Where Did The Machete Come From?
Acting as both a knife and an axe, the machete is one of the most versatile fixed blades that you can have in your possession. They come in a variety of styles from survival and self-defense to tactical and utility. Today’s machetes have their beginnings in ancient Greece’s kopis, the falchion of the Medieval Age, the Germanic seax and the dao of Chinese tradition. The broad-bladed, heavy fixed blade knife found its way into cultures all over the world as a tool, especially, in agriculture. Each culture gave it their own design, but the basic characteristics remained the same. It has a wide, full-tang blade with handle scales attached to the tang and it’s from 12” to 18” in overall length.
What Are Its Uses Today?
Today’s machetes are used for a wide variety of uses like cutting vegetation on an overgrown trail, cutting sugar cane, clearing brush, chopping kindling for fire and splitting fruit (think coconut), to name a few. So, when you’re shopping for a machete, the first thing to consider is exactly what you’re going to be using it for the most. Like I said above, it can be used as both a knife and an axe, giving it a unique versatility that makes it a very useful tool to have around.
Things to Look for in a Machete
Here are some things to look for to help you make your decision, when choosing a machete to add to your collection of must-have hand tools.
Blade Shape
The shape of the blade is the most important because it is what determines what tasks the machete is best suited for. Different blade profiles are better for specific tasks like cutting and slicing or chopping and hacking. Blades with weight-forward designs like parang and bolo give you maximum swinging power for cutting vegetation. Blades with hooks on the spine, like the cane hook machete, allows you to pull away vegetation after cutting it. Bush machetes and Bowies, with their hefty straight blade profiles are good utility tools for chopping..
Steel Type
Steel type is important when choosing a machete because you need to consider the environment that you’ll be using it the most in and the wet or dry conditions. It’s a reality that all steel can rust when exposed to moisture but there are some types that are more rust-resistant than others. Stainless steel has chromium as a major ingredient, making it more corrosion-resistant. A high carbon steel is less rust-resistant but more wear-resistant. So, you’ll need to make sure that you store it well and be a little more vigilant about keeping it dry.
Handle Grip
Choosing the right handle grip is the difference between efficiently getting a job done and ending up in the emergency room. A “no-slip” grip is essential because accidents can happen where someone loses their grip on the machete, and it flies back and hits them. You also want it to feel comfortable in your hand to offset the strain if you’re going to be using it for long periods of time. Look for a handle that has either a textured or contoured grip that fits securely in your palm. Grips made of TPR (thermoplastic rubber) are great for use in all-weather conditions and usually come with heavy texturing. Wooden handles are found on more traditional-style machetes but, as long as, they have a finger-grooved or contoured shape, they’re fine, too.
Machetes That Get It Done
As machetes can be found in different designs with a variety of blade profiles, here are some that you might consider. Each showcases a different style of machete with its own specialized features.
Gil Hibben Combat Machete
Truly, no one knows functional, real-use knives better than knife design legend Gil Hibben. Working as an Alaskan hunting guide has given him first-hand experience of what a knife needs to perform in the real world. His
Combat Machete has a rust-resistant, wide stainless steel blade with a down-sloped tip and a fileworked spine. The heavy-duty handle is pakkawood, flanked by a beefy stainless steel handguard and curved pommel. The combat machete is 17 1/2” overall and can be carried in a leather belt sheath or with its leather wrist lanyard. You'll forget you’re using a knife when you hack, slice and chop your way through any job.
Gavilan Colombian Cane Hook Machete
From the dense jungles of the Amazon basin to America’s suburban backyards, the
Gavilan Colombian Cane Hook Machete makes quick work of thick brush, tall weeds and stout vines. It has a large blade of SAE 1074 high carbon steel blade with a hook, for pulling on brush after it’s been cut, built into the spine. The contoured, hardwood handle is perfectly balanced with the blade and, at 21” overall, the cane machete is amply sized for any cutting job without being too cumbersome. You’ll be amazed at how much you’ll come to rely on the Gavilan Colombian Cane Hook for a number of tasks on your property.
Gerber Gator Machete
Known for its everyday carry tools like the multi-tool, Gerber has a long history of exceptional knives. So, it’s no surprise that the Gator Machete is a highly-capable trail-blazing tool. It’s an absolute monster with its 18” fine edge blade that has a 13” sawtooth spine. The double-edged, non-reflective, high-carbon steel blade is supported by a tough, ABS handle that has a wrist-cord. The large all-black machete can be securely carried at your side in a nylon belt sheath. The Gerber Gator Machete most definitely has a bite!
Schrade Parang Machete
One of the world’s most versatile, capable and downright legendary machetes now comes with the rock-solid construction and expert engineering that only the cutlery experts at Schrade can provide. The
Parang Machete has a full-tang, premium stainless steel blade with the distinctively curved, front-reinforced profile relied upon for centuries in Southeast Asia. This weight-forward design bolsters the swinging momentum to give you greater cutting power with less effort. The durable TPE handle is textured, giving you a no-slip grip and it’s contoured to reduce fatigue during use. Included with the parang machete is a nylon belt sheath that also has a shoulder strap and a leg strap. This machete gets the job done quickly and completely the first time, every time.
Colombian Raptor Machete
Brave your backyard or the wild with the
Colombian Raptor Machete! It has a ferocious premium stainless steel blade, which has a sawback and gut hook. The hefty ABS handle is built to last and gives you a firm grip when you’re working the blade, whether you’re chopping or sawing. A sturdy nylon belt sheath protects the blade and lets you conveniently carry the 18” overall machete anywhere you need it to do a job.
