Armory Sponsor
Posted: 10/28/2016 11:33:21 AM EDT
|
How long should a machete be?
I read a thread about how it should be proportional to some distance on your arm but I can't seem to find it. |
|
US Army Jungle School recommended the 12" blade US issue.
I'm sure there were reasons for the old 24" Collins as well depending on your exact use. Probably the one I would want to clear weeds under electic fence line. I'd look around for both cheap. Then try a Marble's Camp Cleaver and maybe one of the heavier bladed Condor blades like their 14 inch one sold by Duluth Trading or their shorter one reviewed on Youtube. Then you can get back to us on your experiences  .
|
|
I don't have much real use for a machete but it's good to have one in the garage or SHTF and you never know.
I once had to kill a snake I had my neighbor incorrectly identified as a copperhead. I wasn't letting a copperhead stay on my lawn to bite my kids or my dogs so I had to kill him with a 2x4. The problem with killing a snake with a 2x4 on a lawn is that the lawn gives enough so the snake doesn't get crushed, it just pisses him off so it's like gently punching him to death and cruel. I need a more humane way of taking one out should I see a real venomous snake. |
|
Depends an what your cutting.
As a surveyor in FL, I'm cutting mostly saw palmetto, blackberry briars, scrub oaks, etc. I use a 24" blade by Martindale (mod. #26, I think?), wood handle scales, British steel. 16" bastard file to sharpen. I don't like having to bend over too far, or getting my knuckles/heel of my palm shredded by the briars, so the longer blade the better. I've used a 28" blade on a couple of occasions, great for palmetto, but too unwieldy for use in the trees & vines. I've also tried 18", better for scrub oak, but too short for palmetto & briars. Over the years (15), I've cut literally hundreds of miles of survey lines through the nastiest stuff you could imagine and the 24" is the best all-purpose size for me. Oh yeah, they work great on snakes too. 
|
|
Quoted:
Depends an what your cutting. As a surveyor in FL, I'm cutting mostly saw palmetto, blackberry briars, scrub oaks, etc. I use a 24" blade by Martindale (mod. #26, I think?), wood handle scales, British steel. 16" bastard file to sharpen. I don't like having to bend over too far, or getting my knuckles/heel of my palm shredded by the briars, so the longer blade the better. I've used a 28" blade on a couple of occasions, great for palmetto, but too unwieldy for use in the trees & vines. I've also tried 18", better for scrub oak, but too short for palmetto & briars. Over the years (15), I've cut literally hundreds of miles of survey lines through the nastiest stuff you could imagine and the 24" is the best all-purpose size for me. Oh yeah, they work great on snakes too.
http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae26/shonuff_bucket/Work%20Photos/snake1001.jpg http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae26/shonuff_bucket/Work%20Photos/snake4001.jpg http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae26/shonuff_bucket/Work%20Photos/DSCF0143.jpg Good advice here. Basically, some of the length depends on what you're cutting and then there's also the consideration of how much you want to carry. I like a 12" to 14" machete for general, light use. Of course I use my machete for clearing away small amounts of vines/briars while scouting set ups for deer season. If I was actually hacking my way through jungle, I'd go for 18" or even 24". |
|
I cut paths through my deer hunting property every few years alternating where I walk in to my stand. My herd seems to bed in different areas from year to year. I have used the Bear Grylls parang. I have a couple of cold steel products and some off brand tractor supply deals as well. Machetes are sort of my thing, I guess. I won't claim to know as much as a surveyor though.
One of my issues with the cheaper machetes tends to be the weight. A longer machete will save you from briars etc if you aren't wearing gloves (or if it is too dang hot) but you can still get the job done. Admittedly at twice the effort and time. But a light machete is the worst. Those $8 machetes at Walmart are total garbage. I don't care what name they are sold under. However the cane knife that was sold at Tractor Supply was a great deal. Both where over 12 inches but had drastically different weights. My current favorite is a 21" Fiskars. It holds an edge like a champ, has good reach, decent handle, and cuts like a light saber. |
|
I have been swinging a machete since I was 7.
The machete is a tool. Use the right tool for the job. Over the years I have seen 12 inch machetes get the nod from jungle experts to guys up north. Where I spend my time in East Texas, I am neither in the jungle or up north. Much of my machete swinging is at things that scrape, cut, trip, poke, or bite you at ground level. A short machete is not a good tool for swinging at ground level. For me, 18 inches is an absolute minimum, and 22 inches is ideal. If you are swinging at waist level or above, feel feel to choose a tool that is of a shorter length. Now, in addition to length, is thickness. In addition to my ground level needs, I often find it necessary to clear growth of thumb to wrist thickness. A limp south american machete will not do for that. Considering both my length and thickness needs, I find the 18 inch and 22 inch Ontario machetes to be the best tools for my needs. As a second choice, there are flavors of the Condor machetes that I find useful as well. |
|
As someone that actually carries a machete, I like shorter and a slight heavier blade for wood cutting. I carry a smaller blade for anything else. The right tool for the right job though. I don't cut light weeds nor do I kill ground critters either cept for food and I don't chop at them with my blades. My pointed stick does that.
Decide what you need it for and try some out. You may like the parang, golok, or south american varieties. Most are not too expensive to have 2 different ones. |
Armory Sponsor