I use machetes often on my family property for various duties.
My experince goes something like this.
Tramontina: (Mine is an old 18" jobbie)
Pros- They are cheap. Six bucks a pop from SMKW. They are tough. They are made of mild steel, not super hard, brittle uber-steel. They are thin. This translates into mean slicing. They are light. This means speed on the swing.
Cons- They are thin and light. This means that for chopping hard or big stuff, they are of limited use. The handles need finishing. The edge needs reprofiling to be useful. The QC of the company can be spotty, at least from what i have heard.
Overview- I like mine. For cutting light to medium density brush, I find that I can swing one of these longer and deliver better cuts with less effort. The heaviest wood I use mine on is Wax Myrtle or white pine saplings no greater than 1 3/4" in diameter. Anything bigger, and the blade gets stuck.
Ontario: (The US Army deal. I've had three over the years.)
Pros- They can be found at any surplus store. They can be made very sharp. They are fairly good at hacking away at larger or harder stuff. They are "stiff."
Cons- They are brittle. I've had edges crack and tips snap off. They are heavy. This can be good or bad. It is good if you are chopping oak or something like that, but bad if you are clearing light bush all day long.
Overview- I have mixed feelings about these. I want to like them, but the chipped blades turn me off. There is a guy (I can't remember his name, but he is a knife maker of sorts) that has been putting convex edges on these things and the results seem to be very good. I will try it one of these days.
Linder: (Teflon coated Stainless steel, made in Germany, they can be hard to find.)
Pros: It is stainless. It won't rust. It looks cool. Not many people have them.
Cons: It is stainless. It's edge holding potential is the worst I have ever come across. It is quite heavy. It is very tiring to swing this sucker all day, and this combined with the quickly dulling edge makes for a not so fun job.
Overview- I got this thing for thirty some odd bucks at a gunshow. It is not useless, but it is a pain in the rear.
Tru-Temper: (This is an old warhorse that belonged to my father. It is marked 1945, and has hacked many a mile through Florida)
Pros- Where to begin...
Cons- I can't seem to find another one like it...
Overview- This is the best machete I have ever used. It is light, the steel is great, (not too hard, not too soft) and the handle is super comfortable. If you come across one of these, BUY IT. Even if you don't want it, contact me, I'll buy it from you.
Ok. Here is where opinion kicks in:
If you need a chopper for your BoB, you are probably better off with a small axe or hatchet than a machete. A machete is a tool that is designed for a specific thing, and that thing is clearing light brush. If your Bo plan includes hacking through dense tyetye thickets or jungle vines, then a machete makes good sense. If you want a tool for getting firewood or setting up a camp, the hatchet is a better tool.
Oh yhea, PLEASE DON'T BUY THE $10.00 WALLYWORLD DEAL. The ones I have seen are junk.
Best of luck to you.
