KA-BAR Parangatang, yeah, that ;-)

Gary W. Graley

Gary W. Graley

“Imagination is more important than knowledge"
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Mar 2, 1999
Messages
27,291
Well, I've always wanted a machete like blade but didn't really care for how they were made, usually thin metal with the bevel ground in at the edge, serves the purpose I suppose but always wanted something a little more, with some beef behind it.

SO, I don't remember just where or how I found out about these 'short swords' but I'm glad I did !

1095 steel blade, black coating for rust prevention, plus it looks kool to start out with, but it does get a bit banged up in use, dem's the breaks...

The handle is a glass-filled nylon handle and nicely contoured with pretty fair texture, but it feels plastic and changed out to some nice textured G10 or Micarta would be a good upgrade, but for now, it will do ok.

the blade is just over 14" long and an overall length of just over 19 1/2"

Blade spine is .19" so it has some heft to it

Blade grind is just about perfect, wide flat grind almost full flat, comes down to a very thin ground edge about 33 thou just above the edge bevel, and I don't feel any sharp transition from the bevel's shoulder down to the very edge, feels like a smooth transfer down.

And sharp? this fella arrived blistering sharp, my wife was not very happy, I had the parangatang out of it's not so nice sheath and had the blade down behind my right shoulder, then as I brought the it up, the tip caught the edge of my work shirt at about where the shoulder area is sewn and slit a nice 4" slice right through the shirt! OUCH ... she says I have to send it back before I do even worse damage, but this isn't going anywhere ;) It cleanly and easily slices through very light receipt paper, just amazing that they got the entire blade as evenly sharpened as they did, very well done out there in Olean NY !!! just down the road from me a ways, not sure if they allow tours but it would be nice to visit sometime!

So, no photos yet, you can check out this at Blade HQ

and several other places, plus there are a few youtube videos about this blade as well.

When I get a chance I'll get some photos of this but in the mean time, if you'd like a small machete, I'm giving this one a thumbs up :thumbup:

G2
 
I have one and it works great clearing junk in the backyard. A lighter and longer blade will do better for weeds, but the Parangatang has been generally useful. It is a user.
 
Looks like fun and gotta like the price point! :thumbup:

How's the handle shape?
 
It is a fun blade! took it to work, but had the guys come out to the car to view it, didn't chance taking it inside, just wouldn't be prudent at this juncture ;)

Here's some shots of it, using the light box, just got some bit shots to show it off

Handle shape is great, as I say a micarta or G10 might feel more secure, but this does have some texture to it;
They did send that paracord you see on the handle, I did the two Diamond knots, love those knots :)

parangatang_handle.jpg~original


Also there really nice contour

parangatang_contour.jpg~original


and the blade and tip are really nicely done!!! this thing is really really sharp guys/gals !!

Parangatang_tip.jpg~original


Tossed that shirt away, didn't want my wife to sew it up and be a constant reminder....

G2
 
Very nice review and glad you didnt get hurt! Wow..your wife is gonna get 'cha! :-) Sounds like one hefty, mean piece of ka-bar steel. Maybe when you get out to use it, you could post some pics plz, if its no trouble. Would be intresting to see edge after use. Sounds to be as sharp as my bk11.
 
Nice blade! The size looks good for a lot of general woods work. I'm thinking an 1/8" version with a low saber grind/high primary bevel (ala the old CS LTC) would be one helluva blade for slashing brush and light chopping. Thanks again for the review. Now add some action shots:D
 
Yah I new where my shoulder was, just not the too large shirt, and I plan on getting some work with it done but it'll be a while, still tending a broken ankle and the weather's turning so it'll be admired for a while ;)
G2
 
I haven't used mine in some time, because I am getting over a broken metatarsal in my foot. The blade came sharp, but with a wire edge. It would certainly shave. After my first use in clearing heavy weeds and a few saplings in the backyard, there were some flats on the edge. A sharpening and reuse didn't produce this sort of dulling. I would check for a wire edge before testing it out.
The steel is harder than a local hardware store machete, for sure. It isn't as hard, I would guess, as some pocket knives in 1095, and shouldn't be. The Parangatang is an excellent machete on a modified Philippine pattern, but not an axe. The money is well spent on it.
 
Thanks arty, good to know! And I kinda figured trying to use it to chop a tree down would be ill advised but trimming off the odd branch here and there looked to be something it would certainly enjoy! And I'll be on watch for a wire edge as like you said, she arrived very sharp!

My wife is still shaking her head when she sees it on the table, but, over the past 35 years she's gotten good at shaking her head and rolling her eyes at me, you'd think she'd learn by now? :)
G2

edited to add, broken metatarsal eh? never any fun, the bones I'm sure have healed long since, but it's still tight around the ankle and limited motion, the tendons and ligaments snapped when the foot bent out sideways to the left and then up against the side of my leg, it's not suppose to do that, pretty sure! Doc says about a year before I can walk 'normal' getting close but still I walk stilted, I was going to dress up as Igor with a hump on my back for Halloween, since I had the walk down pat :)
 
That thing is a chopping machine.
Fun Fun Fun.
 
Nice shots as always... I liked the blade shape and sharpness but I couldn't get used to the handle. If it came with nicely contoured micarta or becker-like scales I might have kept it.
 
I wear leather work gloves while using it, and the grip is very secure. It works great.
 
I've no leather thick enough for that purpose, so it'll be residing in the sheath she arrived in, nothing special, just serviceable ;)
G2
 
Thanks man, that would have been the right thickness, stuff I just don't ever get any more since I am focusing on folder sheaths.

If I were using this more on daily basis, we'll see come summer if I end up doing that, I would try to get some leather to make a better sheath to carry it around.

I showed this off to some family members during a Thanksgiving dinner at the in laws and everyone was like WOW you could really chop with this!!! Not your typical machete! :)

Well of course not, lol
G2
 
Gary just glue two pieces of leather together , rough to rough and you will have the thickness and a lined sheath all in one simple move ?
I double side just about all my leather now because I like the finish it gives .
You must have some wild Thanks Giving parties at your place if you spend your time swinging Machete's around :)


Ken
 
haha yes, some time we have up here in the hills of Pennsylvania!

Good idea on the doubling up, may do that if I get the need to make one, that's a lot of stitching too !!!
G2
 
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