The best machete for the money bar none. They can be had for chump change at Survival Pax website. I actually use machetes for clearing brush along the fence line during the summer when the creeper vines start encroaching on the garden. I'm partial to the 14" and 18" model, the 18+ inch models have a bit too much flex. The 12" Tramontina is the best watermelon knife out there and makes short work of brush in tight spots along the fence line. The blade holds a good edge-better than you'd expect for the price-under $10 and the 12" model is usually $5. Any nicks get the file and then the stone. Oh, yeah, the 12" Tramontina cuts a mean pizza when rocked.I live in the country and have a lot of timber and brush. A decent machete is a necessity. The best I've ever used is the one I have now: second from the bottom in this picture.
Made by Tramontina in Brazil. Thick 16" square-end blade; wooden grip with full tang. Heavy enough for felling, sharp enough for close trimming and shaping.
I'm now more familiar with machetes and have a couple new-ish ones in the stable. I posted pics of the larger one elsewhere... Here's the larger one, with a smaller one I just picked up, resting happily together.
Informative for sure.... I see I'm going to have to make one of those hook thingees .....
Hey diesel i actually edited my post i had parang on brain after reading thread my cold steel is actually a Barong. I fell in love because of its dual purpose potential having the nice pointy tip. As for parangs i find them incredible well proven tools also. I would venture to say a parang style would serve well inyour enviroment i was actually just looking at several online myself thinking i may add one to the mix. I am pretty stuck on my barong right now though. It handles well were i use it and i also strap it on my pack when hiking its quick to deploy if needed for any number of reasons. Thinking of your uses and ability to break things the Esee Junglass comes to mind as a great large field knife and you sure aint gonna break it(its abit spendy but if ya use alot worth it) my son in law has had one we gave him one christmas and its a top shelf piece of work.I've been thinking of adding a parang to the lineup. All my previous blades have been long, but that's unconventional for the midwest. It's more stick and limb clearing, than vine and brush as in southern regions. The modified Ontario has been one of my favorites, and always a go-to. I don't remember how I broke it, but I think I was only a young teen at the time. I took it to the barn, pulled out the angle grinder, and made it into a makeshift tanto blade. It's served me well ever since for branches, limbs, saplings, and occasionally chopping spoiled fruit, or cutting cornstalks to feed the animals. I refer to it as my "field knife". Getting back around..... I would appreciate recommendations on a parang.
I've been thinking of adding a parang to the lineup. All my previous blades have been long, but that's unconventional for the midwest. It's more stick and limb clearing, than vine and brush as in southern regions. The modified Ontario has been one of my favorites, and always a go-to. I don't remember how I broke it, but I think I was only a young teen at the time. I took it to the barn, pulled out the angle grinder, and made it into a makeshift tanto blade. It's served me well ever since for branches, limbs, saplings, and occasionally chopping spoiled fruit, or cutting cornstalks to feed the animals. I refer to it as my "field knife". Getting back around..... I would appreciate recommendations on a parang.