I had the need for a machete the other day only to realize all I had was a busted up POS from harbor freight. I am sure many of you have the same. So I went on a hunt for a quality tool and remembered a friend of mine was a Vietnam Vet and swore by the "Woodsman's Pal".
Who am I to argue with a Vietnam Vet who used such a tool in the field.
Mine just arrived and I am thoroughly impressed. Not only is the quality top notch it comes with a sharpening stone and a few small booklets of knowledge to help paint the history of this tool's origin. It's still made in Pennsylvania by hand and worth every penny.
MILITARY ISSUE
Originally designed and patented in 1941 for civilian use, the Woodman’s Pal quickly got the attention of the US Military. It was initially procured for the US Army Signal Corps and eventually became standard issue as a combat and survival tool for GI’s in the Pacific Theater. By the end of the Korean War over 250,000 units had been procured. During the Vietnam War and Desert Storm, the Woodman’s Pal® was primarily issued as a survival tool for pilots. The quality and effectiveness of the Woodman’s Pal spans decades and generations.
HISTORY
"The multipurpose Woodman's Pal machete can efficiently perform the tasks of many tools including machetes, axes, hatchets, pruning saws, pruning shears, pruning knives, bow saws, loppers, Bowie knives and for certain jobs, even chain saws.
Frederick Ehrsam was not only an expert on edge tools used throughout the world. By the time he settled in Pennsylvania, in the 1930's, the Swiss National was also an experienced architect, artist, engineer, manufacturer, and woodsman.
Over the next ten years, all these skills would be used in the creation of a tool that would eventually influence modern forest and land management.
Professionals in the forest and field relied heavily on the machete for clearing brush and blazing trails. Other tools were also needed to thin, trim, chop, and prune.
Frederick Ehrsam saw the need for a single implement that could not only perform the task of each as well or better, but could eliminate drawbacks like awkward weight or bulk, lack of balance or versatility, and designs unsafe for the inexperienced user.
In 1941, Frederick Ehrsam introduced the Woodman's Pal. Professionals in forestry, agriculture, and horticulture quickly recognized it as a historic achievement.
This new tool did not go unnoticed by the US Military. The Woodman's Pal or "LC-14-B" in military terms, standard issue from the early part of World War II through Desert Storm. G.I.'s and the US Army Signal Corp. relied heavily on the Woodman's Pal for land clearing operations. At the time of the Vietnam War, the Woodman's Pal was designated the "Survival Tool, Type IV" and was issued in air crew survival kits.
Today, the Woodman's Pal is still praised by each new generation of forest and land managers, surveyors, campers, soldiers, and outdoorsmen."
- Reference - https://www.warrencustomoutdoor.com/woodmans-pal.html
Buy direct from the manufacturer - https://www.woodmanspal.com/product/woodmans-pal-481/