I just had to share this with you about the best survival machete features…
You see, I recently found an article from Field & Stream magazine that proclaimed the machete as “the only multitool you really need” for a survival scenario.
As you know, I fully agree, since my machete was the No. 1 backup I carried in the infantry — both in combat and in the field.
In fact, I wanted to give you my own take on their article because…
1. They touched on some great tips (I’ll share below) but missed some very important reasons why the machete is one of the most powerful additions to any 12-layer survival weapons blueprint
2. Our own Guardian machete’s unique design allows it to achieve feats no other machete is capable of — so…
Here are the top 10 best survival machete features you may not know:
1. Spear Point: The point of the machete can be used to “drill” holes… open canned goods… and skin game you hunt (just grip the upper edge of the blade and use the tip to cut). Also, with a bolo-style tip design like the Guardian’s, it’s an effective stabbing weapon for self-defense.
2. Lead Edge: The edge closest to the tip is best used for scraping, such as for finishing a hide, carving out a canoe or shaving off that stubble Crocodile Dundee-like.
3. Middle Edge: This is the “sweet spot” of the blade where the most force is distributed for felling trees, chopping wood for shelter or a fire or hacking anything you want — from bushwhacking a trail to decapitating zombies.
4. Forte: The bottom third of the blade isn’t as strong for chopping but as F&S points out, it’s also perfect for finer-control tasks such as cutting meat, stripping bark, shaving tinder or scraping flint to start a fire.
5. Pommel: Typically used in fighting as a close-quarters, nonlethal defense tool. For our Guardian machete, we extended the full-tang blade to be able to use this area as a glass-breaking tool to escape or rescue someone from a crashed or burning vehicle.
6. Rear Spine: The flat edge of the spine closest to the handle grip makes for a good hammer, and as F&S points out — popping the cap off of a brewski!
7. Spine: Because of the power generated when swinging a machete, the spine can be used for breaking sticks instead of chopping them. But for me, a simple flip of the machete allows you to use the spine for self-defense because it will break a bone rather than hacking off a limb in a scenario where lethal force isn’t desired.
8. Beveled Upper Spine Point: Not all machetes have this feature, but for our Guardian, we beveled the upper portion of the symmetrical spear point to be better used for stabbing self-defense moves (something most machetes aren’t equipped for). By beveling the upper edge rather than sharpening it, it makes our Guardian legal as a “tool” rather than a “sword” — yet it’s still incredibly effective for this combat purpose.
9. Broad, Flat Top: Having a wider point with the bolo design allows the machete to be used as a shovel for digging fire pits, trenches or even a foxhole in a pinch. (Plus, F&S points out that it’s the ultimate badass way to impress your friends as a steak-flipper at your next BBQ!)
10. The Most Important Feature: While not a specific area of the machete, our Guardian is designed with a unique heat-treated 1095 steel that can easily defeat many urban obstacles you may encounter after a disaster or collapse.
First, I wouldn’t try this with any other machete except the Guardian, but we tested several different types of steel and found that the common machetes you get from a sporting goods store (or even popular knife manufacturers) work fine for chopping some wood but fail when put to the test against urban-type obstacles.
This is important because you never know when you’re going to need to:
- Bust through cement to build a reinforcement wall or defensive position or protect your home from a storm (or looters)
- Breach a concrete wall whose main entry has been destroyed
- Cut through barbed wire or sheet metal to gain access to an escape path
- Or break through any other barriers in urban-type environments.
Most people — even experienced survivalists — don’t think about using a machete for these types of challenges because most machetes aren’t powerful enough to be an urban survival tool.
The key here — when it comes to your survival and protecting your family — is to not settle for cheapo sporting goods store machetes.
You want one that will be strong enough to defeat any task you throw at it and still be so strong you can pass it down from generation to generation as a prized selection in your arsenal.
[Editor’s note: If you’re sold on the merits of a machete, click here to get a Guardian of your very own.]
