Yes...You can get 18 Tramontinas for the price. Just figured I'd get there before someone else does. Here's a better way to describe that steel that I didn't think of in the video: "It's even TOUGHER than 3V, yet EASIER to SHARPEN"
Oh gamma radiation that’s the naughty bad radiation, It’s about quality not quantity Even Parvati (she has like ten arms,) couldn’t use 18 machetes at once, Ever seen a machete fight?, not pretty,
PREPAREDMIND101 Good video. Chris can you please tell me where you get that bluing stuff you etched JESS-1 with.And what's it's name is. I'd like to try it. Thanks Chris.
I was used to watch high end folding knife reviews when I watched this so when you where saying the price I was thinking “based on the amount of material and the type of material I’d guess 500ish” then you said the price and I realized how crazy ridiculous folding knife prices are...
One day thinking to myself "with Bark River going up and down all the CPM steels, it would be cool if they made a big blade out of CPM1V". And here it is! Wear of A2 and tough as S7 is a tall order my friend! Jackhammer bits, cold chisels, and punches out of S7. Planer blades with A2. THX 4 da preview, -don't lob off a finger!
Com 1v isn't as tough as S7 but it's up there. S7 is considered a shock steel used for jackhammer bits like you said, 1v is still a tool steel. Crucible lists 1v less tough than S7 (they make s7 xl which is a more pure steel, very nice) but above 3v. Z-tuff is a pretty similar steel to 1v, I heard great results about. One steel I'd like to see used in fixed blades is cpm 9v. Edge retention close to 10v but much higher toughness. Never understood why no One uses that steel, sure it's not the best choice for folders but a fixed blade out of it would be great.
it's a thing of beauty...tbh given the quantity of CPM material used in its construction, its way cheaper than a knife. When are they launching the polymer training version, so you don't miss que the first time you heave it and hack off a limb?
I have always wondered why this steel is mostly used as tool steel and whyt no one used it in blades. Im so happy to see it used in a blade and it seems to preform like i thought it would.
Hey Chris from PM 101 you have a keen sense of humor! You had me laughing from your comments! I bought a set of kitchen knives from IKEA a few years ago and noticed that they cut through food a lot easier than my other knives! I though they were just sharper, but even after sharpening my regular knives the IKEA knives were still better. I was intrigued! I investigated and noticed that the edge was different...there was no distinction in the blade all the way to the edge. Looking at the edge straight on I noticed that it had a convex (curved) shape at the edge. That made sense why it cut through easier. I think it's from there not being a vertex (as seen from a straight on view) at the point where the cutting grind "V" transitions to the rest of the blade. I think ( I'm a novice to knife science!) The angle of the edge "V" Is steeper than that of the blade so that along the sides of said "V" being straight instead of curved makes it require more effort to push through material. The convex shape is a continuous transition instead of suddenly at one point. You said this machete has a convex grind so I think that's one of the reasons it cuts through so easily! I hope Bark River will put it into production! Question: do you know how to sharpen a convex grind? Perhaps you could do a video! I would like to be able to sharpen my IKEA kitchen knives which I don't know how to do! Thanks brother! Peace out!
That is cool. I would be interested in it. I am a big fan of machetes as woods tools. I own several Gransfors Bruks axes, and I much prefer large knives and machetes accompanied by a silky saw. Different strokes for different folks.
Yes, Dokken man! Back For The Attack was such a top-notch album. As always a quality review for a special blade. It's so simple and discreet in its design, yet probably the prettiest machete around. Looks very effective too. Rock on!
I have a bark river machete from a decade or more ago, looks very similar to this one. Mines in A2 and is sharp, quick and light in the hand. I did get a small chip n the edge while chopping through a thick vine. Repeated honings has almost smoothed it out, just a slight hiccup when slicing catalogue paper. I don't use it for hard chopping anymore. This 1V might be the perfect upgrade. My A2 did develop some interesting patina patterns on it tho.
This would be such a great tool for those who only need that one blade when building a deer blind and what not. Usually you're only clearing some brush and occasionally some branches, this be that perfect tool imo.
I know I've never touched it out In the woods either ?.............🤣🤣🤣 . Loved the review .....though does will really like big choppers? In the woods?. .. 🤣🤣🤣
I am writing this one year after the video was published. I have one of these machetes which I have used considerably for work purposes, clearing hundreds of yards of trails, cutting large limbs and saplings and brush. It has held its edge incredibly well, requiring only stropping once a week to return to an extremely sharp edge - shaving sharp. This is the best heat treated, toughest steel I have ever used. The machete's balance and feel is very good. I have never experienced edge retention nearly as good as this blade. The quality of this Bark River machete was too good to be true. Here's the catch: Bark River's quality control went to hell. During the last month, there were many sold with thin, bent blades. BR put sorry machetes out to their distributors for some reason. I know a man who bought and returned four, never getting one which was satisfactory. Some weighed half what the specs said they were supposed to weigh and had blade thickness half what was specified. One was bent, severely, off center from the handle; another had a bend in its too-thin blade starting halfway out. Bark River, what are you doing to your once fine company by ruining a great product and letting customers purchase it? For $225, you should provide an exquisite product. Instead, you let untold numbers of crap out and took the money, requiring customers to pay for shipping to return them. They should never had reached the distributors. The product, the last I heard, has been discontinued. Those of us who got good ones were lucky. It's the best tool of any kind I have ever purchased and is being used, weekly, to get the job done. I'd rather get the job done than spend my time sharpening a lesser blade. It's a joy to use. But mine is one of the good ones, thank goodness. I hope BR can resume production of this machete in a satisfactory form, I have co-workers who would love to have one, but BR needs to get some quality control.
Very cool, great grind. I think old school carbon steel is still best for machetes. Lower Rockwell. Easy sharpening. Less chippy. But if this gets close and has better edge retention I can see the attraction
I've got the Camp 14 and this BR machete. There is a comparison to be made: this BR is better balanced and will chop hundreds of what I cut (small trees, vines, branches, briars) without needing sharpening. On my Camp 14 sheath, I have attached a way to carry a diamond hone because it needs it throughout the day. The BR does not. However, the Camp 14 handle has a better, more secure grip, which is why I also wrapped the handle of my BR machete with a baseball handle grip material. After that five buck modification, the BR is the ultimate, and a better tool than the Camp 14: it holds an edge better, cuts better, and is better balanced, resulting in a less tiring day. I use them routinely in my job, clearing trails, and around my place. I do like my Camp 14, but after getting this Bark River Bravo Machete, my Camp 14 remains in the shop, resting and unused.
Even at that price, I'd still buy it. It sounds like it's a damn near indestructible blade that one can use for multiple tasks. I don't own a Bark River yet, but I want that! I'm gonna have to get one when it's available!
Wow, I want one! A whole lot of baddassery built into that beast. ReallyBgiMonkey is a machete guy..I bet he would make love to that thing! Now that's a picture I bet you will never get out of your mind, lol.
As a noob, I spoke as a noob, acted as a noob, and purchased as a noob, When I put on my big boys pants and knew my ass from my elbow I looked back at my noobness, for such things were toys, Do I look back with regret, no, I ran, and sometimes fell over, But it was part of learning, buy cheap stuff, know what like and don’t like, then when your level of skill qualifies you to do so you will buy the better products, it’s a natural progression, “You’ve never Touched it out in the woods.....the machete” (Signs of self editing...you know wat we waz thinkin....live in fear......live in feeeear..lol)
PREPAREDMIND101 great, yeah I looked at their schedule and it's way down the list, didn't see a pre order avail, just a limited first run? I agree it looks like a nice design!
Gets stuck really easy. Dang. The Cold Steel Kukri 0-1 has a giant hollow grind and it doesn't have that problem. Having said that, I'll give you $350 for that:) I put a choil on that cs and I we it as a knife too. Small tasks and all. And I wonder if this can do the same, only better.
The price isn’t bad if your someone who uses your blades on a daily basis where the better steel is better for long term use so u don’t have to sharpen it as much.
Dokken. Very Cool. The Blade? If you can afford it, Buy it. It seems to fit the Niche of the Old (like 1890s) "Bush Knife". Also reminds me of the old 1910 "Medic Machete" the Army used to issue. Thanks Chris.
Yeah. It's not like you're doomed if you don't have one. Like I said, I didn't see the point of it till I got one. Would I chose it over my JX5? No. I'd rather have the JX5 and a cheaper machete. The upside to getting review samples, is a lot of times we never would have considered buying one. But then you have one in your hands, and it's like "Oh wow... This thing IS sweet!"
PREPAREDMIND101 Oh, no Disagreement at all. Like you said, if you want the Best of the Best, go for it. But I think that if I was a Professional Guide in a place like the African Savannah, I'd be having it in my Kit. Take Care.
Honest question..how could one need more toughness in a blade large or small than 3v provides? I understand 1v is tougher but 3v toughness is off the charts for our uses compared to nearly all other steels, it costs the same and the edge retention is better. It's even more readily available than 1v currently.
It's a work of art but like everybody has said definitely couldn't wrap my head around that price. Unless it was the only machete I'd ever have for life and use it on a daily basis then maybe . With that said beautiful chopper for damn sure sweet review man .👍👊🤘
I have a ZT parabellum.... But I also like this blade as well but they're both very similar size/length and prize. If you were in my shoes.. would you sell the zt and get this or keep the zt?
What are the actual specs on this thing? Length overall, blade size, weight? I may have missed that amidst the banter between Chris and Will. For many people in the rich West, 280 dollars or its equivalent in another currency (BR exports to Europe as well) is probably about the same in relative buying power as the sub-20 dollar price of a Tramontina for a poor South American forestry worker or farmhand. Still, even here, many of us do not have this kind of money to 'throw around'. I know I don't. But if I could spend that kind of money without sacrificing anything important, I'd love to have one. Goes well with a set of Gransfors Bruk axes and a couple of Silky saws. I do think though that anyone who gets one should have the guts to just use it rough - not to test it on a thick log or a couple of neatly setup sticks to impress RU-vidrs or your brother in law at a birthday party, but to clear acres and acres of nasty brush, sometimes hitting rocks when swinging it close to the ground, nicking it inevitably at some point, resharpening it, doing it again and again and again until that handle is drenched with the DNA from your sweaty palms. And report back in five years. It is, of course, as Chris says, a rare tool, experimental even, and rare objects always command high prices. Just look at 'limited' series of luxury watches. Same thing. The real 'need' is to own it, not really to use it as a tool. Which is fine, as it keeps people at Bark River employed. On another note, this blade shows that you don't need a crazy thick and heavy chopper to do the job.
And Bark Rivers Unconditional lifetime warranty is somehow lacking becauuuuuse...... Why? Better watch saying that too loud. The ESEE cult will burn your house down.
PREPAREDMIND101 bark river is known for complaining about customers complaining no matter the issue. But yeah otherwise it's not too bad. They have a bad history of alot of things that goes unheard of because fan boys. Esee ... Fanboys are awesome!! Lol I'm not an esse fan at all. Good warranty though. Just not knives I like to use.
Max Spettmann... my money is on the yacare. IMHO Tops is the best knife maker out there. And though they may not use any "super steels," their 1095 with their outstanding HT allows them to be a very VERY close 2nd to those super steels.
That would be interesting. I think the Bark River would out perform the Yacare only due to the blade length. I do agree, when it comes to TOPS, I've never been dissatisfied. Unlike other makers who's knives typically break to bad heat treat, I haven't broke a TOPS knife, bit I did bend the last 1 1/2" of the tip on my silent hero while batoning through a 3" piece of oak with a big ass knot. I've noticed, if they have a bad heat treat, it bends instead of snapping. Which of course TOPS replaced it for me and the lady at their customer service was awesome. I did the same to my new silent hero and it manages to split everything I put through, even bigger oak with knots and no problem.
Idk i have a yacare. While it is certainly a nice blade for some tasks its almost too thick? Not alot of flex to it and for clearing light brush not the ideal tool? It does an ok job chopping thicker wood.
Why would you want a choil on a machete? They're damned near useless on an ordinary knife, even more so on a machete. You want part of the blade unsharpened so you can move your finger off the handle to gain control on the blade? That seems like adding a shoulder brace on your truck in case you want to get out and help push it up a hill.
Nice video Chris, as usualy. About the machete, it looks realy nice! But the price is realy unbelivable and in my opinion it has no that value. If you said USD 280 you can have good axe, machete, saw and knife together and not the low end! I like quality but there must be something in use to ask for the quality (and price also;-) ). The toughness here must be only for battoning, otherwise as you said, it holds an edge as a A2 steel, so it is not something super, it is "just" good or great. And battoning is definitely not a normal task for machete. So in reality, what for? That handle is slip as normaly in BR knives, but the "hoko" in the end of the handle looks much better then on most of theirs choppers. The blade shape wants to bite and I like it. The grind is too smooth and we can see it how it stucks in "greener" wood and it is vulnerable for damage of small stones or forgot nail etc. which can destroy an edge on every machete, but it is different feeling on 30/60/100 or 280 USD machete;-) Craftsmanship is there, no doubt and overal design is realy great! So, I will not change it for my TOPS 0.170 machete because tehere is practicaly "only" a steel difference (size, thickness, hardness etc is very close) and I know the craftsmanship;-), the TOPS is very comfortable for me, tough and simply handy AND for about 1/3 of the price;-) I know, you don´t like it that much;-) Last thing and now a bit seriously, people who realy need such quality, as you said, mostly can´t buy the TOPS quality and definitely not probably the most expensive machete on a market now. My choice for the price and qality will be new 3V Golock from BR btw;-)
"What is it about this machete that's so special that makes you even possibly want to consider getting a Bark River Machete?" EVERYTHING!!! I reeeeeeeally like the look of it...almost perfect blade choil.....right length...great lookin' handle...dunno anything about the steel...but it sounds great...I might actually save up for this bad boy... signed: "Cheapest guy you've ever met"
Hmm cpm 1V. So its supposed to be like S7 tough and A2 edge holding...seems like Ztuff! Allof those steels are outta control tough (S7/1V/Z-Tuff), it is an exellent steel for those tasks. I wanna grab one of these! Hell if i could get some of that steel from crucible.....(diabolical laugh)
