Tactical Knives - Make mine a machete

S

silverbear

Joined
Jun 21, 2010
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Enjoyed reading the recent article on machetes. I'm new to much of this with the recent gateway drug purchase of an Izula and was kinda curious about one of the pictures where one of the survival students was using a kukri, but after using the machete, decided to go with that instead. Can you shed some light on machete over kukri for outdoor use? (I recently purchased a kabar kukri but am wondering if I should shelve it for a junglas or machete)
Thanks!

edit: I found the link to the story online:

http://www.tactical-life.com/online/tactical-knives/make-mine-a-machete/
 
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I have a cold steel khukri machete as well as a panga. Find myself using panga more, seems more versitile to me. Prefer condor inca knife "10 over both. Fills my needs well. Think Khukri is maybe better chopper as far as shape helps with fatigue on hard woods. Really matter of preference to me and what you actually need it for. Waiting for the holidays before I can get a Junglas it may replace them all.
 
I HATE, HATE to say it but a machete simply out performs a large knife of pretty much any style.

I love my junglas, it's one of my prized possessions and favorite knives but head to head, out in the wilds, a cheap, 6 dollar machete is lighter, easier to use, bites deeper, chops faster, hacks through brush better, is quicker and easier to maintain and your not going to cry if it gets destroyed.

There's a reason the machete is the tool of choice all over the globe by folks who depend on a blade everyday.
 
I have used a few large heavy knives for general use as a camping tool before. Not long ago I picked up a CS Kukri. I really enjoy using this blade it's lighter, faster......well pretty much everything Shotty just said. I have not used that many standard machetes to be honest so I can't give a good comparison to them. I'll have to pick one up for a while
 
I have to agree myself that a machete is a very versatile tool. I ussaully pair mine with a LM wave multi-tool or SAK. I can take on most tasks and stay pretty light weight with these tools.
 
shotgunner11 said:
I HATE, HATE to say it but a machete simply out performs a large knife of pretty much any style.

I love my junglas, it's one of my prized possessions and favorite knives but head to head, out in the wilds, a cheap, 6 dollar machete is lighter, easier to use, bites deeper, chops faster, hacks through brush better, is quicker and easier to maintain and your not going to cry if it gets destroyed.

There's a reason the machete is the tool of choice all over the globe by folks who depend on a blade everyday.
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+++ on that, I choose a machete over an axe...... plus you can't chop your way through a jungle with an axe, or a tactical knife, you can do that with the machete......
 
ratamahatta said:
+++ on that, I choose a machete over an axe...... plus you can't chop your way through a jungle with an axe, or a tactical knife, you can do that with the machete......
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I think it depends on your geographic location... Here up north with hardwood dominated vegetation I prefer carrying a 19" hatchet/small axe on overnighters... A machete just takes too long.

With that said, I have an 18 year old imacasa machete I bought in costa rica that has seen more use than probably all my knives combined and will probably be around as long as I can swing it.

I love a machete for preparing kindling and working a fire.

photo-18.jpg

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My Trio for camping..... well ESEE3,Lite machete, & my SAK Rucksack(not in pic) & toss in the ESEE Fire kit
did everything I needed ..... I dinged the edge on the lite machete once and used my file to clean her up and keep on going .....:thumbup: still razor sharp...:D
 
shotgunner11 said:
I HATE, HATE to say it but a machete simply out performs a large knife of pretty much any style.

I love my junglas, it's one of my prized possessions and favorite knives but head to head, out in the wilds, a cheap, 6 dollar machete is lighter, easier to use, bites deeper, chops faster, hacks through brush better, is quicker and easier to maintain and your not going to cry if it gets destroyed.

There's a reason the machete is the tool of choice all over the globe by folks who depend on a blade everyday.
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That's pretty much spot on. There are a few applications where I'd like to have an axe, but the machete seems to be a much more universal tool.
 
TrailWolf said:
I think it depends on your geographic location... Here up north with hardwood dominated vegetation I prefer carrying a 19" hatchet/small axe on overnighters... A machete just takes too long.
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+1 on that. Right tool for the job.
For me somehow the big knife is the middle man between an axe and a machete.
 
The machete works very well for certain things like removing

The branches after a tree is felled. I don't have a lot of experience

With a machete but so far I am very impressed with it.

I like to bring a folding saw, machete and esee 4. Great combo IMO.
 
Great comments - thanks! :thumbup:

I'll pick up a machete at the next gun show here (Aug 28/29 I believe) and add it to the mix.
 
I have recently re-thought my position on machetes. I really don't like the really long ones (don't live in a jungle), I don't like the plastic handle on my Ontaio at all, and I really don't like the really thin blades...so after checking out the ones Andy makes at Blade I have ordered a 12" model which at .120" is thicker than most I've seen.

It was this video that changed my mind and this is actually the machete I really want. I love the thicker blade, and I love the shape..I'm just not flying to the Phillipines to get one :)

[youtube]y46eQ_siA14[/youtube]
 
WOW TrailWolf, we are twins...I have that exact same machete. I was fortunate enough to be able to take a trip to Costa Rica a few years ago during my freshman year of high school, and I brought one of those back as a souvenir. Since I considered it a piece of memorabilia from my trip, I rarely use it. Instead, I have a CS Kukri Machete that does most of my chopping, as well as a few tomahawks. But- wow, that machete was the last thing I expected to see when I pulled up this thread!
 
Living in Hawaii, and I have a bunch of Khuk's and big blades, the ones that get the most use are my Esee 4 which lives in my thigh pocket, and my 18" Ontario machete. If I'm going into my jungle (yard) to work the Ont comes with, even if I have no particular plan. It always gets a workout.

Axes are good for logs over about 4", but there's really no need for cutting the big stuff in a survival situation. Wrist size and smaller makes for a more efficient fire and/or shelter. That's where a machete excels.

An 18" standard or a 12-14" bolo are by far the most useful in the bush.
 
sngen19 said:
WOW TrailWolf, we are twins...I have that exact same machete. I was fortunate enough to be able to take a trip to Costa Rica a few years ago during my freshman year of high school, and I brought one of those back as a souvenir. Since I considered it a piece of memorabilia from my trip, I rarely use it. Instead, I have a CS Kukri Machete that does most of my chopping, as well as a few tomahawks. But- wow, that machete was the last thing I expected to see when I pulled up this thread!
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Best darn souvenir I've ever bought!

I remember being hesitant to use it, and to dirty up that pretty leather sheath it came with, but both have really really held up more than I could have imagined... I say break her out!

Like I said, its probably my oldest knife I still own and most used...
 
TrailWolf said:
....I say break her out!

Like I said, its probably my oldest knife I still own and most used...
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DITTO! Bust her out and use her.

And, for all of you chat don't have an El Salvador trip planned, you can get one HERE for much less than the cost of a plane ticket. :cool:
 
I dont have the ESEE one, but I do have several Condors, and just got the Parang in the mail from Joezillas passaround. I absolutely love my 14in carbon El Salvidor. Its thick, and sturdy, and the edge is awesome.

I really believe the Machete is the king of edged tools. I have a few axes, and they serve their purpose being a hardwoodsman. However for most aplications, I am amazed at the ability of the machete to take on most jobs very effectively. I love em.
 
bushflyr said:
DITTO! Bust her out and use her.

And, for all of you chat don't have an El Salvador trip planned, you can get one HERE for much less than the cost of a plane ticket. :cool:
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I second that. Machete Specialist is a local company to me. Makes it hard not to buy machetes all the time...:o Really though, hes a great guy, and a pleasure to deal with.:thumbup:

Plus, Condors warranty is awesome. I broke my 18in Stainless El Salvidor, and had a replacement within days. Even sent me a new sheath. Great company.
 
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