Where to buy a decent machete ?

[Mulliga]

Well, I've decided it's silly preparing for SHTF and other outdoor stuff without a machete.

What machete do you guys recommend?

Where can I buy machetes online? Or should I just use my local military surplus store?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Preacherman]

I have a whole lot of experience using machetes and panga's in South Africa. Since coming to the USA, the best I've seen are the Cold Steel machetes - they balance well, are well made, and would be welcome in Africa anyday. Some other US-made machetes I've seen aren't worth the metal used in their construction, I'm afraid...

 

[XLMiguel]

Great link, thanks Padre -

 

[Mr Jody Hudson]

I have quite a few machetes and use them. The Cold Steel are my favorite in that price range. I like Collins too, from England but they are hard to find sometimes. I also like some of the German ones... However for the money, the Cold Steel shine above the rest in my opinion.

 

[KingRuger]

you all beat me too it.

cold steel is by far the best machete you are ever going to buy

 

[Mulliga]

Thanks, all. Do you guys recommend the bolo style or the panga? Being Asian myself, I'm partial to the bolo, but I've never actually used the panga.

 

[Guyon]

I hate to be the voice of dissent, but here goes...

Cold Steel machetes are a little further down the chain in my book. I also know that quite a few folks over at Bladeforums (in the Wilderness & Survival Skills Forum) agree, as do posters over at the Randall's Adventure and Training Forums.

Top of the heap is probably Martindale machetes, made in England. I own two and find them to be great steel and good solid handles. My only complaint is that the handles needed a bit of grinding and sanding to get a good shape/feel.

I'm also a big fan of Brazil's Tramontina machetes. Cheap, well made, and easy to maintain. I have a couple of 18" models --one with hardwood handles, one with plastic. Both are nice choppers.

Camillus (Becker) makes a darn nice patrol machete (from what I've seen), but it's way too pricey for my wallet.

Don't get me wrong. CS makes decent machetes. They just wouldn't be my first choice. Probably third after Martindale and Tramontina.

Go to SMKW at www.eknifeworks.com and type machete in the search menu. They have great prices on Tramontinas as well as Cold Steel machetes. They sell sheaths for the machetes as well.

 

[Mr Jody Hudson]

I too like the Martindale, but like the Collins - both being from england, I find them difficult to obtain.

My favorite of all time is the PUMA but the price is pretty scary... Most likely you can get one on Ebay.

In addition, I have Spiderco edges put on mine for really hard work. It is fantastic to work with - cuts like the dickens and stays sharp for days and days of daily work in the vines.

Spiderco edges on anything can be done at Willey Knives in Delaware 302-349-4070

 

[Guyon]

Good sources for Martindales:

Cutsforth Knives: http://www.cutsforthknives.com/catalogs/1/MM.htm

Brigade Quartermasters: http://www.actiongear.com/ (type Martindale in the search box)

Right now, BQ has the Golok #2 for $13.99 and the Paratrooper for $17.99. Both are "Bargain Sale Items."

For less than $25, you can pick up a Golok, a sheath, and a sharpening file (all sold separately) at BQ. It's one great little machete. I just bought this set up and was very impressed by the quality for the price.

 

[hso]

Of possible interest -

http://www.knifeforums.com//ubbthre...e=y&olderval=&oldertype=&bodyprev=#Post354340

I've used CS, Tramotina, BKT, Collins, and Barteaux. Of those I'd rather have the Tramotina, Collins or BKT than the CS or Barteaux, but my personal preference is a small finnish bill hook that I got from Kellam.http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=362338

 

[SteelyDan]

Guyon, thanks for the tip on the Golok #2 package--just ordered one. It's not exactly in stock but the machete is supposedly in their warehouse with 2 week shipping. We'll see, but it's worth a shot. FWIW, the total was $30.92, including shipping, for machete, sheath, and file.

 

[Guyon]

SteelyDan: It's a good little machete for the money. I like its size for trailblazing when hiking/hunting. It's probably not one you'd want to use for clearing blackberry vines.

Mine required a bit of creative Dremeling to get the handle to feel natural. There were a couple of spots where the tang of the blade protruded a millimeter or so above the wooden handles, and there was one spot on the bottom of the handle where the wood wasn't quite down flush with the steel.

I used a little Dremel grinding wheel on the steel and a small sanding wheel on the wood. Took about ten minutes and gave it a much nicer feel in the hand. Added a lanyard with some paracord, and it was good to go.

 

[Bruz]

Ever try a KHUKURIS? Much better in my opinion... http://www.himalayan-imports.com/

 

[SteelyDan]

Guyon, thanks for the tips. I got a very prompt and courteous email today, in response to my request that they just cancel the order if they couldn't fill it in the next two or three weeks, saying that they couldn't guarantee anything. I sent back an equally polite email asking them to fill the order if they could do so by April 15, otherwise please cancel the order, so I didn't end up in the "pending order limbo." We'll see what happens.

Um, why do I think you care about my order status....? I think I'm babbling. Sorry.

And for what it's worth, my intended use is not blackberry vines, it's zombies. I hate those boogers. Oh nuts, there's another one--gotta go.

 

[goon]

I guess I am the unlucky guy.
I have a cold steel bolo machete that absolutely sucks.
I took a large ding out of the edge on the first swing at a small sapling when I went to test it.
I was very careful to not hit the groud too, I hit only the wood.
Oh well, it just showed me that things aren't always what the are cracked up to be.