I am in the market to buy a machete or kukri, primarily for camping needs: hacking branches for firewood, clearing the area, etc. I already have an axe for chopping heavier wood.

My budget is $100, but I am open to spend more if need be. I would like a decent steel that will cut, and also that I don't have to sharpen every time I use it.

What can you all recommend, and NOT recommend?

I’ve used a serrated backed military model from Ontario Knife for years. Affordable, light, and works very well. Kukris are nice for chopping but can be heavy.

I've got a Condor HD Kukri in the camper and the thing is a workhorse

ETA: Here's a pic of the handle mod I did a while back, the Condor handle is thick, so I slimmed it to a more oval profile and did some file cuts to add texture. It seems to be an improvement and gives more control.

But as Para recommends griptape may be the best solution. I have some Goontape on order to give it an extra wrap.

Also, reading this thread I'm looking at the Condor Mini Duku 10", and the Condor Village Parang 12".

This message has been edited. Last edited by: GCE61,

Condor Bushcraft Parang and the Tramontina 14" Bolo. The two combined should come to 100 bucks or less. The Tramontina bolo has a cult following.

I have a Condor Golok and it's nice, but every time I use it I wish there was a little more to it. Heft or length. It may just be I'm using the wrong tool for the job.

I have a Woodsman's Pal that I keep in the same vehicle, but in a different spot. A great storage space, so great I forget it's there... and use the golok instead. It has more heft, but any time I've used it, I also wish it was longer and made me wish I had my machete. Again maybe the wrong tool for the job.

How you're getting you and it to your camping area would play a part. Of the three, the golok is the easiest to carry.

Woodsman's pal is way north of your price range and don't know that it's worth it. I got mine with a deep discount.

Had mine for quite some time:
--Himalayan Imports (Bill Martino) 1998 Nepal Sami handmade 15" Ang Khola buffalo horn handled khukri
-- Becker Tool & Knife (Ethan Becker) BK6 Patrol Machete 14" epoxy coated 0170-6C blade with GV6H handle

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
Condor Bushcraft Parang and the Tramontina 14" Bolo. The two combined should come to 100 bucks or less. The Tramontina bolo has a cult following.

I just saw the Tramontina bolo on Ebay from a Knife dealer for $18. I ordered one for me and one for my brother based on the advice here.

I do lots of Machete work and use an Ontario 22".
Get the orange handle model.

Anything described by Himalayan Imports as a 'villager utility knife'. It'll be a working knife with the work put into it aimed at performance not aesthetics.

I have one, no mirror polish finish... it still has the forge scale on it. I've limbed trees with it no problem.

quote:

Originally posted by djpaintles:

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
Condor Bushcraft Parang and the Tramontina 14" Bolo. The two combined should come to 100 bucks or less. The Tramontina bolo has a cult following.

I just saw the Tramontina bolo on Ebay from a Knife dealer for $18. I ordered one for me and one for my brother based on the advice here.

And now I really want to try out that Tramontina Bolo on some of the bush honeysuckle we get way too much of around here.

Thanks guys. I ordered the Condor Parang. It looks to be about the size I want, with enough meat in the blade. And, it comes with a sheath.

For your Bushcraft Parang, you'll want to wrap the handle in sports wrap- the stuff people wrap around the handles of tennis rackets. Trust me, it improves the feel of the handle, makes it more comfortable in the hand- but more importantly, it improves traction, and when you're dealing with a big, sharp chopping tool that you swing, you want all the traction you can get.

When you wrap the handle, start the wrap at the rear of the handle and wrap forward. This way, the overlapping of the wrap goes in the correct direction for a tool which is going to try to slide forward in your hand. If you wrap it starting from the front, you'll find that the wrap will begin to get loose on you fairly quickly.

The sheath- when you sheath your parang, do it slowly and put the back of the blade right up against the edge of the sheath and insert the Parang carefully, making sure all the while that the back of the blade is in contact with the edge of the sheath (the back-of-the-blade side of the sheath). Otherwise, you will end up cutting the edge side of the sheath. It's a functional sheath, and that's all. Condor could have done a better job with the sheath.

Sharpening- I recommend an Imacasa Canoe file or a Lansky puck. This parang has a convex edge. Sharpen it in the same fashion you would sharpen an axe or hatchet.

Lastly- and you probably already know this- for God's sake, watch your swing. Never swing your parang in such a way that the follow through will cross your body. This parang is a fearsome thing and you can do yourself grievous bodily injury with it. If you camp or hike in a place where firearms are not allowed, take your parang along with you. You could about take a man's head off with it.

Hey, Para....thanks for your time, and for providing those tips. I just ordered one of the Imocasa canoe sharpeners.

That website also has a good video on basic machete sharpening.

I will pick up some grip tape material here locally.

Did you get your parang?

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
Did you get your parang?

Yup. It looks great, good balance, and it arrived very sharp. And you're right, the grip tape is a must. I no longer have the hand-strength as I had when was younger and the handle slips easily.

I am going camping next weekend, so I will get to try it out.

quote:

Originally posted by GregY:
Anything described by Himalayan Imports as a 'villager utility knife'. It'll be a working knife with the work put into it aimed at performance not aesthetics.

I have one, no mirror polish finish... it still has the forge scale on it. I've limbed trees with it no problem.

Good for open coconut

1944 USN issued Collins machete, Found on Guam in 1953.

quote:

Originally posted by kalei:
1944 USN issued Collins machete, Found on Guam in 1953.

Would like to see a pic of that if you have one.

You might also consider a Bolo Knife---Lots of them on ebay and here is one that looks like it might serve your purposes: https://www.ebay.com/itm/31378...1:g:2DQAAOSw--xhs8rE

quote:

Originally posted by 911Boss:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by kalei:
1944 USN issued Collins machete, Found on Guam in 1953.

Would like to see a pic of that if you have one.[/QUOTE