Whether working outside around the home or tramping through the woods, the bush-knife/machete has become a favored companion.
Different names, different shapes–common purpose.
It goes by several names throughout the ages and different regions of the world. Today, most people commonly know it as the machete or bush-knife.
You will probably see me using it in several projects. So I thought I would do a short post on this nifty tool.
I grew up mostly in Latin America. Consequently, I saw alot of machetes down there. Every farmer working in the fields wore one. Whether clearing undergrowth, cutting firewood, harvesting sugar-cane, or killing snakes, this tool is not just for show. Heck, they even mowed the lawns in town with the machete! Needless to say, my brothers and I took on a bit of the machete-culture ourselves–even if only a handy camping blade.
Having a long bush-knife/machete is quite common around the world. Men, women and children dexterously wield this long, sharp blade without a second thought. Of course, the machete throughout the centuries doubled as a weapon. Thus in some cultures, they take on a symbol of manhood and virility.
What is the practical use for a machete?
The machete, like the hatchet or billhook, is a tool meant for working natural materials. Here are just a few of my personal uses:
- pruning and trimming trees and raspberry bushes
- clearing undergrowth
- cutting animal fodder
- coppicing willows
- cutting conifer boughs
- building and laying hedges
- building wattle fences
Choosing the right Bush-knife/machete
Below are an assortment of machetes that are of middle to shorter length.
The bush-knife/machete has taken all sorts of shapes and lengths around the world. They have been adapted to the particular need of the farmer. Here are some practical aspects to consider:
- Machetes with a long blade (say around a meter) are good for cutting through thick and tall grass and herbaceous undergrowth. The long blade serves a scythe would and the wielder doesn’t need to stoop so much
- Machetes that are shorter with a thicker blade are more handy for harder, woody plants.
Seax?
pronounced like “saks”
As always, I can’t resist in taking a slight historical detour…
The seax is a historical knife design unique to the ancient Germanic peoples (from a few centuries before the birth of Christ till end of the 11th century AD). It can vary in length from a small personal knife for every-day tasks to the size of the short-sword for fighting. It is unclear whether the ancestors would have used the longer seax for farm-related, utilitarian purposes. Historically speaking, the seax with a longer blade was probably more martial in nature. Nevertheless, I have taken the liberty to revive the seax model for my homesteading purposes.
Another example that may be related to the ancient seax is the German ” messer” of the late mediaeval and renaissance periods. “Messer” simply means “knife” and was a common side-arm for all levels of society. You see this commonly in many of the artwork of the Northern Renaissance masters.
My Homemade Bush-knife
Fired up in the imagination by these historical examples, I likewise fired up my forge. Using an old leaf spring, I forged my first personalized machete a few years back. In a nod to my ethnic roots, I patterned it after the Germanic seax. It has a stocky build and a wieldy, mid-size length. This makes it versatile for a variety of tasks.
Additionally, the sheath has three suspension rings. With these, the seax can be worn in different manners. Suspending it horizontally in the rear (pictured above) keeps it close to the body and out of the way. Or else it can be suspended from the belt in the more conventional way as shown below.
If you maintain the blade properly sharp, you will be amazed at how dexterous a machete can be at a variety of tasks. It simply becomes an extension of your body. It is not bad for a first bush-knife. But the experience has taught of what I could do better on the next one. Of course, I will keep you apprised when that happens ~Nathanael
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