Machetes at the Fair

At one time, machete-like tools were ubiquitous in farms all across America. Known as "corn knives" or "sickles", they are similar to machetes in that that are swung to chop and slice. As the name implies, the corn knife is used for chopping corn stalks. As mechanization supplanted these humble hand tools, corn knives and sickles became rare. The Latin American sugar cane machete, still common in sugar-growing regions everywhere, is similar in structure to the corn knife, and can be used as one. Both feature a wide, thin blade with a blunt tip. The wide blade provides enough weight for chopping, and the tip is removed to prevent it from interfering with the chopping motion of the blade. The hook is used to help gather the chopped stalks or canes.