Quality machete for cheap.

Back in March of this year I picked up an Ontario milspec machete 23" blade for 20 bucks. The machete is 1095 with a spine thickness of .110 even though it claims it's 1/8th. It's a very good machete but it's too long for my needs and the handle is not that good so I spent 40 minutes cutting the new profile on the band saw and cleaning the profile up on the grinder then finally convex in the lower 1/2" to a zero edge. The new specs were 13.5 blade and 5" handle. Because the Rc is low it was easy to drill new pin holes for the bolts in the tang with cheap Dewalt bits.

I spent 4 months abusing the blade and have been very surprize at how well it held up and never chipped the edge till I finally threw it down the road just to see how it would fare. I have batoned several 6 to 8" Dia blocks of dry cherry down to small finger sized sticks for a bird trap, repeatedly used it at the hawk and knife throwing range, shaved feather sticks and cleared a small plot with a rag wrapped around the handle. I have never used a machete that bit as deep and weighs so little. Below is the machete . It was sharpened 4 months ago and will still slice you easily.Attachment 10817

Because the design and geometry worked so well I am going to make one from some 3v I have in the shop, .114 thick and same specs 13.5 blade and 5" handle but I will play with a few handle designs before cutting the 3v. Below is the proposed blade in 3v.

Attachment 10818

I plan to cut the profile and drill the tang then heat treat it because it's so thin. Once heat treated I will grind a scandi edge for approx 4" then transition it to a convex to the tip. Square the back portion of the spine and round the front portion. Hidden lanyard at the pommel and since I will use tubes to secure the scales I will position one so I can keep the lanyard forward if I like.

In the end it should be a very fine bush tool when paired with a small blade and silky saw.

Now you don't need a 3v one as the above 20 dollar repro filed version is just fine and can be done with a grinder or angle grinder as long as care is taken not to get the steel too hot to hold and lose its temper.

If you make one or need help with it post it up.

Here are a few that I have made.

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/i...psrbtpfnoc.jpg

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/i...pszdvkorxc.jpg

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/i...psr9fxtgo5.jpg

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/i...psz3oopbgj.jpg

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/i...pshzvwwqdl.jpg

That kukri...makes me all warm and fuzzy feeling...

I have one almost Identical to the kukri as well. I forged it from 1.5" 5160 round stock. I made it from hand without the power hammer. took longer but its a chopper for sure. I have a pic somewhere of chopping through a 3" live oak with a single swing. I will try and dig it up.

nice chetes by the way.

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Originally Posted by Erratus Animus

I have one almost Identical to the kukri as well. I forged it from 1.5" 5160 round stock. I made it from hand without the power hammer. took longer but its a chopper for sure. I have a pic somewhere of chopping through a 3" live oak with a single swing. I will try and dig it up.

nice chetes by the way.

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There's no need, if you buried the tree after you killed it. A photo should be enough.

Nice blade. I love a good machete.

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Originally Posted by Eastree

There's no need, if you buried the tree after you killed it. A photo should be enough.

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Let me guess , you just flew and and boy are your arms tired and you will be here all week? :)

Crash that's a lot of leather you have going. I will just make a kydex sheath with a leather retention strap. Did you source the gator hide locally?

I work strictly with leather - just a personal preference. A friend is a nuisance trapper that I can sometime snag a gator skin or two from.

That last one - would you sell it?

You'd have to ask MadMax, as it belongs to him at the moment.

I have carried, and used a "G.I." Ontario machete that came directly from the "Serv-mart" at the U.S. Navy supply depot Norfolk Va in 1974. It has cut fire wood, grass, vines, tin and various fingers and toes very successfully for the last 41 years. I did have to replace the grip on one side when my son left it out in the yard after he had been cutting some weeds with it and I drove over it with my old Land Cruiser. The original canvas cover rotted away and I acquired one of the plastic G.I. sheaths for it about 25 years ago. It does have a few nicks in the blade but it takes an amazing edge and always has. I put the same tool on all of the brush rigs (fire trucks for fight rural grass and wildlands fires) in our county and they have seem extremely heavy use over the years. I think over all they are one of the best tools you can have around the place. I carry mine in my truck pretty much all the time.

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Originally Posted by crashdive123

You'd have to ask MadMax, as it belongs to him at the moment.

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Nope. Uh uh. No way. Never. That big bad boy has a permanent residence on my pack. It mows through wood like buttah. Scary sharp and heavy. It'll work you like a dawg. It's been in daily use now in WNC for 7 weeks.

Thanks Crash!

Glad its working for you.

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Originally Posted by Erratus Animus

Let me guess , you just flew and and boy are your arms tired and you will be here all week? :)

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Try the veal. Tip your waitress, folks!

I've been looking for the Tramontina machete to make mention in this thread. They are said to be good and cheap($).
For myself I pack a Gerber Jr depending on where I decide to hike/wander.

I own several Tramontina machetes. For the money, they are great.

I rocked a Tram for years. Wife still uses it.

The Condor Parang is a very user friendly 'chete.

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Originally Posted by crashdive123

I own several Tramontina machetes. For the money, they are great.

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I agree. I am a Tramontina fan as well. Have several brands of machete and for the money the Tramontina gets the job done fine.

http://www.machetespecialists.com/trma5pa.html

I bought the 5 pack years ago and I have use every one of the blades extensively. They are al made from excellent spring steel but they are true machetes made by jungle people for jungle people and not the heavy "choppers" American tend to favor.

The small one is in my Escape, the bolo is in my jeep, I use the cane knife and the 20" around the place all the time and the big one got a replacement two handed grip and is part of my zombie rig.