machete for bush craft

[jasons]

do any of you lot use a machete for bush craft in the uk

 

[JonnyP]

Hi Jas....I remember seeing a programme on telly a while ago, where this African guy came over here to help with some bush clearing work, or something like that, they were using loppers to do the work, and he said he couldn't understand why we wern't using machete's to do the work as that is what they used back home. We don't really use them much over here. Can't remember the last time I used mine.........

 

[CLEM]

The old country boy's in this country used billhooks,better suited to our enviroment I would think!

 

[British Red]

I have a couple of heavy "Bush knives" (a Wiseman survival tool and a Becker Brute) that are much better than an aze for shelter building (cutting thatch, stakes, poles etc. etc.) Heavier than a conventional machete, longer than a Bill Hook. For general use, I prefer axe, saw and knife

Red

 

[Ratel10mm]

I use a Whitby 'Parachete' in lieu of a small axe fairly often. I've tried bill hooks for forestry work & found that my hand 'clamped up' very quickly.
Mind you, there's so many people using bill hooks that I'd like to learn to use one properly.

 

[leon-b]

i may sound dumb but whats the difference between a parang, a machete and a billhook
leon

 

[JonnyP]

i may sound dumb but whats the difference between a parang, a machete and a billhook
leon

Machete has a heavy blade, parang, similar but more light weight, billhook, heavy blade with a hook on the end, I would do you a drawing, but everyone will laugh at me.....Type it into google images....

 

[leon-b]

go on do a drawing, you know you want to
leon

 

[torjusg]

It is not in the UK, but the saami knife is sort of a hybrid between a regular knife and a machete. I use it a lot.

 

[Longstrider]

Basically the parang is a shorter tool than a machete with a blade that is thinner at the handle end than it is further up. The machete is a longer blade and generally looks more like a giant knife. Billhooks are a relatively short, heavy tool that have a variety of blade shapes (all with the characteristic "hook" towrads the top of the blade) depending on what pattern they are. Developed in various regions of the UK they have become knowqn by those names, such as a "Staffordshire pattern billhook" etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parang_(knife)


http://www.heytesbury.freeserve.co.uk/page4.html

I have an old machete that was given to me by a friend many years ago. I love the thing for all sorts of jobs as it takes an really good edge and holds it well too. Where I need to cut stuff like thin sticks, brambles, briars and other "whippy" stuff it does the job far better for me than anything else I own. It also has enough weight about it to get pretty serious with heavier timber too if needed. I once managed to cut clean through a 4" diameter green willow branch with one swipe with it for a bet. Not a very "sheeple" friendly tool to be seen waving about, but it sure is a good tool to use !

 

[JonnyP]

Thanks LS saves me from doing a drawing.........

 

[swyn]

I have a bill-less bill hook! I cut the bill off and this is my preferred tool for all the heavier around the camp jobs. It is versatile and easy to carry, it has a timber sheath as leather work is not my forte although James Lenton has taught me the very basics. Really, I suppose, it is just a heavy knife! I have not found anything to better it in twenty years of use.
Swyn.

 

[leon-b]

thanks for explaining that guys
leon

 

[CLEM]

A Staffordshire pattern billhook should me more than capable of covering a Bushcrafters needs in our native British enviroment I reckon bar cutting very big stuff.

 

[nickg]

I still use my 30 year old army no4 golok 'tree beater' (I've had it 30 yrs - it was in service longer than me) Its a fabulous tool and immensley versatile and I currently prefer it to a hand axe. Its weighty enough to fell a small tree (4" wide or so) and is really good for clearing the area under the tarp of brambles etc. Its well up to the task of heavy cutting for camp ie racks for bergens pot holders etc. The best part is that it fits perfectly down the side of a bergen inside the side pockets, out of the way but immediately to hand. I dont bother carrying an axe any more.

 

[oetzi]

My favourite, besides a Kukri, is this tool from Fiskars:
http://www.globetrotter.de/de/shop/...4009&GTID=bbdbf100e54a4a743cf15ab86c4e9122a32
Rugged, handy, lightweight, not too expensive.

 

[OldJimbo]

Nothing like UK here, but I still use machetes for clearing. They work much better and keep edges longer if the edge is convexed and made more acute. I much prefer a traditional golok which works with a draw cut. "Golok" and "Parang" are just terms for (usually) large blades - so there are hundreds of types.