Valiant Large Survival Golok

[Dave_Markowitz]

After reading several online reviews (e.g., on http://www.oldjimbo.com) I got a Valiant Trading Co. Large Survival Golok earlier this week:

This golok is the closest thing I've held to a +10 vorpal sword.

Workmanship is very nice. It's nicely balanced and the buffalo horn handle is comfortable. The blade is ~15.5", hand forged, with a full convex grind and distal taper (thins towards the point). Weight is about 1.2 lbs. It came sharp enough to cut limply hanging newspaper. I almost sliced off my finger tip when wiping off the preservative oil it came in!

I bought it from their US dealer, but just read on THR that he's closing up shop.

Cost was $89 after shipping.

I took it out back today and used it for pruning some arborvitae. It works really well on woody plants, much better than a machete. The blade cross section prevents it from getting stuck the way a machete can. The handle was comfortable in use. The edge stayed sharp and didn't show any damage even after using the golok in lieu of a hatchet to chop down a couple trunks. IMO, this would make a great tool in the PA woods.

A view in its wood and horn sheath:

Handle and sheath closeup:

Chopping into a branch. You can see how deeply the golok bites:

My reward after a morning of yardwork:

 

[nephildevil]

that is one hell of a bite!

 

[Cpl Punishment]

Looks like you have a sweet blade there.

 

[knarfeng]

and did the vorpal blade go "snicker-snack"?

That is one wollapping big blade.

Nice reward.

 

[Lorien]

I got the medium version and gave it to my dad to keep the blackberries from taking over their driveway. I used it lots for clearing trail, but destroyed the sheath and gave it to pa instead of making a new one. It is an awesome tool, and everything I've gotten from Valiant has been really good. It gets my:thumbup:

 

[AustinTXShooter]

Nice choice on the golok and excellent choice on the beer. I wish it would get cold down here in Texas so that I could start drinking winter beers. It was over 90 degrees every day this past week. Not really stout and porter weather.

 

[Haze]

I have 2 goloks from Valiantco, there both big blades and came shave sharp out the box. i got mine from Australia and payed probably about the same after shipping.
I reprofiled my smaller one to a flat grind after reading up on a few sites that it was a good idea, it did improve the cutting power some what and it made the blade look much better in my oppinion and it felt a tiny bit lighter.(probaly just all in the mind but ...)
the only "complaints" i have are my larger one has a soft spot about half way down the blade, i have had it bend so much it wouldnt resheath properly until i bent it back, if i look down the edge i can see a wavey spot now where its been bent and bent back a few times. this was a little disapointing to be honest but not a huge deal. The second problem is both my handles have cracked, maybe only an inch or so in to the handle from the hilt but there only going to get bigger not smaller with time. I dont know when the danger point of the blades coming loose will be so im very cautious about using them now.
I have heard Valientco will replace handles for a minimal cost though so its not all bad news on that front.
All in all i have enjoyed using them and they do cut very well, they are not expensive and if i do need to get the handles replaced although its an inconvenience im sure valiant will do good as iv heard nothing bad about there CS.

 

[JurT]

Nice looking golok:thumbup:

 

[Briggz]

Dave,

Can you let me knoqw what dealer? I would not mind picking one up myself. I have a Valiant and a Bark River Golok and I do like them both. You can PM me with the info.

 

[Dave_Markowitz]

and did the vorpal blade go "snicker-snack"?

It hummed when I withdrew it from the sheath.

I wish it would get cold down here in Texas so that I could start drinking winter beers. It was over 90 degrees every day this past week. Not really stout and porter weather.

Just go inside and turn the AC down really low.

 

[akennedy73]

Nice golok - I have a smaller Valiant and the bite is amazing. It just buries itself into wood without getting stuck - throws chips like a rabid beaver on steroids. I'm trying hard not to buy another one (thinking about the kelapa) and seeing your pics ain't helping much!