Machete!!!

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Hi there,

I know they are common in Central and South America, but I wonder also how common on the Asian Continent and Africa?

Kahr404life mentioned the machetes in El Salvador, and their uses. Well, I also was sent to the region, in this case Honduras (1984).

The machete was THE most common tool used. I carried my chrome plated, souvenier machete everywhere I went
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Also, do the blade style change from region to region around the world?

Chris
 
22-rimfire said:
Thanks for the machete sharpening advice. I really get frustrated trying to sharpen them and then they often loose their edge so quickly.
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seems like only the cheap ones lose the edge fast. a buddy of mine had a cheap one and used it to cut back a big rose bush that was eating up his parking space. the machette is mising pieces and looks like hell. such soft metal that half inch wood made the edge curl over and in places ripped the metal out. not enough machette left to keep. there is no substitute for quality. someone posted pics of a cold steel brand machette. im happy with other cool steel products so id try one of those.
 
been around them since a kid, boy, you don't want to mess with someone that knows how to wield one...ever seen two pissed and drunken field workers in a machete duel....:eek: not for the faint of heart...:what:
 
Have them! Use them! Like Them!!

carolinaman said:
Hi there,

I know they are common in Central and South America, but I wonder also how common on the Asian Continent and Africa?



Also, do the blade style change from region to region around the world?

Chris
Click to expand...


Yes and Yes!
Before the industrial revolution each area was very specific in its design of blade. The specific area they were used in refined the length, shape and thickness of the blade to suit their purposes. With the coming of the industrial revolution European and American manufacturers took the most accepted (common) blade style from each area and mass-produced them. Many of the lesser-known styles were never mass-produced and are seen less today. But whether you have an African Panga, an Asian Golok or just a machete you have a large useful working knife that if properly used will serve you well.

And yes if you have not guessed I grew up with one strapped across my back more times than not. :D
 
Hi there all,

Are there specific blade styles that are relevant to different geographical areas, i.e. as follows?:

Panga/Africa
Bolo/Pacific Rim, Asia
Cane/Central America, Carribbean

Chris
 
maryland machete

I bought a custom machete a few years ago. The craftsman made what he calls a maryland machete for me. Since I'm not great at toolwork, i had him make it harder than normal so I wouldn't have to sharpen it as often. Its a pleasure to use as it goes right through wood with one swipe.

It is a 1084, forged, with japanese clay heat treat with an Oak handle.

Here is a picture of it from his site.
MacheteD_wholeleft.jpg

anyways, I'm very happy with it, but don't know how to sharpen it. I've used it for several years now and it is awesome at clearing out brush and forest. My backyard is wild forest and over time i'm hoping to get it cleared out enough so I can enjoy the tall trees without having to worry about kudzo and ticks.

I found this thread when I was googling on how to sharpen a machete. Since mine is 'hardened', and not a typical soft metal machete, I'm at a loss on how to sharpen it.

in case anyone wants to see the other knives this made by this craftsman just click there.
 
nice looking piece of steel, moongroove. . . . .

I use a Collins, a Tramontina, and a couple of old Kentucky "corn knives" that are straight narrow blades about 16" to 18" long with plain wooden slab handles. They were used back in the days before mechanical corn pickers and are somewhat lighter than a machete but are just right for light jobs.
 
Ah, thread resurection time. Good topic though. Okay. Lots of time has passed. I never did pick up the Cold Steel Machete, but I have bought a 12" Ontario and a Kabar Cutlass machete (I believe that is the name). I have also learned how to sharpen them pretty well with a DMT file (coarse grit). Works very fast and then finish off with a fine one. I have sharpened up two or three of my old machetes that were lying around the garage. They still hurt my uncallused hands to use very long, but I wear a leather glove.
 
my two machetes

i have a Martin from England that my folks gave me. it's got a large, rounded tip and an uncomfortable handle. it also has a lot of pit rust that i did the best i could with. kinda looks antique-ish.

my other machete i just got is the new Gerber Gator Machete and it is fantastic!!!

515511.JPG


its got a fifteen inch blade with a straight edge blade that is well sharpened. the other side of the blade is a saw with offset teeth for aggressive cutting. the handle allows a solid grip and is made of their Gator rubberized grip. The sheath is strong nylon with a plastic inner sleeve. - Eric
 
Borrowedtime, is that handle hinged or is it just the look of the rivets?

That'd just about do it for me. most of the folding pruning saws I've seen have handles in line with the teeth.. I'd prefer one perpendicular.
 
Hey 22-rimfire

How's that Kabar cutlass machete working out? Any chance of doing a bit of a review for us?

Cheers
 
carolinaman : This may seem like kind of a lame thread, but what is the most widely used knife/tool in the world?

Do you own one? And do you use it occasionally?
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I don't think it's lame, you're probably pretty close as far how widely available they are.

I use machetes for a variety of purposes. I wouldn't think of them as weapons unless I had nothing else, but I imagine that they'd work pretty well if it came to that. I've got two, a military surplus one and a Cold Steel one that a buddy gave me for helping him move.

This is one of them.
41pTZ0sQ8EL._AA280_.jpg

And I think that this is the other, but the handle looks slightly different I think.
491834_d.jpg


It's been awhile since I've had to chop down branches or cut Ivy out of a fence, so I haven't really looked at either of them in quite awhile. To tell you the truth, I don't even know exactly where in my garage they are. I should get in there and look for them and throw them in the general tool pile if they aren't already there.
 
I found this thread when I was googling on how to sharpen a machete. Since mine is 'hardened', and not a typical soft metal machete, I'm at a loss on how to sharpen it.
Click to expand...

Moongroove I would sharpen it more like a sword or quality knife than like a machete. It is a hard steel that has a good treatment and will hold an edge.

Most machetes are simple cheap steel with a handle thrown on and disposable. So people use very rough stone to put a quick edge on them often. That tactic on a nice blade would be abusive and unnecessary, nevermind that you would have a worse edge than such a steel can hold.

So use fine stones and a lot of time, oil etc or something similar to what one would use on a kitchen knife if feeling lazy.
 
Anyone seen or handled one the Kopis from Coldsteel yet. Looks neat!
 

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Did some say Machette?
I've got a few, among other things.
Mostly WWII thru Vietnam military stuff.
Collins & Ontario.

Knives1.jpg

Knives2.jpg

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rcmodel
 
I have 2 old GAVILAN Marked machetes. can anyone give me some information on these. Thanks
 
cold steel kopis machete

yes,i like it very much..was looking for a tactical short short sword at first but then i saw this baby!i feel it handles much the same as a brong and a bit more sticker than just chop. fast with a nasty backstroke this thing slung under a trench coat, could bring highlander hell to the meanest ruffian.oh,and yes it is so wicked cool it has a visaral effect just holding it!:evil:
 
I have one that goes on EVERY outdoor trip with me. It is a US Ontario with a 12" cutting edge. I got at an Army surp store. It is by FAR the best I have ever had. It is very versitile and I can cut saplings with one swipe.
 
In the spirit of resurrected zombie threads, I'm bringing this one back.

While prepping tonight for a 4 day backpacking trip, packing my trusted SOG Seal Pup, but wishing I had a light chopping tool (lighter than a hatchet), I started researching tomahawks, machetes, and kukris.

I've long fancied the SOG Fusion tomahawk. As a kid, I owned a great if cheap machete (see page 1).

I've researched Kukris some, in part because at least one mod here recommended them a few years ago.

Tonight, I found a Cold Steel kukri and their range of machetes.

But then, I found the Ka-Bar Kukri.
Jeff Quinn's Gunblast gave it two thumbs up.

It looks more useful than a tomahawk for what I want: chopping stuff around camp is more important to me than a breech tool or combat tool. (I've got revolvers and rifles for the latter task, though this could do better than my seal pup in a pinch.)

And yet, it looks intuitively more ergonomic than a machete.

At 20 oz, it's lighter than a SOG tomahawk, and at 17", shorter, easier to pack.

I think I'll get one.

1249_large.jpg
 
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