Woodman's Pal Classic Bush Machete
Woodman's Pal Classic Bush Machete
Woodman's Pal Classic Bush Machete

Vendor:Woodman's Pal

Woodman's Pal Classic Bush Machete

Sale price$195.45Regular price $199.99
Description

The Woodman's Pal 481 Classic is an American made brush tool with a 10.5" black powder-coated 1075 high carbon steel blade, a 2.5" chisel-sharp sickle hook, and a finger grooved ash handle. It combines the jobs of a hatchet, a machete, a billhook, and a pruning hook in one 17" tool. It comes gift boxed with a brown leather belt sheath, a sharpening stone in a burlap bag, a leather cord lanyard, reprints of the original 1941 owner's manuals, and a Woodman's Pal sticker.

Short and Sweet

  • Woodman's Pal 481 Classic
  • 17" (43.18 cm) overall with a 10.5" (26.67 cm) blade
  • 1075 high carbon steel, black powder coat finish
  • 2.5" chisel-sharp sickle hook and safety toe
  • Finger-grooved ash handle, urethane coated and beeswax finished
  • Leather cord lanyard
  • Brown leather belt sheath
  • Includes sharpening stone with burlap bag, reprinted 1941 owner's manuals, and sticker
  • Made in Pennsylvania, USA
  • Condition: New, gift boxed

From Pennsylvania to the Pacific

Frederick Ehrsam, a Swiss-born artist and engineer who ran the Victor Tool Company in Reading, Pennsylvania, introduced the Woodman's Pal in 1941. He wanted one tool that could clear brush like a machete, chop like a hatchet, and cut vines and briars like a sickle, without carrying all three. The U.S. Army adopted it during World War II as the Knife LC-14-B, and troops used it in the Pacific for clearing jungle, building shelters, and cutting camouflage. Ehrsam also wrote the field manuals issued with it, including one on living in the jungle with the tool. A related version later appeared in Vietnam-era aircrew survival kits, and the Woodman's Pal is still built in Pennsylvania today with American steel and American ash.

One Tool, Four Jobs

The blade is 1075 high carbon spring steel with a convex edge for strength and a slightly concave cutting area that bites into wood efficiently. A black powder coat protects it from rust. The chisel-sharp sickle hook on the back of the tip catches and cuts vines, briars, and ground-level shoots, so you can pull them toward you instead of hacking at them. A safety toe on the top edge helps protect the blade and your hand, and the finger-grooved ash handle is coated in urethane and hand-rubbed with beeswax for a secure grip. Woodman's Pal says it cuts saplings up to 1.5" thick in a single stroke and fells larger trees by notching from alternating sides.

Clearing Land the Old Way

Property owners, hunters, trail crews, and gardeners use the Woodman's Pal to clear fence lines, open shooting lanes, cut back overgrown trails, prune fruit trees, and pull out blackberry and multiflora rose. It's especially useful in thick brush where a long machete gets tangled and an axe is too slow. With basic care, it lasts for decades, which is why WWII-era originals still turn up in working condition. Instead of buying a hatchet, a machete, and a pruning hook, you can carry one tool that does all three jobs and hangs on your belt.

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Curious About Sizing?

Given the massive variety of clothing we carry, a standard sizing guide is incredibly helpful for customers seeking the best fit.

Please understand that surplus varies widely in fit and cut and this sizing chart is general advice rather than tailor-level fitting.

Nearly every military has different sizing charts and schemes, which is why we've taken the time to put together this brief tutorial.

 

Jacket & Shirt Sizing

In absence of an established military size chart, we measure each jacket or shirt from armpit to armpit to get a rough idea of how it fits. If a garment is between sizes, we mark it one size down. For example, if a shirt measures 19.75" from pit to pit, it is marked as a small rather than medium.

To measure pit to pit, close up your shirt or jacket and measure from armpit to armpit. 

This is our measurement guide that we use to measure garments without an existing military size chart:

14"-15" PtP = XXS

16-17" PtP = Extra Small

18"-19" PtP = Small

20-21" PtP = Medium

22-23" PtP = Large

24-25" PtP = Extra Large

26-27" PtP = XXL

28-29" PtP = 3XL

Pant Sizing

We typically convert pants to US waist and inseam sizes. If a pair of pants is between sizes, we mark it one size down. For example, if a pair of pants measures as a 33 waist, it is marked as a 32 waist.

To take these measurements we lay a pair of pants flat on the ground. We then measure across the waist and double the measurement. For example, if a pair of pants measures 16" across the waist it will fit a US 32 waist.

To determine inseam we measure from the crotch seam to the bottom of the cuff. For example, it a pair of pants measures 30" from the crotch seam to the bottom of the cuff we will list it as a 30 inseam or 30L.

Surplus Condition Guide

  1. Unissued
  2. These items are brand new. They may sometimes exhibit signs of storage. They may be new in their original factory packaging, but most times will not be. 
  3. Issued; Good / Issued
  4. These items are in issued/used condition but are fully functional. This grade of surplus item may also exhibit signs of use such as stampings, small stains or general dirtiness.
  5. Issued items will not have missing or broken buttons, zippers or be missing any functional components unless noted as such in the product description. Any items you purchase that are marked as "Issued; Good" but exhibit these defects will be replaced free of charge by Americana Pipedream.
  6. Grade 2
  7. These items are in issued/used condition but have defects that impede function. This may include missing buttons, broken zippers, holes and tears. They may also be missing components.
  8. This is the lowest grade of surplus item that we carry and they are not eligible for returns or exchanges due to condition.
Prop 65 Warning

All products that are NOT INTENDED FOR CONSUMPTION OR NOT FOOD PRODUCTS fall under this warning:

“WARNING: This product contains a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer.” WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including arsenic, which is known to the State of California to cause cancer. For more information, go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.”

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