The Quest for an American Machete

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Yes, I've got the Machax myself. I was tempted to sharpen the top of it; but it does make a handy draw knife. It isn't great for hacking through vines necessarily but it is hell on waxleaf and crepe myrtles

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Sam I Don't know of any made in the US made one's that are not custom except OKC. Mine is from Brazil.

 

[MartinS]

http://catalog.mooremaker.com/viewProduct.cfm?item_id=701544
Blade's a little thicker than the Ontario GI machete. Heavier, more than just a brush slasher. Good steel.

 

[JShirley]

Huh. If it's quality, that's a fair price.

 

[Sam Cade]

http://catalog.mooremaker.com/viewProduct.cfm?item_id=701544
Blade's a little thicker than the Ontario GI machete. Heavier, more than just a brush slasher. Good steel.

Those are rebadged OKCs.

 

[shinyroks]

Maybe look up some kukuri knives, they usually have the strength and usability you are after. I may have spelled that wrong, so feel free to correct me

 

[Sam Cade]

Maybe look up some kukuri knives, they usually have the strength and usability you are after.

I've got a err...quite a few machetes and big choppers, including a few HI and KH kukris.




I'm looking for currently line produced, American built machetes.

Currently the list is short:

1.OKC (who are everywhere and a known quantity.)
2.Woodmans pal
3.Bully Tools ($25 and my initial sample was worse than the cheapest Chinese flea market special.)



I should have another Bully machete (and some other things) for T&E by this evening so I am going to reserve final judgement till then.

 

[JShirley]

Good kukuris/khukuris are more expensive than machetes. This makes sense, because kukuris are much thicker than machetes, and get their chopping ability from their weight-forward construction instead of just from their length like machetes.

They are different tools for different tasks, kukuris typically being optimized for heavier chopping than machetes.

John

 

[Water-Man]

Not sure where Martindale is made but a friend likes his.

 

[Sam Cade]

Not sure where Martindale is made but a friend likes his.

They are English.

 

[swalton1943]

Disston US 1943 cost me $1.00 in a yard sale. Happy am I.

 

[Sam Cade]

...and this is the replacement Bully Tools machete.

It is even worse than the first one.

I weep for my nation.


I also purchased a grass hook. It sucks even worse than the machetes.

 

[roadcoder]

I believe Esee makes US machetes.

ex: http://www.eseeknives.com/junglas.htm

 

[Sam Cade]

I believe Esee makes US machetes.

Calling a $140, 10" knife like the Hooonglas a machete is a bit of a stretch.

I'd hate to have to clear a lot or break trail with one.



That said, ESEE does have true machetes in their lineup.


...with blades made in El Salvador.
:banghead:

 

[JShirley]

I have an RTAC-2. It does have about the mass of a machete, in a slightly shorter package. And, again, a Junglas is a boutique product. However, it does clear lighter brush pretty well.

 

[Sam Cade]

I have an RTAC-2. It does have about the mass of a machete, in a slightly shorter package.

Mine lost the first half inch or so when it fell out of the kydex sheath I was fitting.

*shake shake*

*clatter clatter PING*




Its little brother the RAT-7 seems to be a pretty good knife, but I haven't used it a great deal.

 

[Sam Cade]

Meanwhile, back in the workshop of horrors:

I had a couple sleeved 18" OKCs lying about.

Broke one out and I find:


No major flaws.

Blade is stiff and straight with no lateral "sag". Yay!

Bevels are a bit uneven and don't meet for the last 4 inches of blade (toward the tip) , butterknife dull where they do meet.

Rough as a cob, dry parkerizing.

Terrible, terrible feeling scales. Badly fitted to the tang and hand achingly square on the knuckle side.

Amazingly, this one has perfectly set, perfectly straight, tight compression rivets. First time I've ever seen one done so well.

 

[Sam Cade]

Luckily, most of the annoyances can be remedied by the liberal application of power tools.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Good job ! Sad to hear it so hard to find a made in the USA one anymore.

 

[MartinS]

"Those are rebadged OKCs."
I've got one of each. They ain't.

 

[Sam Cade]

"Those are rebadged OKCs."
I've got one of each. They ain't.

As do I.

They are OKCs

TTBOMK, Moore Maker is just a trade name and they have no native manufacturing capability.

 

[roadcoder]

It might not be a "Moore Maker" but that don't mean it's OKC. I'm not convinced.

 

[Sam Cade]

It might not be a "Moore Maker" but that don't mean it's OKC. I'm not convinced.

They are identical in every way...just a contract run of the standard 18".



In the pictures of the Moore Maker branded machete, notice the two small mold artifacts on the butt end of the handle scales.

Note that in post #42 of the OKC, they are also present.


If that doesn't do it for you:

[email protected]

Ask.

 

[hso]

Various companies have bought Blade blanks from Ontario to make their "own" machete and others have just had OKC run them for them and then carry out better assembly with better materials.

The steels and profiles all start the same from the Ontario sourced machetes and the variations then start from there. Moore Maker, Bark River, and possibly TOPS machetes start life in Ontario's shop. The details become fuzzy after that.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Cool to know I will hit the Surplus store this Summer for one.