the machete

I'm more of a kukri guy. It's like a machete crossed with a hatched crossed with a sword, given steroids from a young age.

The list of what they can't be used for is much shorter than what they can.

My girlfriend mentions as she reads over my shoulder that they are hard to carry in your pocket, though.

I like a standard 18" GI machete. I have several old WWII GI, and a Collins or two.
A thin sharp machete blade will cut small saplings and brush with one swing, where a thicker blade like a Kuk or Bowie style will not and it takes more work.

Next to that, a WWII LC-14-B Woodsman Pal is the most useful tool I have for fall clean-up, etc.
The brush hook & full handguard is a god send!
http://www.olive-drab.com/od_edged_weapons_tools_lc14b.php

http://cgi.ebay.com/WW2-LC-14-B-WOODSMAN-PAL-W-SCABBARD-BOOKLETS-AND-STONE-/150519146966

If I want to chop bigger tree's, I'd use an ax or a chainsaw.

rc

If you look to third-world countries where the folks who live and work there actually use machetes for real work?

The straight blade and curved tip common to the U.S. GI design is most often the tool of choice.

For one reason, if you are a field worker, it is easy to sharpen a straight blade with a rusty file or a flat rock, if that's all you can afford to sharpen it with.

rc

If I'm just carrying but not cutting trail in the jungle, an 18" Tramontina.

If I am actually cutting through jungle, a 30" Tramontina.

I have two Collins Legitimus both made in Guatemala. Best tool for the work it was designed for. I am not one for whacking and chopping with a conventional knife...nor would I choose to cut a 10" log with a machete...axe.

If off in the wilderness, I'd want a knife, an axe, and a machete.

I generally prefer the Tramontina Cane Machete. I like the hook on the end for pulling brush. I could use it for defense, but like a firearm for protection.

Back when I had a yard full of oleanders, I used a machete to trip the fronts to sharp lines. I guess I could have bought a trimmer, but, like it was said, machetes are so cheap for what they are useful for.

I have used a 18 inch Tramontina for over 20 years.

Jeff Randall (the guy behind ESEE knives) has said openly (on Bladeforums, at least) that he would choose a machete over anything else (to include, in his own words, his own ESEE knives, lol) in a survival situation. I am not the guys fanboy or anything, but he has forgotten more about woodcraft than I will ever know so I will listen to him. There are tons of options for machetes. For general work and woods use, one that I have used but do not own is the Woodsmans Pal. My old man uses one, and he swears by it as do several others.

I personally at this time only own a cheapo Cold Steel Kukri, and you know, it has been a pretty good tool for me. In screwing around, I have chopped through a couple of 2x4's with it easily enough, and in actual work, I mowed down my stupid out of control rose bushes (which I inherited when I bought this place and hate).

Also, I love my parenthesis, but man did I use them a lot in this post. Word.

I have had a Collins 14 inch(coconut machete?) since the early '70's with a leather sheath that I just love. It is the right length and heft for the brush clearing I do.
ll

Walmart. $6.95. Use it, abuse it, when its done, grind it sharp and start over again...

I'll make my own machetes one day, but I'm gonna need some bigger stock.

I tend to prefer shorter machetes overall. I have several 12" Ontario machetes scattered around in vehicles for utility use. I like the Kabar cutlass machete and just picked up a Condor Golok (14" blade) to try out. The Condor has a great deal of potential for filling my needs, but have yet to try it out. I need a machete from time to time in my job and try to keep one in each of my field vehicles so I don't have to think about whether or not I have one with me on the road or at a job site. My next will probably be a moderate sized Kukri from Himalayian Imports to be used primarily as a chopper.

The problem with machetes (for me) is that the sheaths are generally poorly made. But a good sheath will often cost more than the machete. There is a market out there for cost effective versatile sheaths for machetes that protect the blade and allow for easy carry in the outdoors.

These work quite well.
Only downside is, they don't have a belt loop as they only have a wire hanger to hook on a GI pistol belt.

http://www.campingsurvival.com/giplus18inpl.html

rc

I use a Cold Steel Kukri machete that has cleared roads, trimmed branches, chopped ice from equipment, rowed a boat (not kidding), killed snakes, and other practical uses. It's been resharpened more times than I can remember, and is on its 4th coat of Krylon.

It is one of the few bladed objects I would ever trust my life to, and have. My only complaint is that the sheath fell apart some time ago; a good replacement is in order.

THE COLD STEEL KUKRI WHICH SELLS FOR ABOUT $20.00 IS MY FAVORITE DO-ALL BIG BLADE. HAVE NOT FOUND A CHORE IT CANNOT DO ON MY 3 ACRES OF WOODED PROPERTY. IT IS A QUALITY PRODUCT, BUT WILL NEED TO BE SHARPENED BEFORE USE. PURCHASES WITH CONFIDENCe !!!

I use a WWII vintage Woodsman's Pal.

i just ordered the ESEE Junglas. a lot of people seem to think of it as a chopper, but (i believe) it was designed to be more of a machete. i know it's not what comes to mind, when the word "machete" is uttered, but that's what i bought it for. we'll see how it works out

what's the best way to sharpen a machete?

Click to expand...

I use a Smith's tool and knife sharpener available at wally world for about $10. It has two carbide plates that form a "V" at about 25 to 30 degrees. Not a polished edge, but it works quickly. Great for touching up the edge in the field when you smack to hell out of a rock or a metal T-post.

I use an 8 inch File.

http://budk.com/Knives/Cold-Steel-Katana-Machete

watch the video demo... i love mine! buy the sheath too...