Junkyard found Machete

[DMIKEM]

I am not sure if this was a machete, Bowie, or maybe even a sword of some type. I found this blade about 30 years ago in a junkyard laying in the dirt. it had no handle and the end was broken off square and it was covered in carbon dirt and rust. When I cleaned it up I found it was covered in etching from Mexico. It had these scallops or serrations along the edge so I (as a young man) ground the end to a curve and used a rat tail file to carry the scallops to the end. I tried not to remove too much metal because I didn't want to ruin the etching. I found an oak branch in the yard and cut in down the middle and made a couple handle scales and used 16 penny nails for the pins that I pounded until they mushroomed and held the scales tight. Today I wish I had just squared off the end and used brass and epoxy on the handle but it is still tight after 30 years. I am going to refinish my handle and clean it up now that I actually have tools that I didn't have 30 years ago.

Would any of you do anything to this blade and if so what and how might you go about it?

 

[Navin_R_Johnson]

I would leave it as is, nails and all.

 

[DMIKEM]

Wow really thanks. I do want to thin the handle a little though. It's pretty thick around. I did find a gap on the back of the handle I will fill with epoxy. Back when I made the handle I think all I had was an angle grinder a hand saw and a palm sander, oh and a drill. Too bad I lost the 4 inch chunk of the blade I found with this. It was not all the way to the end either but would have been nice to just have around.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

I wouldn't really do anything to it myself, short of any further tweaks for comfort. Looks like a Mexican tourist item with the etchings etc., but that doesn't keep it from being a very functional tool.

 

[HeavyHanded]

I'd make a sheath for it, shape the handle more if necessary. Otherwise leave it as is, maybe sharpen if needed and use it.

I agree with Navin, the scales are perfect, its ready to go.

 

[quartertime]

I would leave it as is, nails and all.

Yeah, me too. It's got a good story behind it too. I'd probably just hang it on the wall of my man cave if it was me.

 

[DMIKEM]

Thanks all. I had thought of shaping it into a bowie but so much of it would be lost. I think after some clean up on the handle and either linseed oil or tung oil it would actually be a pretty functional camp knife, or short machete. It is real thick and seems to be a decent steel.