Biggest +1. Don't recall being more impressed by a tool on my life. Wish I discovered it before buying all this other shit that this one thing can do as good or better. Getting one to save weight and space and take the other ones out of the BOB. Seriously this is the one thing I've found that will do all the work of a machete, hatchet, brush hook, (and long handle pruners), among other things. There was a US WWII combat use manual for it too, for weapon usage.

Kukris are good, Barongs are good, the Ontario SP-8 are awesome bargains too, but a Pal is the one i want for shelter building, clearing, firetending/building, and heavier duty butchering needs for big game

I have a question for any machete experts. If you were to purchase a machete from Cold Steel to use as a weapon, which one would you choose? Obviously, you would use it as a tool for a lot of things, but if you are thinking mostly weapon, do you go with a Kukri, the Latin, Spear Head, Barong, etc...?

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Violent Torpedo of Truth

I'm not an expert, but out of the Cold Steel machetes, I'd recommend the khukri, the panga or the bolo.

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Your best bet now is to abandon this username make a new one and re-introduce yourself and never speak of this again. - Finch

I just got my Bolo and a 12" Sax machete in last week. I keep meaning to put up pics, but forget when I'm home.

They need to be sharpened before they'd be good for anything, but I'm very happy with them. The Bolo is very similar to a chinese broadsword in shape, though a bit shorter than the sword.

I find that what I know of the chinese style (I've only dabbled with the style, so I may be completely wrong) translates pretty well to the bolo.

The Sax is a good size for an everyday blade, and the shape makes it good for use as a cleaver or chopping blade, and by changing your grip, makes it suitable for finer tasks as well.

All in all I like the Sax for its size and probably would choose it for my everyday utility tool/last ditch weapon in a SHTF or PAW situation, maybe paired to my Trail Hawk if I'm not going too far and don't have to worry about weight as much.

From a pure combat perspective I'd probably choose the Bolo, but I wouldn't feel too under gunned with my Sax.

I'm going to try to get an edge on them this weekend, and test them on some brush if it ever stops raining here. I'll have a better review up here after I do that.

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I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.

I no expert either, but I think this would work.

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Thank you. I had the same feeling about the 23" Barong machete as you did with the Bolo. I have strongly considered the Bolo machete but am unsure about the sheath. I would rather have a sheath that pulls straight out of the top rather than one that has to be unsnapped twice then pulled out. Otherwise, the Bolo would be the one I would go with.

I like the Barong machete for 2 reasons. One being that it has characteristics of being both a tool and a weapon that are obvious to me. The second reason is that Cold Steel makes a legitimate Filipino Barong Sword that is nearly identical in size, shape, and materials.

For the prices of these machetes though, I will probably end up getting both. Again, thanks for everyone's help on this.

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Violent Torpedo of Truth

Well...first you can never have too many machetes...lol...



Seriously tho I agree the Woodman's Pal is one of the best all around tools out there. It was issued to our military for many years and even tho the government has gotten cheap many troops still buy their own. Mine works in camp for batoning kindling, cutting branches, clearing brush, digging cat holes and fire pits, it's uses are only limited by your imagination. Mine just got it every two years or so clean up with new black epoxy finish...it does wear with use...have to live with the stained grip tho.



Another machete I really like is the 18in Cold Steel Bowie Machete. The clip is sharpened and if needed would work very well as a thrusting weapon, something a standard machete blade would not be good at. It, of course, works very well at slashing as well and holds an edge quite well.

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"I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend." -- J.R.R.Tolkien

If your looking Machetes in the mindset of using it against a zombie, I'd sugjest Zombietools machetes, they are crafted with zombie killing in mind and are a lot durable than machetes used for choping through brush.

www.zombietools.net

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Forget The Revolution, BRING ON THE APOCALYPSE!

I have no intention of using the machete in combat ever. It is a tool only.

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Life is a journey, not a destination.
So enjoy the ride!
Just don't get out of the car...

Yeah the sheath is the weakness of the bolo. I think it wouldn't be too difficult to make a more combat inspired sheath for it, but I did notice it rides pretty secure with only the top snap in place, so if it's a situation where I may need it for a weapon, I'd probably carry it like that.

Still would take 2 hands to draw it, but only one snap so less complex, and really a kukri needs 2 hands to draw as well.

I was tempted by the barong myself though I went with the sax instead.

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I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.

So if you're cutting brush and something leaps out and attacks you...

You'll put the machete down and pick up a combat weapon?

I don't intend to fight melee at all myself, but I'd much rather have a plan for doing so if it's forced on me, and would prefer a machete to fists.

It's a fact of life that firearms do malfunction, and that some malfunctions are impossible to fix during combat.

Not saying it's likely to happen if you maintain your gear, but it can, and I'm not really planning on carrying much ammo for my sidearm, probably just a full load in the pistol, and 1-2 spare mags. So between 14 and maybe 50 rounds depending on the weapon.

In either case I can run through that in a very short time.

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I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.

I have had a cheapo 24 in. "collins nicholson" (columbia) for maybe 4 years now, it has held up very well. It has lasted far longer than the other cheapos I had before it... which usually died when I twisted them chopping some branch or fire wood or something too big really, and bent the blade. I think this one is maybe from ACE, maybe $15.

Before I posted I started thinking, maybe this one lasted because I stopped trying to use it as an axe & have only chopped thin stuff... So before I went on & said it was decent, I gave it a good "chopping stuff a bit too big" test. I dragged out a 10' yellow pine 2x4 and chopped off the end. I made sure to NOT be extra careful in angle of attack, twisting it at least 3 times, out of the maybe 30 stikes it took to cleave the silly thing. Blade still pretty straight, though I felt it twist... pretty springy I guess... fairly thin metal btw, I think that helps it cut through stuff a bit quicker than thicker ones I have had/used.

Didnt come with a sheath, keep meaning to look for one at the surplus store... or make one outa... something. Anyway, good tool for the money imo, for $15 I would buy another.

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I agree, and you can only hold so much ammunition, and in any situation the more ammo you carry the more baggage you have with you. Even tactical vests, which are designed both to protect you and even out the weight of the things you carry on it, will only help so much. So a machete can be multi-purpose for survival and combat, even if you set out to use it as a tool, if the need arise your going to use it, especially if its your only option and even more so as a last resort.

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Forget The Revolution, BRING ON THE APOCALYPSE!

I have a CS Kukri which worked pretty well on some dense brush around the house. Hacked enough away that I could get the axe on the roots. A slightly longer blase like their bolo may have saved me some swings, though. The Kukri was nice to have when I needed it.

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Run into the crowd as they're coming toward us and start punching the women...They're going to kill us anyway...At least you will steal their victory."

-Christopher McQuarrie

Bark River sells some nice sharp stuff.

I was born and raised in Panamá and am one generation removed from substinance farming...Grandma Mima (meanest little old lady who'd ever both loved and terrified her grandkids) used to keep no less than 6 machetes around the home, normally paired up for like uses (2 for the garden, 2 for slaughtering fowl or butchering game or bulk purchased pork or beef) 2 for clearing heavy brush or taking 'out and about'.

Mind you this count did not include my great grandpa's own three blades - in case you are keeping track, yes her dad, my great-grand father lived with her- he counted a short 'puya' which is somewhere between a machete and a field knife this was his 'everyday carry' blade when he would go out on the field, a custom ground 28" machete with a bowie tip and hammered brass crossguard (left over from the Panamá/Costa Rica border skirmmishes from the 1900s) and a broad bladed 'sugar cane' machete he would use when prunning his coffee bushes.

From this rather healthy collection, I distinctly remember no less than two "Tramontina Do Brazil" three by "Imacasa" from El Salvador. Try this link for their products I vouch for both brands. http://www.machetespecialists.com/machete-brands.html

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colinz wrote:
ZS - Where having livestock, land and a good attitude is more desirable than being Size <6, 'ripped', or rich.

I <3 ZS!

viewtopic.php?f=33&t=63931&p=1436618#p1436618

July 31 and the closeout sale ends.

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My son, you will travel far, but never be alone, for I am with you, my M14 and battle axe comfort you.

Dont forget to keep a file to keep the machete sharp. I have a USGI issue macheti and a Fiskars hatchet along with a lanskey puck and a coarse / fine metal file in my truck.

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VOL FF 1 & 2, EMT-B, Hazmat Ops, Vehicle Extrication Technician, High angle rescue technician, and that is just the hobby...

A chainsaw sharpening file works great. They are cheap and take up very little room in a pack.

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http://www.twowolvesoutdoor.com

Keep your knife sharp, trust your instincts, and howl often.

The more you depend on forces outside yourself, the more you are dominated by them.

This is what I'd go for as well. If I wasn't literally out of money, I'd move on a half dozen or so of these. (Sale ends Sunday, payday is Monday, DOH!)

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Tramontina 18" from machete specialists are the bomb, and are under $15 with shipping. I'm currently turning a Tramontina 24" into a short sword

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0122358 wrote:

so we moved a thread to maintain OPSEC on a fictional vid game so our team doesnt get kill as easily by possible spies...fuckin sweet

Unofficial FB for ZSC XXX http://www.facebook.com/groups/156431031119773

I'm a big fan of Condor Machetes. Tram are also nice just the Condor comes with a better edge out of the box.

I suggest a WW2 True Temper machete.

They don't make them like they used to.

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I lust after bullpups. All bullpups.

I've been seeing a lot of references to the WWII True Temper machetes tonight for some reason. While I agree, in general, they don't make anything made then like they used to. But, I'm wondering if these were of a particular steel no longer used for machetes by other makers? Maybe the same manganese steel, or similar, as the M1 steel pot helmets were made of?

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