Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: misfitxnet on June 03, 2009, 03:51:39 pm

Title: machete
Post by: misfitxnet on June 03, 2009, 03:51:39 pm

Does anyone know of a place online or through mail, that carries good machetes?
I would be using it for crafting, and also clearing.
I'd like one German made if possible.

Title: Re: machete
Post by: woodsrunner on June 03, 2009, 04:15:45 pm

Cold Steel makes a couple of nice ones and the woodsmans pal sold in most outdoor magazines is really nice.

Title: Re: machete
Post by: smokeu on June 04, 2009, 12:17:08 pm

Get one thats got a good blade that wont bend up on ya>>> I tear up a lot of machetes, sometimes you get what you pay for too!

I recently tried one from Gerber that was a joke( the one that has a saw on the back)  The saw was a joke and the rubber came off the handle.  Nice shape and feel to it just poorly made.

Good Luck!

Mike

Title: Re: machete
Post by: mole on June 04, 2009, 12:45:06 pm

My brother has had two of the cold steel machetes and they both warped very quickly.  In my experience CS seems to have very spotty qaulity control.

Go to your local hardware store and see if they have some of those Brazilian Tramontina ones.  They're inexpensive and pretty good quality.

John

Just noticed the crafting part of your question.  This machete probably won't do too well for that.

Title: Re: machete
Post by: okydoky on June 04, 2009, 02:30:19 pm

Suggest you try your local Wally world garden center or Academy Sports...Fiskars/Gerber makes a funny looking one that is curved near the tip. Looks flimsy, but, during our recent ice storms last winter, it cuts very well, and bigger stuff than it looks capable of. Also, go back to the sporting goods section of the store, buy a tennis racket handle wrap...it looks like a blue or grey tube that stretches over the handle for a non slip grip...this "machete" was featured in "Backwoods" magazine a few months back...I keep it in my truck for cutting hickory saplings O:)

Title: Re: machete
Post by: Parnell on June 04, 2009, 05:55:11 pm

Barteaux and Sons out of Portland, Oregon makes the best lasting one I've ever had.
Hope this helps.

http://www.machete.com/

Title: Re: machete
Post by: mullet on June 04, 2009, 08:59:12 pm

  The best ones I've found and use at work come from Costa Rica. You can get them in different lengths, some only a foot long.

Title: Re: machete
Post by: Ahnlaashock on June 04, 2009, 10:39:24 pm

I had my wife get a cheap one from Wally World.  Two of the handle screws sheared off while I was cutting a 6 inch Sassafras!  I am not little, but I am not sasquatch either.  Unless you are goiung to temper it yourself and replace the handle, don't bother. 
Looking for a good one myself!

Title: Re: machete
Post by: Bushman452 on June 05, 2009, 09:12:46 am

Quote from: woodsrunner on June 03, 2009, 04:15:45 pm

Cold Steel makes a couple of nice ones and the woodsmans pal sold in most outdoor magazines is really nice.

Cold Steel makes ugly looking machete because of how modern the designs look.

Title: Re: machete
Post by: welch2 on June 05, 2009, 10:03:07 am

To increase your odds of finding a good blade ,you could expand it to include barongs and gurkas .

Ralph

Title: Re: machete
Post by: WindWalker on June 05, 2009, 11:42:18 am

misfitxnet,
Try the Cutlery Shoppe online.  Excellent service and very good prices.
Best Wishes

Title: Re: machete
Post by: wakosama on June 05, 2009, 05:09:01 pm

Have khukris I prefer... this is where I got them... but the cost alot shipping.  Several of us combined and got a deal.

http://www.thekhukurihouse.com/Content/Makings/

Tramantino makes good machetes... also Woodsman's Pal, and Ontario... or Atlanta Cutlery...

http://www.atlantacutlery.com/c-129-kukris-machetes.aspx

Finally try a Japanese version...

http://www.japanwoodworker.com/product.asp?s=JapanWoodworker&mimid=645QY8TGA93BEZPGWKDOGFTPODKG53MC&pf_id=11.436.2&dept_id=13269

Title: Re: machete
Post by: Weylin on June 05, 2009, 08:43:01 pm

I would like to give a strong recommendation for the the khukuri. I ordered mine from the same link that wakosama posted and they are amazing! He's right about the shipping cost but I just found some friends to order with me and split the cost and I splurged a little and got 4, that helped mitigate the shipping cost quite a bit. That company is also very friendly and accomodating, they did free engravings and threw in a free knife because there was a short delay in shipping them out.They are beautiful, sharp and hard as nails. I have done lots of clearing with them and they cut through saplings like butter. I have also used mine for roughing out my bow but my swedish handaxe worked better for that, but it was serviceable.

Title: Re: machete
Post by: misfitxnet on June 06, 2009, 09:29:12 pm

The Khukuri Ghurka knive looks awesome.
I wonder if it would be possible to get a wooden handle instead of water buffalo.
Either way, it's a great looking knife.

Title: Re: machete
Post by: misfitxnet on June 06, 2009, 09:36:22 pm

okay there is one with a wooden handle, the GI2

Title: Re: machete
Post by: smokeu on June 06, 2009, 10:43:10 pm

yea id like to try one of those kukuris myself>>> had one a while back but it was very very old.... I use a Myerco ( its got nearly a 1/4 inch blade) still manged to warp it though. I couldnt remember the name the other day.

Title: Re: machete
Post by: misfitxnet on June 06, 2009, 11:07:23 pm

I also in my research found a couple good axe makers for crafting.

http://www.wetterlings.com/
and
http://www.gransfors.com

Title: Re: machete
Post by: nickf on June 07, 2009, 06:48:57 pm

maybe this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GM60prhzj_o&feature=channel_page

murray carter ( I believe...) makes nice knifes aswell ;)

enjoy

Title: Re: machete
Post by: Jesse on June 07, 2009, 09:10:46 pm

In Africa they used a nicely shaped machete they called a panga. I think its a goodt design and I'm pretty sure cold steel now makes a version of it.