Machete and its variations

[hunter63]

So, what' the best survival machete?

Ya had to do it, right?
So, OK what is?
LOL.

[randyt]

the perfect survival machete is a axe at least for me it is

[crashdive123]

So, what' the best survival machete?

The one that Pict is carrying as he stands beside me.

[mccaw69]

It's a personel preferance i guess.....

[finallyME]

I have found that people will tend to like a machete that is the same length as their forearm measured from the elbow to the first knuckle of their middle finger.

See, proved my point. Pict is a wealth of information on machetes. I had no idea about this sizing. Thanks Pict. I would give you some brownie points but it says I have to spread the wealth first.

[North]

thanks for the help everyone, and because im making my own, that advice on blade size and forearms will really come in handy!

[Pict]

thanks for the help everyone, and because im making my own, that advice on blade size and forearms will really come in handy!

That sizing is just an observation over many years of taking people out to the bush with a variety of machetes. There are other factors that will affect blade length. My comments are limited to a general purpose bushcraft machete.

I have always preferred the 16 inch machete and tended to buy them to use for my course. Many of my students are a little shorter than me and they always seem to prefer the 14, exactly the length of their forearm.

It also has to do with how long a blade you will tolerate on your belt. If the blade hangs lower than the knee it will catch you on the top of your calf all the time and it really gets irritating. A 16 does not do this for me but did for most of my students. They carry a 14 and avoid the problem. Of course this also gets into sheath design which is another thread. Mac