Custom Greek Kopis Machete — Hand-Forged 20-Inch Raw-Forge Bushcraft Blade in 5160 Spring Steel

Both, technically — but positioned and finished as a working machete. The blade geometry follows the ancient Greek Kopis (which classical sources record was used for both military combat AND utility chopping), but the proportions, the standard satin/raw finish, the 7-inch utility handle, and the working-tool framing all position this product for bushcraft and field use rather than ceremonial display. If you want the same Kopis profile in a polished sword finish for display and historical reenactment, see our flagship Kopis sword at the same length range.

Both are Greek Kopis machetes, but they serve different use cases:

• This Custom Kopis Machete ($179.99) — 20-inch standard, 16-26" customizable range, raw-forge or satin finish standard, bushcraft and trail-work positioning. Larger and more configurable.
• 16-Inch Kopis Machete ($164.99) — 16-inch fixed standard, more compact, tactical/EDC positioning. Cheaper, smaller.

Pick this Custom variant if you want a heavy working chopper or need a specific configuration. Pick the 16-Inch variant if you want a compact tactical machete at a lower price.

Fully battle-ready AND field-use-ready. The blade is 5160 high-carbon leaf-spring steel, full-tang, water-tempered along the edge, and pre-sharpened — meeting our battle-ready standard. But the framing of this product is specifically for working use: bushcraft, trail clearing, brush work, jungle clearing, camp tasks. The same steel quality, but configured and finished for hard outdoor use rather than display.

Yes — six blade lengths from 16 to 26 inches. The standard is 20 inches, which most working buyers prefer for the chopping-authority-to-weight ratio. 16-18" suits compact carry and lighter brush work; 22-26" suits heavy brush clearing, tropical work, and trail clearing where longer reach reduces fatigue. The handle stays 7 inches regardless of blade length you pick.

Approximately 998 grams (0.998 kg / 2.2 lbs) at the standard 20-inch blade configuration. Weight scales with blade length — shorter drops weight to about 800g at 16", longer rises to approximately 1.3 kg at 26". The forward-balanced weight distribution makes the machete feel heavier in swing than in static weight (most of the mass sits at the cutting end of the blade), which is exactly the working characteristic you want in a chopping tool.

Raw-forge keeps the visible hammered surface texture from the forging process — no polishing, no grinding-smooth, just the steel as it came off the anvil after edge-finishing. Three reasons bushcrafters prefer it:

• Working-blade authenticity — bushcraft purists actively prefer the rough hammered look
• Less reflective in the field — no glare from sun reflection while you're working
• Less maintenance — minor scratches and surface marks blend into the existing texture rather than showing prominently against a polished mirror finish

Polished mirror upgrades the visual appeal for buyers who want display crossover; satin sits in between (matte but smooth); blacked/coated suits tactical or low-visibility applications.

Each Custom Kopis Machete ships with a cotton-wood core scabbard wrapped in hand-stitched yak leather. Sized to fit your specific chosen blade length. Six leather color options: black and brown for traditional working-blade kit; yellow, red, green, and blue for high-visibility field use or custom presentation. The scabbard is field-grade — designed for being clipped to a belt, packed into bushcraft kit, and used in actual outdoor conditions, not just sitting on a display shelf.

Yes — the full-tang 5160 spring steel construction handles batoning (striking the spine of the blade with a wood baton to split firewood) without issue. The forward-curving Greek Kopis profile means batoning is slightly different than with a straight-spine knife (the curve concentrates force differently), but the construction holds up to repeated batoning work. For heavy splitting work consistently above 4-5 inch diameter wood, a dedicated splitting axe is more efficient — but for everyday kindling, batoning, and small-wood processing the Custom Kopis Machete performs reliably.

5160 high-carbon spring steel — leaf-spring stock from heavy-duty vehicle suspension. Tough, springy, holds an edge well even under hard chopping use. Hammer-forged from a single billet (never welded or laminated), water-tempered along the edge, hand-finished. This is the SAME steel used across our entire battle-ready sword range — including the $375 Large Kopis. The Custom Kopis Machete uses the same alloy and same forging process; only the proportions, finishing, and positioning differ.

Yes — every Custom Kopis Machete includes free text engraving AND a custom logo / photo upload option. Two engraving fields on this product page:

• Personalize Your Blade — free-form text for names, initials, mottos, dates, outdoor unit identifiers, ranch/farm names, hunting team marks
• Custom Logo & Photo Engraving — upload your own image file for family crests, outdoor club logos, military or scouting unit insignia, ranch brand marks, conservation organization logos, commemorative artwork

Especially valuable for ranch and outdoor-organization buyers wanting their working blades branded with their own crests. The engraving is hand-applied during finishing and does not affect the blade's working performance.

This Kopis machete is forged-to-order — production typically takes 2 to 4 weeks depending on engraving complexity and current workshop queue. After forging we ship worldwide with tracked, insured DHL or FedEx delivery. See our shipping policy for country-specific delivery estimates and our warranty policy for the lifetime craftsmanship guarantee covering every piece.

The product page customization handles the standard variants (six blade lengths, four finishes, two handle woods, six scabbard colors, free engraving). For non-standard requests — unusual handle materials (horn, antler, bone), oversized blades above 26 inches, alternative steel specs, blunt training versions, custom historical reconstructions, integrated sheath modifications, drop-leg or chest-rig carry systems — request a quote through our custom forge process. We accept commissions for one-off Kopis machete variants and specialized working-blade builds.