I need a machete

[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...+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; for more general use, a Tramontina machete from Brazil.

Do some reading at The Machete Specialists; 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/1613...ed-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.