Machete for under $50.00

Take a look at condor.

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_pg_...A=B00A5TE86I,B01K7M0S6Q,B00NDI9D9A,B0009DX8U2

I use this. I bought mine for $45ish about a year ago. You might find it elsewhere under $50. This is a heavy duty cutting tool.

https://www.amazon.com/Condor-Bushc...id=1498181083&sr=8-23&keywords=condor+machete

Found this. Same one, just shorter.

https://www.amazon.com/Condor-Paran...rd_wg=AbR1F&psc=1&refRID=6VE7DA7JFMWE2S4Z0JKS

There are a lot of decent machetes out there for under fifty bucks. I think the worst thing about some of the cheap machetes as they don't hold an edge for very long and the handles tend to suck. However there are some really inexpensive machetes they have decent Steel and decent handles. But no matter what you do with a machete you're going to be doing a lot of touch up on the edge if you actually use it for its intended purpose of brush cutting. When you're cutting brush you tend to hit the dirt and rocks and god-knows-what-else they just beat the hell out of your blade.

If what you are truly interested in is brush cutting maybe you should consider a Scythe instead.

I have a Gerber Gator and I really beat the hell out of it. I've wacked it on pieces of chain link fence and tomato stakes hidden in thick brush, as well as going into the dirt and hitting rocks. It doesn't hold an edge but a few swipes with a Smith's Pocket Pal gets it sharp enough to get going again and cut through vines and shrubbery. Most of the time I use it in conjunction with an Estwing camper's axe. I've been tempted though by that Baryonx machete.

Tramontina Machete's from Ace hardware are good for the money >$15. I picked up two from a local hardware store, not big box. Have a 12" and a 18", easy to sharpen and hold a decent edge. Down side is no sheath is included with most, but I made a couple of pvc pipe sheaths for them and they are holding up well.
https://www.machetespecialists.com/filter/brand/tramontina/
Have a cane knife as well, saw a BBQ video that the cook was using one for his spatula and meat chopped. The extra blade mass does make is easier to cut through material with.
Cold Steel Kukri and Bowie Machete have been pretty good so far as well.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...s.html&usg=AFQjCNGV7W47Obl7uIkVFt4FbFHvlGHbUA

Best machete I've ever used, Condor Eco Parang. Comfortable, strong and light. Takes a great edge. Amazing tool. https://www.amazon.com/Condor-Tool-Knife-Machete-Polypropylene/dp/B00KFPPEOW

https://www.knifecenter.com/item/WP...1-Tool-10-12-inch-Blade-Wood-Handle-No-Sheath Woodman's pal for $46 bucks

I personally find long or heavy machetes cumbersome and tiring for my uses, mostly limbs and saplings with the occasional brier, thistle or nettle here in the PNW. I find a lightweight parang to be the most useful outdoor cutting tool I own. Light enough to cut limbs without tiring you out, chops like a hatchet, works as a draw knife, heck, I've even prepped meals with my parang.

I do not know where you might find them any cheaper but I've several made by Tramontina purchased for less than $15 each. Amazon have them for less than $20 each + shipping now.

There is a YouTube video showing the Gerber Gator warping - being used to chop a mesquite log, that's not really what a machete is for, but there are some quality machetes that will hold up to that kind of use. Depending on how thick of mesquite limbs you're chopping you might want to go with more of a chopper.

The other thing you might consider is a forestry brush axe, depending how woody or springy the brush is.




Its a pretty heavy tool though, most people can't just flail away with one of these things like you can with a machete, you'll tire out.

C0untZer0 said:

The other thing you might consider is a forestry brush axe, depending how woody or springy the brush is.

View attachment 236845


Its a pretty heavy tool though, most people can't just flail away with one of these things like you can with a machete, you'll tire out.

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JShirley said:

"Boutique" expensive machetes are a fairly recent development. Machetes most traditionally are inexpensive tools that might require a bit of work to "

hso said:

Tramontina is a good value.

The Condors area step up.

Ontario's are the next step and then it gets pricey.

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and sand or shap'"'

RPZ said:

I do not know where you might find them any cheaper but I've several made by Tramontina purchased for less than $15 each. Amazon have them for less than $20 each + shipping now.

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RPZ said:

I do not know where you might find them any cheaper but I've several made by Tramontina purchased for less than $15 each. Amazon have them for less than $20 each + shipping now.

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,[/QUOTE

Choctaw said:

I need a decent machete for clearing brush and small mesquite limbs. The blade will live on my Kawasaki Mule. I'm not going on a jungle expedition so I would like to keep the cost under $50.00. My clunky Walmart special isn't cutting it (yes, I went there ) anymore.

Thanks for your opinions and advice.

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)amp "

JShirley said:

"Boutique" expensive machetes are a fairly recent development. Machetes most traditionally are inexpensive tools that might require a bit of work to sharpen and sand or shape the handle, but are easy to replace.

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Those who really use machetes for daily work do not usually use $50 machetes. Homesteaders and farmers in developing countries use Tramontina or Imacasa or Martindale or other brands that work well for less than $50. Machete Specialists is one mail order company that offers a good selection of the machetes actually used by people in developing countries.

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C0untZer0 said:

I have a Gerber Gator and I really beat the hell out of it. I've wacked it on pieces of chain link fence and tomato stakes hidden in thick brush, as well as going into the dirt and hitting rocks. It doesn't hold an edge but a few swipes with a Smith's Pocket Pal gets it sharp enough to get going again and cut through vines and shrubbery. Most of the time I use it in conjunction with an Estwing camper's axe. I've been tempted though by that Baryonx machete.

Click to expand...

Condor makes fantastic machetes.
Baryonx knives website is a good source for Condor. (The owner designed that chopper in the quoted pic) .
He checks inventory before listing on his site.

http://www.coldsteel.com/products/machetes.html

Cold steel makes quite a few for under thirty or so dollars. Will ship directly to your residence. Have two since we moved to the farm and both still hold an edge nicely even after being badly abused.

A few years ago I was searching for a machete I would like to use that didn't kill my hands in the process. It was a bit trial and error, but my favorite is the wood handled Condor El Salvador. It is a latin type design, light and quick. I do recommend wearing gloves when you chop with a machete although for a few swings, I go without gloves.

For less expensive stuff, consider Tramontina and Imascas. Condor machetes are made by Imascasa. They just seem to be their top of the line designs and most come with excellent leather sheaths. The sheath alone is worth at least $20.

I've tried Cold Steel, Condor, Ontario, Imacasa, Marbles, Tramontina, and a few others of various shapes and sizes. I and most others that have tried them prefer the Tramontina 18 inch latin pattern. It's just the best combination of length, thickness, and weight for my needs. I got mine from a local hardware store. Larger stuff gets a council tools bank blade.

C0untZer0 said:

The other thing you might consider is a forestry brush axe, depending how woody or springy the brush is.

View attachment 236845


Its a pretty heavy tool though, most people can't just flail away with one of these things like you can with a machete, you'll tire out.

Click to expand...

Gerber/Fiskars makes a shorter version that might be handy. I have a SOG Kukri machete that works alright for the $20 I spent on it.

hso said:

While much more expensive than the Tramotina or Imacasa machetes this Vesuri from Finland has been my favorite tool to clear and chop anything smaller than 2-3 inches in diameter. The thing just works.

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that is a Nifty looking whatever the heck it is.

Somehow whenever you guys start trotting out examples of the scores of blades you own for any particular use I am reminded of a scene in one of the Tornado movies where the heroes seek a well head to chain themselves to and the inside of the pump house they choose is lined with every heavy and sharp object known to Midwestern farmers. "What kind of people live here?!?!?!"

All these machete and bush axes remind me of a summer I worked for a guy that had the clean up contract around Lake Seminole. Lots of sore shoulders and lots of file time that summer. Was kind of neat though getting near the end of a bush axe project and looking back at what you had done.

For me what determines a good machete is basically "does it fit your hand when in use."

I gotta say that that baby bush axe HSO posted (bush hatchet?) looks kind of usefully neat.

When I was in the Infantry there was an Islander (can't remember if he was from Guam, Samoa, or someplace else) that kept a pair of machete in his locker (until we got the wiennie CO that replaced the Field kinda officer we had) He mainly used them to dance with on Friday and Saturday nights at various German night clubs as part of the floor show. Yep. Loin clot and oiled up and flaming torches to boot. Made as much three weekends a month as he did all month as a Spec Four (Some times with tips he made more) One regular at a place he danced announced loudly that the blades were not sharp. So Saturday morning I had two machetes on my bunk and a request to get stupid with them. Naturally I had issues with the edges curling so had to back off from actually being able to shave with them. Saturday night he danced, then called his heckler up and handed him a sheet of notebook paper. A quick swipe with each hand and there was no more heckling after the heckler recovered from seeing the now very small triangle of paper in his hand. I got a supper and a few beers out of the deal so was happy.

Keep your file, steel, or stone in your back pocket while working with a machete and you can deal with about any.

-kBob