Spyderco Barong (dial-up warning)

[yablanowitz]

I was glad to see this passaround come along. I had seen pictures of the Barong, and I liked the shape of it. I didn't care much for the grind of the prototypes, and the slight angle of the production model is not much of an improvement, but in spite of that, I was willing to like the knife. After all, it wouldn't be the first knife to have the grind changed to suit me.

The first time I opened the knife, I saw why so much of the blade was left unsharpened.

My index finger fell naturally onto the finger rest portion of the handle and overlapped onto the unsharpened portion of the blade, a grip that I like to have as an option, but which I find annoying as a primary grip. When I tried to correct that to what I would consider a normal grip, well...

My fingers felt crowded, and the grip felt very awkward. The area between the horns of the handle is simply too short for my hand, and puts the edge too far away from my hand to make me happy.

I have much the same problem with the Persian, another Schempp design with more than a little similarity in the handle.

On the plus side, the fit and finish are excellent and the action is very smooth. Lock-up is positive and very solid, with no play that I could detect in any direction. The sound of the lock is a bit more subdued than the resounding clack of the CF Military. The locking leaf is even thicker than that of the Military, which should please those who think the liner must be thick for the lock to be good.

But compared to the Military, the stop pin looks a bit puny.

The small groove machined at the point where the rounded tang meets the stop pin did not fill me with confidence, either.

I don't really think it would happen, but it looks like the rounded tang would act like a cam and pop the stop pin out under a heavy load or hard impact. I don't condone chopping with any folder, and I'd avoid it even more with this one.

Overall, it's a nice knife, but it's not for me.

 

[Gramps]

Another in a long line of nice reviews...... lots of good information and photos here to help the reader get a good sense of how this folder would perform. I tend to like choking up on a folding knife.....but I'm older and my EDC tasks are pretty mundane. The Barong would probably work out for me in spite of the butt horns being so acutely angled. However, I can tell from your photos anyone with large hands using just the "normal" grip probably would find the handle shape uncomfortable when cutting for extended periods.

Thanks again for the good review !

- regards

 

[yablanowitz]

I ain't exactly a spring chicken, either.

I do work my knives pretty hard, so the handle has to be comfortable in a couple of grips to suit me. On the plus side, though, there is plenty of room for more edge on the blade if a person was inclined to regrind it. When the blade is closed, it hits the stop pin pretty close to the pivot.

I had in mind extending the grind all the way past the Spyderhole if I bought one, but I'm not sure I could change the handle enough to make it fit my hand, so I probably won't spend the money on one to try it.

 

[Gramps]

I know when you're doing maintenance and repair it's annoying to have your tool distract you from the task at hand. You just want to getter done. I typically use my EDC for light cutting chores....when I go out back to work in the yard and garden I take a 93mm SE Spyderco Rescue. I don't think I'd consider using the Barong for my version of rough work.

- regards

 

[Broos]

Nice review - Always nice to see knife in hand pics. And I laughed at the crack about liner thickness!

 

[knarfeng]

Those are good observations that are well illustrated.

I have bought knives in the past that I don't carry as much as I might because of similar considerations.

 

[Twindog]

Nice review, and thanks for the photos. Now I understand why so much of the blade is not sharpened. I like this design, but think it should be a larger knife. With a little longer blade, the handle would be big enough for your hand and the blade could then have a fuller edge.

 

[shangchi108]

Glad you posted this. Your hand and mine are probably close in size. I can't hold the Persian comfortably at all, and I'm sure I wouldn't be comfortable with the Barong, either.

 

[A.P.F.]

Many thanks for the excellent review, Yab! You just saved me some money that will be better spent on another Millie.

 

[pedropcola]

My wife got me one for Christmas. I have medium sized mitts and can comfortably put all four fingers in the handle area. The show stopper on this knife is the huge unsharpened area. I don't design knives but I know what I don't like. Not a great user for me. No more edge than my UKPK in a much bigger package. I don't carry knives for SD so I can't speak to that aspect of the design. Nice thin grind, great slicer, just lacking the extra 3/4 of an inch at the ricasso.

 

[frank k]

Thanks much for the outstanding review and photos!


A bigger version with a shorter ricasso would be nice.

I did not notice the smaller stop pin, but otherwise the Barong's lock reminded me a lot of the Military's lock.


Thanks again!



Frank

 

[Ed Schempp]

Thanks for the comprehensive review of the knife...Take Care...Ed