Armed Polite Society

Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: geronimotwo on August 02, 2013, 10:11:50 AM

Title: choosing a machete for the sheath?
Post by: geronimotwo on August 02, 2013, 10:11:50 AM
I've been wanting to get my girls a camping/survival machete.  there are many options available, but the two that grab my attention are made by marbles, mainly because their sheath has pockets.  they also include a sharpening stone in one of the pockets and I could add a fire starter and some other goodies.   I have heard good things about their survival shovel in the past, but have no personal experience with their equipment.  the ad says "carbon steel", but doesn't specify what type. does anyone have first hand experience with the quality of their steel?  any preference on the wood vs plastic grip?  i'm curious why more companies don't have pockets on similar products?

http://www.smkw.com/webapp/eCommerce/products/Marble%26%23146%3Bs+Outdoors/Marble%27s%C2%AE+Scouting+Jungle+Machete/MA12714.html

http://www.smkw.com/webapp/eCommerce/products/Marble%26%23146%3Bs+Outdoors/Marble%27s%C2%AE+Black+Machete/MA12714BLT.html
Title: Re: choosing a machete for the sheath?
Post by: Tallpine on August 02, 2013, 10:25:44 AM
I dunno ... I think I might just get a separate pouch/sheath for the other stuff.

I've always been a little dubious of those holsters with six cartridge loops on the outside  =|
Title: Re: choosing a machete for the sheath?
Post by: Harold Tuttle on August 02, 2013, 10:29:08 AM
corneta's are fancy:
(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F_zYVXpWl9Pa4%2FTFONfYKZWjI%2FAAAAAAAAHN4%2FwivvgG74ayU%2Fs1600%2FSBW_2222.JPG&hash=68ebfbeff2155bd709f2c89b87b15c73b19af8bf)
Title: Re: choosing a machete for the sheath?
Post by: lee n. field on August 02, 2013, 10:42:48 AM
corneta's are fancy:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zYVXpWl9Pa4/TFONfYKZWjI/AAAAAAAAHN4/wivvgG74ayU/s1600/SBW_2222.JPG (http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zYVXpWl9Pa4/TFONfYKZWjI/AAAAAAAAHN4/wivvgG74ayU/s1600/SBW_2222.JPG)

Looks like stuff my brother came back from 2 years in Guatamela with.
Title: Re: choosing a machete for the sheath?
Post by: charby on August 02, 2013, 10:45:02 AM
A file will sharpen a machete and be quicker than a stone. You are whacking brush with it, not carving meat.

Title: Re: choosing a machete for the sheath?
Post by: geronimotwo on August 02, 2013, 11:00:53 AM
I dunno ... I think I might just get a separate pouch/sheath for the other stuff.

I've always been a little dubious of those holsters with six cartridge loops on the outside  =|

duly noted,  but I like the idea of them grabbing the knife and having the other stuff on board.
 
they would likely appreciate the cornetta's sheath, any problem with the steel?
Title: Re: choosing a machete for the sheath?
Post by: Perd Hapley on August 02, 2013, 11:05:33 AM
i'm curious why more companies don't have pockets on similar products?



That probably means that most customers don't want that feature, or won't pay extra for it. Fewer features allow the supplier to charge less, I suppose.

I think most machetes are sold without a sheath.
Title: Re: choosing a machete for the sheath?
Post by: Perd Hapley on August 02, 2013, 11:09:20 AM
The orange one looks interesting, but I have a machete with a similarly-shaped handle, and it blisters the dickens out of my hand. YMMV
Title: Re: choosing a machete for the sheath?
Post by: geronimotwo on August 02, 2013, 11:24:30 AM
The orange one looks interesting, but I have a machete with a similarly-shaped handle, and it blisters the dickens out of my hand. YMMV

my machete is an old military with a similar wooden handle.  it fits me well, but agree that it can be rough for extended use. 
Title: Re: choosing a machete for the sheath?
Post by: tokugawa on August 02, 2013, 12:31:04 PM
tape the handle with friction tape and use gloves. And find one with a stub at the end of the handle so it does not slip out of a tired hand.
 The old USMC ones are pretty good, but they are probably all in collections now.......
Title: Re: choosing a machete for the sheath?
Post by: Perd Hapley on August 02, 2013, 12:54:36 PM
tape the handle with friction tape and use gloves. And find one with a stub at the end of the handle so it does not slip out of a tired hand.


My solution was to use a different machete.
Title: Re: choosing a machete for the sheath?
Post by: tokugawa on August 02, 2013, 04:46:08 PM
Still gotta hold it somehow...... =D unless you have Jedi mind control!
Title: Re: choosing a machete for the sheath?
Post by: Perd Hapley on August 02, 2013, 06:39:28 PM
The one I had a problem with was one of the South African made machetes sold by Cold Steel. I think the main problem is that the handle is too thick. And I think my hands are normal-dude-sized hands. I guess. Could also be that the texture was not grippy enough. I may try to cut that grip down sometime. Modestly-priced machetes can be good fodder for tinkering.


Title: Re: choosing a machete for the sheath?
Post by: AJ Dual on August 03, 2013, 01:51:47 AM
I'm perfectly happy with an $15 one by Fiskars I got at Home Depot.

http://www2.fiskars.com/Gardening-and-Yard-Care/Products/Axes-and-Striking-Tools/Machete-18#.UfyZUtLMA-A

I use it for brush clearing and improving the shooting lanes at my club's multi-stage archery/deer stations for club work-hours. It cuts well and seems just right for an actual... well, machete-machete, assuming one does not want one to be a I'm-too-embarassed-to-admit-I-want-a-short-sword-"machete". For that, something a bit beefier might fit the bill.

No sheath, since Fiskars figures you're going to just hang it in the garage with the rakes, but: http://burnsarmysurplus.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=18

Or it would be pretty easy to fab one up with a scrap of Kydex, a drill bit, paint-stripper heat gun, and some paracord in about 30 minutes of work. The lacing pattern you make in it could hold onto all the utility pouches you might want.

Title: Re: choosing a machete for the sheath?
Post by: Perd Hapley on August 03, 2013, 02:00:33 AM
I'm perfectly happy with an $15 one by Fiskars I got at Home Depot.

http://www2.fiskars.com/Gardening-and-Yard-Care/Products/Axes-and-Striking-Tools/Machete-18#.UfyZUtLMA-A



You bought it for the Bear Grylls color scheme, didntcha?  :laugh:
Title: Re: choosing a machete for the sheath?
Post by: geronimotwo on August 03, 2013, 08:14:26 AM
I'm perfectly happy with an $15 one by Fiskars I got at Home Depot.

http://www2.fiskars.com/Gardening-and-Yard-Care/Products/Axes-and-Striking-Tools/Machete-18#.UfyZUtLMA-A

I use it for brush clearing and improving the shooting lanes at my club's multi-stage archery/deer stations for club work-hours. It cuts well and seems just right for an actual... well, machete-machete, assuming one does not want one to be a I'm-too-embarassed-to-admit-I-want-a-short-sword-"machete". For that, something a bit beefier might fit the bill.

i've been happy with the fiskar products as well.  the shorter (marbles) ones i am looking at have a slightly thicker blade which is not ideal for traditional machetying, but tend to be better for light chopping (and would make a better short sword, now that you mention it).
Title: Re: choosing a machete for the sheath?
Post by: Lee on August 03, 2013, 09:04:51 AM
A Woodsmans Pal is a functional gift that will last them a lifetime.
Title: Re: choosing a machete for the sheath?
Post by: geronimotwo on August 03, 2013, 09:23:40 AM
A Woodsmans Pal is a functional gift that will last them a lifetime.

but you can't stick a pig with it, if the need arizes.
Title: Re: choosing a machete for the sheath?
Post by: Hawkmoon on August 03, 2013, 03:43:03 PM

My solution was to use a different machete.

My solution is to use a Woodsman's Pal

(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.woodmanspal.com%2Fsc_images%2Fproducts%2F445_image.jpg&hash=30c3e52c3b7b182139006f4b70e68fafefde2e9e)

http://www.woodmanspal.com/products/woodmans-pal-military-premium-tool-only
Title: Re: choosing a machete for the sheath?
Post by: roo_ster on August 03, 2013, 07:48:55 PM
I like the orange one.

These days I like my woodsy gear to be obnoxiously bright colored, so go with the orange 'chete.  I like to be able to see gear when I drop it.

Also, if it is for smaller folk, a plastic handle ground down to fit, sanded, and wrapped with some grippy tape is nice.  Did that for SWMBO, a 5'-nuthin gal.