so this can be avoided:

https://www.weau.com/2024/02/27/graphic-11-year-old-helps-prevent-father-bleeding-out/?tbref=hp

Perhaps a good tip would be to wear some sort of leg protection

I have a corn cutter type machete with a curved tip. It's simply deadly with a smooth wooden handle. It's made in Dayton,VA.

I think most people use power tools instead of machetes these days.

Machetes/ brush cutters have their place too. For small vines/ brush sometimes power tools are not the best option.

Be careful.

I stuck a long knife into my legbone trimming christmas trees twice! The second time took out the stitches from the first time.

I avoid that now....by no longer trimming christmas trees.

I have cut myself with tons of knives, scissors, and or other bladed items. I have however NEVER cut myself with a hachet, ax, or machete in my life. Just lucky? I always wear pants when using them and am very careful using them, sort of like a 300 with the safetys off

I used to survey, used an Axe and machete all day. I hauled several guys to the hospital for them. Usually new guys without a lot of experience, but one guy with about five years experience who cut the end of his thumb off with a machete. Be careful, don't chop towards yourself and be super careful when cutting knots with either. And keep them sharp! Dull they deflect off knots and glancing strikes way worse.

And yes BP, trimming Christmas trees you are necessarily swinging parrellel and very close to your leg, so very easy to cut yourself.

I've worn out several axes and machetes both, sharpened until the blade was simply worn away. Tough to explain safe handling, just a combo of common sense and experience.

Once years ago my brother had purchased a new round wheel bow At the time it was real expensive So he was clearing a trail thru some heavy brush so he could set up a tree stand As he worked his way to the tree he hit the string with his mostly sharp machete One misdirected swing later he was on his way to get his now not so new bow put together again For the rest of the season and sometime later he was known as Bowwhacker For some reason he was the only one that did not think that it was funny !!!

need to make better machete sheaths , my issue is the sheaths keep getting cut by the blade

I have managed not to get myself with it but extra leather and tape have helped a coupe of manchette sheaths

my machete has a kydex sheath and its still kicking, had it for 8+ years i think

Doesnt look they offer that option anymore though: https://ltwrightknives.com/products/overland-machete

I have kydex I just need to get around to making one but since I don't carry it much mostly it rides in the truck , scrap leather and tape are working.

There is a motel near Lake City FL that was once the office of US Sugar. In the lobby they have display cases of old cane harvesting tools and photos. The workers who cut the cane wore iron shin guards. They resemble the shin guards worn by baseball catchers.

I made my sheath by using a piece of 1 ¼” pvc electrical conduit. Heated it up, stepped on it and cut the end so that it grips the handle. It does make a knocking noise as I walk through the brush. The serrated edge does not catch when I pull it out. With all the blackberries here I would not get far without it. Several times it has come out of my hand. My trapping partner got him a new knife sharpening kit and did me an ‘un’favor by making it sharp enough to shave with.

I carry a tourniquet and Israeli bandage whenever I go. Hope I never use either

Probably not a bad idea

I got a scar on my left pointer finger that goes almost all the way around.. when I was about 11 or 12 I almost took my finger off with one.. cut down into the bone... took a very long g time to heal.. when it's cold it will still hurt to this day.

in younger yrs a neighbor kid an I would take our machetes to the river an chop gar in the riffles. when that blade hits the water it glaces in crazy directions an on one excursion he ended up with the blade stuck in his chin.bone! wrap an run