Coldsteel Machetes

[KevinAbbeyTech]

Are coldsteel machetes worth the extra money (like $30) or am I better off with a Vietnam surplus machete ($5).

 

[Rupestris]

I'm not tto much of a fan of Cold Steel. That said, they make an incredible machete.

Second, $30 is way too much to pay for one. You should be able to find the Bolo (my personal favorite) for less than $12.

http://www.defenseknife.com/97bm.html

Look around and you can find most models for about $10 - $15.

You want a great machete for under $20, check out Tramontina.

http://www.dpciwholesale.com/cart.php?target=product&product_id=1205
http://www.ebladestore.com/knives/TT-518.html

HTH,

Chris

 

[TimboKhan]

I think I paid 17 for my Cold Steel Kukhri, and it is, you know, good enough. I agree that 30 bucks is too pricey.

 

[KevinAbbeyTech]

Thanks guys, I didn't really do much checking.

These were just the coldsteel prices at the army surplus store.

I am seriously looking into the bolo.

I will also look into the other suggestions.

Thanks

 

[Mini30]

I like Cold Steel products; so far I have 2 sword canes, a few knives, their shovel, and their kukri machete.
(Atlanta Cutlery has it for $18 & SHI).

For an extra $3, I'd get the Ontario 22" machete, shown at the bottom of this page. Actually, get both. And a few others. My WWII Collins machete is my favorite, but they all work.

 

[alaskanativeson]

Tramontina is easily the best value for the dollar. They have been used all over the world for some hard work.

 

[Piraticalbob]

I have one of the 12" models, which can be hard to find in a hardware store or the local Wal-Mart. Handy little machete, and I like the rubberized handle.

 

[red_metallic]

I was in my local Wholesale Tool last week and saw the cheaper of the 2 shown in the link. Quality was OK and for the price I think it would be tough to beat.

Machetes

 

[rcmodel]

am I better off with a Vietnam surplus machete

It seems very unlikely anyone is selling real Vietnam surplus ones for $5.00 bucks!

Most likely an import copy of some origin.

Vietnam issues were made by Clyde Cutlery Co., Ontario Knife co., and perhaps Gebr-Weyersberg - Germany, and would be so marked, as well as with a "U.S.".

Ontario still makes a very good GI machete for the money.

rc

 

[KevinAbbeyTech]

It seems very unlikely anyone is selling real Vietnam surplus ones for $5.00 bucks!

Most likely an import copy of some origin.

Yeah, your probably right, they look used or stored for a long time though, where could they have come from?

 

[alaskanativeson]

You might want to look at Cutlery Shoppe who has the bolo machete for $11.99, $16.99 with sheath. They have good buys on other CS stuff as well.

 

[rcmodel]

used or stored for a long time though, where could they have come from?

I don't know, but if they are U.S. marked GI surplus, and made by any of the three companies I mentioned, better get-sum!!!

You couldn't beat them with a stick for five bucks!

Anyway, the secret of a good machete is not state-of-the-art, 62 Rockwell exotic steel or a fancy finish.

A good machete like the legendary old Legitimus-Collins, or those modern real ones used by folks who live & work in South American jungles are relatively soft carbon steel.

They are not supposed to hold an edge forever, so they can be easily sharpened with a file & a flat rock when necessary.

rc

 

[NDN-MAN]

I have a cold steel kukri machete. Came dull but easy to sharpen and great to use.

 

[KevinAbbeyTech]

Update: I bought quite a few cheapo machetes that came dull.
I will sharpen them, oil them and put them in storage, and hand them out WTSHTF.

For myself however, I will be purchasing a quality cold steel machete and keeping it all to myself in the most selfish of ways.

I will probably purchase a few other nice quality machetes mentioned on this board.

Thank you all for your help and opinions!

 

[Doug S]

After reading a very nice review over on Blade Forums, I just placed an order for two Cold Steel Kukri. There were $15.99 a piece, and came with sheaths..

 

[KevinAbbeyTech]

A good machete like the legendary old Legitimus-Collins

I am lucky enough to have access to TWO of these lovely machetes!

My uncle Don, A Marine, who was killed while on a peace keeping mission in Beirut, Lebanon in the 1980's (by cowardly a-hole terrorist scum from Iran) acquired two of these while he was in Porto Rico.

I have used those for everything from chopping trees and survival to trimming the hedges at my Grandparents house.

Lots of fun trimming hedges!

 

[dagger dog]

Bought a Cold Steel PANGA style machete had a made in South Africa lable. Paid $8.00 at a gun show.

Well you get what you pay for, it has no hardness to the blade might be cold roll mild steel but in no way will it take or hold an edge, very soft and easy to turn the edge back.

 

[HoosierQ]

That's what I have...two Legitimus - Collins. My father bought them at an army surplus store in downtime Indianapolis back in the late 1960s. I have never seen one since that seemed to even come close. They sharpen very well with a file and hold a reasonable edge...considering the use they are put too. Neither has ever chipped or broken even a little bit of the edge.

You can find them on eBay and elsewhere I think.

I won't lie...I am kind of bragging about my machetes here. I wish I had more to offer in terms of helping you find a good machete because there is no handier tool. My father used one every day on the farm...from clearing brush, carefully chopping poison ivy from the trunks of nice trees without bark damage, or completing step number 1 of sending a chicken, a duck, or goose to the pot.

 

[Big Bill]

Buy Ontario machetes. They Rock!