Marine Pattern Cleaver

The Marine Pattern Cleaver or internationally known as the Freestian Cleaver is a machete-like bladed weapon used by many component services of the Freethinker Royal Armed Forces, and is particularly associated with the Ghoulish infantry and marine regiments. It is also widely used within the civilian rural communities throughout the Freethinker Mainland. As with its related counterparts like the machete and the kukri, the Cleaver is used a both a tool and as a weapon, and can be considered a distinctive cultural icon of the Freethinker Commonwealth itself.

Physical Design

The Cleaver resembles a long, thin knife-like double-edged blade rather than a fully fledged sword, and is most closely related to (and believed to derive from) the similarly functional Machete as well as the naval Cutlass.

Other Variations

Civilian Pattern Cleaver -

Navy Pattern Cleaver - A shorter version of the Marine Pattern, usually coming in at about 20-24" in length to compensate for the cramped conditions aboard warships. Generally fallen out of favour however, though still used by some special forces units who appreciate the utility of the smaller weapon. It is also carried as a ceremonial weapon by some FRN personnel. The weapon itself maintains the basic shape of the Cleaver with the dual-edged blade, however, the thickness and material used for the blade are are adjusted slightly to increase the weight of the sword and so maintain the momentum force of the larger Marine Pattern design.

Lately, the term 'Navy Pattern' has come to mean any Cleaver used in military and civilian applications that is short than the standard size (ie. less than 24" in length).

History & Modern Usage

The Cleaver and it's predecessors have always been ubiquitous to military units, especiallly infantry forces and their close support personnel as well. Indeed, the mark of a successful officer graduation or completion of basic training is to be presented with one own's military issue weapon.