- Joined
- Jan 31, 2007
- Messages
- 671
Every fall and winter I do a fair amount of trail work and brush clearing. I decided I wanted a new machete, something different than the standard latin style. After looking around at what was available, I picked up an 18" Cold Steel Barong.
Initial impressions were that it was much thicker and heavier than I like in a machete, but after using it over a couple of weekends, it hasn't been as bad as I feared. F=mv means that it doesn't take much effort swinging it to cut through most brush and even small trees. I'm cutting through 1 or 2 inch cottonwood trunks in as many swings.
It came at what I think is the perfect level of sharpness for a machete -- not enough to shave, but not tableknife dull, either. I don't care for coated blades, but at least the one it comes with is fairly durable -- it's worn away along the edge and bevel (Coating was applied after sharpening), but nowhere else.
The handle was comfortable, and the beak at the end made for a secure grip even when holding it loosely.
Even though we had axes and chainsaws, I found myself using the barong to deal with larger trees too, just because I could.
The edge was starting to roll and even chip in places after that, and the very very tip bent on a rock, but there's nothing that isn't easily fixable. Considering the amount of use I put it to, especially over this last weekend, it's held up well.
So, great chopper, that's working out well for me. If all you have to deal with is lighter brush instead of thick woody stuff, I'd go with a lighter machete, though.
Initial impressions were that it was much thicker and heavier than I like in a machete, but after using it over a couple of weekends, it hasn't been as bad as I feared. F=mv means that it doesn't take much effort swinging it to cut through most brush and even small trees. I'm cutting through 1 or 2 inch cottonwood trunks in as many swings.
It came at what I think is the perfect level of sharpness for a machete -- not enough to shave, but not tableknife dull, either. I don't care for coated blades, but at least the one it comes with is fairly durable -- it's worn away along the edge and bevel (Coating was applied after sharpening), but nowhere else.
The handle was comfortable, and the beak at the end made for a secure grip even when holding it loosely.
Even though we had axes and chainsaws, I found myself using the barong to deal with larger trees too, just because I could.
The edge was starting to roll and even chip in places after that, and the very very tip bent on a rock, but there's nothing that isn't easily fixable. Considering the amount of use I put it to, especially over this last weekend, it's held up well.
So, great chopper, that's working out well for me. If all you have to deal with is lighter brush instead of thick woody stuff, I'd go with a lighter machete, though.