Machetes

It never ceases to amaze me the knowledge we have here on the site.

So I'm looking for a good machete, I mean I'm looking for a good working machete, for cutting wood up to small branch size.  And I'm not looking for some lightweight POS Home depot job either.  And I may just lean towards Filipino Bolo style since I'm Filipino.

Suggestions?

-Allen

Have you thought about a Kukri? I have... a few but have found the Ka-Bar to do what I ask of it. The Bolo style is nice but I'd probably go with some form of Golok machete if I decided on another. Then again, the Woodman's Pal looks interesting.

The Kukri though, if I had only one choice, would be THE choice unless you ask me about the axes I have.

Fred "True" Trujillo

My first job was doing exotic invasive plant control for a nature center and we used the woodsmans pal machete. Absolutely outstanding quality, and cut like a dream.

Have you thought about a Kukri? I have... a few but have found the Ka-Bar to do what I ask of it. The Bolo style is nice but I'd probably go with some form of Golok machete if I decided on another. Then again, the Woodman's Pal looks interesting.

The Kukri though, if I had only one choice, would be THE choice unless you ask me about the axes I have.

Fred "True" Trujillo

I have thought about a Kukri, but as more of a large knife and not so much as a machete.

I've thought about a Golok as well, especially the Bark River version of one, although it has less of the traditional golok lines.  Now, it is similar to a blunt tipped bolo with water buffalo horn handle that my dad bought in the Philippines when I was a kid and I used for yard work growing up.  Lots of memories swinging that thing.



While I can understand the utilitarian nature of the Woodsman Pal, I just can't "get there" with the shape.

-Allen

My wife gave me a Bear Grylls Parang for my birthday two years ago.  It's been great for clearing small branches and thick blackberry vines.  Cheap too, so I don't mind knicking it on fences and nails and other junk that gets in the way of my work.

There's this in the Golok machete:

http://www.amazon.com/Condor-14-Inch-Machete-Leather-Sheath/dp/B004WMFNRW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1373988388&sr=8-1&keywords=golok+machete

And this in the Parang:

http://www.amazon.com/Condor-Parang-Machete-17-5-Inch-Leather/dp/B004WMFNX6/ref=sr_1_4?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1373988523&sr=1-4&keywords=parang+machete

This is what I prefer:

http://www.amazon.com/Ka-Bar-2-1249-9-Black-Kukri-Machete/dp/B001H53Q8A/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1373988582&sr=1-1&keywords=kukri+ka+bar

... and worth every penny.

Fred "True" Trujillo

Don't know what your budget is but some I have considered are the ESEE lite machete and if you want really nice a Fiddleback Forge machete.

For budget machetes, the Condor line does have some good offerings.

There's this in the Golok machete:

http://www.amazon.com/Condor-14-Inch-Machete-Leather-Sheath/dp/B004WMFNRW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1373988388&sr=8-1&keywords=golok+machete

And this in the Parang:

http://www.amazon.com/Condor-Parang-Machete-17-5-Inch-Leather/dp/B004WMFNX6/ref=sr_1_4?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1373988523&sr=1-4&keywords=parang+machete

This is what I prefer:

http://www.amazon.com/Ka-Bar-2-1249-9-Black-Kukri-Machete/dp/B001H53Q8A/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1373988582&sr=1-1&keywords=kukri+ka+bar

... and worth every penny.

Fred "True" Trujillo

That Golok is nice although seems a little light at 1.3 pounds.  The Kukri is nice and a little heavier at 1.7 pounds.   Parang's are not mu thing.

But speaking of weight, since I've never actually weighed any machetes I've swung, what is a good weight?

-Allen

Don't know what your budget is but some I have considered are the ESEE lite machete and if you want really nice a Fiddleback Forge machete.

For budget machetes, the Condor line does have some good offerings.

Well, the $223 price tag on the Bark River Golok is what is keeping me from pulling the trigger on it.  But I haven't completely excluded it yet.

The ESEE and Fiddleback are more "traditional" machete shapes.  I think I like the more Asian shapes.

At $42 I may just have to get the KaBar Kukri and swing it a little.  You know how it goes, there will be more than one.

-Allen

You might want to consider an axe if you decide you need anything bigger than small branches and brush clearing. Machetes are great for trailblazing through undergrowth, but you need an axe if you want to clear small trees and limbs. Plus you can hammer with it.

You might want to consider an axe if you decide you need anything bigger than small branches and brush clearing. Machetes are great for trailblazing through undergrowth, but you need an axe if you want to clear small trees and limbs. Plus you can hammer with it.

For what I have in mind, a machete is more appropriate.  And I tend to go to a saw when branches get above 2-3", depending on the wood.  I can rip through branches with a saw much better than I can with an ax, but that's just me.  But honestly, I don't own an ax, so I may not know what I'm missing.

-Allen

I'm partial to a well honed Cane Knife (The squared blad with a hook on the end).  They're easy to swing but have enough mass to penetrate.  They also have a convenient hook on the end for gathering up branches etc.

Mine is an original from the heyday of the Hawaiian sugar cane era and still going strong.

-Spot-

Axe's are for felling trees, or dealing with really large branches.  You're not trying, usually, to go all the way through with an axe.  Just far enough for gravity, or a good tug, to break the remainder.  Saws are appropriate for moderate size branches and small diameter trees, machetes are for small branches, saplings, and non-woody brush hacking.  A hatchet might substitute for a saw in some applications.  There is plenty of overlap, but that at least is my opinion.

I think the Filipino's know more about chopping jungle with the machete than most Mericanos. Go with your instinct.

I'm ashamed to say that I know nothing about my filipino culture. I wish I could pipe in with sweet bush whacking pro tips passed down for generations. A white girl made me chicken adobo for the first time a couple of years ago...