Recommend a Machete and Hatchet

[InkEd]

I would like some suggestions for a machete and hatchet.

[PawPaw]

Machetes are fairly generic. Any good sporting goods store, or even a good outdoor center should have a box of machetes somewhere. Normally for under $20.00 you can have your pick of the litter.

Hatchet's are fairly specific. You can have one of several to do a specific job. Then, to confuse matters more, you might be holding a short ax, a hatchet, or a tomahawk.

When you refer to hatchet, I'm thinking that perhaps you should tell us more about what you want the tool to do.

[72coupe]

I use machetes a lot. Collins are the best. There are many machetes that aren't satisfactory. They are made of soft metal and will not hold an edge, worse they bend under any hard use.

The most important thing is the edge. You will have to shape it as I have never seen a new one with a usable edge. It must be tapered but not too thin.

I prefer a 22 inch blade myself as anything shorter will not give you the leverage you need and anything longer is to long to use in tight places.

[Loosedhorse]

If you were to include in your considerations a versatile "camp knife" that can be pressed into machete service, I could recommend the Kershaw Outcast--definitely a bit short with only a 10" blade.

As to hatchet, SOG Fusion (it's actually a tomahawk). Very light; might be indestructible (), but I'll let you know in a few more years.

[Old Grump]

My heavy duty knives are Woodsmans Pal, Kershaw Outcast and several machetes. If I were going to get another machete I would opt for a heavy machete or Bolo machete but I'm getting a bit long in the tooth and shy in the strength endurance category so I probably won't get another.

I gave up on hatchets a long time ago but I liked the Swedish hatchet, wish I knew what happened to it.

Carry knives are a 4 1/2" buck sheath knife and a S&W Border Guard folding knife. It's a little bit heavier than my Kabar and Old timer folders, any of them will do 90% of my cutting around camp and working.

[22-rimfire]

Machete: Ontario at whatever length suits your need.
Hatchet: Gransflors hatchet. Probably one of the very best made today. As I recall, Collins is the only US manufactured hatchet/axe made these days. The rest are foreign made and mostly in China.

http://www.eknifeworks.com/webapp/eC...y=13&SKU=GB415

[Sunray]

I can do far more with my W.W. II issue machete(Legitimus. Collins Co. 1943. Bolo style) than I'll ever do with a hatchet. It's not great for splitting thick wood, but a hatchet isn't either. It is fabulous for removing limbs from downed trees and making kindling. Way faster than a chain saw for cutting down saplings and small trees. I think my buddy is still a bit annoyed.
If I had to buy one, I think I'd lean towards a Cold Steel Bolo. Wouldn't like the Polypropylene grip though.
Forget the hatchet altogether.
"...actually a tomahawk..." Useless for anything but throwing games. Too light.

[mlr1m]

For a hatchet I use an old cast roofing hammer. Not one of the new stamped light weight ones. Being cast it is heavy enough to have some force behing it therefore allowing it to be used on thicker wood. It also has a full sized hammerhead. You would probably only find one in a second hand tool store or a yard sale,

Depending on the use intended this is a wonderful design. It is much better at cutting trees than a new lightweight hatchet is and also better than a machete on large wood. Then it has the added benefit of weighing enough to actually use it as a hammer.

Something to consider depending on your intended use.

Michael

[Navy joe]

Get a HI khukri and be done with it. Cuts trees better than my Gerber hatchet which is fine tool in its own way.

[wristtwister]

Check the "Cold Steel" website... I met the guy who owns the company at the NRA convention, and he's got some of the best stuff out there.

http://www.coldsteel.com/fixed-blade-knives.html

WT

[Carter88]

My favorite machete is the kabar kukri. Thick enough to do some work and short enough to not get in the way.

Hatchet's I don't really have a favorite. But I'm sure one from cold steel should work.

[Smokey Joe]

Ink Ed--There are many "hi-falutin' expensive" hatchets out there to be had. I'm sure they all work wonderfully.

However, IMX, the best hatchet to be had is the leather-stacked handled Estwing one-piece, available @ yr local hardware store. Sharpens up just fine, splits kindling wood all day long, will take down a SMALL tree with the best of 'em (for large trees you want an axe, or better, a saw, or better yet, a chainsaw!)

Doesn't cost an arm and a leg, like those Swedish hatchets, either!

Backside of the head will do for a hammer, although it isn't meant for that, comes with its own (rather skimpy) sheath, and the stacked leather handle looks nice and feels good in the hand.

Estwing used to make their claw hammer with a stacked leather handle also, but they quit that some time ago and now their hammer has an ugly blue gel-plastic handle. Probably quite comfortable but nowhere near as esthetic.

[StormTalyn]

No disrespect to Cold Steel or their product, but they REALLY need a new marketing director... How about that video for the "nightshade series" of knives?

http://www.coldsteel.com/nightshadeseries.html

I have a pretty cheap $5 walmart machete. The handle could use some work, but the blade is flexible enough that it doesn't break but strong enough that I can use it on saplings and brush when walking through the woods in florida. No complaints about the edge at all once I sharpened it with my dremel and my whetstone.

[wristtwister]

Well, everything I've used of theirs is top quality, and gets the job done. I won't get dragged into another personality war, but their products are top notch. I use one of their 2-handed machetes to clear out cottonwood trees all the time, and it works like a champ. Anything up to about 6" in diameter is quick work.

WT

[Rob62]

InkEd - Have you made any decisions yet ?

Its been my experience in over 30 years of using machetes that basically a machete is a machete. It’s hard to get a bad one unless you go to Walmarts and get their el Cheapo $7.99 version in camping supplies.

If you want a good overall true Machete then the standard US Army issue Ontario is a good one. Cold Steel also makes an excellent product and it’s a coin toss between the two.

CS is clearing out some of their products. At their sale prices its worth it to get one or a half dozen to play around with and see what you think.

http://www.coldsteel.com/secl.html

Prices are $9.99 and $11.99 - you can hardly go wrong there.

If you want something more “tacticool” the Kershaw Outcast is a good deal. In the big chopper category I really like the RTAK/II. Its been my go to knife for a few years now and it does a super job of whatever I need it to do.

Rob

[Travis Bickle]

Another vote for Cold Steel, here. The guy who owns the company is kind of a dork, but he makes decent stuff at a decent price, and you can't really argue with that. I got the 18" bowie machete and I can't find anything bad to say about it.

[rodregier]

On hatchets, have a look at the Fiskars 7850 Fiskars Hatchet with 14-Inch Handle and 7/8 (lb) Head.

Nice trade-off in size+weight versus larger and smaller versions. Decent price too. Sold by Gerber under another name. Also sold as their garden axe w/o orange paint on the handle for a lower price.

http://www.amazon.com/Fiskars-7850-H...4?ie=UTF8&s=hi

[jhk94]

look at the Fiskars 7850 Fiskars Hatchet with 14-Inch Handle and 7/8 (lb) Head.

I have the Fiskars hatchet with that head, but with the shorter handle. Gerber markets it as the Backpaxe, or something like it. Anyway, it was pretty cheap, and I have been really impressed by it so far. Sharp, holds an edge, tough, light.

[Sunray]

A kukri is a knife, not a machete.
"...handle could use some work..." Duct tape.
"...2-handed machetes..." No such thing.

[Travis Bickle]

"...2-handed machetes..." No such thing.

There is, but I'm not sure what advantage they're supposed to offer over an ax.

[jmortimer]

Agree with Cold Steel recommendation - Their machetes are nice and for a hatchet I think their "Bad Ax" is fantastic. The two handed machete is very effective. All are reasonable in price. Buy through their "Special Projects" site which has "special" deals.

[StrawHat]

On Saturday a fellow brought me a machete to sharpen at one of the markets I work. I have used machetes in the past but this was a new one to me. A British Army issue, nice balance and great weight. Not sure where to find them but if you do, a great tool.

[Mr Apocalyptic]

Go with the Gerber hatchet line they are fantastic and haven't mad me doubt them ever since i got one which I've had for about 2 to 4 months. This is the exact one i have.

http://www.gerber-tools.com/Gerber-Back-Paxe-5912.htm

[Mr Apocalyptic]

Also for a awesome machete get a Woodsman's Pal it hasn't failed me either.

[Gunsby_Blazen]

Love my Legitimus Collins & Co. machete
really good at clearing brush and chipping through small tree limbs up to say about two or so inches thick.
i have also used it as an axe chipping away through 10 or so inch logs when i dont have any other tools.

very robust... they dont make em like they used to...


i would recommend looking for one of those. i dont know how old mine is because my grandpa gave it to me. i would say to look for one of those

also, maybe look at Grayman Knives, he makes some really big knives....
read about them on Gunblast.com a while back and saw some neat videos on youtube also...

http://www.graymanknives.com/

and...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQnTgxoNDJQ