"Actually the majority of machete deaths are from severe trauma to extremeties.

The next on the list is severe trauma to the neck.

And at the bottom is organ damage.

"

"If I might interject, you wouldn't swing a machete at a zombie's skull. You would aim for the neck, going for decapitation. Even if you go with the Max Brooks version that the head will continue to try and bite, it isn't much of a threat once it hits the floor.

Limb removal reduces the threat of being grabbed, or of pursuit.

If you were to swing at a skull with any kind of force, you are likely to split it. Machetes go through bone all too frequently, sometimes by accident (christmas tree farms have gruesome stories) and the low surface area channels the force into a small area. The brain will suffer massive trauma, almost anywhere you strike.

The odds of it getting stuck are slim as well. The blade is thinner and less likely to wedge the same way an axe would.

Finally, machetes are infinitely more available than warhammers."

"A warhammer will ruin an arm, also reducing the odds of grabs or pursuit. Muscle can't move a limb if the bone is shattered.
The odds maybe slim of a stick, but i'd rather go with no chance at all, again like the warhammer.
This site is about preparatin, no? Then if a warhammer is a better tool, then one should acquire one now, the same as some of us have stocked up on mres, ammo, freshwater, batteries and firearms.
A machete can be used to cut things other than an ememy, yes. What if you don't need to cut, a horsemans hammer(such as described by Akerris) could be used as a hammer to barricade, open doors, the back spike should be thick enough to pry with(a la a crowbar) and is longer than a household hammer. In a package that weighs only marginally more than a framing hammer.
"

"Really? Most noobs pick up blades and are absolutely laughable. Most idiots can pick up a blunt object and clobber something. Besides for $80-$8000 you can buy a warhammer on the internet, or get one made, before SHTF. Besides, every survivor and their brother is going to grab a machete from a store, so I'm not sure how easy to find they will be.

Plan ahead. People on this site will spend thousands on guns they will probably never have to use, but buying a $100 warhammer is out of the question?"

"Why did you serrate your blade?!?!?!? Now it will get stuck in stuff! Haven't you ever read All Quiet on the Western front?

We're not talking about guns, besides warhammer =2.5lbs rifle=8 not including ammo. You can spare two pounds for an excellent weapon. Like I said before, if you like the machete take both!

As for aiming for the neck, that's a lot more work and swinging than a simple overhead shot to the brain."

"Because the machete is mediocre at the offensive part. Re-read the article, I've listed several tool functions for the warhammer as well. Besides, two pounds for a one hit kill? Think it over."

"Much more possible than with a machete.

Like I said, take both. If you have the space in your yard or living area to test one out you can tell me how you feel. I agree that the machete is a very useful tool, but there are few straight up weapons that can out perform the WH in accurate brain bashing."