Review: Bark River Machete - Best machete on the market?

[@BlueOx2277]

If Bark River ever made a kukri the world just may explode from the awesomeness.

[@Canoe571]

I enjoyed that review. Common application with results shown. Great job. The choil comment was pretty good. But I like the choil for two reasons. First, it gives a bit of extra safety if my hand tried to slip forward onto the blade. The bravo handle would make that very unlikely, though. And the choil gives a place to tie a cord if I wanted to put a loop from the choil to the back of the handle. But I do agree with you that a smaller knife would be much better to do whittling. I can't imagine being in a situation where I'd want to whittle with this tool.

[@survivalcommonsense]

I don't like choils - obviously - but different strokes for different folks. We can't all agree on everything.

[@kylecollins851]

Couldn’t agree with you more on choils! Great video as always!

[@charlescollier7217]

LOL @ the choil usage instructions! Like you, I'm a big fan of machetes for outdoors and general preparedness, and favor either a 13" Cold Steel Kukri Machete or a 10" Thai Enep for my bag. Typically, machetes don't make use of the section of blade immediately forward of the handle anyway, having either a prominent ricasso or an unfinished, blunt edge, so I see no harm in having a choil there. In fact, I quite like the idea. You're right that it wouldn't be equivalent to the work of a smaller, more nimble knife, but I'm willing to bet you can do some decent whittling with that Barkie, making it more versatile than the typical machete.

[@survivalcommonsense]

The Bravo handle makes a tremendous difference, and I think one could probably do some whittling with the BR machete, because the blade stays sharp and has that superb Bark River convex grind.

[@charlescollier7217]

Absolutely. I actually modified my Cold Steel Kukri Machete so that I can do basic whittling with it (including giving it a Scandi grind at that section of the blade and scalloping the handle). Definitely wouldn't give up my smaller bushcraft knives in favor of that, but when setting up camp, I get to clear a path, clear a camp site, reap saplings for tent poles etc., dig holes as needed, and whittle tent pegs, comfortably and efficiently, all without changing tools. If that can be done with a $20 CS, that Barkie should easily perform all that and more.

[@randyrazor6780]

@@charlescollier7217 A kukri machete is the suburban preppy boy's version of a machete. Preppy boys like you always want something "exotic" or "unique". Knock it off . Grow some balls and get a 18 inch regular machete man.

[@PatrickDustman]

Great video and great machete SurvivalAustria

[@survivalcommonsense]

Thanks!

[@mohdzaudikhasni8829]

Sir, if this cpm 1v cutting bamboo without chip or rolls edge, how about cpm 3v? Have you tested with any bark river knives?

[@survivalcommonsense]

I have cut bamboo with CPM 3V knives, but never as extensively as with this machete. I have not done enough chopping with CPM 3V to have an opinion.

[@mohdzaudikhasni8829]

@@survivalcommonsense okay got it sir. Thanks for reply me. Appreciate that.

[@SuperSetCity]

Be careful in that bamboo field got a lot of sharp spikes pointing out top dont want to trip and fall on that

[@survivalcommonsense]

Absolutely! I cut the spikes off flush with the ground with a chainsaw after I finished the machete review.

[@eqlzr2]

I have a lot of nice knives, expensive knives, and I appreciate and enjoy them. But maybe weirdly, my machetes are all inexpensive, and by that I mean $15 or less--even less than $10 for my latest Incolma Colombian 18" machete. So, I have Tramontinas, Incolmas, and even have adapted Old Hickory butcher knives in a couple instances (very easy to do, work great) to machete use. The other day I watched a video from Knifecenter pushing new machetes that cost upwards of $140 a pop. No thanks. My $10 Incolma is very excellent and makes a real nice "ching" when it cuts/chops. And, like I said, I'm no stranger to a quality cutting tool. Finally, today I went out to collect some specimens of dead branches for my wood sample collection. I cut short 1" diameter sections of dead branches, cut the ends at a diagonal, and polish them off for display. I usually use an extra fine bladed Silky Pocketboy saw to do the cutting, but today I took along a 12" machete. I quickly realized that was not the right tool for the job, because it was almost impossible to take a full chop because other branches kept getting in the way. So, I'm going back to my Pocketboy for hiking carry. The machete will stay home for yard work, or in the trunk of the car for social work. ;-)

[@BOOSTEDLASER]

Any chips/rolls ?

[@survivalcommonsense]

None.

[@BOOSTEDLASER]

Just ordered mine,should be here 2-3 days Some guy bet me 100$ the Camp 10 kershaw is better..I will test both )

[@survivalcommonsense]

The BR will beat the Kershaw, hands down. Easy money.

[@BOOSTEDLASER]

Will know in a few days =P My Lionsteel M390 M4 came,its nice

[@BOOSTEDLASER]

@@survivalcommonsense Tested VS 3 (small) axes and 3 hatchets, camp 10, BK21 and a few "large chopper"knives BRK Bravo machete was best,hands down Others did ok

[@shannonpatrick77]

If they would bring the edge on down there would be no need for a choil

[@DOGFACESOLDIER0708]

Come on sir just do a tree to show its toughness

[@survivalcommonsense]

Watch the whole video - I did an oak sapling starting at 4.38.