chopper/cleavers. I'll post up when I get there.
Carl
 
If you're aiming to go lighter than a common machete and aren't going to punish it too hard perhaps an old soft carbon butcher knife...

Just for fun here's a monster steak slicer from BRL's forum -

bigstewartshandmade001.jpg
 
R.H.Clark said:
I like the 14" regular Tram,not the Bolo.The Bolo is fine but I like the regular one a little better.I would not suggest any heavy batoning with it though.It is too thin which is what makes it excell at cutting light brush.You will need to do some file work to get the edge you need but after that it rocks.
Click to expand...

In PA I love my Ontario CT1 for the uses you described. They do a great job on hardwood and are very portable.

Here in Brazil my main blade is a 16 inch Latin Pattern Tramontina but I own the same blade in 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, and 20 inches. They each have their place and do a great job IMO.

You can baton the Tramontinas just fine. They have a spring tempered blade and will take alot of punishment. You don't want to severely flex the blade near the handle or the rivets can loosen up. The worst damage I have done to a Tramontina is a hairline crack in the handle but they don't get any worse once they crack. The crack always develops in the same spot, right under the index finger. I use my Tramontina machetes hard and I have never had one fail on me. Mac
 
I really like the 12-14" machetes. We did several forays into the thick highland jungle of Ecuador and with a pack on, it was really hard to swing a big machete for me. I found short, precise swings easier although I'll admit that if you want to clear more vegetation, the larger ones work better...it just wasn't my purpose or my preference.

If you plan on clearing around the house or at a specific location, the larger blades are probably more efficient and effective. However, if you’re looking and walking in some distance or backpacking, I think the smaller machetes are much easier to carry with a big load. Pict is one who probably has the most experience and I've seen some young kids (probably eight or nine years old), wield an 18-20" machete like a paring knife to clean, skin/gut game and fish, etc. I was quite amazed at their skill with the larger machete...not me, I'd likely lose my fingers and toes:eek:

ROCK6
 
Here's my 10" "mini bolo". Like warrigal mentioned, its my garden machete.

MiniBolo2.jpg
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theamazingdrew said:
there are 12 in machetes out there:
ontario 12in
tramontina 12in
I strongly reccomend an 18 inch condor outback machete.
Click to expand...

I've got an Imacasa 14.5" Colin model that's pretty handy for being so light. I'd say that most 12-14" machetes are kind of a balance between a big knife and a larger machete in terms of the sorts of tasks they excel at.

The recommendation of the 18" Condor Outback is an excellent one. That's a slightly forward-weighted design that helps compensate for lack of length. It's Joe's favorite model, so that ought to say something.
 
I picked up my 12" and 18" machetes in Panama. The larger one is useful in the jungle and the smaller one was carried for some years back packing here in the states.
The smaller one was mostly used for digging cat holes; for the weight/usefulness I would much rather carry a folding bow saw in the northern latitudes.
Both now reside atop the bookcases next near the candle lantern and other less than useful or obsolete curiosities and antiques.

Enjoy!
 
Just recieved a Condor Inca 10" blade.
Haven't used it yet except to chop into a 2x4.
Seems like it will deserve a spot on the backpack.
 
I have a 12 inch tramontina, and a 12 inch ontario Modded by brian andrews, They are 2 of my most used pieces.
 
I was looking for the same sort of thing

went with a ontario 12in as i couldn't get a Tramontina

another option is a Martindale Paratrooper - a little larger but a decent chopper
 
the cold steel's 12in are pretty good and tough, the 13in deep belied kukri is a good one if you are chopping more than slashing.
Tram's are good, I have a 16
 
I just bough a 12 inch Tram. I figured for 11.50 including shipping it was worth a try.
 
The Tramontina edge as it comes from the factory needs some work. They do take a beautiful convex edge and once they're set up right perform very well. Mac
 
I've got a 14" Collins that I really like. It, coupled with a small fixed blade, are mainly what I tote out into the woods. The 14" blade, with the slightly upswept tip, flys through brairs and mountain laurel (which, is so thick in my area that you'd think you were walking through the Amazon at times), and is also good for some heavier wood chopping. And, yet, it still remains compact enough to carry around without snagging in thick brush or becoming cumbersome.
 
I use a 12.5" Lobster Splitter for light duty stuff, great handle and stainless is great to forget about under the truck seat...
 
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