Panga (?) machete

M

masakrator

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Dec 10, 2011
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Hello,

Recently I got one blade from a friend of mine. Here is the picture: http://i44.tinypic.com/35ix6p4.jpg

Searching the Internet, I found out that it could be panga style machete. I am interested in history and origin of this blade. All I know is that my friend got it from his grandfather and that the blade should be more than 50 years old. There is interesting engraving (reminds me of willow tree) near the handle. I saw another similar machete, with engraved bee at the same spot, but the owner doesn't know anything about his blade.

Any info on history of these machetes (and panga style machetes in general) will be great!

Thank you!
 
Not sure on the origins, but it is, indeed, a panga pattern. Got any closeups of the markings?
 
Panga is the common name for the 'jungle knife' of Africa. I'm sure there are numerous patterns and names there. Even in one country like the Philipines there are a large number of such knives .
 
As others have already said 'Panga' is what they call a machete in large parts of Africa and they're of the pattern that you show here. AFAIK most if not all pangas are imported from outside the continent - the most popular one being sold by Martindale of the UK. I think this goes all the way back to colonial times.

My guess here would be, that yours is also a Martindale - the handle material and blade profile fit their model exactly - and the stamps were added later by a local owner or dealer. Your's also carry the classical African 'customization' with strips of rubber from a motor/bicycle hose added as grip.

It's a great pattern for a bush knife - I own one myself and always carry it with me on field trips.
 
I've been using panga patterns for 20 years for everything from yard work to throwing. I'm preparing to put a large primary grind on my current one, a Cold Steel version. We'll see how it works.
 
I notice the 3 grooves in the blade, which I am under the impression is associated with Caribbean, or Latin American machete style named "Tres Canales".
The grooves are intended to improve flexion under impact. This "panga" style is also common in Latin America.
The style is very similar to what is known as a "Puerto Rican Machete" which has these 3 grooves and the Panga shape.
 
It was made in Slovenia, in samll town Lovrenc na Pohorju. There is factory named "Tovarna kos in srpov Lovrenc" (= Sickle and Scythe Factoty) (http://www.struc-holding.com/struc/gtc-EN.htm). They used to make different machetes, mainly for export in South America and Africa. I have one of them with exactly same stamp and it is 35 years old. In this factory were made very quality products, among others also knife blanks for Solingen. They don't make machetes any more.
Regards, Samek
 
Here is my machete and stamp on it. Handle is custom made.



Here is another machete from same factory (the last one they made!) and it has 3 lines - grooves on blade, same es some others models from the factory. Handle is custom too.




Samek
 
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