A machete is a long, thin-bladed cutting tool used for clearing brush, cutting vegetation, and harvesting crops. It is a versatile tool common in agriculture, forestry, and outdoor work throughout tropical and subtropical regions.
The machete consists of a long, single-edged blade with a handle at one end.
Key specifications:
- Blade length: 30–75 cm (12–30 in)
- Blade thickness: 2–4 mm (0.08–0.16 in)
- Weight: 0.5–1.5 kg (1–3.3 lb)
- Tang: Full tang (the steel extends through the full handle) or rat-tail tang (narrower extension through the handle)
- Edge: Single-edged, with a bevel on one side (chisel grind) or both sides (V-grind)
The long, thin blade geometry allows the machete to be swung with speed and precision, cutting through vegetation with the momentum of the swing rather than the weight of the tool.
- Latin machete — Straight blade, 45–65 cm; the most common type in Central and South America
- Panga — Curved blade, 40–50 cm, with a weighted tip; common in East Africa
- Kukri — Inward-curving blade, 30–40 cm, with a thickened tip; traditional Nepalese design
- Bolo — Wide blade with a weighted, flared tip; common in the Philippines
- Cane knife — Short, heavy blade for harvesting sugarcane
- Straight — Clean, balanced swing; suitable for general clearing and trail maintenance
- Curved — Better for cutting through dense vegetation; the curve concentrates force at the point of impact
- Weighted tip — Provides more momentum at the blade tip; useful for heavy cutting tasks
- Clearing brush and undergrowth — The primary use; the machete cuts through vines, brambles, and dense vegetation
- Cutting saplings — Small trees up to 5–8 cm diameter
- Harvesting — Cutting sugarcane, corn stalks, bananas, and other crops
- Trail maintenance — Clearing overgrown paths and trails
- Splitting coconuts — Striking the coconut with the back of the blade
- Survival and bushcraft — Processing wood for shelter, making kindling
- High-carbon steel (1075, 1095) — Holds a sharp edge well and is relatively easy to sharpen in the field. Prone to rust without maintenance.
- Stainless steel — Rust-resistant but more difficult to sharpen. 420 and 440 stainless are common in lower-cost machetes.
- Spring steel — Flexible and tough; used in higher-quality machetes to resist bending and breaking.
¶ Handle Materials
- Wood — Traditional; provides a comfortable grip but can split or rot
- Plastic/polymer — Durable and weather-resistant; common on modern machetes
- Rubber — Provides a secure grip, especially when wet
Machetes are sharpened with a flat mill file (typically 8–10 in, coarse to fine). The blade is sharpened on the beveled side only; chisel-ground blades are sharpened only on the flat side. A sharpening puck or stone is used for field touch-ups.
The machete is a high-speed cutting tool. Users should wear eye protection, long pants, and sturdy boots. The swing path should be clear of body parts and bystanders. Cutting motion should be controlled, not wild. A machete should be stored in a sheath or scabbard when not in use. The handle should be checked for secure attachment.
- The Complete Guide to Tools (Chatfield, 2005)
- Machete: The Complete Guide (Loeks, 2011)
- Graves, H. (2016). The Toolbox Book. Taunton Press.