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Ontario Air Force Survival Knife Review by JJ Johnson of RealitySurvival.com

March 19, 2012 By 18 Comments

This is a guest post by JJ Johnson (JJSERE1). JJ is a former USAF Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) Instructor and currently runs his own survival blog which can be seen here:http://www.realitysurvival.com.  He also has a YouTube Channel with several survival/self-reliance related videos which can be found here: http://www.YouTube.Com/user/RealitySurvival

When Creek offered me the opportunity to do a knife review on the Ontario Air Force Survival Knife I jumped at the chance. It had been about 12 years since I had last used one as a USAF Survival Evasion Reaistance and Escape (S.E.R.E) Instructor at the USAF Survival School at Fairchild AFB. But I had a lot of fond memories of the using the knife in the field, so I figured it would be a good trip down memory lane. The only Air Force Survival Knife I still personally owned at the time was glued to a plaque on the wall in my man cave. But a new acquisition changed that and I was in business! Wow, did using this knife again bring back a ton of memories!

I haven’t done a ton of knife reviews in my short career as a blogger, but I have purchased and used a whole lot of knives over the years. So as I review this knife I will do my best to convey my own process for selecting a knife and determining its strengths and weaknesses.

Most people might say that the first consideration in selecting a knife is the price. Personally I think the first consideration should be the knife’s intended use.
All knives are not created equal and you shouldn’t really expect a knife to do a job that it wasn’t intended to do. So this brings up a good question. What was the Air Force Survival Knife intended to do? Well, it was built to be packed away and stored in USAF Survival Kits and not used until an emergency. Which in a way is similar to much of the equipment in our own Bug Out Bags. Typically most of a Air Force Survival Knife’s life would be packed away and not used until an emergency situation dictated its use, to assist in helping our down Airmen return with honor. But once unpacked it needed to be able to do everything from aiding the Airmen in escaping a downed aircraft to building fire, self defense, or whatever else needed to be done to help the survivor meet their basic needs.

Knowing what the Air Force Survival Knife was built for immediately gives us some insight into what a few of its strengths ought to be. First, the knife should be relatively maintenance free since it is made to be packed away for several months at a time. And that is true.

The USAF Survival Knife comes with a 1095 carbon steel blade with a Rockwell Hardness of 50-55 according to http://www.ontarioknife.com/catalog/item/11. The blade is treated with a rugged zinc phosphate finish on it to keep it from rusting during storage. The stacked leather ring handle, which is very comfortable and easy to grip even while wearing gloves and wet is also relatively maintenance free. So if you are considering buying a Air Force Survival Knife to put in your Bug Out Bag, 72 Hour Bag, or Get Home Bag you won’t have to worry about constant maintenance and rust precention as you might have to with a non-treated steel blade.

Its also worth noting that the Air Force Survival Knife was intended to be paired with a small four bladed pocket knife. Which was supposed to be able to accomplish the finer cutting tasks that a downed Airman may have to accomplish, such as striking a ferro rod or cutting feather sticks, processing, small game, etc. Primarily the Air Force Survival Knife was made for those brute force type tasks like batoning through a piece of wood, digging a Dakota Hole Fire, digging a seepage well to get water. Or allegedly even sawing its way through the aluminum skin of an aircraft. I’m not sure if that is even possible, but if it were I imagine that would take a considerable amount of time and effort! In any case,there is no doubt that it was built to be a multi-purpose tool, not just a cutting tool. Many people are probably saying to themselves right now “What?… Use a knife for digging or sawing your way through metal”. Well yes…USAF Aircrew Survival kits and vests have to be small and lightweight. As such including a shovel, saw, and axe isn’t an option on most aircraft. So it falls to the Air Force Survival Knife to carry the burden of many tools.

The multi-use design of this knife is at least partially responsible for its softer steel. Some people will claim that any knife with a Rockwell hardness under 57 is junk. While it is generally true that knives with a higher Rockwell rating hold an edge better than those with lower ratings, harder isn’t always better. Again, I go back to intended use. Harder knives are more brittle and prone to breakage under “extreme” circumstances. The edge of a harder blade is also more prone to chip off, making resharpening very difficult. A softer knife is more malleable and is more likely to bend under pressure than break. If you only have one knife to depend on, you don’t want it to break! A bent knife can still be used safely. Since it was designed to be a multi-use tool and not just a cutting tool having a harder steel in this case could be a detriment.

Now, I am not saying that I prefer all of my personal knives to be of a lower Rockwell hardness. I am just pointing out some of the reasons the Air Force Survival Knife is the way it is. Of course as with any government acquisition cost may have also been a factor. One of the obvious downsides to a softer blade is that it will not stay as sharp as long. Which is why the Air Force Survival Knife comes with a sharpening stone attached to the sheath.

My personal preference is to use a three knife system for practicing wilderness survival techniques or during bushcraft trips into the woods, hunting, etc. The first knife in the 3 knife system being a small pocket knife. My favorite is the Victorinox Farmer Silver Alox. The second knife to be something comparable to a Mora MG or Kershaw Antelope Hunter 2, both have thinner blades with a high rockwell hardness and are good at fine cutting tasks. The third knife being a bigger utility knife with at least a 6″ blade, that is tough as nails. So that I can beat on it and abuse it without worry of it breaking. The third knife could be a wide selection of knives but my favorite is a Muela Mirage (not sure if its still made anymore). I have heard that the Ka-bar BK-7 (Becker Combat Utility) and Rat-7 by Ontario are also excellent larger knives, but have not had the opportunity to use those yet.

If your looking for more of a two knife system to save weight and cost, the Air Force Survival Knife and a pocket knife is a good combination that can and will help you meet all of your needs. I know this with certainty, because I have personally trained more than 500 Airmen and seen thousands graduate the course who were all using that exact knive combination during the USAF Survival School. Don’t get me wrong they are not indestructible but they are pretty tough and the combination of the two can handle most all tasks required.

Strengths and Weaknesses

In my opinion the Air Force Survival Knife’s biggest strength is in its spine. The tang is a partial tang. It goes fully through the handle, but narrows down to a portion of the blade width to allow the leather stacked rings to go over it. Even so it can take a serious beating. I have seen these knives build thousands of split wood fires without breaking. Literally I mean thousands. We had a supply unit at Fairchild AFB that would supply each new group of students for each new class every week. And while the students changed out; the equipment issued was used over and over. Sure after several years of constant abuse some of the Air Force Survival Knives looked more like the shape of a banana than of a knife, but they still kept going just like the Energizer Bunny.

The biggest weaknesses of the Air Force Survival Knife are probably its ability to do really fine cutting tasks. As well as its lateral strength. Prying hard sideways, as with many knives will result in a bent knife, but it probably won’t break. The bevel right out of the factory is a bit too steep (wide) in my opinion. I think regrinding the bevel to a more narrow bevel helps to make the knife better at making heart wood shavings, feather sticks, etc.

Improvements that you can easily make to the Air Force Survival Knife

Some of the improvements I made to my new Air Force Survival Knife are as follows. I removed the top portion of the finger guard so I can choke up on the knife. I slightly sanded off the outer portion of the rough parkerized finish, so it doesn’t hold so much gunk on the blade. But left enough of the finish on the blade to help protect it from rust. I also filed off a few places to make the knife easier to use with a ferro rod. I also filed down the front two inches or so of the spine where it is sharpened out of the factory, so it doesn’t cut up a baton when doing a split wood fire. I also added a ferro rod and loop to the sheath and swapped out the factory sharpening stone for a 3″ Smith’s Diamond Stone. It sounds like a lot, but it actually took less than an hour to make all of the changes, including regrinding the bevel.

How does this knife rate?

Overall, I think the Air Force Survival Knife is a pretty good option for a Bug Out Bag, or Get Home Bag, personal survival kit, etc. Especially considering that you can get these knives up for around $50.00 (give or take) that’s not bad at all. Ratings are always a bit subjective to people’s personal preference and past experiences, but as a “One Knife Option” I would give this knife an overall rating of 6.5 out of 10. But as a part of a two knife system, I would give this knife an overall rating of an 8 out of 10. That rating may seem a bit high for some knife buffs. But its based on my personal experience of seeing hundreds of students using this knife paired with a pocket knife and being able to consistently meet their needs. It should also be noted that this knife has met the needs of the USAF since circa World War II and it has been used in some pretty extreme wilderness conditions worldwide.

Take a look at the video below to see a montage of me putting my new Air Force Survival Knife to the test in the field over the past couple of months.

Have you used this knife before? If so how let us know how you would rate it, both as a 1 knife option and as a part of a 2 or 3 knife system?

Thanks for reading and commenting! For more survival and bushcraft information, gun, knife and gear reviews please visit http://www.RealitySurvival.Com

Cheers

JJ Johnson

This is a guest post by JJ Johnson (JJSERE1). JJ is a former USAF Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) Instructor and currently runs his own survival blog which can be seen here:http://www.realitysurvival.com.  He also has a YouTube Channel with several survival/self-reliance related videos which can be found here: http://www.YouTube.Com/user/RealitySurvival

About Willow Haven Outdoor & Creek Stewart
Creek Stewart is the Owner and Lead Instructor at Willow Haven Outdoor - a leading Survival and Preparedness Training Facility located on 21-acres in Central Indiana.  For more information on Survival Courses and Clinics offered at WHO, click HERE.  Creek is also author of Build the Perfect Bug Out Bag: Your 72-Hour Disaster Survival Kit and The Unofficial Hunger Games Wilderness Survival Guide.  You can contact Creek directly at creek@willowhavenoutdoor.com.
 
 

Filed Under: Featured, General Survival, Guest Posts, Product or Company Spot Light, Survival Knives, Blades & Cutting Tools

Creek’s Survival Knife & HedgeHogLeatherworks.com Company Spotlight

November 29, 2011 By 15 Comments

It goes without saying that using a Survival Knife is a big part of my life.  I’ve used many survival knives over the years and have learned a lot about what I like and don’t like.  I get TONS of questions about Survival Knives – Which ones are the best? What features should it have?  Size? Shape?  In response to all of these inquiries, I recently wrote an article for www.ArtofManliness.com titled How to Choose the Perfect Survival Knife: The Top 6 Most Important Features.  In this article I do a very thorough review of what I think are the most important features of a survival knife.  It’s a good read and you can check it out here:

http://artofmanliness.com/2011/11/29/how-to-choose-the-perfect-survival-knife/

 

Here is also a video discussion I filmed about my Survival Knife thoughts:

I am also asked ALL THE TIME which knife is my GO-TO Survival Knife.  Currently, the Survival Knife I have chosen to use (and also the one I featured in the article mentioned above) is the Blackbird SK-5 Survival Knife designed by Paul Scheiter – owner of www.hedgehogleatherworks.com.  The knife is made in America by Ontario Knife Company – which has a rich history in making outstanding knives for military and civilian use.

I won’t go into all the details about Paul’s Blackbird SK-5 in this post.  He does a great job of detailing the knife’s features and benefits on his own web-site here: http://www.hedgehogleatherworks.com/Blackbird-SK-5-Survival-Knife-p/bbsk-5.htm  I’m telling you this information not because I get some kind of kick-back if Paul sells knives or as some kind of blog advertising deal, but simply because I like to share with readers when I run across a company (especially in the survival industry) that I think is worth mentioning.  Actually, Paul doesn’t even know I’m writing this post.  So, below are my thoughts about Hedge Hog Leatherworks.

Hedge Hog Leatherworks Company Spot-Light

I first found out about Hedge Hog Leatherworks a few years ago on a survival forum.  At the time, Paul was making custom leather knife sheaths for a few popular survival knifes like the Tom Brown Tracker, the Becker BK2 and the Ka-Bar Army Fighting Knife.  My first experience with Hedge Hog was when I purchased a Tom Brown Tracker knife and custom leather Sheath.  Below, you can see my Tracker knife with it’s factory kydex sheath and Paul’s aftermarket leather sheath.  Which one do you like best… no brainer – right?

I was incredibly impressed when I received the sheath (4-6 weeks production time).  These custom made leather sheaths are the epitome of true American Craftsmanship and you just don’t see much of that these days.  They aren’t cheap but I learned a long time ago that in life, you pretty much get what you pay for.  I went through a ‘maturity’ process when it came to my camping and survival gear a while back.  I decided to save up for the best item I could afford rather than purchase a cheap one that I would eventually have to replace anyway.  For example, I’d rather have 1 really great $100 knife than 10 crappy $10 knives.

Needless to say, several years later when Paul announced the release of his own survival knife I was pretty excited to get my hands on the Blackbird SK-5 w/ leather sheath upgrade.

Paul has a fairly extensive history in the survival circuit and has some great videos on YouTube that you should check out some time.  I knew he would have put some time and thought in getting this project right.  He did not disappoint.  I have nothing but good things to say about the Blackbird.  It’s an awesome knife that will last me for years to come.  If you come to any of our clinics here, it will be the knife by my side.

Chapter 11 in my new book How to Build the Perfect Bug Out Bag (5/2012) is titled TOOLS.  In this chapter I talk a lot about the survival knife and I asked Paul to send me a few of his other sheaths so that we could photograph them.  Below are a few of the shots we took of his other sheaths for the Ka-Bar and Becker.

Becker BK2 Knife with Factory Sheath and Hedge Hog Leatherworks Sheath

Becker BK2 Knife with Factory Sheath and Hedge Hog Leatherworks Sheath

Becker BK2 - Horizontal Carry

Becker BK2 - Horizontal Carry

Ka-Bar Knife with Factory Sheath and Hedge Hog Leatherworks Sheath

Ka-Bar Knife with Factory Sheath and Hedge Hog Leatherworks Sheath

 

Ka-Bar, Tracker and Becker Knives in Hedge Hog Sheaths

Ka-Bar, Tracker and Becker Knives in Hedge Hog Sheaths

 

Bottom Line

I thought you would appreciate knowing about a small company that takes pride in what they do here in the good ol’ USA.  By the way, the Blackbird won BEST KNIFE OF 2011 by Field & Stream Magazine.  I thought the Blackbird was my best kept secret but now I guess the cat is out of the bag.

What is your survival knife of choice?  There are many great ones out there – which one have you chosen and why?

Remember, it’s not IF but WHEN,

Creek

 

About Willow Haven Outdoor & Creek Stewart
Creek Stewart is the Owner and Lead Instructor at Willow Haven Outdoor - a leading Survival and Preparedness Training Facility located on 21-acres in Central Indiana.  For more information on Survival Courses and Clinics offered at WHO, click HERE.  Creek is also author of Build the Perfect Bug Out Bag: Your 72-Hour Disaster Survival Kit and The Unofficial Hunger Games Wilderness Survival Guide.  You can contact Creek directly at creek@willowhavenoutdoor.com.
 
 

Filed Under: Featured, General Survival, Product or Company Spot Light, Survival Knives, Blades & Cutting Tools

Product Feature: Wetterlings Swedish Made Axe

November 14, 2011 By 4 Comments

 

It ended up being a week-long debate with myself.

I already had a nice Gerber Camp Axe that was given to me as a gift.  Did I really need another axe – especially one that cost around $100 bucks?!  I mean what was the difference, really?

I chuckle out-loud as I look back at that internal struggle between my wants and my wallet.  Compared to my Wetterlings Large Hunting Axe, I now affectionately refer to my Gerber Axe as a beating club.  They seriously are that different – I kid you not.  I now keep the Gerber axe in the Bronco as a part of my ‘Vehicle Kit’.

Wetterlings: Sweden

Wetterlings is a Swedish Axe Company that has been hand forging axes since 1917.  I love the authenticity of these axes.  They look hand forged and when you hold it in your hand you can almost picture the blacksmith pounding and shaping the axe head.  You can even see the hammer marks in the steel.

At least for me, the story behind a product is almost as important as the product itself and there is just something about the mystique of using a hand-forged axe.  But ultimately, my satisfaction comes down to performance.  So how does my $100 axe perform?

Here is an excerpt directly from the Wetterlings Web-site:

To slowly hand forge an axe is a true hand craft. Wetterlings value the quality of this procedure and allows the work to take it’s time, to perform the absolutely best result possible. It takes decades to learn the craft to perfection.
 

I use an axe on a regular basis.  Besides taking it on back-packing and camping trips year-round, I regularly use my Wetterlings at Willow Haven and at home – both have a wood burning fireplace.  I use either my Large Forest Axe or my Large Hunting Axe almost daily from November-March to split fire wood or kindling.  I can’t believe how well these axes perform.  I could tell a difference from my other axes immediately.  I know it sounds a little dramatic but I’m being serious.  They just chop wood better – plain and simple.  They hold an edge longer and they are also easier to sharpen.  I can shave my arm when I hone the blade.  That’s pretty impressive for an AXE.

The handle is American Hickory and is rock solid.  Each handle I’ve seen has a slightly different shade which even further individualizes each axe.  I’ve used my Hunting Axe for a few years now and the head has never loosened from the handle.  It’s still as sturdy as the day I bought it.  Each of the axes comes with a rugged leather sheath to protect the cutting edge when not in use.

Wetterlings makes a variety of sizes.  I own the top 2 in the photo below:  The American Forest Axe and the Large Hunting Axe.  I keep the Forest Axe at home for splitting wood and I always take the Hunting Axe with me on camping trips, etc…  It weighs in at a little over 2 lbs.  The others are smaller versions.

 

We just got in the axe shown on the left called the Wetterlings Classic Scout Axe.  It’s a dang cool little axe.  It comes with a buckle sheath and a Wetterlings Sew-On Patch.  I’ve almost lost my axe in the woods several times.  The muted colors of the Hunting Axe help it to blend in perfectly when tossed aside.  The red dipped handle of the Scout would help with the issue.  I suppose I could just paint my own, though, but I like the natural look too.

The Materials

Direct from Wetterlings:

  • It starts with first-rate Swedish carbon steel being slowly forged by the skilled Wetterlings blacksmiths. Our forging hammers have been used every day since 1917 and it is still the preferred method to reach the best result. No afterwork is needed to correct mistakes or adjust the shape, and we proudly leave small hammer marks that proves it is hand forged. It is free from paint and grinding, carefully hardened, sharpened by hand and polished until it shines.
  • We turn the Wetterlings handles from American Hickory in our wood workshop. The wood is hard with long fibers, good stress capacity and high impact-resistance. Premium grade hickory, oiled, lightly waxed handles is securely fitted into the axe eye with traditional wooden wedge, glue and metal wedge.

Bottom Line

If you are thinking about getting a camp axe I would highly recommend a Swedish Wetterlings.  I can’t imagine you will be disappointed.  A Wetterlings would also make an awesome gift for a guy that’s impossible to buy for.  There is just something about a rugged, authentic, hand-made working tool.  We carry the brand in limited stock here at Willow Haven.  If you’re ever here for a training clinic feel free to use ours and try before you buy.  That’s just my way of getting guests to split some wood for the fireplace :)

I’ve posted a factory video from the Wetterings web-site below that I thought you might find interesting.

Let me know your thoughts/questions.

Remember, it’s not IF but WHEN,

Creek

 

About Willow Haven Outdoor & Creek Stewart
Creek Stewart is the Owner and Lead Instructor at Willow Haven Outdoor - a leading Survival and Preparedness Training Facility located on 21-acres in Central Indiana.  For more information on Survival Courses and Clinics offered at WHO, click HERE.  Creek is also author of Build the Perfect Bug Out Bag: Your 72-Hour Disaster Survival Kit and The Unofficial Hunger Games Wilderness Survival Guide.  You can contact Creek directly at creek@willowhavenoutdoor.com.
 
 

Filed Under: Featured, General Survival, Survival Knives, Blades & Cutting Tools

The Morakniv Bushcraft Survival Knife

June 23, 2011 By 9 Comments

For those of you who haven’t seen or heard, Mora of Sweden has introduced a very cool knife designed with features specifically for all of us survival bushcrafter types.  It’s called the Bushcraft Survival Knife.  There must be more of us out there than we think!

When you think of a Mora knife, you typically think: SIMPLE, INEXPENSIVE and RELIABLE.  At least that’s what I think.  In the case of the Bushcraft Survival Knife, Mora has added a few bells and whistles that I really like.  It’s still very simple and functional.  It’s still a very solid and reliable knife.  It is a bit more pricey, though…coming in at around $70.

Mora Bushcraft Survival Knife: 2 Carry Options

Mora Bushcraft Survival Knife: 2 Carry Options

We just received a few in the shop today so I thought I would write a quick post about my first impressions before I take one into the field (very soon).  I like the black and gray color scheme – very urban survival.  It does come with 2 belt carry options – one is a clip just like on the clippers and the other is a more modern loop that a belt feeds through.  So…now you have a back up just in case one breaks.

The most obvious addition is the Mora Fire Steel – which I love.  It’s a really nice fire steel – good size.  It fits perfect in it’s own little home on the sheath and clicks into place.  That thing isn’t going anywhere.

Mora Bushcraft Survival Knife: Fire Steel

Mora Bushcraft Survival Knife: Fire Steel

The fire steel also has a lanyard hole.  I will probably attached a little paracord lanyard to this.  The back of the 4.25″ Sandvik Stainless Steel Blade is ground flat and makes the perfect striker – they designed it this way.

Mora Bushcraft Survival Knife: Flat Grind

Mora Bushcraft Survival Knife: Flat Grind

The other big feature is they added a built in diamond sharpening plate to the sheath for touching up in the field.  What a great idea!  It’s molded right into the sheath and doesn’t get in the way at all.  Forget carrying an extra.  It doesn’t add any weight either – maybe a few ounces.

One of my other favorite Mora knives is the 840 MG Clipper.  I compared the 2 and the Bushcraft Survival Knife definitely is more substantial.  As a part of the new Bushcraft Series, it’s a little bigger and feels more solid as well.  But it is about $55 more – it ought to feel a little different.

Mora Bushcraft Survival Knife and 840MG (bottom)

Mora Bushcraft Survival Knife and 840MG (bottom)

The grip on the Bushcraft Survival model is a high friction rubberized material and feels awesome.  It’s not going anywhere – even with wet hands.

All in all, I really like the knife.  I’m happy to add it to my personal collection and I’m also excited to use it in the field.  My blades typically get used pretty hard so I will keep you posted as I have more information.  In the mean-time, let me know if you have any questions.  We have these in the web store if you are interested.

That’s it for now…  Remember, it’s not IF but WHEN,

Creek

About Willow Haven Outdoor & Creek Stewart
Creek Stewart is the Owner and Lead Instructor at Willow Haven Outdoor - a leading Survival and Preparedness Training Facility located on 21-acres in Central Indiana.  For more information on Survival Courses and Clinics offered at WHO, click HERE.  Creek is also author of Build the Perfect Bug Out Bag: Your 72-Hour Disaster Survival Kit and The Unofficial Hunger Games Wilderness Survival Guide.  You can contact Creek directly at creek@willowhavenoutdoor.com.
 
 

Filed Under: General Survival, Survival Knives, Blades & Cutting Tools Tagged With:

Review of the Bear Grylls Parang Machete by Gerber

March 24, 2011 By 22 Comments

I own several machetes and have seen about every style of machete there is on the market – and used about every style as well. I certainly have my favorites. I don’t do many product reviews but I couldn’t resist this one. I’m not a big fan of branded & endorsed merchandise when it comes to the gear I carry, but the new Bear Grylls Parang Machete by Gerber caught my attention while picking up some other items at a Gander Mountain store this past weekend.

I’ve always enjoyed watching Man vs. Wild. I have to admit – it’s some pretty entertaining TV time.

At first glance, I thought the general blade shape and styling of the BG Parang was very cool. I’ve never seen a machete styled quite like this one. I thought it was worth the $39.99 Gander Mountain was asking so I bought it to see if it could survive a battery of outdoor tests I had in mind. And, I wanted to see how it compared to my own personal machete.

Bear Grylls Parang Machete - Unique Blade Style

Bear Grylls Parang Machete - Unique Blade Style

I literally almost needed a machete to get this one out of the packaging – dang! My first impression was that this was a very solid and well balanced machete. The sheath (which I’ll discuss in more detail later) is also REALLY nice – much better than most machete sheaths I’ve seen.

First of all, here are the Specs & Features right off of the packaging:

SPECS:
-Overall Length: 19.5″
-Blade Length: 13.5″
-Weight (in sheath): 25.4 oz.
-Weight (alone): 19.4 oz.
-Made in China

FEATURES:
-Angled Blade – Ideal for clearing brush or limbs
-Robust High Carbon Steel Blade – Enhances strength, corrosion resistance and easy to sharpen
-Full Tang Construction – Boosts durability
-Ergonomic Textured Rubber Grip – Maximizes comfort and reduces slippage
-Lanyard Cord – Acts as guard, enhancing grip security
-Nylon Sheath – Lightweight, military-grade, mildew resistant. Includes land to air rescue and SOS instructions.
-Priorities of Survival – Pocket guide contains Bear’s survival essentials

I will break down each of these features 1 by 1 and give you my 2 cents:

Angled Blade – Ideal for clearing brush or limbs

The blade and blade shape is actually why I bought the machete to begin with.  I hacked at the 3-4″ sapling below for just a  couple of minutes and made pretty quick work of it (don’t worry, it was already a victim of a big fallen hickory tree).

3-4" sapling Test With Bear Grylls Panga Machete

3-4" sapling Test With Bear Grylls Panga Machete

I spent a few minutes clearing some briars from a fence line and also chopping off some random tree branches.  I don’t know that the actual shape of the BG Parang made it perform any differently from my standard Latin Style Machetes but the shape certainly did not hinder the performance.  It was well balanced and the compact size made it easy to maneuver.  I have to admit, it is a very cool looking blade shape.

Robust High Carbon Steel Blade – Enhances strength, corrosion resistance and easy to sharpen

The sharpness of the blade right out of the packaging didn’t impress me.  I am used to a VERY sharp machete and the stock edge on the BG Parang just didn’t make the cut – pun intended.  Because of this, I had to work a little harder than I normally would on some of the chopping tasks that I performed.  Simple 1″ limbs were no problem, but when it came to actual chopping I could really tell a difference. 

Labored Chopping

Labored Chopping

High Carbon is a nice material for this blade and I know with a little work on the whet stone I can hone this blade to a great edge. So while it may not be as sharp as I like right off the shelf, I know it can get there.  The blade is nice and thick too, approximately 1/8″.  The back edge is a nice 90 degree angle…which would be perfect for scraping a fire steel.

Full Tang Construction – Boosts durability

The BG Parang definitely feels solid and this has a lot to due with the Full Tang Construction.  No complaints here at all.  I whacked this piece of grapevine several times as hard as I could on this solid hickory log and the Parang felt solid as a rock.

Very Solid Parang

Very Solid Parang

Ergonomic Textured Rubber Grip – Maximizes comfort and reduces slippage

The grip was actually one of my favorite features on the Bear Grylls Parang.  It was substantial and easy to grip and was comfortable even when chopping with all of my strength into solid hickory.  It has a textured rubber grip that is far superior to many of the black plastic grips on most machetes.  The worst part of the grip is the bright orange BG logo.

Bear Grylls Parang Machete Grip

Bear Grylls Parang Machete Grip

Lanyard Cord – Acts as guard, enhancing grip security

No major complaints on the lanyard.  I will probably replace it with a thicker leather one, but it will work for now.  It does have instructions on how to use it inside the packaging for those who don’t know how to wrap their wrist.  I’d give this one a 6 on a 10 scale.

Nylon Sheath – Lightweight, military-grade, mildew resistant. Includes land to air rescue and SOS instructions.

The sheath is actually a really important part of any machete kit.  For me, it can make or break a machete purchase.  I HATE CHEAP SHEATHS!  It can be so frustrating trying to sheath a machete in a piece of crap sheath.  I’ve always been a big fan of molded plastic sheaths over nylon or cordura, but in this case I actually really like the BG Parang sheath.  It has 2 buttons on the side and a velcro retention strap.  One of my buttons didn’t work right but it doesn’t really effect the function.  On my belt, the sheath was comfortable and out of the way – I really like how it carries.

Bear Grylls Parang Sheath

Bear Grylls Parang Sheath

This nylon sheath has a plastic liner and all in all everything feels really durable.  The Parang was easy to sheath and un-sheath – both on and off my belt.  Everything seemed well placed and well thought out.  While on my belt, the handle carried in a great spot for easy access.

Bear Grylls Machete - Belt Carry Strap

Bear Grylls Machete - Belt Carry Strap

Stitched onto the back of the sheath is a little orange water and tear resistant tyvek patch with printed air rescue and SOS instructions.  I thought this was a nice touch.  Never hurts to brush up on this kind of knowledge.  All in all, this is one of the best machete sheaths I’ve used.  Not the best – but close.

 Priorities of Survival – Pocket guide contains Bear’s survival essentials

Packaged in with the Parang machete was a little water resistant and tear proof booklet of survival instructions.

Bear's Survival Instructions

Bear's Survival Instructions

This includes some basic survival knowledge on a variety of key issues.  I thought it was a pretty good read.

Bear's Survival Booklet - OPEN

Bear's Survival Booklet - OPEN

 It covers the basics on Navigation, Shelter, Water, Fire, etc…  All in all, it’s great info.

So, at the end of the day, I feel like I got a good machete for $40 bucks.  I’m sure some of my survival buddies will give me a hard time if I bring it to my next bush crawl, but I don’t care.  It’s a great piece of kit and once I finish putting an edge on that blade it will be all the better.

There’s my 2 cents on the Bear Grylls Parang Machete.  Let me know if you have any questions…

Cheers-

Creek

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About Willow Haven Outdoor & Creek Stewart
Creek Stewart is the Owner and Lead Instructor at Willow Haven Outdoor - a leading Survival and Preparedness Training Facility located on 21-acres in Central Indiana.  For more information on Survival Courses and Clinics offered at WHO, click HERE.  Creek is also author of Build the Perfect Bug Out Bag: Your 72-Hour Disaster Survival Kit and The Unofficial Hunger Games Wilderness Survival Guide.  You can contact Creek directly at creek@willowhavenoutdoor.com.
 
 

Filed Under: General Survival, Survival Knives, Blades & Cutting Tools Tagged With:

How To Choose The Right Machete: Your Machete Style & Function Guide

March 15, 2011 By 19 Comments

Notice the title of this post. It is not “Should you own a Survival Machete” or “Is a Machete right for you?”. The title is HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT MACHETE. I am assuming you are already aware that a machete is a SPOG (Stock Piece of Gear) for any outdoor and survival enthusiast. Are machetes necessary to survival? No. However…

A Machete REDUCES FATIGUE and INCREASES EFFICIENCY.

Second to a good knife, a machete can be your new best friend.  Machetes are built for work and abuse.  They can make quick work of a variety of survival tasks such as clearing brush, chopping wood, building shelters, gathering cordage, processing large game and the list goes on and on.  They are a staple tool in basically every indigenous culture on the planet – and for good reason -  they are very inexpensive, extremely functional and incredibly easy to maintain.

Besides the obvious uses, machetes make excellent self defense weapons as well.  Whether pursued by beast or man, the machete is a force to be reckoned with.  It is a crude but efficient last line of defense against any attack.

Below are a series of  questions to ask yourself before you dig into the different survival machete styles.  Answering these will help you choose which machete is right for you.

  1. How do you plan on using the machete?  In the woods? For urban survival? As a Bug Out Bag tool?
  2. Will you also be carrying a knife?
  3. Do you carry an axe or hatchet?
  4. What kind of environment do you adventure in? Desert? Thick forest? Swamp? Jungle?
  5. Is this intended mainly for wilderness related chores or solely as a survival self defense weapon or BOTH?

Below are 5 very popular machete styles.  I have described what I consider the main functions and influences of each one as well as the advantages and disadvantages.  Based upon your answers to the questions above, these descriptions should help you narrow down which machete is best suited for you.

 

Survival Machete Style # 1:  The Kukri  

Kukri Style Survival Machete
Kukri Style Survival Machete

The design of the Kukri Machete makes it an excellent “all-around” machete choice.  The large heavy end provides weight for endless chopping power.  This machete makes an excellent hatchet substitute.  The narrow blade near the handle can be used for more detailed carving work as well.  The spear point tip is a good feature for self defense.  From experience, the Kukri is not best suited for clearing brush.  It’s best feature is chopping wood – making quick work of small saplings and limbs for shelter building.  Overall, this machete would be a good choice for someone who doesn’t want to depend on a hatchet or a knife to get things done.  They plan on doing some heavy chopping either with building projects or for fire wood.  And, they also would like the option to have an excellent spear point self defense weapon.

Advantages:

  • Heavy Chopper
  • Can also use as more detailed carver
  • Spear Point
  • Full Tang
  • Excellent Self Defense Rating

Disadvantages:

  • Does not excel at any one task, but gets good grades in all

 

Survival Machete Style # 2: The Bolo

Survival Style Bolo Machete

Survival Style Bolo Machete

 No detail work with the Bolo Machete.  It’s designed for brute chopping and slashing power.  Clearing paths, chopping dense vegetation and crashing through thick underbrush is where this beast performs best.  Originating in Asia and the Pacific Rim, the spear tip design lends itself well to cracking coconuts but is just as capable of cutting down the whole tree, building a shelter out of it and then chopping up the scraps for fire wood.  If it’s a workhorse you are looking for, the Bolo is for you.  Don’t expect to do any light camp chores with it though – definitely pack a good camp knife.  You can leave the axe and saw at home.

Advantages:

  • Chopping and Slashing power
  • Brush Clearing
  • Full Tang
  • True Spear Point for Thrusting
  • Excellent Self Defense Rating

Disadvantages:

  • Built mainly for big workhorse jobs
  • Can get a little bulky

 

Survival Machete Style # 3: The Panga

Panga Style Survival Machete
Panga Style Survival Machete

 The Panga originates in Africa and is basically the standard machete for the entire African continent.  Like the Bolo, it’s specialty is heavy brute force work.  It excels in chopping trees, wood and brush.  The weighted end allows for intense striking power.  Because there is not a direct spear-point, this is probably not the 1st pick for self defense.  It makes sense to have both an effective thrusting weapon and slashing weapon for self defense and this tool lacks in thrusting efficiency.  However, the threat it lacks in thrusting is made up for by it’s beastly weight.  Panga style machetes are typically pretty hefty and can take quite a beating.  So if you plan on abusing your machete, you might consider the Panga.

Advantages:

  • Intense Chopping Power
  • Hefty Weight Built For Abuse
  • Full Tang

Disadvantages:

  • Lacks thrusting spear point
  • Bulky

 

Survival Machete Style # 4: The Latin

Latin Style Survival Machete

Latin Style Survival Machete

This is the styles used by the US Military and for good reason.  It performs excellent in nearly every environment.  It does not have the brute force chopping power of the Bolo and the Panga, but this style can hack through most anything without trouble.  Saplings up to 3-4″ don’t have a chance.  This is a great machete style for deciduous forest areas and make quick work of almost any kind of underbrush, briars and debris.  Latin style machetes are known for a great combination of reach and leverage.  They are very well balanced and are not as bulky as other styles – which increases fatigue.  It also has a very traditional look.  Like the Panga, though, the Latin Style Machete lacks an effective Spear Point.

Advantages:

  • Excellent Hacker for anything 3″ or under
  • Great balance of leverage and reach
  • Full Tang

Disadvantages:

  • Lacks True Spear Point
  • Not ideal for heavy chopping

 

Survial Machete Style # 5: (BONUS LISTING) The Woodman’s Pal

 

Woodman's Pal Survival Machete

Woodman's Pal Survival Machete

While not an internationally recognized Machete Style, the Woodman’s Pal is a very unique and functional design.  Made in the USA (Pennsylvania), this Machete style is designed with the outdoors man in mind.  It’s heavy ended design lends well to powerful chopping.  Don’t even think about bringing your axe. The unique sickle hook slices through stubborn vines and briars and removes unwanted sprout growth at ground level.  Hacking at ground level can be really frustrating and this feature helps with that.  It is more compact than traditional machete styles.  I would call it the PIT BULL of machetes.  It is well balanced and feels more like an extension of your arm – like any good tool should.

Advantages:

  • Compact & Very Well Balanced
  • 1/8″ Thick carbon steel blade
  • Full Tang
  • Sickle hook for vines and scrub brush
  • Heavy Chopper

Disadvantages:

  • Doesn’t just slide right in and out of the sheath
  • No thrusting spear point for self defense

 

For me, the Machete SHEATH is also very important.  I prefer hard plastic molded options but ultimately it is a matter of personal preference.  I also prefer Carbon Steel blades over Stainless Steel.  Machetes get a lot of tough use and Carbon Steel tends to hold it’s edge better than Stainless.  And, it tends to be more flexible – which is a good feature in a Machete.  

There are more Machete Styles on the market, but this covers some of the most well known.  Hopefully this information has been helpful.

Cheers~

Creek

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About Willow Haven Outdoor & Creek Stewart
Creek Stewart is the Owner and Lead Instructor at Willow Haven Outdoor - a leading Survival and Preparedness Training Facility located on 21-acres in Central Indiana.  For more information on Survival Courses and Clinics offered at WHO, click HERE.  Creek is also author of Build the Perfect Bug Out Bag: Your 72-Hour Disaster Survival Kit and The Unofficial Hunger Games Wilderness Survival Guide.  You can contact Creek directly at creek@willowhavenoutdoor.com.
 
 

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Mora Knife Modifications

January 10, 2011 By 4 Comments

As most of you know, we are big fans of Mora Knives here at Willow Haven Outdoor. One thing we like to do here while hanging out at the camp or after training courses is to do some show-n-tell about each others knives. Often, this leads to everyone telling how they’ve modified or personalized their knife to better suit their own needs. With that said, I’d like to share with you a personal Mora Knife Project that I finished some time back. The knife I used was the Mora Clipper 840 MG. 840 indicates that it’s the Carbon Steel Blade and MG indicates Military Green. This knife also comes in the code 860 MG and the only difference is that the 860 MG has the Stainless Steel Blade. All of the mods seen below are to the sheath. I didn’t make any changes to the knife itself.

First, I’ll start with a before and after picture and then I’ll break down what I did.

Mora Knife Sheath Modification - Before & After

Mora Knife Sheath Modification - Before & After

The entire mod system I used is based around velcro. The first quick mod is that I added a small velcro closure around the grip for added “peace of mind”. This velcro strap helps to hold the knife in the sheath even with some pretty crazy activity. I also added 2 36″ pieces of 550 Paracord for the lanyard. Everyone already knows how versatile this stuff is so I won’t elaborate.

Mora Knife Modifications - Velcro Strap Security

Mora Knife Modifications - Velcro Strap Security

The fire steel is also held in with velcro. I used a 3/4″ piece of adhesive backed velcro (hook side) and wrapped it around the 1st section of the fire steel rod. A larger (loop side) velcro wraps all the way around the sheath and around the fire steel with the hook velcro and secures it in place. The hook side velcro holds the fire steel in place and it comes out really nice with a quick jerk. It is definitely not going to accidentally fall out.

Mora Knife Modification - Fire Steel

Mora Knife Modification - Fire Steel

Mora Knife Modification - Fire Steel Picture #2

Mora Knife Modification - Fire Steel Picture #2

Then, on the back side & sandwiched between the 2 layers of velcro I’ve cached 10 feet of 30 lb. test fishing wire. This can be used in all kinds of ways; fishing line, snares, cordage, first aid, etc… It’s very well protected between the velcro layers and adds no bulk whatsoever. I could probably put more there actually.

Mora Knife Modifications: Fishing Wire Cache

Mora Knife Modifications: Fishing Wire Cache

Under the fishing line is actually 1 more layer of 1.5″ Velcro. As I remove this layer you will notice that I have cached 2 fishing hooks (1 small, 1 large) and a small artificial piece of bait. Sandwiched under the velcro you would have no idea these are here and they weigh virtually nothing.

Mora Knife Modifications: Fishing Hooks & Bait

Mora Knife Modifications: Fishing Hooks & Bait

Lastly, once all the layers are peeled back you will see the final layer. This layer of ‘loop side’ velcro is adhesive backed and I have wrapped it directly around the mora sheath. Trust me, once this adhesive sets it’s not going anywhere.

Mora Knife Mods: The Full Kit

Mora Knife Mods: The Full Kit

This layering system is a great way to quickly add and remove pieces from your Mora Kit. You can tear it down and put it back together again in just a few seconds. No tape, etc… I’ve had this kit soaking wet and it dries really quick – no issues there. Everything is really light weight and durable. You can add a couple more layers and some other choice ‘ingredients’ really quickly. Your creativity is the limit. We keep a lot of velcro around here so I bought the velcro in bulk from a distributor so if anyone wants some let me know and I’d be happy to sell you some for a great price + shipping. Or, you can probably pick some up at a local hardware or craft store.

I’d love to see your Mora Mods or Kit. Post them here or in the forum.

Click the links here if you are interested in purchasing the Mora Clipper 860 MG or the Mora Clipper 840 MG.

Until next time-
Creek

About Willow Haven Outdoor & Creek Stewart
Creek Stewart is the Owner and Lead Instructor at Willow Haven Outdoor - a leading Survival and Preparedness Training Facility located on 21-acres in Central Indiana.  For more information on Survival Courses and Clinics offered at WHO, click HERE.  Creek is also author of Build the Perfect Bug Out Bag: Your 72-Hour Disaster Survival Kit and The Unofficial Hunger Games Wilderness Survival Guide.  You can contact Creek directly at creek@willowhavenoutdoor.com.
 
 

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