I think you’ll agree with me when i say….
Machete comes handy during a survival situation or an outdoor adventure. You can do a lot of stuff with it like chopping, cutting, batoning etc.
But finding a right machete seems pretty hard nowadays. Because there are too many options available in the market and it seems confusing.
So In this post i’ll review some of the best survival machete. And i’ll cover all the good and bad aspects in detail. So that you can finally decide which one to buy.
Best Survival Machete
In this article...
1. CRKT Chanceinhell Fixed Blade Machete
CRKT chanceinhell is an aggressive and interesting survival machete that is very similar to a classic machete. The machete has an overall length of 17.88 inches and has a blade of about 12 inches. The blade is made up of 65Mn carbon steel that is very hard and tough to withstand heavy batoning.
The steel is also very easy to sharpen and holds a decent edge for a long time. The blade is covered with a powder coating that provides good protection against rusting and corrosion. However, it is still carbon steel so it will rust if you don’t take proper care of your machete.
Furthermore, the blade features a parang blade shape that is the most familiar machete shape out there. This adds weight at the tip and makes it perfect for hard, heavy hits while chopping and cutting. The big belly of the blade provides extra heft making chopping tasks much easier. But due to its drop point tip shape, it is not a very good tool for poking holes.
Apart from this, the chanceinhell features a saber grind. Which makes slicing through brushes and stout branches very easy. Moreover, the handle of the machete is made of injection molded thermoplastic rubber(TPR). The rubber handle fully covers the tang and held in place with a series of tubular pins. It is very curvy and has finger grooves to provide comfort for heavy use.
The rubber and textures on the handle helps to provide a firm grip even when the hand is wet. However, the negative angle or pistol grip of the handle might give a hard time to get used on initial uses. Other than this, the machete is very balanced and works well in the field. Talking about the sheath, it comes with a pretty basic nylon sheath.
The sheath consists of three snap retentions that do a decent job retaining the blade. However, with some effort, you can pull the blade out without releasing any of the snaps. The sheath also consists of a belt loop to carry the machete easily.
2. Kershaw Camp 18 (1074) Camp Series Machete
Kershaw camp 18 is one the survival machete from their camp series machete. It is a capable tool to cut, slash, split and scrape bushes and branches in the wild. The machete is made up of 10 inches long 65Mn carbon steel blade that is very durable and has high tensile strength.
The steel is adequately hard to withstand any heavy-duty work. Above all, it is very easy to sharpen and holds a decent edge for a good amount of time. However, it is not made for batoning as the steel is not that reliable. The blade of the machete is covered in black powder coating that provides good corrosion resistance.
Moreover, the machete has a typical panga design that provides good leverage because of its centre of gravity. Due to this, it performs quite well during chopping and cutting tasks. The drop point blade design. And a big belly provides additional chopping power to whack away obstacles in the way.
Apart from this, the blade features a full flat grind and comes razor sharp out of the box. It is sharp enough to even slice through a piece of paper with ease. Furthermore, the handle is made up of rubber over-mold that is held in place with two hex nuts.
The handle is very comfortable to hold and feels very balanced. It also consists of texturing that provides a nice grip even when the handle is wet. There are two holes on the front and the back that can be used to make it a spear or use as a lanyard.
Talking about the sheath, it comes with a hard plastic sheath. The sheath is very basic and has a snap retention to hold the machete. For the most part, the machete sits inside the sheath very tightly and does not rattle at all. However, sometimes the snap retention does not work and undone itself. There is a belt loop and molle attachment for easy carry
3. Condor Tool & Knife, Golok Machete, 14in Blade, Walnut Handle with Sheath
The condor golok machete is a short and unique looking survival machete on our list. The machete has an overall length of 19 inches and has a blade length of 14 inches. The blade is made of 1075 high carbon steel that is very tough and durable for long term use.
The steel holds a very good edge and is soft enough to sharpen easily with much effort as long as you have the skill. The blade is also covered with a black powder finish that is very smooth and non-reflective. It does not provide any kind of friction while chopping . And also protects against corrosion.
Moreover, the construction of the blade is thicker and shorter than an average machete. Due to its construction, it has a high tensile strength which makes it a great chopping tool. The blade has a bigger belly that provides some extra heft making chopping much easier. It also tapers down as it goes from the handle to the tip.
Apart from this, the blade comes sharp from the factory for chopping and cutting wood. However, it was not sharp enough to slice through a piece of paper. The bottom line is that you can start working with it right out of the box.
Furthermore, the handle of the machete is made up of wood scales. The handle is super thick and stays in its place without any finger guard or quillon. Due to its simple design, it feels smooth and comfortable in the hand with no noticeable hot spots. Even with different grips, it does not strain the hand, unlike other poorly built handles.
The rear of the handle has a nice curve that helps to provide more leverage while chopping. It also consists of a lanyard hole to use a lanyard for the blade. As far as the sheath is concerned, it comes with a high quality sewn and welted leather sheath.
The sheath does not have a loop retention of any kind to hold it inside. However, the blade fits inside tightly and does not rattle whatsoever. The sheath also consists of a belt loop that has a pivot point to allow free movement. But it sits much higher on the waist and sometimes feels really inconvenient.
4. Schrade SCHKM1 19.7in Kukri Machete with 13.3in Stainless Steel Blade
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Schrade SCHKM1 is a swift and sleek survival kukri machete. That is designed for speed hacking through vegetation. The machete has an overall length of 19.7 inches with a blade length of 13.3 inches. It is made up of 3Cr13 stainless steel which is typical steel that Schrade uses in its many knives and tools.
The steel has a high tensile strength and high wear resistance properties. It also has excellent corrosion resistance to protect itself from moisture damage. The machete comes with a fire starter for emergency situations. And a sharpening stone for regular touch-ups.
Although, it is a bit hard to sharpen it for amateurs but holds its edge for a longer period of time. The blade also has a black powder coating to further resist corrosion. Moreover, it features a kukri blade style which is a very versatile design for survival machete.
The design makes it good for chopping, piercing and even precision cutting. And with its lightweight nature, it can hackle through thick vegetation with ease. Apart from this, the blade has a nice grind but not comes super sharp out of the factory. It does need some sharpening to be able to use it properly.
Furthermore, the handle is made up of hard rubberized plastic scales and sits on the top of the tang. It is thick at the front and thin at the back which makes it fit comfortably in the hand. The rubberised handle also consists of textures that make it very grippy even when the hands are wet.
Talking about the sheath, it comes with a pretty nice polyester sheath. The blade sits snugly inside the sheath with no rattle. The sheath consists of two retention straps that help to secure the machete in its place. It also consists of a removable shoulder pouch that can be used to store included fire starter and sharpening stone.
There are a ton of carry options available on the sheath including a shoulder strap, leg strap, belt loop. And you can choose anyone according to your comfort.
5. SOG Machete with Sheath – SOGFari Survival Machete
SOG sogfari is a very unique and compact survival machete that can do some aggressive chopping. The machete has a blade length of 10 inches and is made up of 3Cr13 stainless steel. The steel has a high tensile strength that can withstand some heavy beating.
It is also wear-resistant that makes it very easy to maintain for an extended period of time. The blade holds a decent edge for a long amount of time. It is also easy to sharpen but sharpening takes time due to its blade design. The blade has a black powder coating which helps it to resist corrosion and extend its life span.
Moreover, the blade of the machete has a tanto blade shape that provides a strong tip. The tip can be used to piece hardwood to drill holes for various tasks. It is also very good when it comes to chopping. You can chop a ton of wood with the machete without any issue.
The back of the blade has a unique and rather clever saw teeth that makes it a very versatile tool. It is a very effective design from the survival standpoint. However, it takes more effort as well as time to saw through a piece of wood rather than chopping.
The saw teeth also makes it impossible to do batoning without damaging the baton. Furthermore, the handle of the machete is made up of Kraton handle scales. The handle sits on top of the tang and provides good control on the machete. It is very comfortable and fits nicely in the hand. It also consists of textures that help to provide very firm grip even when wet.
There are three lanyard holes on the handle that can be used to make it a spear. There is also an aggressive pommel at the back which is perfect for breaking nuts or rocks. Talking about the sheath, it comes with a pretty basic ballistic nylon sheath.
The sheath has a snap retention to hold it in its place and belt loop for easy carry. It is a good quality sheath and does its job quite well.
6. KA-BAR 2-1249-9 Kukri
Ka-Bar kukri is a modern kukri styled survival machete that is very versatile and can chop like an axe. The machete has an overall length of 17 inches with the blade length of 11.5 inches. The blade is made up of 1085 carbon steel which is very durable and an excellent choice for hard use. The steel is very tough and holds a good edge even under heavy use.
However, due to the hardness, it is a bit hard to sharpen for people with average skills. The blade is also covered in a black powder coating to protect it from rusting. The coating is smooth and does not create friction while usage. But it is still carbon steel and it will rust so you have to take good care of your machete.
Moreover, the blade has a kukri style blade design that is widely considered the most versatile design. It is weighted at the front and tapered near the handle which makes it a good for chopping, piercing and cutting. Due to its chopping prowess, it has no issue taking down large limbs in no time.
The blade has a partial flat grind with an unsharpened swedge along half of the blade which reinforces the tip. And unlike most machetes, the edge comes very sharp out of the box. It is sharp enough to cut through paper or shave the arm hair without any issue.
Furthermore, the handle of the machete is made up of TPR material which is large and comfortable. The material of the handle is very rubbery and performs well with wet or dry hands. The pommel at the back is slightly curved to provide support for the pinky finger.
This helps the machete in the hand and provides extra leverage for heavy chopping. There is also a lanyard hole at the back to attach a lanyard cord. Talking about the sheath, it is made up of a combination of black leather and Cordura.
It a pretty basic sheath and consists of two snap retention to hold the blade. It works totally fine and holds the machete well. There is also a belt loop and a D ring to carry it around safely.
7. Fiskars 29 Inch Machete Axe
Fiskars machete axe is a very odd-looking survival machete that a bored kid would draw during math class. The machete has an overall length of 29 inches and has a blade length of 18 inches. The blade is made up of good quality steel that is very hard and durable.
Though, there is not enough information about the exact steel that is used here. The blade has a satin finish that not only makes it look good but also resists corrosion. It is very smooth and does not come in the way of cutting or chopping.
Furthermore, the blade has a very unique shape that is a combination of a machete and axe head. It is very versatile and performs quite well when it comes to chopping and slicing. It is a bit hard to sharpen effectively due to its odd shape.
However, it comes sharp out of the factory and holds a decent edge for a good amount of time. Moreover, the handle of the machete axe is made up of hollow plastic that is very hard and durable. The handle is absolutely gigantic and really gives the anime sword vibe.
The large handle provides a very comfortable hold while using it as an axe. The textured pattern lets you choke up for more precision work and also provide a good grip when wet. There is also a lanyard hole at the bottom to secure it with a lanyard cord during intense work.
Talking about the sheath, it comes with a basic nylon sheath. The sheath is well made and feels quite durable for long use. Due to the odd shape of the machete, the sheath is also very different from regular sheaths. It needs both hands in order to open and close while in use.
However, it did not consist of any belt loop to carry it around with ease. But it works fine when it comes to protecting the blade while it’s not in use.
8. Condor Tool & Knife, Duku Machete, 15-1/2in Blade, Wood Handle with Sheath
The condor duke machete is a strong and reliable survival machete. The machete has an overall length of 22 inches and has a blade length of 15 inches. The blade is made of 1075 high carbon steel that is very tough and durable for long term use.
The steel holds a very good edge and is soft enough to sharpen easily with much effort. The blade is also covered with a smooth non-reflective black powder finish. It does not provide any kind of friction while chopping and also protects against corrosion.
Moreover, the construction of the blade is thicker and has a parang blade shape with a pointy tip. Due to its construction, it has a high tensile strength which makes it a great chopping tool. The blade has a bigger belly that provides some extra heft making chopping much easier. It also tapers down as it goes from the handle to the tip.
Apart from this, the blade comes sharp from the factory for chopping and cutting wood. However, it was not sharp enough to slice through a piece of paper. Furthermore, the handle of the machete is made up of wood scales. The handle is super thick and stays in its place without any finger guard or quillon.
Due to its simple design, it feels smooth and comfortable in the hand with no noticeable hot spots. Even with different grips, it does not strain the hand, unlike other poorly built handles. The rear of the handle has a nice curve that helps to provide more leverage while chopping.
It also consists of a lanyard hole to use a lanyard for the blade. As far as the sheath is concerned, it comes with a welted leather sheath. The sheath does not have a loop retention of any kind to hold the machete inside.
However, the blade fits inside tightly and does not rattle whatsoever. The sheath also consists of a belt loop that has a pivot point to allow free movement.
9. Tomahawk Razorback Full Tang Machete
Tomahawk razorback back is a full tang survival machete that packs hefty muscle and extraordinary styling. The machete has an overall length of 22 inches with a blade length of 15 inches. It is made up of tough stainless steel which is typical steel that hacks through weeds and brushes effortlessly.
The steel is fairly wear-resistant and can hold a decent edge for a long time on regular use. And if at all needed to sharpen it, the steel is soft enough to sharpen easily. The blade also has a satin finish on it to protect itself from corrosion.
Moreover, the blade of the machete has a panga shape that is very good when it comes to chopping. You can chop a ton of wood with the machete without any issue. The back of the blade has a unique and rather clever saw teeth that makes it a very versatile tool. It is a very effective design for survival in the wild.
However, it takes more effort as well as time to saw through a piece of wood rather than chopping. The saw teeth also makes it impossible to do batoning without damaging the baton. Furthermore, the handle of the machete is made up of wood scales.
The handle is nicely shaped and stays in its place without any fingerguard or quillon. Due to its simple design, it feels smooth and comfortable in the hand with no noticeable hot spots. The rear of the handle has a nice curve that helps to provide more leverage while chopping.
However, there is no lanyard hole on the handle to secure it while chopping. As far as the sheath is concerned, it comes with a pretty basic nylon sheath. The sheath does not have a loop retention of any kind to hold the machete inside.
However, the blade fits inside tightly and does not rattle whatsoever. The sheath also consists of a shoulder loop that allows easy carry. Though it is not the most convenient way to carry it.
Things to consider before buying a Survival Machete
Blade material
This is the first thing to consider before buying a survival machete. You need to make sure to choose a good quality material. Because it’ll affect the overall performance of the blade.
There are too many options in the market like stainless steel, carbon steel or super steel. But the most common steel that is used in the machete is high carbon steel and stainless steel. These steel have different types of properties and drawbacks.
Blade Size
A typical machete usually ranges from as small as 10” to 28”. The smaller the blade, the easier it is to control it. A longer blade creates more momentum and can clear a larger area with one swing. However, it is difficult to maintain a longer blade and it is a hassle to transport.
Blade shape
There are many different versions of a blade to help in various agriculture and survival tasks. Each blade has its own characteristics and advantages that were developed over time. But generally, the machete is divided into two main styles.
Either thin and light long blade design for cutting soft vegetation. Or thick and heavy short blade for excellent chopping wood. Choose a machete according to your need and things you want to do with it.
Handle
Handle is another important thing to consider before buying a machete. Because there’s nothing worse than an uncomfortable and weak handle. So make sure to choose a comfortable and strong handle.
