Knives come in all shapes and sizes, from small pocket knives to large chef’s knives used in restaurant kitchens. But when it comes to really big knives, there are a few specific terms used to describe these extra-large blades.
Machete
One of the most common terms for a large knife is a machete. Machetes typically have blade lengths between 16 and 24 inches, with some specialty machetes having blades up to 28 inches long. The blades are wide and thin, making them ideal for chopping through dense vegetation and crops. Machetes originated as an agricultural tool in tropical areas of Central America, Africa, and parts of Asia and are still commonly used as both a tool and weapon in those regions today.
Some key features of machetes include:
- Long, wide blade from 16 to 28 inches
- Blade tip shapes vary – clipped, straight back, or curved tip
- Single-edged or double-edged blades
- Made of tough steel due to chopping demands
- Often have a lanyard hole at the base of the handle
- Used for chopping vegetation, agriculture, and as a weapon
There are many different types of machetes designed for specific tasks including:
| Machete Type | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Cane machete | Used for cutting sugar cane |
| Bush machete | Designed for clearing thick underbrush |
| Billhook machete | Has a curved end for pulling down vegetation |
| Bolo machete | Has an enlarged tip for chopping |
| Colima machete | Has an upswept tip and handle for leveraging chops |
| Latin machete | Light and thin blade used around the household |
Panga
The panga is a large, heavy chopping knife popularized in Africa. It has a blade around 16 to 20 inches long and 4 to 6 inches wide. The blade has a flat back that curves to a sharp tip designed for hacking and chopping vegetation or wood. Pangas are often fairly crudely made with a basic wood or plastic handle. The size and chopping ability have also made them popular as weapons in some regions of Africa.
Golok
A golok is a large blade originating in southeast Asia used both as a tool and weapon. These chopping tools will typically have a heavy, wide blade between 1 and 2 feet long. The back edge is straight and unsharpened while the front curves to a fine point. Goloks are commonly fairly plain in design with wood handles and leather sheaths.
Dao
In China and some Southeast Asia countries, the dao is a type of large chopping knife or sword. There is a lot of variation in daos, but generally they have 1 to 2 foot long blades that are broad at the base and curve to a point. The blades are made of heavy duty metal due to their use chopping vegetation and wood. Daos originated as an agricultural tool but also saw use in combat.
Parang
In parts of southeast Asia and Indonesia, the parang refers to a long bladed chopping tool. Traditional parangs have blade lengths of around 18-30 inches and widths of 4-6 inches. The back edge of the blade is straight while the end curves to a sharp point. Parangs originated as an agricultural and general utility tool for clearing jungle vegetation in Indonesia and the surrounding region.
Boline
A boline is a curved, sickle-shaped knife that originated as ritual tool used by Druids and pagans. Modern bolines range in size but generally have a crescent shaped blade 12 inches or longer. The inward curve of the blade creates a useful hook for cutting specific herbs or making clean ritual cuts. While not a tool for heavy chopping like some large knives, bolines are specialized ceremonial knives with long, narrow blades.
Kukri
The kukri is a distinctive Nepalese knife with a curved, often heavyweight blade. Kukri blades range from under 1 foot to over 2 feet long. The end drops toward the handle and the tip curves upward. The kukri developed as both a woodcutting tool and slashing weapon in Nepal. Variations of the kukri with decorative handles and sheaths have become symbols of Nepalese culture and tradition.
Barong
In the Philippines, the barong is a large knife traditionally used for combat and as a tool. Its distinctive features include a leaf-shaped blade often over 1 foot long with a curve near the end and a carved handle. The thin blade was designed for slashing attacks. Later versions of the barong were made with ornate handles and sheaths making it a symbol of status for some Filipino tribes.
Dadao
The dadao is a variety of Chinese machete or long knife. It has a single-edged blade approximately 2 feet long, though some reach almost 3 feet. The blade broadens toward the tip and the edge curves upward slightly. The dadao arose during the Han dynasty and served as a combat blade for infantrymen. Even as warfare changed, the dadao persisted in some regions as a symbol of martial knowledge and status.
Hook Swords
These very distinct weapons originated in China and feature heavy blades with pronounced steel hooks or projections. The hook swords typically have grips long enough for two-handed use and blades around 2 feet long. In addition to the hook, they may feature circular hand guards. The hooks can be used to trap opponents weapons and deliver unpredictable slashing attacks. They require great skill to use effectively in combat.
Falchion
The European falchion is a medieval long, single-edged knife or short sword. It has a broad, straight blade approximately 25-35 inches long with a short, clipped point. The blade widens toward the tip, making it suitable for hacking and slashing. While similar to a machete or saber, the falchion’s weighted blade gives it extra chopping power.
Sword Breaker
A sword breaker is a type of parrying dagger featuring large teeth or serrations on one side of the blade. While only around 10-15 inches long, the toothed edge can be used to trap an opponent’s sword and wrench it from their grip with a twisting action. The blunt back and thin blade focus the weapon’s function solely on disarming foes of their swords in close combat.
Kora
The kora is a long sickle-like blade mounted on a 6-8 foot pole used in parts of southeast Asia. Koras originated as rice harvesting tools but the hooked blade also made them effective weapons. The length of the pole combined with the broad, curved knife gives the wielder substantial reach and leverage in a swinging attack.
Grosse Messer
The German “great knife” or grosse messer refers to a variety large single-edged medieval knives. They often featured sturdy blades 2 feet or more in length mounted to an equally long hilt for leverage using two hands. Grosse messers emerged as both versatile hand tools and civilian weapons not subject to the same legal restrictions as swords.
Conclusion
There are many varieties of large bladed tools and weapons used around the world. From the machete to the parang to the Chinese dadao, these oversized knives serve functions from agriculture to combat. While diverse, they share characteristics like lengthy, weighted blades and basic hilts designed to chops through vegetation or deliver powerful slashing attacks. When you move beyond normal knives into truly big blades, these terms describe the world’s largest, sharpest knives.