5Pages whacked his snake with a machete.

What's the best machete you guys use for brush, vines, snakes, watermelons, whatever, that holds an edge and has a long blade?

I use a small brush ax, which is better and safer than a machete.

I've been known to put a hurting on snacks too!

Little Debbie snacks? Or like goldfish snacks?

The little peanut butter cookies wrapped up with those little bows!

I like those that you used to find at the co-op that are fatter and not as long, have that book on the top for pulling limbs down. Can't hardly find them anymore

Ontario Knife works great

This one...

Linky

Ok - serious. For anyone that's interested - a smaller than average, well made brush ax, can work circles around any and all machetes in the hands of someone who knows how to use it. And it is safer. Forestry suppliers has a line of brush axes, called council kaiser bank blades. The smallest one, 30" handle, and 12" blade is the handiest tool ever made for standard "machete" work. The big ones are too heavy and not a "handy" tool. Once you learn how to use the small one properly, you can safely work much faster. The key is keeping the inside edge of the curved blade sharp and learning how to swing it. You can also tackle bigger diameter saplings. I've cut some big stuff with them - you can ask Nighthunter about that. I can also carry it and swing it one-handed. I grew up with a land surveyor, and have more machete experience than most. I don't even own a machete these days.

I had a 24in Tramontina that I really liked. It sharpened up good, was light, and still big enough to cut low with out stooping too much. It was tough and pretty cheap, about $15 from Machete Specialties. I need to order another one.

I got the little short Gerber. I'd have to get too close to snake whack with it.

I have the same one. It's solid...

Machete specialists
Tramontina or Immacasa. Some of the Condors are good like the Eco Lite which is made by Immacasa.

Cold Steel.

http://www.coldsteel.com/Category/5_1/Machetes.aspx

X2 for cold steel.

"Kaiser blade, some folks call it a sling blade, I call it a Kaiser blade." - Karl Childers

X2 on the bank blade. Far safer than a machete, far more effective. Like Turkey247, grew up working for my father's survey crews. The new rodmen would pick a machete for the first day cutting line, then go for the bank blades (which we grew up calling bush hooks.) In a pinch, they'll substitute for a shovel digging trucks out of mud holes.....or paddle a boat. (Don't ask me how I know.)

X3 Ditch bank blade

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=a1CB1UEEwhI

Bank blade again. I've posted this picture before. I've cut the heads of rattlesnakes with my pocket knife, but that doesn't mean I wanted to. Generally, the longer the handle the better. i got this one with a bank blade with a 4' handle.

Bush hook, I've never heard it called a ditch bank blade.

13"-22" machete with a well tuned convex edge, and a push stick. so much lighter than a bank blade of any kind. a push stick has a fork at the end to help you push blackberry stems, etc., away from you and hold them while you flick the machete. also good for holding down snake heads. marbles (made by condor, i think), imacasa, tramontina, and such are good quality, but you will have to do the final dress on the edge. cold steel machetes are a crap shoot. i went through a whole rack at a store one day, and did not find a single unbent blade. never, ever buy one made in china (like that gerber trash); you don't know what the steel quality is. as R H Clark said, machete specialists is your friend. and please, learn to properly sharpen your machete; makes all the difference in the field.

I prefer the fiskars brush thinner. It has a short handle but the blade is like a small version of a kaiser blade.
As far as machetes go one of the best I had was a Collins with a 23" blade.

The smaller version I mentioned is not much heavier than a machete. The biggest mistake folks make is trying to compare the larger (36" - 40") versions to machete work. They will do different things a machete will not do, but will wear out a person because they are heavy and are two hand operations.

That's the reason I get the 30" version. It can be used one handed for small stuff. Two hands and I can make waste of bigger stuff much faster than a machete (less work). I've put on some clinics (at work days at various clubs) before and sold these things for Council. If they would sponsor me, I would do a field day for all you machete guys with a money back guarantee if I didn't change your mind. But it's like my 7 year old not listening to me on how to hit a baseball. You got to use it correctly also. The hook side on the small one has a more pronounced curve, and it will get work done when you get the hang of it. One or two handed.

Bush hook or brush ax

Just what I was thinking too.

kaiser blade is my tool of choice when working in the woods.

Thanks for the great info, Turkey. I'm looking into one of them Kaiser blades, mmm hmmm.

Bank blade...we've always call it a bush hook, or a bush axe. They're great for anything a machete would be useful for and most things a regular axe would be useful for.

For snakes, I prefer a Ruger SP101 with #9 shot.

Clem You can google them but I found a small bush hook that is about the length of an axe and a lot lighter than a full size one. I never go in the woods during the summer with out it. It's light and I carry it like a walking stick.