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Show us your big blades! Machetes, Kukris,Goloks, Parangs, Bolos, etc.

I admit it. I have an ulterior motive. I'm looking for a good machete for cutting through 7 foot tall swamp grass. (the stuff often called razor grass) My Woodman's Pal is great for heavy branches and bramble but the short blade and heavy construction will tire you out on grasses. So lets see some big weed-whackers!

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ken Spielvogel on September 22, 2013 at 23:34

Tobias, here is the one I use. I bought it in Colombia, SA. Works good for me. You aren't going to wander out in the swamp are you?

Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on September 23, 2013 at 5:39

Ken, That's a beauty. As for wandering in the swamp: In my youth, I waded through a swamp or two but these days I tend not to venture too far off the beaten path. However, in emergency situations, you never know where you might have to go.

Permalink Reply by Ken Spielvogel on September 23, 2013 at 7:29

Tobias, you are sure right - the Boy Scout motto "Be Prepared" still applies.

Permalink Reply by Rino Smajo on September 23, 2013 at 19:43

modified Ontario 12" ,ideal for my surrounding (Mediterranean maquis,similar to chaparral)

Old Nicholson Collins machete(modified ),light and thin,more "grass" oriented tool,originally 24" but that was too long when in thick bush

Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on September 23, 2013 at 20:14

Very Cool, Rino. This brings up a good question. Which would be better for tall grass and light bramble. A 14 inch (36 cm) blade or a 19 inch (49 cm) blade? By tall grass, I'm talking 6-10 feet high.

I'm debating on these two. Both are 1070 carbon steel. The black one has 14 or so inch blade. The orange one has a 19-20 inch blade. I'm leery of the wood handle on the orange one. It will be kept in the trunk of the car. I'm thinking the orange one would make a more terrifying self-defense weapon if the need came up. However I don't want to kill myself cutting grass! While they are Marbles Brands they made subcontracted thorough Condor of El Salvador.

·Fire hardened carbon steel blade with black camo coating
·Black composition handle with roughened texture for grip and paracord wrapping
·Full tang construction
·Lanyard hole
·14-1/8" blade
·Blade Thickness: 1/8"
·Blade Width: 2-3/8"
·20-1/4" overall
·Nylon belt sheath with utility pocket and sharpening stone
·Made in El Salvador by people who know how to survive in the jungle!

·Fire hardened carbon steel blade with orange coating
·Flexible temper grooves
·Wooden handle with triple brass rivets and orange coated end
·Full tang construction
·Lanyard hole
·24" overall
·Nylon belt sheath with utility pocket and sharpening stone
·Made in El Salvador by people who know how to survive in the jungle!

Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on September 25, 2013 at 18:46

I guess my Rough Rider Saigon Sidekick falls into the Big Blade Category. The sheath is homemade and features half dozen or so carry options (both left and right handed)!I guess my Rough Rider Saigon Sidekick falls into the Big Blade Category. The sheath is homemade and features half dozen or so carry options (both left and right handed)!

Permalink Reply by Ken Spielvogel on September 25, 2013 at 19:46

Really neat, love any military knife, at least it resembles one.

Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on September 25, 2013 at 20:28

Ken, It is actually a cross between Tom Brown Tracker and the Original SOG knife. (not the one made by SOG but the one made for the Studies and Observation Group) The grip and guard are from the SOG knife and the blade is a similar to the Tracker. The main difference is the spine of this knife. The space between the guard and saw blade on the Tracker is smooth, where as the Sidekick has the area ground into a axe like blade.

This blade is 3/16 - 7/32 inches thick as opposed to 1/4 inch Tracker. It is also 440a vs 1095 Carbons steel.

Of course the other difference is $20 vs $200! I've been very impressed with this knife for camp chores. Would it be my first pick for Survival? Depends. I will say, at the present time. It is one of the knives I'm going to grab when that fan gets hits!

Permalink Reply by Ken Spielvogel on September 26, 2013 at 0:01

Tobias, where can I get one?

Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on September 26, 2013 at 5:49

The Saigon Sidekick os made by Rough Rider so it is available through SMKW. The Sidekick 2 (an axe) looks good but has a quality control issue with the handle. As I mentioned, the sheath in the pics was hand made by me. The original sheath is okay but the big flap hides the whole thing and make it hard to draw. For more info see: Rough Rider Reviews: RR1093

Original sheath above. Sidekick next to Air Force Survival Knife for size comparison

Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on October 6, 2013 at 17:51

Old Hickory call this a Field knife. It is made for agriculture work. It is known as the 410-10 or #5070.

It has an 1/8 inch 1095 carbon steel blade. It came fairly dull but a few swipes with a Smiths Jiff-S10 sharpener and I was able to bury the blade a 1/2 in deep into a 2 x 4! I've been playing with it around the house and in the yard. Old Hickory says it has a 10 inch blade in reality in is 10 3/4 inches (27 cm) I think it is going to make for a nice light weight machete. I have no doubt it will do good on corn stalks and or razor grass. And i have no doubt it would cut to bone I actually think that is what it was made for! Now to make a sheath!