With a machete you can also master complicated cutting jobs in the garden. In our article you can find out what distinguishes the special tool and which points you should definitely pay attention to when buying it.
Shape of saw blade and handle varies from model to model
Our recommendations
our recommendation
Kershaw Machete Overall Length: 61.5cm Knife, Multicolored, 61.5cm
To the product| blade material | tool steel |
|---|---|
| coating | Yes |
| blade length | 46 cm |
| handle material | plastic, rubber |
| handle length | 15.5 cm |
| Weight | about 1kg |
The best machete in our comparative test is the Kershaw model, which is characterized by its relatively long blade. With this feature, the all-round machete ensures a long range. Most reviewers on Amazon describe it as an enormously robust and functional hand tool that is said to be "super handy and very efficient to wield". our recommendation
Cold Steel Kukri Machete Total Length: 54.5cm, Multicolored, One Size
To the product| blade material | carbon steel |
|---|---|
| coating | Yes |
| blade length | 40 cm |
| handle material | plastic (PP) |
| handle length | 14.5 cm |
| Weight | about 0.7kg |
The Cold Steel Kukri is considered to be solidly made. In nature, it should even become a "brutal monster". Chopping, scything, and carving seems to be done with "sometimes frightening uncompromisingness." If you want an extremely powerful machete for your garden work, this model is the best choice.
our recommendation
Gerber 31-002289 Bear Gryll's Parang Machete
49.78 EUR To the product| blade material | carbon steel |
|---|---|
| coating | Yes |
| blade length | 34 cm |
| handle material | plastic |
| handle length | 16 cm |
| Weight | about 0.5kg |
The Gerber machete is our price-performance winner. It costs less than the other two versions in our comparison, although the pure quality should be very similar to that of the runner-up. Reviewers at Amazon are raving about the Parang, who say it's "just awesome."
Purchase Criteria
Type
latin: The Latin machete is also known as a bush machete. It's something of a classic. The strong shape and straight back of the blade are characteristic of this type. In addition, the Latin is well balanced, which supports fatigue-free work during longer actions. It offers a large radius of action when cutting green vegetation and acts as an excellent all-purpose tool.
gator: Like the Latin, the Gator machete is considered a versatile garden tool. It has a double-sided straight blade. While the smooth side cleanly cuts off trunks as thick as an arm, the saw teeth on the back effortlessly cut fibrous or springing branches.
Kukri: The kukri, also known as the khukuri, is characterized by its inwardly curved blade. This ensures you get the most out of each section of the machete: piercing with the tip, chopping with the middle section, and finer carving with the lower section. Incidentally, the kukri has gained notoriety primarily through the Gurkha (Nepalese soldiers). They used this machete as an effective melee weapon.
panga: The panga or tapanga originally comes from South Africa. Its most important characteristics are the blade, which widens towards the top, and the considerable length, which is normally 40 to 45 centimetres. Most panga machetes also have the part pointing upwards sharpened. Since the full power of the blade is concentrated on a small area, this area cuts a very good figure when stabbing. In addition, the panga commonly has a broad, relatively heavy head that optimizes chopping.
parang: The parang is similar to the panga, but its blade is shorter, thicker and only sharpened on one side. Due to the design, this machete hardly gets caught in the branches, which is why it is particularly recommended for use in wooded areas.
bolo: At first glance, the bolo is also very reminiscent of the panga. If you take a closer look, however, you can see that the blade of the bolo machete only thickens just before the point. It is a compact, rather heavy variant that, among other things, enables the felling of smaller trees.
Billhook: The billhook can be recognized by its hooked blade. It is a functional machete when it comes to tending hedges - for example, trimming bushes or grasping stray vine branches.
blade material
The blade of a machete is basically made of steel. But there are serious qualitative differences - depending on the specific type of steel. We generally advise against using literally cheap machetes made of rust-prone tubular steel.
Otherwise, you essentially have a choice between
- carbon steel,
- stainless steel and
- tool steel.
carbon steel: It is an alloy of carbon and iron. Machetes made from this material are very strong and easy to sharpen. The disadvantage: the high susceptibility to rust, which is associated with a corresponding need for care.
Stainless steel: It combines iron with plenty of carbon and chromium. The latter metal protects the blade from rust. Unfortunately, depending on the exact alloy, the machetes are sometimes difficult to sharpen. When it comes to stability, they sometimes can't quite keep up with versions made of carbon or tool steel.
tool steel: It is composed of iron, a high proportion of carbon and some chromium. This is how it combines the best of carbon and stainless steel: a machete made of this material is rust-resistant, can be sharpened well and can withstand even heavier loads.
coating
Especially with steel that is prone to rust, a coating is almost mandatory to ensure greater corrosion resistance. The coating also has the advantage that the blade gets less dirty, which in turn makes cleaning easier.
blade length
The average blade length of a machete is 45 centimeters. However, there are also much shorter and significantly longer versions. Think about what is more important to you: range or handling? If you want more reach, you should prefer a longer blade; if you place more value on good handling, make the better choice with a shorter blade.
blade shape
The right blade shape for your needs depends on what you want to primarily do with the machete. A version with a wide head is ideal for chopping, while a pointed one is perfect for piercing.
tang
The tang is the part of the machete where the blade meets the handle. It should tend to be large to prevent the blade from breaking off.
handle material
The handle of the machete is usually made of either wood or plastic.
- A wooden handle is comfortable to hold and looks good, but it can easily splinter if there are major temperature fluctuations.
- A plastic handle is less prone to splintering, but offers less grip in wet weather. A rubber insert can counteract this.
Weight
Machetes are generally relatively heavy. This is what they have to be in order to be able to fulfill their tasks in the best possible way - i.e. to withstand the toughest loads and produce very clean cuts. Of course, your chosen machete should not be too heavy, so that it remains easy to handle. Use practical tests to find out for yourself what weight you can still easily handle.
youtubefrequently asked Questions
What is a machete?
The machete is a fixed knife - a device for cutting, which consists of a handle and a blade. The special thing about this type of knife is the immense length of the blade. This feature makes it versatile, because the machete is not only suitable for cutting, but also for hewing and chopping weeds, for example.
Which brands offer good machetes?
The best-known brands for high-quality machetes include Fiskars and the "adoptive subsidiary" Gerber and Walther. You can also choose from Condor, Kershaw and G8DS versions at Amazon.
Is it illegal to use a machete?
The short answer up front: No. You may own and use a machete.
Here is the slightly more detailed version: Users often wonder if the machete is a weapon. no While it is actually used as a weapon in some places, it is considered a tool in itself. Therefore the machete is legal.
But: According to the Weapons Act (WaffG) §42a paragraph 1, it is forbidden to "… carry fixed knives with a blade length of more than 12 cm". The blade of the machete clearly exceeds this measurement.
'Carrying' means not to openly carry your machete in public. On the other hand, you can use the machete as a gardening tool on your private property or in your garden.
There are regulations that allow wielding the machete in public. These relate mainly to the existence of a “legitimate interest” (gardeners, forest workers, etc.).
When you are on the road, you must always transport the tool tightly closed - whether as a professional or hobby gardener. A simple blade guard is not enough. Some kind of safe with a key is required.