I remember a HD talking about the steel wrist blender effect of a lanyard on a chopper. Never had it happen but I did have my M9LE pulled out of my hand by a very tough vine. The knife binded in the material and the tension of the vine pretty much just snatched it right out my hand. The blade was tossed deep into a bunch of thorny vines. It was a major pain to get in there and retrieve my M9LE. I can only imagine being neck deep in the funk and this happening. So while the M9LE is my biggest knife I really don't consider it a chopper. The handle just isnt right. With the lanyard out of the picture I look more at the handle shape and materials now. ResC is great but I also look for large blades to have a butt that's wider than the mid section of the handles and if possible I want a grippie material.

I don't have a machete yet but when looking at them I factor all of that stuff in. I also think about handles breaking and micarta seems like it my be in for the win. Which is why I think the ESEE looks like a good option. But I do like the shape of the blade on the BG Parang. Just wish It was ResC and in the ScrapYard store.

Still I wll probably pick up a few super cheap machetes just to have around.