Ray Mears- Bushcrafting in the Rockies!

My favorite celebrity bushcrafter Ray Mears goes bushcrafting in the Canadian Rockies

Part 1

Part 2

REVIEW: Cold Steel 12" Barong Survival Machete- Bushman's Big Brother?

I've been wanting to do a review of this wonderful bush tool since ordering one on a fluke from Cold Steel last year for the ridiculous closeout price of only $7.00. I had never heard of a "Barong" machete and to be honest, the name was rather off-putting and strange to me, since I'm more of a bushcrafter than a tactical gear person. The blade shape looked useful and for only $7.00, I decided to order one to see what it was like.

What I found (to my utter suprise) was a machete that was basically a Cold Steel Bushman on steroids but with a quality, fit and finish that seemed more like a knife costing $40-$50. Needless to say, I was pretty blown away. After using the tool for the better part of a year here in the mountains, my initial impression has only grown more favorable. Since I had already owned a Cold Steel Bushman, I was struck by the fact that the Barong machete seemed more or less like a bigger version of the Bushman, so after a long winter, I wanted to post this review with that in mind.

Cold Steel 12" Barong Machete specs:

• 12" Blade length
• Overall Length 17.75"
• Weight without sheath (as measured on a digital postal scale)- 16.9 ounces
• Weight with sheath- 22.3 ounces
• Blade steel- 1055 Carbon Steel
• Price- Now discontinued, though some can be found on the aftermarket for $25-$50 

 

The Barong when it was new. This photo was taken last year when the weather was still warm (ahhhhh!). Note the Cold Steel logo stamped into the machete which is conspicuously absent on South African made Cold Steel machetes (like the Kukri Machetes, for instance). 

Unlike the Kukri Machete, the Chinese-manufactured Barong machete sports a higher quality sheath, with thick Cordura material similar to the Bushman's sheath. My Cold Steel Kukri Machete's flimsy sheath literally ripped open after only my first outing, but the Barong's sheath has easily handled almost a year of bush trekking with no problems. It holds the machete securely and also hangs low enough to clear a backpack strap, a big plus for me since I backpack quite a bit. I like cordura over leather for this application as it is lighter than a comparable leather sheath yet still holds the tool safely and securely.

The fit and finish of the blade is also higher than the Kukri's and this particular one came with a fairly sharp edge right out of the package. The handle material is also of higher quality, being much softer than the rather hard plastic of the Kukri and similar to the feel of the Kraton rubber on Cold Steel's vaunted SRK knife. The handle is just about perfect and it's one of the things that make this machete such a pleasure to use.

The steel is 1055 Carbon Steel, which is commonly used in machetes as well as Cold Steel's line of axes and tomahawks. It's not the greatest in edge retention but makes up for it in toughness and ease of sharpening. This machete will easily get hair shaving sharp with no effort, whereas my Kukri machete took quite a bit of work to reach this point due to the rough factory grind. It comes stock with a very efficient Scandi grind profile, similar to what the Swedish Mora Knives have. This makes it an excellent cutting tool. 

Though these machetes are built really tough, you'll need to be a little more careful when using them around rocks and tree knots due to the thinner Scandi grind edge.  That said, it is easily fixed in the field with a file and some 220 grit sandpaper. If you have the know-how, I'd also recommend that this edge be converted into a tougher convex edge at some point, like the edge on axes and hatchets. 

PART TWO- The Bushman vs the 12" Barong 

 (Comparison view of the Bushman, Barong, and 1.25lb Husqvarna Wildlife Hatchet by Wetterlings)

I already mentioned that the Barong was like a Bushman on steroids. As you can see by the comparison pic, the Barong really looks more like a big honkin' survival knife than a typical machete.  

The Bushman and Barong both have the same blade thickness as shown here:

The tips of both blades (the Barong is on the right)

PART THREE- Chopping and Batoning

Now for the fun stuff- chopping and batoning. Though I consider myself more of an axe aficionado, tools like these can be used for batoning if the situation warrants. They should be able to handle reasonable tasks without breaking. What I wanted to find out was how well the bigger Barong would fare against the smaller and lighter Bushman in chopping and batoning and if the extra weight would be worth it.

For demonstration purposes, I grabbed a big 9 inch seasoned and knotted  Douglas Fir log, pretty much a nightmare to split even with a big axe. The selection of this kind of log may seem extreme, but I've been in situations  where I camped or hiked in more well-used places and the only firewood around was larger logs like the one shown in the picture below. The Bushman's normally large 7" blade is simply out of its league with a piece like this and could only be used to take off very small pieces from the outer edge at best. 

In attempting to baton this log with the Bushman, note that even at the edge of the log, there is very little metal to strike with a baton:

By comparison, the 12" Barong Machete dominates the log and has plenty of exposed metal on the back of the blade to baton with:

Though the Barong is pictured in the middle of the log, I would never attempt to baton through something as big and knotted as this as it would probably destroy the blade if attempted (I have before and lost!). 

Instead, take a piece from the outer log, which is easier on the blade:

The Fir slab was easily reduced into kindling with the Barong, and to test the cutting capabilities, I created a featherstick with it:

To test the chopping capabilities of each blade, a small Douglas Fir log was used. On the left is the Bushman after 25 chops and on the right is the Barong notch after 25 chops. Clearly, the Barong is a more powerful chopper. The angle of the photo doesn't show the depth of the Barong's chopping notch as well as I would have liked, but needless to say, the Barong chopped almost 3 times better yet weighs only 7 ounces more than the Bushman.

SUMMARY

My overall impression is that the Barong is about three times better in batoning and chopping for only a 7 ounce increase in weight over the Bushman. It also has a much more comfortable handle as well. As evidenced by the featherstick in my photos it is also capable of some of the finer work that the 7" Bushman blade can do. I've found the combo of the Barong machete, 7" folding saw plus a Mora or Swiss Army Knife or Multi-tool will cover just about all bases during most of the year (except winter, where only an axe will do!).

As a machete, it's probably not the best of the bunch, because the weight tends to be towards the center and not at the tip as in most machetes. That said, it still clears brush fairly well. I think it is more of a survival\bush machete in that it can do many things well but not perfectly, as there is always a compromise with tools of this nature.

As a defensive weapon against an animal attack, it is truly fearsome because of the combination of the sharp point, 12" blade length, and the fact that it is thick enough to have power yet thin enough to be extremely fast in the hand. Though I carry bear spray as my main defense, this is one tool outside of a firearm that makes me feel as if I would have a fighting chance if I were attacked.  The reach, sharpness and hitting power would be devastating even to a tough animal like a bear or cougar. The way this thing takes out chunks of wood means it could easily crush or break bones, etc. I am an animal lover and hopefully will not be faced with this situation, but if it were to happen, then it's nice knowing that your bush tool might save the day.

For the money I just don't think you can beat the 12" Barong Machete. Though they were discontinued last year, they still sell occasionally on eBay for under $35, an absolute steal in my opinion. Buy two if you can, because once word gets out they will probably get more expensive as many other discontinued Cold Steel products have. An incredible value. I have to pinch myself because I can't believe I was able to buy several of these for only $7 a piece!

About the author

Jason Schwartz is the founder and senior editor of Rocky Mountain Bushcraft. He is a former Red Cross certified Wilderness & Remote First Aid Instructor, and has taught bushcraft and wilderness survival techniques to the Boy Scouts of America, interned with the US Forest Service, and studied wilderness survival, forestry and wildland firefighting at Colorado Mountain College in Leadville, Colorado. Jason has also written for magazines such as The New Pioneer and Backpacker, including writing the "Tinder Finder" portion of Backpacker's "Complete Guide to Fire," which won a 2015 National Magazine Award (NMA). Email him at rockymountainbushcraft @ hotmail.com (without spaces)

Council Tool Velvicut Hudson Bay Axe- First Impression

This is an initial review\first impression of Council Tool's long awaited Velvicut Hudson Bay Axe. I had hoped to get some outside photos but unfortunately, the weather in the mountains was just too blustery today to get it done. I plan to take this axe into the wilderness in the coming days and give it a serious workout, so look for my full review here sometime next week.

Specifications

Drop Forged 5160 Steel, RC 50-54
Grade "A" Hickory Handle
Length- 24 inches (this one measured in at 22.5 inches)
Weight without sheath- 43.5 ounces (as measured on a digital postal scale)
Weight with sheath- 48.5 ounces
Price- $129.95

The axe arrived in its own box within the shipping box

Opened

The box contained the axe, sheath, booklet with some history about Council Tool and axes\maintenence tips, and a little note about the Velvicut Hudson Bay. The axe also came shipped with a rubber gasket edge guard which actually fits quite well and could be used in place of the sheath if needed in an emergency.

The first thing that suprised me is how short this axe is, roughly 22.5 inches compared to Council's advertised length of 24 inches. This gives the axe a unique feel and balance, almost like a Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe on steroids. Maybe a better comparison is that it's like the new Ray Mears Gransfors Bruks Wilderness Axe. The dimensions and head weight are very similar, so I'll be curious to see how it performs when I get it into the back country this week

The axe did indeed come with a Grade "A" hickory handle, and the grain direction, tightness of the grain and overall quality is excellent.

Though not fully visible in the photo above, the alignment is very good, though I wouldn't call it excellent. It is better than most Wetterlings' I've seen, so I think that speaks for itself.

The profile, as seen below, is excellent and looks to be optimal for both chopping and splitting (though only a live field test will truly decide this or not). Council decided to go with a traditional metal and wood wedge as opposed to their usual single aluminum wedge to hang the head, and I am glad for this.

The wood of the handle does protude out of the eye, adding extra security against having the handle come loose, another plus. I also like that the hammer poll is ground flat and polished, making it easy to pound in tent stakes, etc.

The edge was convexed at the factory, and though it came much sharper than any axe I've bought from Council before, it still isn't as sharp as Gransfors Bruks usually come (shaving sharp). The good news is that the edge is practically done, so only light file or stone work is needed to get it optimal. The axe, in it's present form, is what I would consider knife sharp, though slightly dull. 

The axe comes with a very nice brown leather belt sheath, which includes a buckle on the backside for more attachment options. I like that the leather covers the axe when snapped shut as it adds some additional weather protection.

One complaint is that the belt loops should be made wider, as they barely fit most normal sized men's belts.

Size comparison next to a Wetterling's made 25 inch long Husqvarna Multi-Purpose Axe.

Size comparison between a 26.5 inch Council Tool Standard Hudson Bay Axe (far right) and a 19.5 inch Wetterlings Large Hunting Axe (far left)

SUMMARY

My initial impression of this axe is excellent. It looks and feels like quality, and the balance feels very good in the hand. The steel that Council uses for the Velvicut line, 5160, is quite revered in the knife community for having outstanding toughness along with good edge retention. Council feels so strongly that this axe will last that they guarantee the head for life, no kidding!

My main nitpicks are that the axe didn't come shaving sharp, a standard for Council's closest competitor Gransfors Bruks. The other issue is the size of the belt loops being slightly small on the sheath. The hickory handle could use some more cleaning up near the head-handle junction as it is a bit rough for an axe of this price, but the rest of the handle is excellent and also quite comfortable. In all fairness, Council is new to the field of high-end boutique axes, and this is a first production run, so I expect that improvements will be made over the coming weeks as they ship the next run out. Council has outstanding customer service and does read these forums, so they do take forum comments seriously when dealing with product issues.

Aside from anything else, we now have a high quality American-made bushcraft axe, and this alone is exciting. The odds were against us that this would actually come to fruition, but here it is. I want to thank all the members at Bushcraft USA and Bladeforums.com who emailed and called Council to help make this happen, and to Council Tool for being open-minded enough to actually put this idea into production. I look for forward to reviewing this axe in the field over the coming weeks and will report back with my results.

UPDATE: Check out the field review of the Velvicut Hudson Bay here

About the author

Jason Schwartz is the founder and senior editor of Rocky Mountain Bushcraft. He is a former Red Cross certified Wilderness & Remote First Aid Instructor, and has taught bushcraft and wilderness survival techniques to the Boy Scouts of America, interned with the US Forest Service, and studied wilderness survival, forestry and wildland firefighting at Colorado Mountain College in Leadville, Colorado. Jason has also written for magazines such as The New Pioneer and Backpacker, including writing the "Tinder Finder" portion of Backpacker's "Complete Guide to Fire," which won a 2015 National Magazine Award (NMA). Email him at rockymountainbushcraft @ hotmail.com (without spaces)