Lets see those machetes

[David LaPell]

For me a machete is more than just a cool tool, ever since I screwed up my arm, a chainsaw is out of the question and even normal pruning tools down work very well. I have a large Black Collins I keep around that I have owned for 20 years but I decided I needed something more practical, so a couple months back I picked up this Ontario 12 inch machete. I didn't like the finish on which was a greenish black so I added a green of my own that I can see a bit better and then some black just to use up the can. I have used this thing a bit more (painted it recently) and I like the fact that it trims nettles and thicker brush and doesn't tire me out like the long blade does. Anyone else have some old fashioned brush clearing tools like this?

 

[Chief 101]

wish I had a pic of my old machete, picked it up in Thailand...made from armor plating(likely F4 Phantom behind the seat). Nice shape with Ebony looking scales riveted on...so hard took a grinder to do any sharpening work on it, nothing else would touch it. Movers stole it when I last moved(don't know why as it wasn't shiny). I got it sometime before 1970, gone 2008. Now all I have is some almost useless modern chinese made long knife that says Jeep on it and it sits behind the seat in my jeep, likely for the "tacticool" market. That's my story and I am sticking to it...not worth taking pic

 

[countryboy]

Nice!

No pictures but I have an old Legitimus Collins 128 that I found about 17 or 18 years ago. From the research I done I think it was made between 1937 and 1941. It has a lot of surface rust but is still in good usable condition. I have been planning to clean it up for years but had forgotten about it until I saw this thread.

Thanks for posting.

 

[stevemb]

I've your basic 18" Ontario w/plastic sheath. It lives zip tied to my ATV. For from the ATV use, I could use a 24" though. Wish I had bought one of the Cold Steel 12" Bowie machetes when they were available.

 

[Mike Armstrong]

Have a look at Condor and Corona machetes.

I do a couple of weeks as a reforestation volunteer in Guatemala every winter and have got very used to using a machete as an all-purpose tool as Dave describes above. Down there they favor two types, the familiar long, straight "Latin American" blade, and a shorter, wide cleaver-like blade similar to a Cuban cane knife. (A rich man will have both!). I favor a compromise, a short blade with the weight forward. Generally use a Colt Steel 18" Bolo Machete, or a 12" Condor if I'm working in tight quarters.

The best Guatemalan machetes are hand-forged from worn out auto or bus leaf springs; they tend to be shorter and heavier than the factory-made models.

Every part of everything is recycled or repurposed down there. If you toss an aluminum can, it will ultimately be made into a cooking pan, or the handle of a machete, or something else useful. There are many very deep, very narrow ravines where we work and the bridges across the tops are typically machete-cut wood planks over a worn out bus or truck frame. I didn't know this until I looked up from the bottom of a ravine, about 80 feet below (it's DARK down there all day, like a Utah slot canyon!).

 

[6GUNSONLY]

I have an old Collins Legitimus 24" that stays in my truck tool box all the time. Got it from an old South Texas cowboy friend 30 years ago. I have no idea how old it is. I''ll have to get it out and make a picture of it. I also bought one of the Gerber short machetes that has a brush hook on it like a Woodsmans Pal tool. It's been pretty handy, too. Used it last Saturday to make spears for my grandsons to play with. Ha. Pretty important stuff!

 

[Lucky Joe]

a Bolo from WWl, original canvas scabbard is gone. Weighs 1.5# Once used for fighting later used for clearing land.

 

[cruzerlou]

This one's my favorite. It's a Camillus Carnivore. It's 18" OAL w/ a 12" blade 1/2 serration full tang , chisel point and wire cutter. It's Titanium Bonded[ what ever that means]
and it does a good jog so long as you remember that it's a machete and not an ax.
I've got it wicked sharp, y'all know me . The handle is very comfortable and absorbs shock well.
Best of all it has a lifetime warranty for materials and workmanship .
They make an 18" and 23 1/2" blade version too.
Bought direct from Camillus cost 30 bucks, the , 35 for the 18" and 45 for the 23" .A good deal on a high quality machete.
I got mine at Wal-Mart and think I paid right at 30 bucks for it a couple years ago.
Lou

 

[Joe S.]

I have a long Ontario that looks like yours David. But this is the knife i use most.

Not a great pic but it's handmade by a knife maker friend of mine. It is a GREAT tool.

And when a knife wont work, i have this Cold Steel 'hawk, modified by my best friend.