Tramontina Golok Field Test

A while back I shortened a heavy 18 inch Tarmontina machete to a 14 inch golok profile. I did my standard mods to it detailed in my other videos. I wanted to create a blade that was shorter than a 16 but still hit as hard. The birds head handle on this one appealed to me as well as it is a very comfortable shape.

Recently I made up a heavy leather sheath for it that I impregnated with beeswax. The combination worked better than expected and this has become my new favorite machete. This video is the test drive in the bush and it passed with flying colors.

I have since finished the handle on this if you'd like to see a few photos got to this thread on BushCraft USA

http://www.bushcraftusa.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13915

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Machete
• wilderness
• survival
• bushcraft
• golok
• Tramontina
• modified
• modification
• Brazil
• shooting
• slingshot
• movie
• trailer

[vjanda1]

A tattooed blade crazy missionary in full camo.

Wicked ! 

Keep up the good work :)

[Colhane]

@vjanda1 LOL Blade crazy yes, but the tats are not me, that was a shot of Giuliano who is wearing more ink than Marvel Comics.

[Beachcrib]

That blade is much lighter in the hand .. Then a 12 inch Ontario? Im pretty interested in getting a lighter short blade for my Florida area. But I do love my Ontario .. Real work horse. Would you ever make a video discussing all the Machete brands that are valued? Pros and cons of the machete makers?

[Colhane]

@Beachcrib It is a bit lighter than the Ontario and has a more comfortable handle. I really don't have broad experience with all brands of machetes, just the ones sold here in Brazil. The 12 inch Ontario is a great blade, 1095 is good stuff.

[sundagaluh]

Golok diferent with machete...

[Colhane]

@sundagaluh Yes, that is very true. I use that term for lack of a better name because here in Brazil the golok profile is unknown. I patterned the shape of this blade loosely on the Martindale Golok #2, this style also resembles the Parang but again is also different especially in the handle. I find this blade shape very useful and much better than the standard Latin pattern machete common to Brazil.

[samueldegouvea]

dear colhane,

what are the main advantages of glok front a conventional machete?

caro colhane,

quais são as principais vantagens do golok frente à um facão convencional? moro em Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brasil, e você, mora em qual cidade?

[whatever7x7]

looks like a sharpened blade from a lawnmower +_+

[Colhane]

@bigbuckaroo2 As for the wire wrapped handle the problem was not so much the wire but the sharp edges on the inlet center portion of the wood handle, way too sharp. The micarta wrap I did is perfect IMO as it also seriously strengthens the handle. You can see it in my Golok Handle Update video.

[Colhane]

@bigbuckaroo2 Most surveyors I have talked to seem to prefer the longer blades. When I'm clearing land I do too, the job is pretty task specific as far as the way you use the blade. In terms of doing the wide variety of tasks required for jungle living from processing game and raw foods to building camp as well as clearing I find a shorter blade far more convenient. When we're going to be doing alot of off trail hiking as long as someone in the group has a long blade that is usually fine.