Two-handed machete for maximum slashing power.
If you can carry only one blade on your adventures, it may have to be the long knife, variously called the parang, machete, golok, kukri, bolo or several other names.
The various names refer to long knives that are single-edged and shaped to perform multiple tasks, from heavy chopping to detailed whittling or slicing and food preparation.
Keeping the total weight of all the gear you are lugging outdoors is often critical to prevent exhaustion when travelling on foot. Hikers on a mountain path, an orchardist checking his land or forest rangers inspecting trails – they all often need to be minimalists and can only afford to carry one blade.
Over time, different regions and purposes have given rise to multiple types of long knives designed with specific features to get the work done in those environments.
Listing out all the long knives in the world will result in a book, but a few popular ones are the favourites of many and are maybe even instantly recognisable, thanks to their portrayal in movies.
The hilt of a parang resembles a revolver’s grip.
Parang
This is proudly a Malaysian design, created by generations of kampung folk entering the rainforest in search of resources back in the day. It is similar to the Indonesian golok, with the classic parang’s blade being a tad more slender.
The hilt looks a little like a revolver’s grip – curved with a slim start for your first two fingers and a much-fattened end for your last two fingers. Such a shape invokes simple laws of physics to stop your parang from shooting out of hands when you make a strong forward or sideways slash.
The about 30cm-long blade is thick. At the spine (blunt side opposite from the edge), it is usually 4mm thick and some custom-made parang are 5mm and even 7mm thick close to the hilt.
Such a pronounced thickness is meant for heavy work, such as splitting wood using a method called batoning, in which you hammer the blade with a stout stick to drive it vertically through a log to split it.
The grind of a parang is usually a convex, meaning that from the spine, the faces of the blade on both sides gradually arches towards the edge in a slight rounded curve.
The blade of a classic parang is honed with three different edges.
The major purpose of the parang’s convex grind is to force wood apart when you chop into it so that the blade will not get stuck in the wood, just like how axes work.
Old-school parang blades have craters on the faces of both sides, like the surface of the moon, to allow air to be sucked in during a chop to further prevent the blade from getting stuck.
The ultimate versatility of a well-prepared parang lies in how it has three different edges along that one blade.
The tip is typically slim and sharp, good for skinning, stabbing.
The wide, curved belly has a fatter edge to withstand the rigours of chopping wood.
The blade’s end leading to the hilt, perhaps a 15cm edge, is sharpened finely at a narrow angle for you to slice bamboo into strips to use as lashings, whittle wood, or just to cut onions.
The Filipino bolo is similar to the parang and golok, though the bolo’s shape and edge configuration is more suited for slashing through overgrowth than dealing with wood.
The duku chandong of the Iban people, with a variation (right) to help keep the wielder’s hand off the ground when chopping downwards.
Duku chandong
Also called parang chandong, this is the traditional chopper of the Iban people throughout Sarawak and Kalimantan.
It stands out with its distinctive and asymmetrical blade design. It has a single edge with a blunt, squared off tip and a concave curve on one side, providing a unique cutting profile.
Its lack of a pointed tip suggests that it was created as a work knife rather than for hunters.
Some variations feature a blade angle that flares upwards from the angle of the hilt, allowing the user to keep the knife hand a little further off the ground when chopping down.
The duku chandong is traditionally used for agricultural purposes, including clearing brush and harvesting crops. Its local significance and functional design make it a cultural icon and a practical tool for daily tasks in the wild.
Machetes built in the forms of the wakizashi (left) and kukri.
Machete
The words “parang” and “machete” (originally a Spanish word) are sometimes used interchangeably but they are really quite different.
This is a long blade and some are over 50cm long, almost like a single-edge sword.
The blades tend to be just 2mm to 3mm thick to keep them light enough for the wielder to realistically use them to slash through tall vegetation for an extended time.
Since the blade’s thickness is not substantial, chopping wood such as thick branches or tree saplings might be exhausting and you can even damage the blade.
The edges are usually a uniformed flat grind to provide a keen slashing edge throughout the blade’s length, and because of the flat profile of the blade, it will have a tendency to get stuck when chopped into wood.
It is believed they were tools for workers to harvest sugarcane plantations in South America, and it became a good implement for clearing paths through overgrowth.
Two-handed machete for maximum slashing power.
Two-handed machete
The two-handed machete features an elongated blade with a handle that accommodates both hands comfortably. This design provides enhanced control and leverage, making it ideal for heavy-duty tasks.
The increased length and weight allow for more powerful swings, making it an indispensable tool in agricultural settings and for those venturing into dense jungle.
Modern knife makers sometimes shape two-handed machetes to resemble yesteryear swords for aesthetics, turning them into conversational pieces.
Short, high-visibility machete.
High-visibility painted machete
These add a modern twist to traditional designs, combining functionality with safety.
Typically used in outdoor activities and survival scenarios, these machetes are painted in blaze orange to enhance visibility.
While blaze orange is highly visible to the human eye, it is imperceptible for many animals.
The high-visibility paint helps you spot the machete quickly and this serves as a safety measure, reducing the risk of accidents in low-light conditions.
These machetes are popular among outdoor enthusiasts, campers, and hunters who prioritise safety without compromising on performance.
Kukri
Originating from Nepal, the kukri is a unique and iconic machete with a distinct forward-curved blade.
The kukri design allows for effective slicing and chopping.
The recurve from the tip concentrates the force, naturally drawing the material being cut towards the blade when force is applied.
It is the national weapon of Nepal and the basic utility knife of every Gurkha soldier.
The kukri is a common tool in the fields and homes in Nepal and northern India. Folk there favour this blade for clearing brush, chopping firewood, digging, slaughtering livestock and preparing meals.
But others may need to learn how to use it since it cannot be used like a cleaver or other straight-edged blades for preparing food at camp.
Wakizashi
The traditional short sword of the samurai, the wakizashi’s shape has been adapted as a slim, modern machete.
This was the samurai’s secondary weapon and symbolised the wielder’s honour.
In modern times, its practicality as a machete has gained recognition.
Its shorter length, relative light weight and slim profile are suitable for precision cutting and slashing, making it a good choice for outdoorsmen in environments that only need a light, slim all-purpose blade when wood-chopping is not a serious event.
Its cutting edge, which is almost straight and only slightly curved, is easy to keep razor-sharp with general field-sharpening.
Sawback machete.
Sawback machete
They incorporate a serrated edge along the blade’s spine.
This lets you saw down thick branches and tree saplings instead of wasting energy hacking through them.
Those who need to stay in the jungle for long periods will appreciate having a saw at camp because it allows them to cut precise lengths of staves for making neat, functional camp furniture.
The sawback comes in handy when you remember that machetes are usually not thick blades; they should not be used to hack thick wood so it is better to saw through them.
