Your favorite “big choppas”: Machete, Khukuri, Big Knife?

ROCK6

ROCK6

Joined
Feb 8, 2004
Messages
4,215
I like big butts blades, and I cannot lie…:-)

Outdoors, survival, bushcraft, apocalyptic-fantasies, working around the house…what-have-you. What’s your go-to big choppers (don't axe about axes!)? Task, vegetation, and environment all play a role for the most optimum tool. For the couple of schools I’ve been to, the 12” machete awas touted as the universal “survival tool”. I’m also a long time acolyte of the late Ron Hood and his love for larger bladed knives for outdoors survival.

A few of my favorites:

Livesay RTAK (father to the ESEE version)
Hoodlum, mine is the limited TOPS-made run before Buck Knives took over
Bill Seigel Hoodlum (yeah, I was an acolyte of the late Ron Hood and his big knives!)
Condor Mid-Makara, just handles and balances so well
Former Blind Horse knives long handled machete…my absolute favorite
Condor Swamp Master…does a lot of work around the property (along with the Fiskars “Bush Axe”
A very light and handy custom Kalish Blades Kukri with Micarta wrapped handle (they do the best handles!)
My very first Himalayan Imports Ang Khola
TOPS Yacare, just a handy, versatile chopper
BRKT Evolution EVO-1
Indonesian-made heavy parang chopper (thick with incredible convex grind; custom sheath/harness)
Varusteleka Skrama 240
The simple Ontario 12” machete, I have several variants, but they’re just one of the best universal tools for the price













Shortest blade of my big knives is the Fallkniven A2 with an 8” blade on the far left side...




ROCK6
 
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I have SOOOOOO many HI Khuks and Choppas that I can't narrow it down ;) I have been a big knife guy for years, but have started to lean towards a lot smaller stuff as time has gone on ;)

So I will instead say that I have been SUPER impressed with the Woodsman's Pal...after some modifications.
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I do a lot more yardwork than woodswork, but this thing is a beast at controlling sapling growth. The handle needed some slimming and sanding for sure. That brush hook is really handy.
 
Done a few....
Working on one today.

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6PM update, edit to add.
Rough cut scale material and handmade fasteners.... Hopefully glue-up by 7
It Chops, it just isn't PrettyIMG_20260425_163719809.jpgIMG_20260425_165221553.jpg

4/26/26
Rough handle shaping done.
Now I will hold it for hours on end, slight using....minor grinding and sanding until she goes. The owner has smaller hands, they said. I'm known for larger handles. Hopefully I kept this lean enough. It's not light, but seems well balanced due to the long, two-handed grip.
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Last edited:
AntDog said:
Love the Turk’s head pommel wrap on that SYKCO. Great idea. M6 did a little light bushwhackin today. It chops very well for its size.

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Thanks! The pommel needed something to keep it from slipping out of my grip and the lanyard just wasn't enough. It's not perfect but it's a start. I wish I could swap the grip for a regulator style.
 
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