I carry a 12" Ontario CT-1 and sheath on my rucksack for chopping, splitting wood, digging and whatever when I am in the back woods. Last week, I used it to dig a 3' trench that was 1' deep, prying out rocks, and chopping roots all the way. A quick session with a file and a little WD-40 when I got back was all the care it needed. I have four or five other longer ones that I use for BOB and for clearing campsites.

Machetes come in a great variety of shapes and styles. Some have significantly thicker blades. For those who dont have the money or inclination to buy and abuse one of those big knives in the $200-$300 range, a good quality machete and sheath can be an economical option.

Here is a website that has the largest selection of machetes and sheaths I have ever seen in one place. They also seem to have pretty good prices, at least for the knives I am familiar with.


http://www.machetespecialists.com/machete-brands.html