I bought one in 19 89/90 in a place called c.t.d in fort Worth Texas for 13$ and it is still one of my favorite blades to use because it is so versatile you put an 18" handle in it and you can use it for a machete/ hatchet /parang and it is also really good for using for splitting small wood with a baton it's so tough and versatile that I continue to use it to this day
Cold Steel make great budget bushcraft blades. SRK and Kukri Machete is my favourite combination, spent 3 weeks living wild last year and they were perfect.
Yeah, I've had one of those for a while now. It's a good sharp knife and not difficult at all to sharpen with a basic old fashioned whetstone. Don't feel bad about the lack of the little ferro rod. I intend to cut the plastic portion of the sheath off at some point. JMHO- I don't like things dangling from my knives or my firearms. Your ferro rod/DOANs bar/ match safe/ lighter belongs in your pocket and not on the outside of your body where it can be torn loose by vines or rubbing against trees or rocks etc. The rolled tubular handle is like how many SE asian countries have made their machetes for years. It's never bothered me, but I do intend to coat it with epoxy and wrap it with nylon cord in the future. If I was a cannuck, I'd probably use whatever they call "hockey tape " I don't baton or throw my knives so I can't speak for the effectiveness of that . I do like that it's properly long enough as a belt knife should be, a couple more inches wouldn't be a hindrance. I can say the bushman is a good knife for the money spent. Use it as a knife and toss aside all the 21st century bushcrafty notions and you'll be happy with it
I bought my first CS Bushman in 2003 for $15. They used thicker steel back then. I’ve bought a couple more since then and never been disappointed. Condor used to make a similar knife called the Matagi. Only that knife is considerably more robust. I prefer the Matagi over the Bushman. The Mini Matagi is one of my favorite small knives.
