5 of the best survival machetes

usaf survival knife

If you are looking for the best multi-purpose survival machete on the market, you should know a few things. Outdoor and survival enthusiasts agree that a machete is essential for any time in the bush.

From building shelters, clearing brush, chopping wood, gathering firewood or prepping game, a machete can increase work efficiency and greatly reduce fatigue. Protection is another important element of selecting a machete.

 Unsurprisingly, survival machetes are the main security provision for indigenous tribal people worldwide. A reliable defence against campsite intruders or animal attacks, a machete takes the guesswork out of a good night’s sleep in the wild.

Machete Materials

Carbon Steel – one of the oldest materials in machete manufacture, carbon steel has been employed for four thousand years. Stronger than stainless steel, carbon steel retains its sharpness long duration. 

Are you a parent who loves camping and exploring the outdoors? Look no further than this carbon steel machetes! This machetes are incredibly strong and durable, making them perfect for any outdoor adventure. Plus, they are rustresistant, so you don‘t have to worry about them in moist environments. Get this carbon steel machete and make your outdoor adventures even more fun!

Stainless steel– an overlay of chromium-nickel makes stainless steel more manageable in wet climates. The cost of stainless is more than carbon steel as the coating additives create an oxidized finish, a rust inhibitor. 

The softer blade tensile requires more sharpening but is easier to perfect than carbon. An even better choice is high carbon stainless steel, tougher on edge with the rust resistant properties of stainless.

Best Survival Machete Models

For more information on the five (5) types of survival machetes, evaluate how they will be used in different tasks:

The Khukuri– is a large knife model of a machete designed by the traveling Gurkha mountaineers of Nepal. 

The Khukuri is an army issued weapon. Used as a tool, this machete is a great multi-task element with heavy force that allows for precision in chopping. 

The inner curve of the blade provides optimum control for more refined activities.

The Cold Steel Bolo Machete– origins in South America, the Bolo is popular in tropical climates like the Caribbean, Indonesia and the South Pacific. 

Used widely for clearing brush and field vegetation.

Good machete. Easy to use. Good weight.
Spent two days hacking ivy vines. Only took a few chips from where I smacked into a contrete wall. 

All the damage it took was my fault. Comes pretty sharp, I stabbed myself with it 30 seconds after taking it out of package 🙃 . Took down an entire wall of ivy and is still ready to go.

I needed a quick throw away machete for some dirty work, this one did the job, and I’m not going to be throwing it away.

Had it going on a year and not a daily user but have split logs, cut brush, trees and a couple pallets and blade is straight and other than nick from a nail it’s doing great.

 My first kukri and it is a nice do-all size for camping and putting out game cameras etc.. 

Takes edge well and holds it as good as can be expected for the abuse it has taken. Do take care to clean and oil or at least remove moisture. Not quick to rust but it is not stainless steel.

Cold Steel makes the best knives for the money. If you’re looking at how much knife you’re getting for your money, I don’t know that there’s any knife than can beat this one. 

I actually prefer this knife to my standard Ka-Bar that was twice the price. It’s strong, it’s sharp, the design makes the tip extremely strong, the blade is actually longer than a Ka-Bar, SK-5 steel is an excellent carbon steel, and the blades is quite thick. 

The durability tests for this knife are some of the highest, even against knives 10 times the price. 

If you want a fixed blade that will do everything well (except resist rust), just buy this knife. Oil it with some simple mineral oil 4 times a year, and you’re good to go.

Get Ready to Bushwack!

Whether planning a trip to the rainforest or the outback or simply hunting for the weekend, a good machete is a must. Hunters should be especially careful about handle rigging and blade efficiency to avoid any risk while dealing with the game.

Uncertain how to use a machete properly? Camping, expedition and hunting communities online can provide important insight and information about the where, what, why, and how of machete use.

In-store handling will give you the best introduction. Price points vary according to material, model and brand. 

Once you have details on machete makes, models and deployment in the environments you will be using it in, a dealer can offer additional advice and contact information about training. 

Survival machete owners trained in self-defence will acknowledge that a machete is an effective yet dangerous tool. Also, be sure to check with regional law enforcement for license rules.

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