Machetes have popped up on the Blotter often, and two questions always pop up: a) How does one get a machete? and b) How does one tote around these large knives without getting caught? One item on the BPD Blotter was about a man who was just walking around with his machete dangling from his belt.

The Herald decided to investigate. The cover of yesterday's paper is a terrifying number with a thuggy-looking tattoed torso wielding a machete. Despite all the hype, there's a big problem. According to Laura Crimaldi, "On Friday, a Herald reporter was able to purchase a sharp machete with an 18-inch blade for $25 from Kenmore Army & Navy Store in Downtown Crossing without any questions asked." Other weapons, like daggers, are regulated, but machetes aren't.

If it's any consolation, Bostonist hasn't seen all that many machete attacks, at least not ones that made the news, although a machete attack rattled City Hall, and the Herald reports 7 machete attacks in the state this year.

Even if the Herald sensationalized it, the story has some meat to it because it's something worth worrying about and something that can be prevented if people aren't allowed to buy machetes from any old place.

Meanwhile, the Globe did its own story on sharp implements. In their case, they focused on the wealthy young children of Boston, who are being taught how to eat with salad forks. Sometimes we wonder if the writers for the Herald and the writers for the Globe live in the same city.

The Herald wants to make clear that machetes are on the streets.