Machetes are one of the most practical outdoor tools you can own, but the law around buying and owning one in the UK is not as straightforward as it should be. If you are considering buying a machete for bushcraft, gardening, or your outdoor kit, here are the answers to the questions we get asked most.
Are Machetes Legal in the UK?
Yes. It is legal to buy, own, and keep a machete in the UK. Machetes are classified as bladed articles, not prohibited weapons. There is no ban on ownership.
What is illegal is carrying a machete in a public place without a good reason. Under the Criminal Justice Act 1988, carrying any knife or bladed article with a blade longer than 3 inches in public without lawful authority or a good reason is a criminal offence. A machete blade is well over 3 inches, so you always need a valid reason to have one outside your home.
Good reasons include: using it for work (landscaping, agriculture, forestry), taking it to a specific outdoor activity (bushcraft, camping, clearing land), or transporting it as part of a purchase. You must be 18 or over to buy a machete.
Is It Illegal to Have a Machete in Your House?
No. Keeping a machete at home is perfectly legal. The law only applies to carrying a bladed article in a public place. In your own home, garden, workshop, or shed there is no offence. Many people keep a machete as part of their outdoor or gardening toolkit and never take it off their property. Others store them as part of a collection. Both are completely lawful.
What Is a Machete?
A machete is a broad, heavy blade designed for chopping and cutting through thick vegetation, branches, and undergrowth. It originated as an agricultural and land-clearing tool in tropical regions and has been used for centuries across Central America, South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Blade lengths typically range from 30cm (12 inches) to 60cm (24 inches). Unlike a knife, which is designed for precision cutting, a machete is built for swinging and chopping with force. The blade is usually wider and heavier than a knife, with a thinner profile that allows it to cut through soft material efficiently.
What Are Machetes Used For?
Machetes are working tools with a wide range of practical uses:
- Bushcraft and camping: Clearing trails, cutting firewood, building shelters, preparing kindling. A machete is one of the most versatile tools you can carry in the outdoors.
- Gardening and land clearing: Cutting back brambles, overgrown hedges, thick weeds, and small branches. Faster and more effective than shears for heavy growth.
- Agriculture: Harvesting sugar cane, clearing scrubland, managing crops. Machetes are still the primary tool for agricultural workers in many parts of the world.
- Survival and emergency preparedness: A machete can serve as a chopping tool, a digging aid, and a general-purpose blade in survival situations.
Where Can I Buy a Machete in the UK?
We sell and ship machetes from Scarborough, North Yorkshire. All orders go via Parcelforce 48 with delivery in 3 to 7 working days. No customs, no import duties. You can browse our full range of machetes and bushcraft blades on the site. Our range starts at £29.99 for a standard bushcraft machete and goes up to £39.99 for heavier-duty models. You must be 18 or over to purchase, and we verify age on all orders.
How Much Does a Machete Cost?
Our machetes range from £29.99 to £39.99. At the lower end you get a solid carbon steel blade with a comfortable grip, suitable for general bushcraft and garden work. At the top end you get a heavier blade with enhanced edge retention, a more ergonomic handle, and a sheath or carry system. Machetes are one of the most affordable bladed tools you can buy for the amount of work they can do.
How Long Is a Machete?
Most machetes have a blade length between 30cm (12 inches) and 60cm (24 inches), with an overall length including the handle of around 45cm to 75cm. The right length depends on what you are using it for. Shorter blades (30 to 40cm) are easier to control and better for close work like light pruning and camp tasks. Longer blades (45 to 60cm) generate more chopping force and are better for clearing thick vegetation and heavier cutting. Our range sits in the practical middle ground, long enough for serious work without being unwieldy.
How Do I Sharpen a Machete?
Machetes do not need to be razor sharp. A working edge that is sharp enough to bite into vegetation is all you need. Over-sharpening a machete makes the edge fragile and more likely to chip on hard material.
- With a file: A bastard mill file is the traditional method. Hold the blade steady and file along the edge in one direction, maintaining the existing bevel angle (usually around 25 to 30 degrees). Work one side, then the other. This is the quickest method for a dull blade.
- With a whetstone: Use a medium-grit stone (around 400 to 600 grit) and work along the blade in sweeping strokes. A whetstone gives a finer edge than a file.
After sharpening, wipe the blade and apply a light coat of oil to prevent rust.
How Do I Look After a Machete?
Machete blades are typically carbon steel, which rusts if neglected. Basic care is simple:
- After use: Wipe the blade clean and dry it thoroughly. Sap, moisture, and soil all accelerate corrosion.
- Oiling: Apply a thin coat of light mineral oil or WD-40 to the blade before storing. This creates a barrier against moisture.
- Rust removal: If surface rust appears, remove it with fine steel wool or a rust eraser, then oil the blade immediately.
- Storage: Keep it in a dry place, ideally in a sheath. Do not store a machete loose in a damp shed or toolbox where it will sit in moisture.
How Do I Safely Carry a Machete?
Always use a sheath when transporting a machete. If you are carrying it to a specific activity (bushcraft trip, allotment, campsite), keep it sheathed and packed inside a bag or rucksack until you arrive and are ready to use it. Never carry an unsheathed machete in a public place. When using the machete, be aware of your surroundings, keep a clear swing path, and never swing towards another person. A machete is a powerful chopping tool and should be treated with the same respect as any other heavy blade.
Do You Sell Other Outdoor and Bushcraft Tools?
Yes. Alongside machetes we stock lock knives, fixed blade knives, throwing axes, and a full range of knives and blades. If you are building an outdoor kit, the machete is a great centrepiece alongside a good lock knife and a reliable fixed blade.
Ready to pick up a machete? Browse the full range at ancientwarrior.co.uk or visit us in store at Scarborough. All orders ship via Parcelforce 48 with delivery in 3 to 7 working days.