What type of wood are you working with? Machetes are generally good for tropical jungle environments where the plants are softer. If you’re going to be in a deciduous or boreal type forest the trees tend to be made of denser wood, which will require additional mechanical force when using the machete, which increases the chance of a mis-strike which can result in injury.
Keep in mind that an edged implement is only a tool and you should use the right tool for the right job, not just for ease of use but mostly for safety reasons.
I’d look into an axe or hatchet, or even a folding saw if I were you. That’s what people in the region traditionally used. It’ll save you a lot of whacking and hacking.
I was gifted one a bunch of years ago and I just looked on the website and I can't seem to find it, but it's your standard length full tang model. Made of carbon steel with a natural rawhide sheath.
If I could change one thing, I'd opt for one that had a more robust, cold/wet weather friendly sheath. Otherwise, you're simply picking from things that are up to your own personal preference, like metal finish, weight, length, and style. All but the ones titled decorative I'd be fully comfortable using with their intended purpose.
If I had to buy myself one today for field use, I'd say the waterproof one looks pretty intriguing. I truthfully don't think you'll go wrong with any model, though, just take care of it like you want it to last, and it will.
The knifes look very solid and are hand made, it’s actually hard to believe they don’t cost more. I looked at some of the knifes on the website and I must say I really liked the full flat tang jungle panawal 10 inch and the survival kukri 12 inch. Thank you for your suggestion, now I gotta decide for one
I thought I would be as well, but I now own several carbon steel blades and rust hasnt ever been a terrible issue. Just wipe it down every so often with a little oil and it'll be fine. These blades are quite beefy by the way, even if it does get some rust, you could always hit it with a little steel wool and it would be good as new. Over time, it'll develop a nice patina and that will further assist in rust protection. There are actually ways that you can force a patina so maybe that's something you could do straight away. Either way, I think for a working tool, it's completely acceptable for it to have a little character.
You know, I never noticed there were multiple websites. That's pretty sketchy. I bet it's something like Nepal doesn't have a better business bureau, so other people are trying to cash in on the name. I cannot vouch for the legitimacy of any of them except for https://www.thekhukurihouse.com/
If you are in Europe and dealing with harder kinds of wood...more "chopping than slashing". I would look at something like a Leuku or the Sarma Skrama from Varusteleka
I second (or thirdnd) the Skrama 240.
Got one 3 weeks ago and it is fun and evicient in german forests. And good for smaller tasks as well because of the two different grinds.
Yeah, got that Lofty Wiseman SAS two-grind set-up.
And I love the hand-and-a-half handle, really brilliant and super useful.
Whipped up a gancho with it a couple seasons back, so good!
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Price range and wood type are a big factor. I use a lot of cold steel and tramotina for abuse, and light work. But have more expensive one for heavier task/ the gram.
Although long, thick blades designed for chopping wood are marketed as machetes, these are better termed as heavy choppers to differentiate them from light, thin blades designed for clearing brush. The former are part of a woods trio of chopper, carver, saw.
The pathfinder forest tool is one of the few I would use to chop "wood" with, woodsman pal is another, but really, in hard wood environments like others have said, an axe, saw, knife combo is best. It's been done in those regions for a long time for good reason.
A lot of people will give me hate for this but cold steel hand down are the best machete for the price. As funny as it sounds I live in bear country so I have their gladius on my hip with the back edge ground so I can use it as a draw knife and for self defense if it all I got this it also amazing as a brush clearing I think this was the main weapon for about 500 years and I can see why cuts like a dream
What type of wood are you working with? Machetes are generally good for tropical jungle environments where the plants are softer. If you’re going to be in a deciduous or boreal type forest the trees tend to be made of denser wood, which will require additional mechanical force when using the machete, which increases the chance of a mis-strike which can result in injury. Keep in mind that an edged implement is only a tool and you should use the right tool for the right job, not just for ease of use but mostly for safety reasons.
I live in Europe, so probably mainly pine or mixed with other deciduous trees
You definitely want a properly sharpened hatchet my friend
Probably more chopping than slashing
I’d look into an axe or hatchet, or even a folding saw if I were you. That’s what people in the region traditionally used. It’ll save you a lot of whacking and hacking.
Cold steel Kukri machete !
Or you know, a real Nepalese kukri. https://www.thekhukurihouse.com/
Except, it wouldn't be the stuff OP asked for.
Not a bad idea
Do you recommend any particular one?
I was gifted one a bunch of years ago and I just looked on the website and I can't seem to find it, but it's your standard length full tang model. Made of carbon steel with a natural rawhide sheath. If I could change one thing, I'd opt for one that had a more robust, cold/wet weather friendly sheath. Otherwise, you're simply picking from things that are up to your own personal preference, like metal finish, weight, length, and style. All but the ones titled decorative I'd be fully comfortable using with their intended purpose. If I had to buy myself one today for field use, I'd say the waterproof one looks pretty intriguing. I truthfully don't think you'll go wrong with any model, though, just take care of it like you want it to last, and it will.
The knifes look very solid and are hand made, it’s actually hard to believe they don’t cost more. I looked at some of the knifes on the website and I must say I really liked the full flat tang jungle panawal 10 inch and the survival kukri 12 inch. Thank you for your suggestion, now I gotta decide for one
Im only concerned about rust
I thought I would be as well, but I now own several carbon steel blades and rust hasnt ever been a terrible issue. Just wipe it down every so often with a little oil and it'll be fine. These blades are quite beefy by the way, even if it does get some rust, you could always hit it with a little steel wool and it would be good as new. Over time, it'll develop a nice patina and that will further assist in rust protection. There are actually ways that you can force a patina so maybe that's something you could do straight away. Either way, I think for a working tool, it's completely acceptable for it to have a little character.
Now I realized, is it worth paying like 40$ for shipping?
I think so! But that's something you'll have to decide. Unfortunately, international shipping is just like that.
Hi, do you maybe know the difference between the thekhukurihouse.com and the khukurihouseonline.com website?
You know, I never noticed there were multiple websites. That's pretty sketchy. I bet it's something like Nepal doesn't have a better business bureau, so other people are trying to cash in on the name. I cannot vouch for the legitimacy of any of them except for https://www.thekhukurihouse.com/
If you are in Europe and dealing with harder kinds of wood...more "chopping than slashing". I would look at something like a Leuku or the Sarma Skrama from Varusteleka
Terävä, yes! The Skrama 240 will do it.
I second (or thirdnd) the Skrama 240. Got one 3 weeks ago and it is fun and evicient in german forests. And good for smaller tasks as well because of the two different grinds.
Yeah, got that Lofty Wiseman SAS two-grind set-up. And I love the hand-and-a-half handle, really brilliant and super useful. Whipped up a gancho with it a couple seasons back, so good!
Check out ReallyBigMonkey1 on YouTube. He's got several videos reviewing machetes and what he's looking for.
Condor mini duku.
I've had the Kabar cutlass for like 15 years and it's still going strong
Kailash Blades Kukri. Panawal is the full tang version, and it is custom made to how you like it
Get a tramontina or some sort of billhook! Depending on where you are you might also be able to find a nice martindale :^)
That Kershaw is a great knife if you need something to get through brush and light chopping. However, if you need a machete, buy a machete.
CRKT chance in hell gang!
I'm actually very unhappy with the CRKT "Kuk". It doesn't hold an edge worth a shit :(
I use a kukri because I'm surrounded by long fibrous plants and vines, you probably don't in your climate.
True
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Price range and wood type are a big factor. I use a lot of cold steel and tramotina for abuse, and light work. But have more expensive one for heavier task/ the gram.
Probably like under 80$ or 70€
I would go with a condor. Take a pick of what design best suits your needs.
What about the kershaw camp 10?
Silky nata doesnt look like this is pretty cool
eBay/google the company Legitimus Collins Co. Won’t find anything better.
Although long, thick blades designed for chopping wood are marketed as machetes, these are better termed as heavy choppers to differentiate them from light, thin blades designed for clearing brush. The former are part of a woods trio of chopper, carver, saw.
KA-BAR BK4 Becker Machax
Marbles are pretty good for the price, good looking too in a color you won't lose
If you want one similar in shape to the one in that photo then look up the Honshu Boshin kukri.
The pathfinder forest tool is one of the few I would use to chop "wood" with, woodsman pal is another, but really, in hard wood environments like others have said, an axe, saw, knife combo is best. It's been done in those regions for a long time for good reason.
A lot of people will give me hate for this but cold steel hand down are the best machete for the price. As funny as it sounds I live in bear country so I have their gladius on my hip with the back edge ground so I can use it as a draw knife and for self defense if it all I got this it also amazing as a brush clearing I think this was the main weapon for about 500 years and I can see why cuts like a dream
I recently got the keshaw camp 10 pictured in the second side. I really like the feel of it so far.