Axe or Machete? Why?

[DomC]

I chose a machete. Reason: Vesatility, weight/size (I own a 14" Tramontina). I grew up wielding a machete since I was a pre-teen growing up in Puerto Rico. My father was Filipino (He passed away last year) and was very proficient with a bolo during WWII as he was a Filipine Scout during the war. My dad did everything with a bolo that most people did with power tools and was a master carpenter and woodworker in the Philippines prior to joining the US Navy in '48.

He made me toys out of wood using his bolo. So it's only natural that I learned to use a machete. I never ventured into the woods without a machete and I still carry one in the trunk of my car.

My son who is 15 has a 12" Tramontina and is pretty proficient with it and he prefers it over an axe.

DomC

[Topsblades]

I chose a machete. I live in SE Alabama and the machete does what I need it to do. It is lighter and more versatile. I modified it the way that Mac shows in his videos and it works like a charm. I chose a 12" Ontario. Put a shaving sharp edge on the first 4" of the blade and a convex edge on the "sweet spot. Squared the spine near the handle for scraping tinder and striking a fero rod and rounded the rest of the spine to allow me to use it as a draw knife.

I've successfully made one stick fires with it. The squared off spine makes dandy tinder from Pine. I can baton it to split wood and do light chopping.

I then made a simple kydex sheath for it and when it isn't being used it rides behind the back seat of my F150.

I did, however, also just acquire a Wetterlings 20" Axe and it is a delight to use. I wouldn't cry if I had to use it instead of the machete.

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[lefties]

In my part of the world(Philippines) it would be and is a jungle bolo or machete for many reasons. Thick brush,,rainforest, swinging an axe isnt feasible,also for packing it in a machete takes less room. I use a quality made Philippine handmade one,,no cheap china junk for me. These things vary from 3/16-1/8 thickfull-951-59110-new_bolos_from_batangas_006.jpg

[Wildthang]

Here in Ohio an axe is the way to go, but I also carry a lare Bowie in a sheath that would chop through some brush. I would not want a machete unless I was in dense vegetation or brush, then it would be invaluable!

[lefties]

Yup wildthing,,in ohio a machete is mostly good for making trails to deer stands,,snare trails etc. Im from Ohio originally. Then again Ohio is a highly settled state,,mostly thin forest and farmland.

[COWBOYSURVIVAL]

If your kinife weighs as much as your axe, your probably good to go!

[Wildthang]

If your kinife weighs as much as your axe, your probably good to go!

My Bowie does weigh almost as much as my hachet. I have a small stainless steel hatchet that fits into my backpack, and my Bowie is on my side in a sheath. I have seen thicketts up in Michigan that a small chainsaw would be handy in!

[Mischief]

My choice is a Ft Megis belt axe

[Daniel Nighteyes]

My answer to the poll is "Machete", because I was trained how to use them back in the day, and have a lot of experience with them. IMO a machete is a bit more versatile than an axe.

Now, with that said, a machete is much more dangerous to the untrained user than an axe. They're essentially made of spring steel, which means that they will bounce-back if not handled properly. For this reason, a dull machete is possibly the most dangerous outdoor tool, because it won't "bite" into the item being cut and hold itself.

Shortly after WWII, Scott Paper Company (at least in the Southeast) equipped its foresters with machetes. In the late 50's or early 60's it took them back, and prohibited their use, because of the large number of serious machete-related injuries. All of the injuries had to do with this bounce-back phenomenon -- and this was in a group of skilled/experienced outdoorsmen.

[Wildthang]

Well I have not used a machete much so based on that comment, I'm leavin em alone. Nothing worse than being cut wide open when your out in the woods, well other than bein shot!

[Rick]

Of course a machete isn't designed to chop wood where an axe is. It's a food gathering tool and a brush clearing tool. Proper tool for the proper job and all that.

[Daniel Nighteyes]

Of course a machete isn't designed to chop wood where an axe is. It's a food gathering tool and a brush clearing tool. Proper tool for the proper job and all that.

Generally agree. However, the things a really sharp machete and a bit of know-how can safely and quickly accomplish may surprise some folks. It certainly surprised my father-in-law.

[Rick]

That's true. But true about any tool. Why, I can crack hickory nuts with a ratchet. Nuckles, too but don't ask me how I know.

[Daniel Nighteyes]

Why, I can crack hickory nuts with a ratchet. Nuckles, too but don't ask me how I know.

There's a real story in there, somewhere... !

[Rick]

Yeah, there is. Pull up a chair. It all started when I was a little survivalist. I had a little knife, a little fire steel and a ratchet. This was way back in the day before SnapOn, before Craftsman, I mean way back. It was a Roman ratchet made of wood.

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Don't laugh. Here I am with my first bike I constructed with it.

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I didn't know about brakes back in those days which explains the head injury which explains the head injury which explains the head injury. But I kept at it until I actually built my first car!

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Let me reiterate that I did not know about brakes in those days which explains the head injury which explains the head injury which explains the head injury. Along the way I had my share of slipped ratchets which not only resulted in busted knuckles but splinters. I sure was glad when they started making them out of metal. I still got busted knuckles but the splinters were a thing of the past.

I just bought the largest ratchet I could find. I'm not sure what I'm going to build with it but it's bound to be big.

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Oops. Looks like I have to go. It's time for my meds. (nurse Ratchet is here. Shhhh.)

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[matt47]

Axe all the way...Usually always have a hatchet out bush, but a full size axe is more versatile. In the outback a machete is near useless...It's not strong enough to deal with the hardwoods out in the desert and with an axe you can cut wood, chop through bones of huge animals and also use the back as a hammer for nailing, breaking bones for marrow and a dozen other tasks...Of Course a knife is essential...knife and axe together, but dont need the machete in that land...However in S. America, machete is king...

[Wildthang]

Most hatchets also have a hammer head, which is a valuable tool in itself in the wild. You can drive steaks for a shelter after you sharpen them with the blade. It takes about 2 minutes to sharpen a hatchet with a small file and it is ready to go. I would think it would take much longer to sharpen a machete!
Anywhere but thick brush or jungle, the axe wins out as far as I'm concerned!

[SemperFi]

I recently purchased a Fiskars 9 inche machette and I can attest that I really dont need an axe if I have this with me, it will chop a tree down !

[kyratshooter]

Hey all you machette lovers, come on over to my place this morning. I have two storm damaged trees on the ground you can work on. One is 30 inches diameter at the base and the other a little over a foot. Both are 30-50 feet long. According to the posts here you should have turned them into a nice income generating duplex by dark with only your machettes!

If you get started now I have a good charge in my camera and I can post pics of you ringing like a bell vibrating when you hit that big oak with your machette!

I have five machettes hanging on the shop wall, but when there is some real North American hardwood to cut there will be an axe involved.

If all you ever cut is piddley little stuff a machette will probably do fine for you, but if you ever need real wood processed in order to stay alive, you are going to die!

I just reviewed the inventory Lewis and Clark packed to cross the wilderness of North America for a paper I am presenting. They packed several full sized axes and every man had a belt axe issured to him, but there was not a single machette in the gear.

[hunter63]

This thread just goes to prove that if there are more than one of anything, someone gonna argue over what's the "best'.....just for fun.

He who has the most of anything wins!......