machete

[JJ_BPK]

I asked Danny,,

He suggested a variety to cover multiple scenarios..

I carried an old Camillus folding machete in nam. It worked well, was compact, good balance, but heavy..

[CSB]

US Army issue style, but sharpen it (or have it sharpened on an emery belt) to get a better edge. I prefer a knife edge, rather than the issue wedge grind.

It helps to have a heavy end, for chopping you are going to make contact with the area about 6" above the handle, and the added weight of the end will drive the blade into the wood.

[Kasik]

The Salvadoran military back in the early 80s began issuing a short machete, about a 14" blade as I recall, to its newly formed light infantry battalions. Very fast and easy to manuver in tight quarters / spaces.

Great for field use and as CQB blade. And its compact size allowed for easy carry without getting in the way of other gear...what gear they had at the time.

If it was one thing a Salvadoran knew how to use it was his machete.

SF advisors were prone to having one lying around, as well.