[xtimberman]

Do you have a favorite machete? This is one that was used around the family place for longer than I've been around. I don't know where it came from, but it has a nice heavy blade for a "peasant sword" which makes deep cuts almost effortless.

It is stamped "S&J KITCHIN, Ltd. SHEFFIELD 1945" with a curious pyramid-looking mark. Obviously British-made.

xtm

 

[Leighton]

British Military issue. I have one a little newer than that one. I got it during my first tour in Germany, and its been with me ever since, it even did the same tour in Iraq with me. It could tell lots of stories, glad it can't talk!!!!

 

[xtimberman]

The old Costa Rican fellow who does yard work for one of my elderly neighbors is an absolute master with a cheap thin-bladed machete. He drives an old Daiwoo coupe that looks like he converted into a "truck" with a chainsaw, but he never puts his machete away without wiping it down with oil and freshening up the edge! Several times while walking the dog, I've stopped to watch him make that blade sing as he dismantled some brush or a fallen limb. That effortless ease of movement acquired over a lifetime of use is positively amazing to watch!

One time I dashed home to fetch mine to show him how a real machete with a nice heavy blade could make his work even easier. He hefted it and looked it up and down before starting to whack on some post oak limbs. It didn't take him very long to hand it back with the comment, "No good, too hebby!" and popped my bubble.

xtm

 

[Leighton]

Those South Americans are very good with those. I like the lighter ones for allround cutting chores. The British one goes with me when we go camping, cause its ability to chop or split wood is fantastic, it will even work as a good field knife in the absence of other blades.