The Machete is a bladed melee weapon you find in buildings and car trunks. Anarchists, Marauders and Drifters also carry one. It cuts better than the Lawn Mower Machete and makes a good found weapon while you wait for crafting parts.
It kills Swarmers and humans faster than blunt weapons. Use it on stragglers after a gunfight to save ammo.
Crafted axes hit harder, and the Superior weapons in the south last longer. The Machete needs no parts, so grab it when you see one.
2x4
The 2x4 is a plank of lumber you pick up off the ground and swing until it breaks. It is weak on its own, but crafting recipes turn it into the Spiked 2x4 and the 2x4 Axe. Treat it as raw material for something better.
Baseball Bat
The Baseball Bat is a common wooden melee weapon you find lying around. On its own it breaks fast, but it is the base for the Spiked Bat, Bat Axe and Superior Club. Keep one handy for crafting.
Baseball Bat Axe
The Baseball Bat Axe is a crafted melee weapon: a wooden bat with a saw blade bolted on. The recipe sits in the bunker of the fourth Ambush Camp you clear. It hits much harder than a spiked bat for almost the same parts.
Boot Knife
The Boot Knife is Deacon's always-equipped blade, and it never breaks. It handles stealth kills and finishes grapples when your melee weapon is gone. Skills make its combos hit hard enough to rely on.