I need a machete

[crabo]

I want one for clearing shooting lanes, general hacking, and pirate imitations. Any recommendations?

I know loopers work better a lot of times, but I wanna hack.

[GRUMPA]

Just get some really good ones, I'm still using my dads machete that he got back in the 60's, and I'm sure that the company isn't even in business anymore, the only writing I can find on it is ENGLAND.

[oneokie]

Check the MooreMaker web site.

[Firebricker]

I have an old Army surplus one that works good. I haven't used one but check out the woodsmen pal. FB

[Longwood]

I have this one and I really like it.

http://www.gemplers.com/product/161332/Woodmans-Pal-Axe-Lacquered-Wood-Handle

I also have their "Cane cutter" but it is pretty flimsy, stronger than most machetes, but the one at the link is much better and well worth the money.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I use an older Mil Surp one that looks exactly like this one

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/2CS97AM18-1.html

[geargnasher]

You might need one for zombie garden gnomes too.

Gear

[boltons75]

I've got the Gerber machete, it's been ok so far.

[flounderman]

cheaper than dirt probably has one for you. there was a russian designed one a few years ago. spetznas or something like that. had a hook on the end as I remember. you get a lot of vibration from the longer ones. depends on if you are cutting weeds or trees.

[x101airborne]

I bought a "Tramontina" cane knife and was VERY disappointed with it. I cut some 1/4 inch oak limbs just cleaning up some trees and the dang blade chipped out with some approximately 3/8 inch gouges. I would not recommend it for a general hacker, but the steel is VERY hard and sharpens to a knife edge. It is a better meat cutter than a brush blade.

For a machette, I bought some commercial lawnmower blades from a member here selling them from a golf course. I put a 9 inch handle on it and it sharpened up to a RAZOR edge and will just dog-gone cut through anything at my whim. A formidable weapon indeed.

[Just Duke]

I want one for clearing shooting lanes, general hacking, and pirate imitations. Any recommendations?

I know loopers work better a lot of times, but I wanna hack.

I have a new Viet Nam one and the original rubber-ish sheath. PM me if interested.

[Longwood]

Machete's work fairly well for briars and other fairly easily cut material.'
The knife at the link I furnished is 1/8" inch. A much thicker blade than the flimsy and too light-weight, cane cutters and machete's.
They are less hard, less brittle, and easier to resharpen. They are meant for a long life of hard work.
If you need a good working tool that will do much more than a machete,,,

[darkroommike]

Woodsman's Pal, combination axe, brush hook and machete. USGI, Viet Nam era, there's even a manual of arms for using it in combat (just in case).

http://www.woodmanspal.com/content/features

[Blacksmith]

I have used Machetes, Brush Hooks, and Scythes for that kind of work and each is best for some combination of terrain and type of vegitation but no single tool is best for all.

http://www.americantrails.org/resources/info/tools3.html

http://scythesupply.com/articles/bushscytheinstructions.htm

Fiskars 7860 Brush Axe and their Machete look interesting
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_4_4?url=search-alias%3Dlawngarden&field-keywords=fiskars+axe&sprefix=Fisk%2Clawngarden%2C210

[missionary5155]

Good morning
Woodman Pal is my top choice. Have a 1962 made one that came out of a Cessna twin engine. Cut through anything you think you need to cut through. If it is just weeds and small saplins the standard US surplas is hard to beat. Wear a batting glove and go to it. Carry a mediun stone with you and every 50 wacks or so slide it down the blade a few strokes to keep it honed.
Mike in Peru

[JeffinNZ]

Saw a good review of these:

http://www.gerbergear.com/Survival/Gear/Survival-Series-Parang_31-000698

Bear Grylls seems to know what he is doing.

[292]

For my money, the best machetes are made by Ontario Knife Works. You might lose it but you won't wear it out.

[Shepherd2]

The best one I've ever had is the Cold Steel Kukri style. I bought the larger of the 2 sizes they have. I've been real pleased with it. I've had 4 or 5 others over the years and this one is by far the best. It gets lots of use around the farm.

[Rick N Bama]

Saw a good review of these:

http://www.gerbergear.com/Survival/Gear/Survival-Series-Parang_31-000698

Bear Grylls seems to know what he is doing.

I have one that my son bought me a few months ago. It's worked just fine the 2 times I've used it.

Rick

[kenyerian]

can't go wrong with a Woodmans Pal.

[DragoonDrake]

This is what I use and carry while hiking.

http://www.coldsteel.com/bolomachetes.html

or this one

http://www.coldsteel.com/kukrimachetes.html

[Wayne Smith]

Woodsman's Pal goes back at least to WWII. My dad had one from then in a GI sheath with web belt hooks. Cold Steel has a rep of being less than particular about the source of their steel, you could get a great one or significantly less.

[KCSO]

For the most chop with the least effort I have found that a Colt Steel Kukri style is the best cutter. The curve of the blade is such that it lops 1" thick stuff with little effort. The next best I have found is a barong that came from overseas, the same thing the curved blade is more efficient than the american pattern straight blade or corn knife.

[para45lda]

I wish I had bought one of the ones for sale on here a few months ago. Made by one of our members out of old reel mower blades if memory serves correctly.

He may have more by now, if he doesn't chime in soon I'll PM him.

Wes

[Longwood]

For the most chop with the least effort I have found that a Colt Steel Kukri style is the best cutter. The curve of the blade is such that it lops 1" thick stuff with little effort. The next best I have found is a barong that came from overseas, the same thing the curved blade is more efficient than the american pattern straight blade or corn knife.


How thick are the blades?

A blade that is 1/16" thick, like most long knives, are down right dangerous and next to worthless on anything that is tough to cut.
As a teen, I helped clear hundreds and hundreds of feet of fence that was overgrown with blackberry briers, brush, small trees and poison oak.
We tried Military surplus Bolo knives, and a couple of machetes. The thin flexible blades make them pretty much worthless and way too dangerous.
We found some of the far superior Woodsman knifes at a auction and never used the others again.
I still have a Bolo, a machete, the better Cane cutter, and the Woodsnman's friend.
I have no Idea what the name of it is because of all the use it has seen in the last 50 years.
All of the long knives I ever used, are no where near as useful as the Woodsman.
The only tool that was better, was a two handed brush hook or axe.

[Jeffrey]

Strongly second 292's comment on Ontario knife machete. Above all stay away from a cheap chinese blade - garbage. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=bl_sr_hi?_encoding=UTF8&node=228013&field-brandtextbin=BuyDBest%2C%20Inc#/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dtools&field-keywords=ontario+knife+machete&rh=n%3A228013%2Ck%3Aontario+knife+machete

[**oneshot**]

Last time I cut shooting lanes, I carried an old double bladed ax and US Army surplus machette. I also had my 22 with snake shot on my hip.
Just watch for bees and yellowjacket nests.

[waksupi]

How thick is the steel on the Woodsman Pal?

[gishooter]

The steel is fairly thick on my new production Woodsman Pal. But it is not very heavy, swings very easy. Still American made and supplying the military. They gave me a discount since I'm active duty.
Easily cuts thru brush and small saplings. Just trimmed some low hanging branches in the yard a few days ago with little effort. The steel type and thickness might be on their web page or give them a call. They were very nice on the phone when I was shopping for mine over a year ago..

[nicholst55]

A fella whose family has been in the sugar cane business for a couple of hundred years and who subsequently has some extensive knowledge of these tools, recommended a couple to me when I was recently looking for a machete. For heavy-duty use, he recommends the Kabar Cutlass Machete (http://www.midwayusa.com/product/577818/ka-bar-cutlass-machete-11-carbon-steel-drop-point-blade-black-kraton-handle-black-with-nylon-and-leather-sheath?cm_mmc=Froogle-_-Knives+%26+Tools+-+Swords+%26+Machetes-_-PriceCompListing-_-577818); for more general use, a Tramontina (http://www.machetespecialists.com/trmabr.html) machete from Brazil.

Do some reading at The Machete Specialists (http://www.machetespecialists.com/); they know what they're talking about. The generic made-in-china/pakistan/india or milsurp machetes are simply not a quality product, and will likely leave you dissatisfied. Many of the big-name machetes are W-A-Y overpriced, and in reality no better than a $10 tool from a company like Tramontina.

FWIW, I ended up buying two Tramontina machetes and the Kabar.

[Longwood]

How thick is the steel on the Woodsman Pal?

Here is a link.

http://www.gemplers.com/product/161332/Woodmans-Pal-Axe-Lacquered-Wood-Handle

[x101airborne]

It is Rangefinder on our board that was making the machettes and selling the blades. I got just a blank for shaping, but, MAN THAT IS SOME STEEL!!!! I find mine is just about PERFECT. Sharp as all get out, stays that way. I even made me a hack of a belt knife and it is ugly as all get out but works like a good mule team. I really like that steel.

[Thumbcocker]

+1 on the Woodsman's Pal. SMKW carries them. Good American made tool.