Intro
I want to introduce myself and our business to you all to explain the philosophy behind British Machete Co. (BMC) and what we are trying to achieve. It would also be nice to think I could dispel any doubts or suspicions that naturally surround a new brand.
I'm approaching my fourth decade, a Brit who spent 13 years overseas running a fairly successful hand tool manufacturing business. I returned to the UK at the start of 2020 and settled into a house with a wild, wild garden.
The Dream
BMC is a business I want to grow to incorporate full in-house rapid prototyping, manufacturing and ultimately elevate us alongside the leading American, German and Italian Cutlers. Big dream I know!
​
I'm leveraging some of my interest and experience in hand tools to design and produce in Britain blades of which I could be proud, and use to tame the garden! Much testing, blood, sweat, drawing, stress and excitement later, and my first few designs developed and morphed into the Chopra Machete - a hybrid of Bolo and Parang styles.
It needed to be a chopper, something that could limb trees easily. The main targets were Cherry, Hazel and Holly (trees ;)
So how would I realise this dream of developing my own blades? I didn't want to spend my life as a Blacksmith. Despite finding it fascinating learning about forging, steel HT temps and hand grinding, I'm more drawn to the design and execution.
Understanding the geometries at play, balance, the handle ergonomics, the effects on cutting performance and matching various surface treatments to complimentary handle materials is ultimately what excites me. Design.
Practicality
Tactical knives, combat daggers and many other sexy sharp knives really appeal on some base instinctual level. But when looking at fixed blades for outside pursuits, I kept coming back to a Machete.
How do you limb a tree with a 6in knife? Cut through 1in mature bamboo? How do you chop without batoning? Cut out a small dead pine stump? What can replace those shin-killer axes and hatchets?
With a good Machete you get the reach, the leverage, the power, the detailed work, the fun, the defense, the ease to process nature fast and, of course, the looks. You can be Indiana Jones.
The Challenge
The ability to produce in runs of hundreds; blades that are a consistent quality, appearance and are semi-custom (still sharpened and hafted by hand, sheaths made by hand) and doing so in the UK? That is a tall challenge!
I must say, us Brits can engineer some fabulous things (think Supermarine Spitfires, Enfield Rifles, George Daniels watches) but in modern times it is hard to follow those pioneers.
An entirely British built and high quality range of bladed tools would be quite unique in the modern world of mass-produced, built-to-fail consumer junk products. This is the brief.
Our blades are priced very fairly. They are definitely not the most expensive production Machetes available - far from it. But they also cost more than £20 to make - MUCH more, so don't come here complaining about price.
If you like a simple hand tool that does the job for a limited time and the finishing/features don't matter much? You might want to look elsewhere.
The Machetes
A great primary outdoor tool when stealth or the shear enjoyment matters, or if power tools are forbidden or unavailable. The Chopra is also a great back up when out in the field. Ideal for keeping in the vehicles in case the powered tools fail or for the smaller jobs around the camp/base/home.
I developed these on my land in Kent over the past few years. Clearing fallen trees, chopping up the trunks and clearing general undergrowth is where the Chopra excels. This is not a flexible, 'twangy' Latin machete, but a heavy-duty medium weight chopper. Made from CS80 spring steel, heat treated to 56-58HRC and numerous other useful features incorporated into the design, these are built to last.
Keep them clean, dry and well sharpened.
Also you'll see absolutely no gimmicks or cut-corners. You'll never see a sawback or unnecessary cut-outs on a BMC Machete.
Carried on either a shoulder sling strap or mounted on a belt or webbing via a dangler attachment, the blade is kept safely out of the way in its custom Kydex sheath (made here in Kent) but quickly deployable when required.
​Unique
Our blades are high quality British factory produced - cheaper than custom blades and consistent in quality. The design elements, features and hand finishing gives them soul.
They include premium materials, finishing and safety design features when compared to the cheapo billhooks and African/Asian produced "British" brand offerings.
They are designed and built to be tough enough for military requirements. We want to perfect the Machete and produce to a quality level that our armed forces personnel could rely on. That is a fundamental goal of our business.
Where are we now?
By September, we'll have our first production blades on the market (3 SKUs of the Chopra Machete)
Our second model (drafting phase complete) we plan to have a prototype ready for October too. It will be a premium British Army pattern Golok.
Please take a look at our website and let me know if you have any questions.
Best regards,
Ian . L
Founder
British Machete Co.
BritishMacheteCo.com
Instagram: British_machete_co
Comments