Choosing the Best Machete: Our 10 Best-Sellers

Not sure which machete is right for you?

Generally speaking, if you need your machete for work, go for carbon steel. If you need a decorative piece, try our stainless steel machetes.

If looking for an all-purpose machete, I would go with a bush or bolo machete.

Our 10 Bestsellers		Some More Top Picks
	Condor Golok Machete		Condor Wilderness Tool A great all-around utility tool.
	Tramontina 18" Bush Machete		Imacasa 18" D Handle Pata de Cuche Machete A solid machete with protective d-handle.
	Tramontina 14" Bolo Machete		Smith & Wessen Bush Hog Kukri A comfortable, razor-sharp chopper.
	Imacasa 18" Pata de Cuche Machete		Condor High-Carbon El Salvador Machete A classic machete style from a trusted manufacturer.
	Tramontina 18" Poly-Handle Machete		Martindale Golok No 2 The British Special Forces machete, thick and solid.
	Imacasa Burriquito Machete		Aguila 24" Rula Machete A solid work machete with a long reach.
	Marbles 14" Bolo Machete with Orange Finish		Ontario 18" Field Machete Heavy blade and a comfortable grip.
	Fury Kukri Machete		Gerber Gator Machete A good utility machete with a serrated edge.
	Cold Steel Kukri Machete		Imacasa Daga Machete A nicely-weighted work machete.
	Hansa Yegua Rambo Machete		KA-BAR kukri machete Another solid survival machete.

Below is more information on the advantages and disadvantages of the various machetes we carry.

-Blade Composition

-Tang

-Blade Style

-Handle Material

-Handle Style

Machete Blade Composition: Machetes are differentiated primarily by the type of material with which the blade is made. The most common blade materials are stainless steel and carbon steel . High carbon stainless steel combines the advantages of both stainless and carbon steel.

Carbon steel, an alloy of iron and carbon, is the traditional material used for making machete blades. Carbon is added to iron to give the iron strength and increase the hardness of the alloy, but increasing the carbon content also makes the steel more brittle. Carbon steel has been around for over 4,000 yrs.

Carbon steel, generally speaking, has the advantage of being harder than stainless steel, and will stay sharp for a longer time period. Once re-sharpening is necessary, however, carbon steel is more difficult to re-sharpen due to its strength.

The main drawback to carbon steel is that it rusts readily, and maintenance is really about keeping you're blade away from moisture.

Stainless steel, which is really carbon steel with the addition of nickel and chromium, is generally more expensive than carbon steel. The nickel and chromium additives oxidize to create a protective coating over the carbon steel, inhibiting rust.

The rust resistant properties of stainless steel reduce the amount of maintenance required to keep the blade in good shape.

Stainless steel tends to be softer than carbon steel, and loses its sharpness more rapidly. That said, it can be re-sharpened more easily than high carbon steel.

Stainless is perfect for display and decorative machetes, but is less useful for functional tools needed for daily use.

That said, if not being used regularly, rust can be a major issue with machetes. Blade made of 420HC and other high carbon stainless steels have been developed which combine the best attributes of carbon and stainless steels. High carbon stainless steel maintains its edge like carbon steel, with the rust resistant properties of stainless steel.

Tang: The tang is the part of the machete blade that extends into the grip and connects the blade and the handle together.

For a chopping and slicing implement swung with a great deal of force, it is important to make sure the blade has a full tang that extends to the end of the handle and is riveted in place.

Blade Styles: For most people, the distinguishing characteristic of most machetes is the shape of the blade, which varies considerably depending on the use.

See the different styles of machete blades here