Machetes, Kukris & Hybrids

it's a night and day difference for me...my middle finger is on the middle rivet usually.




this pic clearly shows where it used to dig into my hand before i rounded the corner.




it didn't bother me too much until i was using these two one day...then i looked closer...the bottom machete already had a rounded corner straight from the factory.

 

@JV3 , I'm delighted that you've joined our conversation. I can imagine you've got lots of experience with these blades.

And thanks for your welcome to the Tram Bolo Club. I'm feeling better about my choice with each passing day.

Nice pipe, too!

I have four questions for you for now.

One, what kind of edge do you keep on it? Complex, or otherwise?

Two, how do you find that it batons? That was my one of biggest concerns given how thin the blade is. I haven't done much of it yet, but preliminary results suggest it's no problem. Not as quick as a wedgy axe, but still quite capable.

Three, as a machete novice I have to ask, what's a "snap cut"? I'm becoming more familiar and comfortable (though not yet proficient) with the whip/flick using a pinch grip. But I'm assuming snap cut is something different. Please edumacate me.

Four, is the Tram Bolo your main (only) machete? Regardless, why do you like it? What about it gets it used? Just curious.

 

1. i try to keep the same edge as original.

2. i haven't done much batoning either because i almost always have my h&b forge shawnee tomahawk with me for splitting tasks. that pic above is probably the few times i did and that's as thick as i've split with it...i did it more to see if it'll snap right away.

3. we might be referring to the same thing...joe flowers has a youtube video where he's holding the machete with his thumb and index finger and the rest of the fingers are barely touching the handle so the machete basically just rotates around those two fingers.

4. i have a lot of machetes - the most of any blade style probably except for the mora 510 which i probably have over a dozen. this bolo is what i would pick if i wanted to chop a lot and don't want to use an axe...but my most used machete is the tramontina 18" - the typical latin style machete...in the woods i usually clear out overgrown thorn bushes that the trail maintenance crew haven't gotten around to it yet.

 

i don't have a group pic of them all but here's a few...18" orange handled condor and 18" tramontina are missing.




svord kiwi machete.




fiddleback forge 12".

 

Zoom zoom!

 

My chopper for now. I have a tops machete but I can’t seem to locate it

 

Just finished a long day, #2, of redesigning my hammock frame for my studio. (It's my backpacking hammock, but I built a frame in my studio so I can sleep in it here. Thread with video to come.) Dinner is next.

I'm just checking into this thread for the first time since @JV3 and @OfficerLucky posted pics. Well, ok, the third time, but I was on the way to the sack last night, then in a hurry this morning, so didn't get to really look closely.

Man 'o man, there are some class blades in there. I have questions. But maybe not tonight. Hammock is calling me to an early chill out time after dinner and some apertif ...

 

Just finished my machete mod (middle one). It was a long time coming but it's done now. (Still making a sheath though) Moves well when using it, and definitely bites in deeper than the modified imacasa on top. Will probably get a lot more use than the other two pictured from here on out. The imacasa was great though (the Condor....not so much)

 

No joke. The rear half of the edge is horrible. I was pretty taken aback upon receiving it. Will have to work on it next (though I haven't done anything even close to the drastic to a bevel before....fingers crossed) but as the Condor sits now, I don't even like using it. So something's gonna have to change.

 

I was wondering. Was curious as to how high I was going to have to take the bevel. Do you got a pic of one you've done? But yeah, have no idea what Condor is doing in their factory to get it as bad as it is. Looks nice in pics, not so good in person.

 

a must have accessory for a machete owner

 

Finally got around to the restoration of the "Made in Sheffield England" machete,
Still have a lot of shaping to do on the handle.
Before

Current status

 

On the way to me from Studio Forty Two.

Custom built to my specifications (with his input).

That's my "special grade" Tram bolo (B2) in the top sheath, the OTT (out the top).
It'll meet up with my first bolo (B1) that I've been working with for a week or so.

After a lot of testing and study (so I know how to properly sharpen a bolo with the tools I have, which will then include an FD mini-file, also in the box), I'll keep one bolo and one sheath, and sell the others to ... someone else who needs a bolo and sheath. And of course, file a report.

After they arrive, I'll split that bolo project out into its own thread so as to keep this one more general.

Working title: A Tale of Two Bolos.

 

@FortyTwoBlades I have been visiting your site fairly often, Is there a super secret squirrel section for the new Tram sheaths? If you would be so kind to direct us on how to to add them to an order....

 

Just do a digital recode of this image in C++, multiply by 42, then divide by i {sq rt [-1]}, and you're in.