Machetes anyone?

[KillerDyller]

I've had good luck with my Blackie Collins. Pretty sturdy, blade is between 3/16" and 1/4" thick. Picked it up at gander mountain if I remember correctly.

[bawana bowman]

I use Tramontina machetes daily. Use the 12", 18" and 22", and prefer the wood handles. Have even cleaned and butchered hogs and deer with the 12". 18" is great for clearing heavy brush, 22" is better for thick tangled brush (vines, briars, palmettos).
I have a few friends in the surveying business and they swear by the 22 and 24" Tramontina machetes for their business. Each of their trucks have a minimum of 4 on them. These guys cut some serious lines through some of the thickest heaviest brush you can come up against in Florida. They insist nothing short of a bulldozer will cut it as quick as a sharp Tramontina. Once you learn to use one they are priceless.

[mb bowman]

I will second the Tramontina machetes. This will be on my belt while bear guiding this spring.

[Flying Dutchman]

The Kabar 1249 is terrific and you don't have to spend a lot!      http://www.tomarskabars.com/1249_INFO.html  

81 reviews on Amazon:    http://www.amazon.com/Ka-Bar-2-1249-9-Ka-Bar-Machete/product-reviews/B001H53Q8A/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

[Shooty1]

I always have a sawback ontario machete handy. Mine are leftovers from military days. If you need them for vegetation, longer is better.

That Dave Canterbury video that Dannybows posted is spot on--

[ALwoodsman]

Like several people have already said, Ontario makes a good machete.  It isn't anything fancy but it does the job.  I did land surveying for about 8 years and spent plenty of time swinging one and Ontario was the best one that I used.  I own two of them.  I cant remember what length I have but I would go with the mid-size one.

[Zmonster]

I’m very surprised I haven’t seen any mention to the USA made Legitimus Collins machete. It was the issued machete for our troops in WW2. Im sure some of our vets here can comment on their quality.

[GingivitisKahn]

As has been mentioned, the Ontario machete is a good choice for a straight up machete.  The handle sucks but you can modify that.

For a great large knife that will do many machete tasks and pretty much all knife ones, have a look at the Becker BK9 - it's one mighty blade.

Slightly more machete-like and much more costly is the ESEE Junglas.  They are great but I like the BK9 lots better.

Another decent option to check out is the KaBar Kukri Machete.  It's not really a machete though it performs like one and it's not really a kukri though it's shaped like one and chops like a freak.

[DannyBows]

GingivitisKahn you're right about the Becker BK-9. I've got one (pictured earlier in this thread) that was made by Camillus, before Ka-Bar started making them. If I was going to be dropped off in the wilderness and could take only two knives, it'd be my Becker BK-2 Companion and the BK-9. If I could only have one, it'd be the BK-9. Awesome knives, especially at their price point.

[Shawn Leonard]

I have an old one! No clue on make but I use it to cut out paths to my stands. Keep it sharp and it works a lot quicker than clippers or loppers. Shawn

[ChuckC]

cold steel kukri.  the only way to go
ChuckC

[nightowl1]

ok, I would be a fool to not listen to resounding advice from my fellow tradgangers... so..

Sounds like Tramontina or ontario... I found one called fiddleback forge that looked real promising but I believe in the 80/20 principle... get 80% of the function for 20% of the cost...

Thanks for all the sound advice. Maybe I'll post some pics later of my choice and show you some of its many many great uses.

[Alfie]

A good budget alternative are Cold Steel Kukri machetes, either the standard or the magnum does the job to a low price, takes alot of abuse without breaking.

[Karebru]

This was a Christmas gift from my father-in-law, many years ago. He brought it back from Honduras. (He’s a retired  missionary.)
The blade isn't anything special, but it's taken more than one chicken from the coop to the dinner table.    
 Their's is a big family, so we draw names around Thanksgiving. I always get excited when I find out he's drawn mine.
Funny... His wife seems to think his gift are poor choices. She's always apologizing for him as the recipient is unwrapping the package… Yeah, right?    
I also have a small hand-made cast net hanging on the wall. It was made by a fisherman he met on the beach in Cost Rica.

   

[Ben Maher]

I am a huge fan of the ESEE Junglas but no doubt will look to a Beccker-9 at some point .

I always have one in the truck . I don't carry them when hinking etc but use them a fair bit for chores around the farm .

I like big knives !

[EL Mejor]

NICE PICS,,,GOOD INFO

[Pikeman]

We use them constantly guiding for bear in northern Saskatchewan   Take a look at Baer Grilz model that just came out. Good handle  good feel. Too bad it has his name on it..

[2treks]

"Chops like a Freak" I like that Kahn.
I guided with a mountain man when I lived in Montana.He always had a Kukri with him in the woods.He said it was the best design he ever used for big knife chopping chores.(he was REAL handy with a blade). He was in NAM and learned the value of a big knife. For pure cool factor,it is hard to beat the pictured longblades from south/central America.

[Dryfired]

Kukris are a super knife. It's quite incredible what forces get put to effect with the big, curved blade. A good, hand-forged kukri is an indispensable blade. Here are some of mine:
 

[Willrett]

The cold steel sax is the best I have ever seen or used. I have both the 12in and 18in and they are great.