i need a quality machete...my walmart special didn't last long and i was using a gerber brush thinner that worked great except for the blade was too then and chipped a few times cutting through femurs...need something a little tougher
my recommendation is the new Gerber Gator Machete. i have one, got it for around $20.
the handle grips well, is comfortable and will last you a long time. with no guard on the handle, its easy to use the saw. the teeth on the saw are offset to dig in agressively. the sheath is ballistic nylon with a hard liner inside and can be worn on a belt. - Eric
for clarification, this is not a machete for traditional use like clearing and cutting a trail, this is a butchering machete for chopping up deer/hogs
i need something i can swing through a femur/humerus with, without breaking it too often...as to getting a saw...well i have one but it's a much slower and arduous process having to get it and saw through the bone vs a one swing and done
i have a gerber brush thinner for actual clearing etc and it does it's job better than most machete's i've ever owned, it holds an edge well and the hook is great, and while the blade is plenty tough enough for wood, the 5th or 6th leg bone i chopped through took a piece out of the blade and i really need something different for butchering duty
Aside:
Some such writer (I remember it was a "ranger" manual from granddad's library) said "You don't need an axe if you're butchering for survival. Luckily, the good Lord saw fit to make animals that come apart at the joints."
Well, if I were going to use something called a machete for butchering, I'd want something shorter and tougher than a normal machete.
Ontario used to make a beavertail machete, but I don't know if they still do. I would love to get my hands on one. It's very close to the one I had (a USMC bolo) when I was in high school.
Growing up I often worked clearing brush country to make roads in my grandfather's ranch. Our main tools were the axe and the machete. I really never paid attention to the brand of the machete, if it even had one. The only factors to consider were that the blade be sharp and the machete be balanced. We used the the type recommended by Charles S earlier in this thread. The Latin model. Not in that brand, of course.
\\http://www.coldsteel.com/machetes.html
The main thing to a machete is the technique used to strike. For greater effectiveness, strike at a slant instead of straight downward.
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.