Looking for a machete

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I need help picking out the right machete. I currently have a 20 year old box store special that has done pretty well over the years. It’s light weight, thin and holds an edge. But I’m just looking for something different. I mainly use one around the house trimming trees, grape vines, trails to my deer stand/corn pile, etc. I don’t really chop anything big with my machete so don’t need anything thick and heavy. But I do like to be able to take one swing at a branch and cut right through it. We have a bunch of briers in our woods so to be able to cut through them is nice.

Thanks for your help.
 
I need help picking out the right machete. I currently have a 20 year old box store special that has done pretty well over the years. It’s light weight, thin and holds an edge. But I’m just looking for something different. I mainly use one around the house trimming trees, grape vines, trails to my deer stand/corn pile, etc. I don’t really chop anything big with my machete so don’t need anything thick and heavy. But I do like to be able to take one swing at a branch and cut right through it. We have a bunch of briers in our woods so to be able to cut through them is nice.

Thanks for your help.
Get a woodsmans pal and never look back. However pricey.

Gerber has some nicer ones even kukri types 30 to 80 range

CRKT has a few 50 and up.

Condor knife and tool. Usually 80 and up.

Fiskars one just for laughs but may be great for your uses.

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the ones i like best for "around the house" are the kukri styles as pictured above.
shorter is better for me. 12-inch blade does fine. it's thicker than some, but that
weight makes it easier for me to "power through". if i was mainly using one
to clear vines and briars, i would use a sugar cane style. really thin blade
just slides so smooth, but i have to keep the blade clean of sap.
i have sharpened the inside of the end hook, too.
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https://www.lewiscontractorsales.com/corona-cane-knife-14-inch.html
 
I spent a lot of time at the Army's Jungle Operation Training Center (JOTC) in Panama...saw a Dawrwin's grab bag of machetes, bush knives and axes come through there...one consistently outperformed them all, the old Woodsman Pal...Army has been using these since WWII, alongside its standard issue machete (which is worthless unless kept sharp).
Woodys are not cheap, but it's a tool, that taken care of, will get those pesky "wait-a-minute" vines out of the way every time.
 
Outdoorsman’s makes an excellent one.
Called the Trailbuster.
Extremely well made and versatile.
Comes with either a bone saw, or a brush saw on the back, as well as a bottle opener/open wrench built in as well.
I would say they are pretty pricey, as they run around $110

https://outdoorsmans.com/products/trailbuster
 
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I hate my woodsman’s pal. Grip is too small for my medium hands. The large hook is however great for cutting heavy hanging vines if you keep it really sharp, just hook them high and pull down at an angle.

I tried the Condor and it’s a great slab of steel. I’m too old to be swinging it for hours, and it’s heavy to carry, but it chops well. Almost took my thumb one day.

For real chopping get an axe, but otherwise a kurki is great.

Want to try that sugar cane style.
 
I have my Great Granddad's cane machete, German made, thin like a handsaw, holds an edge you can shave with.
Blade is 14" long, handle is 7".
It sings when you cut something, I guess that's the good steel used to make it.

I have no idea where you could find another unless in an antique store.
You may be able to make one from a handsaw.
 
I cut line for a living. If I had to choose only one one-handed tool, it would be this every time:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Fiskars-Chopping-Brush-Axe-78606935J/202681658

I can clear a 200-300ft line of saplings, wisteria, cat briar, privet, mulberry, cedar, and even trees up to 4" in diameter if really needed in 10 minutes or less with that little brush axe. I can even decimate the truly nasty stuff like thorny olive. You'll need to put an edge on it when it arrives, or you can send it to me and I'll do it for you. It'll keep that edge for a good, long while too.

I've used a lot of tools (thick Condor machetes, light flexible Imacasa, Council ditch banks and briar hooks, Cold Steel South African machetes, Kukris), and a few come close (mostly my home brew stuff), but none touch the Fiskars.
 
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I cut line for a living. If I had to choose only one one-handed tool, it would be this every time:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Fiskars-Chopping-Brush-Axe-78606935J/202681658

I can clear a 200-300ft line of saplings, wisteria, cat briar, privet, mulberry, cedar, and even trees up to 4" in diameter if really needed in 10 minutes or less with that little brush axe. I can even decimate the truly nasty stuff like thorny olive. You'll need to put an edge on it when it arrives, or you can send it to me and I'll do it for you. It'll keep that edge for a good, long while too.

I've used a lot of tools (thick Condor machetes, light flexible Imacasa, Council ditch banks and briar hooks, Cold Steel South African machetes, Kukris), and a few come close (mostly my home brew stuff), but none touch the Fiskars.
Thanks for posting your experience using these, and your recommendation. How do you carry that Fiskars model? It does not come with a true sheath, right?
 
I use my machete for similar reasons to yours so I bought an OKC 18" for like $30-40. Length was better for me since it'll go through anything I need anyway.

If you are just looking for something different, I also use a small hatchet for anything the budget machete wouldn't be able to handle. Think it was $20 at lowes.
 
My son has one of the woodsman pal's and it is a piece of garbage. It must be made out of cold rolled steel. First time he used it on some small green limbs, the edge rolled.
 
I've been using a Fiskars brush hook for that sort of thing for ages and it works great, I've also had most of the Cold Steel machetes and they are inexpensive and work well.
 
I cut line for a living. If I had to choose only one one-handed tool, it would be this every time:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Fiskars-Chopping-Brush-Axe-78606935J/202681658

I can clear a 200-300ft line of saplings, wisteria, cat briar, privet, mulberry, cedar, and even trees up to 4" in diameter if really needed in 10 minutes or less with that little brush axe. I can even decimate the truly nasty stuff like thorny olive. You'll need to put an edge on it when it arrives, or you can send it to me and I'll do it for you. It'll keep that edge for a good, long while too.

I've used a lot of tools (thick Condor machetes, light flexible Imacasa, Council ditch banks and briar hooks, Cold Steel South African machetes, Kukris), and a few come close (mostly my home brew stuff), but none touch the Fiskars.
Plus one on the brush axe. I went for years doing daily walks through the woods and over Mountain bike trails and nothing worked as well as the brush axe for keeping the trails unobstructed. It also doesn't come off as a weapon when you meet up with other people on the trails.
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I get a fair amount of use out of my Condor Discord (got it somehwhat cheap as someone dropped it in its box and damaged the tip slightly... easily fixed), it does most of the job of a bushaxe, and its effective as a machete. It also could be treated as a falchion....

Condor makes some really good stuff, just if you go that route, make sure you find the right one.
 
Outdoorsman’s makes an excellent one.
Called the Trailbuster.
Extremely well made and versatile.
Comes with either a bone saw, or a brush saw on the back, as well as a bottle opener/open wrench built in as well.
I would say they are pretty pricey, as they run around $110

https://outdoorsmans.com/products/trailbuster

This looks pretty cool. I’d probably go with the bone saw if I did. I don’t really saw limbs unless it’s with a chainsaw. Too much effort.
 
I cut line for a living. If I had to choose only one one-handed tool, it would be this every time:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Fiskars-Chopping-Brush-Axe-78606935J/202681658

I can clear a 200-300ft line of saplings, wisteria, cat briar, privet, mulberry, cedar, and even trees up to 4" in diameter if really needed in 10 minutes or less with that little brush axe. I can even decimate the truly nasty stuff like thorny olive. You'll need to put an edge on it when it arrives, or you can send it to me and I'll do it for you. It'll keep that edge for a good, long while too.

I've used a lot of tools (thick Condor machetes, light flexible Imacasa, Council ditch banks and briar hooks, Cold Steel South African machetes, Kukris), and a few come close (mostly my home brew stuff), but none touch the Fiskars.

I have came close to buying that Fiskars several times. May have to just to see how I like it.


I get a fair amount of use out of my Condor Discord (got it somehwhat cheap as someone dropped it in its box and damaged the tip slightly... easily fixed), it does most of the job of a bushaxe, and its effective as a machete. It also could be treated as a falchion....

Condor makes some really good stuff, just if you go that route, make sure you find the right one.

How thick is the discord? It looks too beefy but I love the long handle.
 
Discord is 18 inch blade and 26 overall. The longer handle is nice at times when swinging or chopping

Blade specs are 3mm thick 1075

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Thanks for posting your experience using these, and your recommendation. How do you carry that Fiskars model? It does not come with a true sheath, right?

@rantingredneck got you covered

@premise, What does “cut line” mean?

Land surveying. I cut sight line.

What store-boughten stuff comes close?

Panga style machetes with the hook edge sharpened. Marbles, Imacasa, Cold Steel, Condor all have a version. I'm a huge fan of Cold Steel two handed machetes, but they are discontinued. Council ditch banks work great but are high maintenance.
 
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I have an older Cold Steel Kukri with Kraton or Kratex rubber like handle. Ive had and have others including a $200 semi custom and nothing cuts limbs like that Kukri. The newer ones Ive seen unfortunately have thinner steel and did not have the impact absorbing kraton/kratex handle material.
 
For those of you that like using a billhook, check out the rinaldi billhook holster.
 
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My son has one of the woodsman pal's and it is a piece of garbage. It must be made out of cold rolled steel. First time he used it on some small green limbs, the edge rolled.
Really? Dang the older ones must be better. The water/sewer right of way crews where I used to work had one in every truck. I used to sharpen them with files when they brought the trucks in for service or if they hit a rock or manhole cover. Never seen and edge roll, a few chips and flat spots were the worst they could manage.

I keep a cold steel two handed machete in the truck and it works really well for $20.
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We did a test once, comparing several machetes and hatchets... kukri won hands down, for chopping. There was nothing close.
I have an older Cold Steel Kukri with Kraton or Kratex rubber like handle. Ive had and have others including a $200 semi custom and nothing cuts limbs like that Kukri. The newer ones Ive seen unfortunately have thinner steel and did not have the impact absorbing kraton/kratex handle material.

I know this is asking a lot but know anyone who make a long blade Kukri with a decent size handle?
 
I have came close to buying that Fiskars several times. May have to just to see how I like it.




How thick is the discord? It looks too beefy but I love the long handle.

The gentlemen beat me on the response, but yeah, he has the right numbers.... it is relatively heavy. But strong. The handle design is excellent, has Micarta scales.
 
as ronn47 posts: "It sings when you cut something,..."
which refers to the sugar cane style machete.

it is the thinnest blade of my machetes,
and it is the one i use the most.
easy swinging, easy sharpening.
 
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