Your Basic 'Schete

 

 

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  A machete is a large cleaver-like knife. The blade is typically 12 3/4" to 17 3/4 in long and usually under 1/8" thick.

In the English-speaking Caribbean, such as Jamaica,Barbados, Guyana, Grenada and in Trinidad and Tobago, the term "cutlass" is used for these agricultural tools.

The panga or tapanga is a variant used in East and Southern Africa.   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 efficient for chopping.

The Taiga is a machete of Russian origin that combines the functions of machetes, axes, knives, saws, and shovels into one tool. It is easily distinguished by the large swell at the end of the blade to facilitate chopping. The taiga is used by military air and special forces, including Spetsnaz.

The modern machete is very similar to some forms of the medieval falchion, a short sword popular from the 13th century onwards. The cutting edge of the falchion was curved, widening toward the point, and had a straight, unsharpened back edge.  The machete differs from the falchion mainly in the lack of a guard and a simpler hilt, though some machetes do have a guard for greater protection of hands during work.

In various tropical and subtropical countries, the machete is frequently used to cut through rain forest undergrowth and for agricultural purposes (e.g. cutting sugar cane).

Because the machete is common in many tropical countries, it is often the weapon of choice for uprisings. 

It found much use in Rwanda where the Tutsi and Hutu peoples killed hundreds of thousands in a roughly two year time period between 1994-96.  These were also used in Zimbabwai during their troubles in 1999 which they have called "a moment of madness".

The "Cold Steel" currently has 25 different machete variations on sale.

And last but not least:  We have another Mentally Ill NY State 'representative of the people' who is proposing a new Ban!  This time on Machetes...  I kid you Not!  Read about it here!  http://www.dcclothesline.com/2015/02/25/forget-guns-new-york-moves-to-ban-machetes-possession-could-lead-to-years-behind-bars/#more-45061

 

 

The Basic 'Schete'
The basic stock used for this was a piece of low carbon steel measuring
  22" x 1 3/4" x 1/8" 
 

The Blank,is rough cut to shape. 
Tang cut to 4.5" x 1.25"
 
 
   
3/16" holes drilled
to mount grips later.
(2 3/4" on center) 
 
Tip pointed and Hook started   
   
Formimg blade edge.

First you heat and bevel edge by hammering.

Then you can go to a coarse file followed by a finer one. 
 

Guard formed from 1"x4.5" x 1/8" stock.

A slot 1/8" by 1.5" cut in middle of guard while it it is flat. 

 
 File and Fit to tang before bending!  
Continue sharpening and refining point and hook.   
Heat treat and harden Guard.   
Heat treat and harden blade.   
Prepare to install 'slab' grips.   
Make 'Slabs'  These are made from your material of choice!
It can be wood or plastic.

I used two pieces of hardwood 5/16" thick by 1 3/4" wide by 4 1/2" long. 

With the guard pushed into place, I took one piece and marked thru the holes onto the wood.

Then I drilled matching holes thru both pieces.

Next, I used cut off 16# nails cit to just over the stacked thickness of the slabs and the tang.

Theses nails were then carefully peened over to give a flattend surface holding the slabs in place. 
 

The slabs were then filed down to meet the metal of the tang and sqanded to a rounded, comfortable, grip. 
 
   
Complete sharpening, polish surface then you are Finished!