pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Feb 6, 2011 17:58:33 GMT
This maybe untimely as the 12” CS Barong Machete is now discontinued and there may very well be an older post somewhere. I bought it from True Swords for about $11 along with the 18” version about a year ago when I found that they were on the discontinued list. At least I can base my impression on nearly a year’s experience and not a first impression out of the box. I think a lot of people missed the boat on this one. I bought them as working knives and the 12” jobby is probably my most used knife. It is hands down if you exclude grass gutting. The POB is about 2¼”, and I’ve since forgotten the weight. The 3mm thick blade is stiff and allows it to pry better than a standard machete, and at the same time is thin enough to slide through easily. It cuts well and at 12” the blade is fast and easily controlled. The 1055 steel allows it to hold an edge. The handle fits me well and securely. Although with the 18” version I had to add a wrap to increase the size as it had a slight play in my hand. Not enough to notice on a quick job, but after a few minutes I would become aware of it. That could very well have to do with the additional weight up front. The 12” version is an outstanding working knife, and at about $11 (I can’t remember exactly now) is unbeatable. Actually I value it far more than the $11. The attached video shows the ease that it does some of its chores. Sorry that I got off camera there in one spot, but I had no other limb that needed cutting at that time so a remake wasn’t possible. It will cut a 2 liter bottle with no problem, but I only had the smaller one. Plastic bottles don’t last long here. Its bigger brother will handle most of the larger jobs when necessary, but is heavier and fatigue sets in sooner. And for most jobs the smaller knife is more than adequate.
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Sébastien
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Post by Sébastien on Feb 6, 2011 18:54:53 GMT
Hello Pgandy !
I have the CS 12'' barong machete, and their 18'' bowie machete, too. I agree with you, these are tough, well-made blades at a very attractice cost. Personnaly, I prefer these machetes to Cold Steel's newer ones.
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Post by chuckinohio on Feb 6, 2011 19:58:35 GMT
Is that due to ergonomics, or another reason.
They haven't changed their construction methods or steel type have they?
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Greg
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Post by Greg on Feb 6, 2011 20:05:09 GMT
Unfortunately I had missed the Baron, but I do have their Heavy and Latin machetes. I could not agree with you more when you said that these machetes were worth more then the price they are offered at. A friend of mine tried to argue that his Wal-Mart machete was just as good. So, I asked him to hold the machete flat on the table and pull the handle up 45 degrees out of true. I went first and showed that the machete returned to true, then he went and I'll be darned if his didn't take a 45 degree set.
I felt bad and gave him my machete, so now I no longer have the 12" latin. I may have to remedy that.
Sorry for the story, but it was meant to backup your statement that CS makes some very nice machetes.
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Post by MEversbergII on Feb 6, 2011 20:41:53 GMT
Anyone have experience with that flat-nosed one?
M.
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Sébastien
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Post by Sébastien on Feb 6, 2011 20:58:56 GMT
I don't know about the steel. What I dislike about their newer machetes is their design. The grips look fat and ugly (my personnal taste... YMMV) and I don't like the blade shapes. IMHO, the discontinued machetes had more graceful and sober lines.
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Feb 6, 2011 23:48:21 GMT
The only machete that CS presently offers that is of interest to me is their Katana Machete. I don’t know when I’ll be able to obtain one. The shipping is outrageous not to mention all of the other charges they find to throw in. And then on top of that the government wants an additional $75 for a knife. I’ll have to wait until someone comes this way or I go to the States and include it as part of my $500 duty free package. I don’t know if this will be of interest to anyone, but as knife fans maybe, it runs neck and neck in usefulness with the 12” Barong. It was given to me as a machete, but I think a “long knife” would be more fitting as it does not fit a definition of a machete since the blade has a taper. Long knife is an accepted term, but rarely heard here. I would replace it in a heart beat if I could find another. I’ve only seen one other and it was on a news program one night. The scene took place on a banana farm on the east coast. That is the same area from where the man that gave me the knife was from. It works better with bananas than any knife I have and I think that it was designed for banana work. If anyone has information I would like to hear it. The knife was well used when given to me 10 years ago and showed effects of batoning. The handle is plied and looks similar to an automobile tire. The OAL is 19½”, w/14½” low carbon steel blade (iron?). POB 1”. I thought at first the tip had been broken, but now think that it was designed that way to strengthen the point. The blade is .093” thick at handle and tapers to .033”. For a long time it was my only knife until I got an 18” Latin type machete out of Columbia, and since have been able to latch on to several other blades. It is still my grass cutter and catches all of the crappy jobs in order to save my other blades, such as cleaning out cement lined drainage ditches. It took a good hour to repair the edge on my Barong after such a chore and I can repair this on in matter of minutes with an Accusharp due to the soft metal. I stone the Barong. The CS Barong is a better quality knife, but if I had to choose I would take the Long Knife. But now if I had two 12” Barongs…. Attachments:
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Post by Elheru Aran on Feb 7, 2011 15:29:18 GMT
That's a nice long-knife. Where I lived in Africa, it's not uncommon to make grips out of chunks of auto tire; wouldn't be surprised if whoever made yours took the same path. The pointy blade is a little unusual to me for a machete, that would make it a little light, but if it's designed for banana work that makes sense-- banana trees aren't particularly tough.
It's interesting that it's not hardened as much as a CS; that's sorta to be expected, but it makes a certain kind of sense that it'd be much easier to repair even with primitive tools. Sounds like you have a good workhorse right there...
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Post by Larry Jordan on Feb 16, 2011 13:08:12 GMT
I also prefer the newer/thicker (3mm) CS 12" machetes to the earlier models, although I do not own any of the Latin models which also have the softer rubber (polypropelene?) handles. I own the 12" spear point and 12" bowie models and have used them extensively for yard work and in the field. I owned an 18" bowie for a short time, but I found it a bit too heavy and I tired quickly. Sold it. This is where the Latins might show their superiority, being thinner and lighter. I also own the CS Kukri and the Bolo machetes. The hard and rough handle of the former quickly tears up the hand. I've tried wrapping it with varying levels of success. The latter looks good but I prefer the handles, both shape and material, on the newer machetes. Nut'n'fancy had a blade smith reprofile his 12" bowie machete's edge and the thing can be made razor sharp. (I got a decent edge with a large sharpening stone--cut myself while sharpening!) Sad to see the line discontinued. I might snap up a 12" barong while they're still available.
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Jun 4, 2011 19:08:47 GMT
Here’s my 12” Barong in action. I used it to make a blowgun in response to a challenge. The 12” Barong still reminds my most often used, barring grass cutting, and highly prized blade. And I nearly missed out on getting one. Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6
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