[trustnoone.45]

I think I am going to get the cold steel riflemans hawk. Thanks to all who gave me helpful and informative posts.

[jmp8927]

I have had this for several years and it's been very good to me. Tough, light, and keeps an edge!
http://campsitesupply.com/index.php?...oducts_id=8506

[Tuckahoe]

I use a roofers hatchet for most jobs around camp. You can chop drive stakes and it holds a working edge

[SgtD]

I keep an old school hatchet behind the seat of the truck or in my pack when camping or hiking. It's one with the flat back edge for use as a hammer.

It's MADE IN THE USA and I got it for $6 at a yard sale. That's the only place you can buy stuff made in the USA these days.

Went caming this week and forgot my axe. I was glad I had the hatchet, but splitting firewood is a lot easier with an axe any day.

[blaster]

if you are going to use it for real work (chopping brush and trees) get a real machete not some tourist junk. I use machetes a lot and have several in different styles.(I collect them and use one almost daily. (every time I visit Latin America I buy one for a souvioner) any machete made by Collins, coroneta, Imacasa Tramonata or Promedoca are real working tools that people who use them every day rely on. the difference in the way they cut as opposed to the "machete" that are advertised in most of the catalogs is amazing. they are also very reasonably priced. I usually pay the equivelent of $5. U.S. down there and I see the same machetes here at the hardware stores for $7. one thing about a machete, they all come from the factory with a blunt ground edge. you have to "break the blade" as they say in Costa Rica. that involves taking a file to it.(Nicolson makes a couple of special files for the job but any file will do) you have to file the blade to a contour more like how a knife is ground. the sharper it is means less work for you when you use it. of course if all you want is something to hang on your side to look cool, anything will work.

[Oxford]

You could always make your own machete and sheath. The one shown below I made for only a few bucks. Bought the leather at a shoe cobbler's shop for around $5.00. Bought the inexpensive machete for "chopping weeds" at a thrift shop for practically nothing, too.

Works for me.

[Maudite]

Quote:      

It's MADE IN THE USA and I got it for $6 at a yard sale. That's the only place you can buy stuff made in the USA these days.

Estwing hatchets are made in the US.

Estwing Sportsman's Axe (with Sheath)

[sunwheel29]

If I had to live in the jungle or forest for the rest of my life, my choices would be

•Blackjack Anaconda II bowie with 10 inch blade.

This is the best knife I ever owned. Problem is, it's out of production and expensive when you find one used.

• Tom Brown Tracker knife.

This is a bit more of a multiple use tool, but it's big enough to get the job done and has design features other knifes don't have.
Unfortunately, its a $350 knife. I did get mine for about $125 on Ebay though used.

For what you are talking about I would be looking at big bowies or medium size Kukri knives.

[dog party]

If I was only going to carry one of the three selections offered in the original post (hatchet, machete, HD knife), I would have to ask first...do I have any other knife at all in this scenario? Pocket knife? Anything?

If I didn't have any other edged instrument, I would DEFINITELY have a nice medium-length blade first. My USMC Ka-Bar has served me well for 13 years. I would much rather be stuck with only my Ka-Bar instead of only my machete or only my hatchet.

[sv_libertarian]

Indeed, if I have a decent folder, that would make a difference. I would go for a good fixed blade if I had no other knife. If I had a folder, I would go for the hatchet, given it's use as a small axe, a hammer, and even a close quarter weapon. The machette would be nice, but for where I live I think a hatchet would be a better choice

[big shrek]

I have to admit to being partial to an Army E-tool. (Entrenching)

Once you've learned all the diffrent things it can do...especially with sharpened edges...there are few things that ever compare

[trustnoone.45]

Yeah the E-TOOL is pretty versatile. I think i'm going to get the Rifleman hawk I will post a Report after I get it. And who does'nt carry a folding pocket knive.

[dog party]

Okay, so I have (at least) my pocket knife before making this selection (I had to make sure )...

My selection on which one to carry would the depend on what I was doing.

Canoe/camping - First thing packed is actually my entrenching tool. Absolutely essential when I'm camping along the side of a river. After that, my KaBar, then my hatchet. I have begun leaving my machete at home on these trips, but I really shouldn't. One of these day I'm going to get stuck with a need to hack my way through the ugly east coast underbrush from the river's edge and I am going to be HATING it because my pocket knife, KaBar, hatchet, and entrenching tool will SUCK in that job compared to my machete.

Jeeping - I always have my shovel in the Jeep, so I don't take the entrenching tool. I also have a dedicated "Jeep knife," which is my other KaBar, so that's set. I would take the hatchet (or maybe my light axe).

Hiking - Machete, no question. The east coast is too overgrown with underbrush for a hatchet to be more useful.

Man, I can't imagine trying to decide which ONE to buy! I have at least one of each (HD knife, entrenching tool, machete, camp hatchet) and try to pack accordingly. But I would have to say, if I didn't have any of those things, I'd probably get a HD knife first.

[SH(.)(.)TER]

Has anyone put the Gerber Bowie to test?

[Seven©]

I've got a Gerber 1120. Meh.



Gerbers are decent enough knives for the price IMO.
But, I can't get one to keep an edge.

I am a fan of the fact the case is MOLLE compatible...

[larmus]

seven what kinda molle case is that... is it the shotgun case, those are nice, i need to get one... how do you like it?

[Seven©]

Quote:       Originally Posted by larmus

... is it the shotgun case?

Correct. I love it.
http://www.voodootactical.net/Items/...Smiliar%20Guns
When I bought mine it was only $24.95. They've gone up.

[larmus]

thats what i thought it was... ya, they went from 25 bucks up to 40 in some places it sucks...

[22-rimfire]

A Kukuri should fit most of your tasks. They come in various sizes. Himalayan Imports / BirGorkha Khukuri (Nepal)

I don't own one yet. Planning on putting in an order in the next couple of weeks for my first. But everything I read about them is very positive.

A couple machetes would be useful. A short 12" for chopping and trail use. Longer ones for cutting less stable things like briars, weeds, etc.

[thrillbilly]

I just picked up a Cold Steel latin machete...seems to be top-quality (as expected from Cold Steel). Worked real well on some brush and weeds around the house.

http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/csstoreonline_2064_7302956