Watch: How to Make a Machete Without Power Tools

This video begins with an explanation of why it’s being made. For one, it’s to help educate preppers and survivalists (or just folks who live way out in the boondocks) on how they can make a large knife without electricity. And for another, it’s to demonstrate that you don’t need a bunch of expensive machines in order to make a knife.

It’s not a short video. You’ve got almost 23 minutes of instruction if you watch the whole thing. But it’s good info, and you can always skip ahead if you like.

Everything is covered, from designing and shaping the blade and handles, beveling the cutting edge, heat treatment, to making, installing, and finishing the handle.

Russ Chastain

Editor & Contributing Writer Russ Chastain is a lifelong hunter and shooter who has spent his life learning about hunting, shooting, guns, ammunition, gunsmithing, reloading, and bullet casting. He started toting his own gun in the woods at age nine and he's pursued deer with rifles since 1982, so his hunting knowledge has been growing for more than three and a half decades. His desire and ability to share this knowledge with others has also grown, and Russ has been professionally writing and editing original hunting & shooting content since 1998. Russ Chastain has a passion for sharing accurate, honest, interesting hunting & shooting knowledge and stories with people of all skill levels.