Cold Steel Barong?

4 Ranges

4 Ranges

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Apr 5, 2002
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I heard last year that they were working on one, and would be ready this year. It's modeled after an antique barong from Ron Balicki's collection.

I checked Ron Balicki's site (www.ronbalicki.com), and he's selling them only as "showpieces", because they didn't match cold steel's standards.

Does anyone know what the scoop is on this? Are these factor 2nd's? Is cold steel going to come out with a batch of barongs this year, or has the entire idea been totally scratched?

Personally, I think a Cold Steel Barong would ROCK!!!
 
Cold Steel has a barong in it's latest catalog, they are listed as having 1050 steel, if they have a good heat treat I dont see why you wouldnt be able to use it.
 
cyblade:

it's interesting that it's on the catalog, because it isn't on any of their websites.

Balicki was pretty specific about saying that the batches HE bought were only showpieces and L.C. Thompson specified that this particular batch that he bought weren't users (most likely factory 2nds and 3rds). I guess they had defects in them or something.

Anyhow, if they're on the catalog, how much are they? When are they supposed to be released and available?

cliff:

thanks for the link.
 
According to Cold Steel´s Special Projects catalog (the fall 2002-i don´t have the spring 2003 catalog)the Moro Barong is 1/4 inch thick made of 1050 steel and "Each blade comes fully sharpened and ready to cleave both flesh and bone".The quote is Cold Steel´s own. It sounds for sure like a combat weapon made to be used,not just for display!!The ones that was mentioned before must be seconds,because they where made to be used,if you judge by reading from their own catalog.

Manowar
 
Cliff -- are those Valiant blades worth the money? I don't figure the fit and finish is the best, but do their blades hold up?
 
According to the link on the first post on the thread, they did not come out right and would not be good weapons.
 
The reason why I got excited about CS barongs is that, if CS is making it, they DEFINITELY won't be wall-hangers (except for the factory 2nd's that balicki has).

I researched this thoroughly, and the main reason why I don't like most other barong companies is because most, IMHO, won't hold up to actual use. Particularly with their blades simply being GLUED to the handle (I know that's the traditional way it's done, but it still doesn't appease me), I'm wary of the blade flying out of it's handle even just practicing with the weapon.

Even just by looking at the CS factory 2nd's, you can see how the blade and handle are held together by TWO PINS. That should make it a very sturdy blade, and it buys my confidence.

Plus, CS isn't in the market for wall-hangers. No matter what you think of the company, their knives are USERS, and quite a few of them our downright excellent.

On top of that, with Balicki having an extensive background in FMA, I'm almost certain that the balance of the barong will be totally functional, if not outright exquisite.

TTT for more info on the CS barong.
 
IMO Cold Steel should make their own barongs like they do their kukris, except with a micarta or G-10 handle. I'd buy one or more of those.
 
Burchtree;
The Valiant blades have held up very well for me - and I have quite a few and do lots of chopping with them. Fit and finish will vary with price - clearly you are not going to get the same with a $40 blade as with a $140 - but My bet is that you'd be surprised in both cases.
 
I have used two of the Valiant Survival Goloks, and I would rate them as being on the same level of Granfors Bruks in value and overall performance class, very high. Ref :

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=210810

There is a lot more information in the Survival forum on Knifeforums.

As for handles being just glued, the shear strength of even cheap epoxies is greater than wood. Thus to make the blade come out of the handle you generally have to significantly damage the grip. This requires very heavy impacts to induce the epoxy to crack, this is at a similar level to what it takes to fracture the wood as well.

The Valiant blades come with efficient wood cutting edge profiles, for bone and harder work you would want to apply a more steep secondary edge bevel.


-Cliff
 
Thanks, I might have to do a little shopping. I've been keeping my eye out for a good brush-clearing, impractical, hunk of steel to strap to a backpack (already have kukris, hatchets, and machetes -- need something new). Been thinking about picking up a MMHW Ozark Brush Hog, but I might check Valient's blades out.
 
Burchtree :

Been thinking about picking up a MMHW Ozark Brush Hog...
Click to expand...

If you do pick one of those up I would be very interested in your perspective after some use.

-Cliff
 
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