[Soap]

I've been studying the old WWII combatives and my interest has been sparked in smatchets. Anyone own one? What do you think of it? I know one guy on TFL swore by his and he travelled Africa frequently IIRC.

[Kjay]

I have one of the micarta handled Boker models. It's a big knife - 10" blade nearly 3" wide. For close combat - slashes and stabs - it would be a nasty beast. For purely utility work I think there are better tools. The double edge is unnecessary for most utility work - perhaps a khukri would be better in this size range. IMHO, it's a better weapon than utility tool.

[Gray_Fallen]

The original smatchets, such as Fairbairn wrote about in Get Tough (only knife techniques from that book I like are the Smatchet techniques, interestingly enough), were SINGLE edged, with a swedge on the front third or so of the back.
Applegate, if I am not mistaken, was the one who proposed the double edged smatchet.
Eight Dollar Mountain Foundry makes some verry nice looking Smatchets of both types. Run a Google ont hem, I cant recall their URL offhand.

I have a blade my grandfather forged from a truck spring that is, fr lack of a better definition, a smatchett - it looks just like one practically, if one was made with an integral rolled handle (think Cold Steel Bushman) although I dont think he ever saw one.
Nice blade, fast for its size and hits hard - be a good big fighter I think.

[Skunkabilly]

What the heck is a smatchet? A hatchet for Smurfs??? :confused:

[JShirley]

Dale Sandberg (http://www.edmfknives.com) makes great knives at bargain prices. He's a good guy, too, but be prepared for about 6 mo wait (unless times have changed). Here (http://www.edmfknives.com/page3.html) are EDMF's smatchet selections.

John

[Bruz]

Going to be trying one out...the Blade Forums has signups to try out diffent knives, all chip in and get use of the knife for a couple weeks, then there is a Lottery and one of the group wins it. There are a couple more openings if interested...

[hksw]

"What the heck is a smatchet? A hatchet for Smurfs???"

Oh that is fun-ny. LOL.

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=271889