In the global knife market, pricking and cutting products are presented in a wide assortment. Among the knife products, a machete occupies a special place. This device first appeared in South America. Over time, it found wide application on other continents. Today, a machete is a fairly effective tool that a person uses in many areas of his activity. Information about the origin, device and features of this product is presented in the article.
Acquaintance
Machete is a tool that, thanks to its chopping properties, is used in agriculture. The product is a huge knife, which is very convenient to chop and cut. In addition, a machete is a type of melee weapon. The long knife was widely used at the time and for military purposes.
About origin
The blade appeared in the regions of South America after the arrival of the Portuguese and Spaniards. The local population used this product as a large and light cane knife. With its help, sugarcane, stalks of corn and other crops were cut. Also, using this inventory, the colonists cleared their way in the thicket of the jungle. Today, there are several versions about the origin of the machete. According to one of them, a long knife is a descendant of copis, the sword of the ancient Greeks. The proof of this theory is the design features of the Javanese parang - one of the varieties of the concave machete. The weapon with its appearance is very reminiscent of kukri, which the gurkha used to be. For all three types of knives, a boomerang-like shape is characteristic. However, the convex part of the blade is imprisoned in the paranga, and the concave part in the kukri.
About combat use
In the middle of the 20th century, South American agricultural implements began to be used by professional soldiers. The American soldiers appreciated the impressive size of the machete and its center of gravity shifted to the tip of the blade. This peasant inventory is easy to manufacture. It is not difficult to craft in artisanal conditions, thanks to which guerrilla wars were fought with the use of this cold steel.
Machetes were used by Latin planters to punish runaway slaves. The reed knife, and not only as an inventory, but also as a weapon, was also used by Negro slaves (South America) during the uprisings. The army used a large blade in World War II and during the war in Vietnam. Today created several varieties of machetes. In the army of some states, this blade is in service. His image adorns the flag and coat of arms of Angola.
About the technical characteristics of the cane knife
The device of the classic long blade provides a fairly simple form. The knife has a wide blade, which is absolutely not suitable for stabbing. A 3-4 mm thick blade is characterized by one-sided sharpening. Length can vary between 400-600 mm. However, you can find more dimensional cutting products. For the manufacture of handles, mainly simple materials are used. The classic machetes have wooden handles. In modern versions, the wood was replaced with plastic. Handles are made using the surface-mounted technique. You can make such a cane knife at home. To do this, you need a piece of high-quality sheet steel, a tool for working with metal and a machete drawing (for example, such as in the photo below).
What is the feature of the knife?
Since the machete is designed for chipping, its design is completely missing a guard. Also for the cane knife is not characterized by the presence of any decorative elements and decorations. Since the machete is doing rough work, everything should be functional in it. Some handles feature lanyards. According to experts, this element is not a necessity.
About Kukri Plus
Judging by the numerous consumer reviews, machetes of the American manufacturer of Cold Steel knives are in great demand. The blade length is 305 mm. In the manufacture of the blade uses high-quality carbon steel SK-5, which is processed by forging. According to the owners, the machete blade is sharpened to razor sharpness.
For the blade, an extension is provided at the end. Due to this, during cutting, there is absolutely no load on the hand. Compared to other similar products, Kukri Plus is shorter. In this regard, to cut with this model creepers, branches or vines is not very convenient. Nevertheless, the Cold Steel machete can be used as an effective means of self-defense. The knife is equipped with a textured reinforced handle. It is easy to chop nuts or strike. The machete of this model can be used as a tool and as a military weapon. The price of such a product is about 11 thousand rubles.
About long knives in the cinema
Machete looks simple and at the same time ominous. The directors decided to take advantage of this, using the use of the blade in the cinema. Machete can often be seen in action films, thrillers and adventure films. In two artistic paintings by Robert Rodriguez - "Machete" and "Machete Kills" - the main character performed by Denny Trejo skillfully wields a long cane knife.
