Martindale VS Tramontina

[@adammcguinness9950]

Tramontinas are fantastic. I have from 12” to 26”(all the ones in between except 22”) . They’re unstoppable on green brush/timber.👍🏼

[@canadafree2087]

There are two Tramontina: old and new. I have a Tramontina 14", marked "hand forged Bolo" on the tip, and it is about twice as thick as what they make now. More recently I got a vintage Martindale version of the same knife and it is much thicker than my old Trimontina. I am in the market for British MOD (survival knife) and golok but they are hard to source in Canada.

[@TheWtfnonamez]

Love your very smart and unbiased analysis. I own both, and think they are both great tools, so I very much appreciate your fair assessment, especially since so many people cant talk about the Martindale without granting it superhuman patriotic powers. My take is that one is a work tool and the other is a military tool. The Martindale seems to be designed to serve the role of a machete, but be heavy enough to be a weapon, and an axe substitute. The Tramontina is pure bolo machete, designed for its exact purpose. Its a machete, made in a country that uses machetes all day long. They are mass produced, used as tools, in South America where they have lots of cane farming and other work that requires machetes as everyday work tools. Its the white transit van of machetes and its cheap, does a good job, the spring steel seems pretty damn good, and its light enough to swing it all day long. As much as I like everything about the Martindale as a bit of history, Im not sure it would ever make it into either my bugout bag, or my tool kit. I have a genuine one but the steel seems improperly heat treated, and the file shreds it. Its expensive for what it is, the sheath is terrible and my honest first two thoughts about it were ... 1. At least I got a free file, and 2. I wish I had the time to make one myself using 01 tool steel. Sorry for rambling, but I think Tramontina make superb machetes, but I think the Martindale is a collectors item. Its like the Kabar or the trench knife: a great tool its in day, but these days other designs do the work better. Sorry for running my mouth off. I really appreciate your take on them based on actual usage.

[@mountainbearoutdoors]

Thank you for visiting, I am glad you enjoyed watching. I will agree with you the Martindale is a bit of a jack off all master of none tool. I Do scrub clearance with the Tramontina and it is leagues better, I can swing it all day without my wrist getting fatigued. I dont hate the martindale but I find myself reaching for the Tramontina a lot more. my friend improved mine with some textured paint and a hockey stick tape, its even better now not going anywhere when I swing it. Lastly I think price is a factor, I can have 3 tramontina's for the same price as one martindale, .have a good one brother.

[@Liv1ngTheDream]

The genuine issue DPM machete sheath with the shoulder strap is good, found one cheap years ago. Just about fits the tramontina, been meaning to get a martindale for it after I had a go making a kydex for the bolo

[@ebikecnx7239]

Why is that sheath for the Tramotina looking like it's for a left handed person? A right handed person wears the sheath on the left side on the belt and pulls it out with the left palm covering the spine side, blade forward. I think it looks like a sheath for a left handed person if I am not mistaken. You are right handed?

[@mountainbearoutdoors]

you are quite correct, it is indeed a left handed sheath, I have no Idea why they designed them this way, thanks for visiting.

[@ebikecnx7239]

@@mountainbearoutdoors thanks for letting me know, I want to make my own sheath for 2 machetes that came without sheaths and want to get it right. I only just learned that there is such a thing as left or right handed sheaths thanks to an old KZbin by Junglecrafty.

[@matthewmarek1467]

The one thing I will not about your chop test: the Tramontina did seem to stick in the wood more than the Martindale. The convex "axe" grind on the Matindale may not bite as deep, but looked like it released and let you get ready for the next chop more easily.

[@NotALizardPerson81]

When I go off in my canoe, all I take for cutting is a reprofiled mora classic, small folding silky and a tramontina. Thick blades and fancy steels are for people who don't actually use their cutting tools.

[@lamenature1420]

i use Martindale paratrooper , and is very good for working in woods

[@ebikecnx7239]

It's great. Like a big knife. I have it and the 13 inch golok.

[@malcolmpritchard34]

Used the same tramontina for 30 years brilliant the golok is small and easier to put in your bergan but not a touch on the cheap brazilian

[@mountainbearoutdoors]

Thanks for visiting, yes I agree I am a convert to the tramontina it's a much lighter and sharper tool for clearing brush with. My friend recently put a good grip on mine and put a better sheath on for me, it really finished the package for me.

[@MrEdium]

Does anyone have a review on the Martindale BOLO CLEAVER machete ?🤔

[@adammcguinness9950]

You can make a sheath from PVC, all of my machetes have PVC sheaths expect one, a 20” that I made a timber sheath for.

[@mountainbearoutdoors]

thanks for the suggestion, I have a marbles branded sheath on it at the moment but when that breaks I will be going down the pipe route.

[@ianrutter9243]

Just bought the Tramontina, and got the 14inch marbles bolo sheath and sharpening stone to go with it a total of £25 Bargain, The martindale is to much for me at £37 from Heinne

[@mountainbearoutdoors]

Good choice mate , I will have to check the sheath out, the included one is a bit naff. Honestly I prefer the tramontina for Brush clearance, I am going to work on the handle next week and make it a bit more ergonomic. Hope your well mate mate 😁

[@ianrutter9243]

@@mountainbearoutdoors Thats why i bought the marbles sheath, ergonomically the blades are near identical and all the American sites i looked at reccomend the marble sheath for the tramontina as its a perfect fit and a bit safer than having some pvc pants wrapped round your blade ;-p

[@ianrutter9243]

£12.95 which includes postage and a sharpening stone included and two spare sheath pockets, If you wanna look at it in the flesh before buying I will send it over on Jos next visit

[@mountainbearoutdoors]

@@ianrutter9243 yeah that would be good mate thanks

[@patricegarnierlobo25111967]

just change the golok edge

[@patricegarnierlobo25111967]

The martindale golock his not an machette because it s an thick piece of steel of 4.3 mm the tramontina his an thin blade for green bush not for hard wood ! the golock his adapted to tropical and european forest because it s an resistant knife not the tramontina!