Friday, September 30, 2005
Machete
Machete
The machete (International Phonetic Alphabet: is a cleaver-like tool that looks like a very large knife. The blade is typically 50–60 cm (18–24 in) long. In the English language, an equivalent term is matchet.
Since the 1950s, most modern factory-made machetes are of very simple construction, consisting of a blade and full-length tang punched from a single piece of flat steel plate of uniform thickness (and thus lack a primary grind), and a simple grip of two plates of wood or plastic bolted or rivetted together around the tang. Finally, one side is ground down to an edge — although some are made so cheaply that the purchaser is expected to finish the sharpening.
These machetes are usually provided with a simple cord loop as a sort of lanyard, and a canvas scabbard — although in some regions where machetes are commonly used tools, the users may make decorative leather scabbards for them.
The machete is normally used to cut through thick vegetation such as sugar cane or jungle undergrowth (the lack of a primary grind makes the machete much less effective on woody vegetation), but it can also be used as an offensive weapon. Machetes were the primary weapon used by the Interahamwe militias in the Rwandan Genocide, as well as the signature tool/weapon of the Haitian Tonton Macoute.
The machete was also one of the most common weapons during the Cuban Independence War. Freed slaves by Carlos Manuel de Céspedes agreed to fight against Spain, where their only weapons were the very tool they used to cut the sugar cane in the La De Majagua plantation.
Some tropical countries have a name for the blow of a machete; the Spanish machetazo is sometimes used in English.
In Trinidad, to hit someone with the flat of the blade is termed planass.
The modern machete is very similar to some forms of the medieval falchion (a type of sword), differing mainly in the lack of a guard and a simpler hilt.
The panga (a Swahili word) is a variant used in East Africa, with a broader blade and a squared off tip. In the Philippines, the bolo is a very similar tool, but with the blade swelling just before the tip to make the knife even more tip-heavy for chopping.
This was also used during the Philippine Revolution against the Spanish, and later a signature weapon of guerillas in the Philippine American War.
Other similar tools include the parang and the golok (from Malaysia and Indonesia); however, these tend to have shorter, thicker blades with a primary grind, and are more effective on woody vegetation.
The Nepalese kukri is a curved blade which is often used for similar tasks.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machete"
I have a list of some of the best out there for the best results on a buget. Hopefully this post will help out anyone out there. I'll start with the cheaper and work my way up. Also I will start with the smaller fixed blades and work my way up the line.
So we will cover all the bases.First all the knives I mention here are ones I have and have tested in the wilderness and in the urban wilds! I would not give you faulty info or a made up story on a product I have no knowlage about.
1) Cold steel SRK(survival, rescue knife. This knife is 10-1/2" long clip point blade with a 1" wide blade and is 3-16th's thick. It is made of high carbon steel that they call carbon V(5) It had a black coating on the blade to stop rust and oxidation. The edge is exposed so it has to be oiled.I have so far used this knife to carve a 12lb turkey for the soup pot and chop up celery, carrats, mushrooms and oinion's. This goes to show it does well in food prep work in the field. I have debarked a few saplings with it as well and chopped small saplings and delimbed said saplings. All in all so far it is a good utility knife to have along on a hiking trip. I have heard many other survivalest like myself rave about this knife. As for the price, one can be had for a bit over $50 off the internet.
2) Another Cold Steel UWK(urban warfare knife) This one is patterned after the old veitnam SOG. It is made of 420 stainless and has been sub zero quenched. 11-1/4" OAL, about an inch in width. Being a military type knife it has it's limitations in the wilderness. But with some mods like I have made it will do alot better as a utilty/survival knife. I have chopped with it but it is lite in the ass so It takes a bit more effert to get the job done. As for cutting, not a problem CS knives are made to cut like hell. So for food prep and light wood work it is a decent knife and built well. It can be had on the internet for around $60.00
3) How about the good old Ka-Bar USMC fighting utility knife? Great knife. But still a military knife. 12" OAL, 1-1/4" wide and thin.Cuts well and chops ok. I have also modified this knife to cut better and you have much better control over this blade. I would use this as an utility/fighting type knife in the woods. I have owned it for some time and love it. This knife can be had for $45.00
5) Ontario Knives are some of the best priced and best survival knives made today. The first one is my TAK-1. It is 10" OAL with a drop point blade of 1095 High Carbon Steel About an 1-1/4" wide. The blade has great belly for slicing flesh and wood carving is a breeze. This is a great knife and for about $60 you can't go wrong.
Disclaimer: This commentary as well as all my commentaries contains some of my personal opinions only and some portions are copied and pasted from a public domain.
The machete (International Phonetic Alphabet: is a cleaver-like tool that looks like a very large knife. The blade is typically 50–60 cm (18–24 in) long. In the English language, an equivalent term is matchet.
Since the 1950s, most modern factory-made machetes are of very simple construction, consisting of a blade and full-length tang punched from a single piece of flat steel plate of uniform thickness (and thus lack a primary grind), and a simple grip of two plates of wood or plastic bolted or rivetted together around the tang. Finally, one side is ground down to an edge — although some are made so cheaply that the purchaser is expected to finish the sharpening.
These machetes are usually provided with a simple cord loop as a sort of lanyard, and a canvas scabbard — although in some regions where machetes are commonly used tools, the users may make decorative leather scabbards for them.
The machete is normally used to cut through thick vegetation such as sugar cane or jungle undergrowth (the lack of a primary grind makes the machete much less effective on woody vegetation), but it can also be used as an offensive weapon. Machetes were the primary weapon used by the Interahamwe militias in the Rwandan Genocide, as well as the signature tool/weapon of the Haitian Tonton Macoute.
The machete was also one of the most common weapons during the Cuban Independence War. Freed slaves by Carlos Manuel de Céspedes agreed to fight against Spain, where their only weapons were the very tool they used to cut the sugar cane in the La De Majagua plantation.
Some tropical countries have a name for the blow of a machete; the Spanish machetazo is sometimes used in English.
In Trinidad, to hit someone with the flat of the blade is termed planass.
The modern machete is very similar to some forms of the medieval falchion (a type of sword), differing mainly in the lack of a guard and a simpler hilt.
The panga (a Swahili word) is a variant used in East Africa, with a broader blade and a squared off tip. In the Philippines, the bolo is a very similar tool, but with the blade swelling just before the tip to make the knife even more tip-heavy for chopping.
This was also used during the Philippine Revolution against the Spanish, and later a signature weapon of guerillas in the Philippine American War.
Other similar tools include the parang and the golok (from Malaysia and Indonesia); however, these tend to have shorter, thicker blades with a primary grind, and are more effective on woody vegetation.
The Nepalese kukri is a curved blade which is often used for similar tasks.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machete"
I have a list of some of the best out there for the best results on a buget. Hopefully this post will help out anyone out there. I'll start with the cheaper and work my way up. Also I will start with the smaller fixed blades and work my way up the line.
So we will cover all the bases.First all the knives I mention here are ones I have and have tested in the wilderness and in the urban wilds! I would not give you faulty info or a made up story on a product I have no knowlage about.
1) Cold steel SRK(survival, rescue knife. This knife is 10-1/2" long clip point blade with a 1" wide blade and is 3-16th's thick. It is made of high carbon steel that they call carbon V(5) It had a black coating on the blade to stop rust and oxidation. The edge is exposed so it has to be oiled.I have so far used this knife to carve a 12lb turkey for the soup pot and chop up celery, carrats, mushrooms and oinion's. This goes to show it does well in food prep work in the field. I have debarked a few saplings with it as well and chopped small saplings and delimbed said saplings. All in all so far it is a good utility knife to have along on a hiking trip. I have heard many other survivalest like myself rave about this knife. As for the price, one can be had for a bit over $50 off the internet.
2) Another Cold Steel UWK(urban warfare knife) This one is patterned after the old veitnam SOG. It is made of 420 stainless and has been sub zero quenched. 11-1/4" OAL, about an inch in width. Being a military type knife it has it's limitations in the wilderness. But with some mods like I have made it will do alot better as a utilty/survival knife. I have chopped with it but it is lite in the ass so It takes a bit more effert to get the job done. As for cutting, not a problem CS knives are made to cut like hell. So for food prep and light wood work it is a decent knife and built well. It can be had on the internet for around $60.00
3) How about the good old Ka-Bar USMC fighting utility knife? Great knife. But still a military knife. 12" OAL, 1-1/4" wide and thin.Cuts well and chops ok. I have also modified this knife to cut better and you have much better control over this blade. I would use this as an utility/fighting type knife in the woods. I have owned it for some time and love it. This knife can be had for $45.00
4) One more Ka-Bar knife. It is the 12-1/2" tanto. A hell of a strong blade design here. The tanto tip will go through a car door and not even get pissed off!! So for piercing it takes the medal. Not a bad survival knife at all. It could also be conciderd a military type knife though and has limits. The tanto tip is usefull in the woods. It could be had for about $60-70.
5) Ontario Knives are some of the best priced and best survival knives made today. The first one is my TAK-1. It is 10" OAL with a drop point blade of 1095 High Carbon Steel About an 1-1/4" wide. The blade has great belly for slicing flesh and wood carving is a breeze. This is a great knife and for about $60 you can't go wrong.
Disclaimer: This commentary as well as all my commentaries contains some of my personal opinions only and some portions are copied and pasted from a public domain.
