Machete question for Pict or ????

[Beans]

I just picked up a machete made in Brazil at a local yard sale and I was curious if anyone knew anything about it. Quality ??????

Light hardwood handles, 3 rivets in the handle. semi bolo shaped blade, blade length 14 1/2 inches, bright finish carbon steel. Blade is marked on the side

"TRAMONTINA"
BRAZIL


Thanks

[crashdive123]

Pretty sure it's the brand he uses in his videos. That and Ontario.

[Pict]

http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/6783/img2571km6.jpg

It sounds to me like you have a Tramontina 14 inch Bolo. Hands down this is one of my favorite machetes. The only drawback is finding a good sheath. I like these so much I'm planning to buy five of them and make sheaths for them to use in my course. Ironically I can't find them for sale in Brazil! I bought the one in the photo down there about 20 years ago and haven't found one for sale there since.

The Bolo is weighted forward and gives a very powerful chop for its length. You bought a good blade, just make sure you convex the front half of it and you will do fine. Mac

ETA - Have to plug a video here...

OPENING GREEN COCONUTS (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPqBjsfTRlU&feature=channel_page)

The machete I use to open coconuts and watermelons is almost always my Bolo.

[crashdive123]

Pict - what is your opinion of the rubber handled Tramontinas?

[chiye tanka]

Pict, have you tried the Cold Steel bolo?

[Pict]

"What is your opinion of the rubber handled Tramontinas?"

This is going to sound odd, me coming from Brazil and all but there is a much greater selection of Tramontina machetes sold in the US than in my area of Brazil. I only have access to the models that sell well in Central Brazil, which is fine because they are the ones that work best in Central Brazil. They will export anything to a buyer in the US that the buyer wants. In Central Brazil they are selling them in huge bins in hardware and farm supply stores and only stock the models people want to buy locally.

I only buy the wood handled ones because I think they look cooler and I can work with them. I have never had a wood handled Tramontina fail.

"Have you tried the Cold Steel bolo?"

These aren't sold in Brazil so no, I haven't tried one yet.

Mac

[JW Parker]

I have one just like the one pitcured above and it is stamped TRAMONTINA BRAZIL. It looks like it has only been used once. I got it at a yard sale for $1.00. I don't know what they were cutting because it really needs sharpening.