TT1018 Tramontina Machete

Having used Tramontina machetes for the last 25 years or so I can testify to their excellence. They are well balanced and the steel is perfectly tempered. My reason for replacing the several I have gone through over the years is simply that they were lost in the woods. They blend in to the ground litter, so I've started painting the portion of the blade nearest the handle red. I haven't lost one since. The reason for 4 stars rather than 5 is the wooden handles can crack and deteriorate over time. Along with a wooden-handled Tramontina machete I also ordered the same machete with a plastic handle and I think it's the improvement worthy of 5 stars, as close to perfect as I need.