The Lawn Mower Machete is a makeshift blade made from a mower blade. Anarchists, Marauders and hostile Drifters carry it, so you often pick one up early. It cuts poorly, so swap it for a real machete or an axe.
It works as a stopgap when your melee slot is empty. Use it on single Swarmers and downed humans.
The Machete is the direct upgrade and turns up in buildings and car trunks. Crafted axes like the Bat Axe hit harder still.
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.