I got a user Bark River Northwind from a fellow dog yesterday. Bark River calls it a brush chopper, and it is. It needed a little touch up on the edge, so I got it and my convexed Swamp Rat Rodent Waki nice and sharp. These swords both have 17" blades, but are very different. The Waki is much heavier. Mine weighs 31 oz, compared to 23 oz for the Northwind. Most of that extra weight is in the large two-handed handle.



The Barkie has a .210" thick tang, but the blade is fully convexed and it tapers a little. The Waki is .188" thick and not tapered. The Barkie is 0170-6 steel and the Waki is 52100 or SR101. Both have micarta handles.



The Barkie balances about 4.5" in front of the scales. The Waki balances right at the blade / handle junction.





I had a nice piece of Red Bay wood lying around. The Northwind took just 10 chops to go through it.


The convexed Waki took only 7 chops.
[img]http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w64/rivershaman/Swords024.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w64/rivershaman/Swords025.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w64/rivershaman/Swords026.jpg[/img]
I used a one hand grip on both swords, gripping the Waki on the rear portion of the handle. It's greater length and higher blade speed powered through the wood just a bit easier. Then I split the wood. We don't need no stinking batons!
[img]http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w64/rivershaman/Swords028.jpg[/img]
The Waki was impressive slashing palmettos, too, but the Northwind feels much more machete-like, and does it easier.

[img]http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w64/rivershaman/Swords030.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w64/rivershaman/Swords031.jpg[/img]
It splits wood as well as the Waki, if I can only hit it right.
[img]http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w64/rivershaman/Swords033.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w64/rivershaman/Swords034.jpg[/img]
Neither edge was damaged at all by this chopping.
[img]http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w64/rivershaman/Swords036.jpg[/img]
In summary, I felt that the Northwind was the better woods tool, but only marginally. That convexed Waki can deliver some serious power. Both are fine for the coming zombie invasion.
[img]http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w64/rivershaman/Swords039.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w64/rivershaman/Swords042.jpg[/img]

Great photos!

Bring the zombies on...

Thanks. One thing I neglected to mention was the ability to use both hands with the Waki. When chopping down a tree, that gives the Waki even more advantage. For more typical machete and chopper use, I prefer the Northwind, but that is just a user preference. I like the curved blade and general handling of the Northwind better. But the Waki is one serious weapon/survival tool. I do have one big ole Busse khukri that can out chop either of these, but I can't show pics or tell you any details yet. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Awesome comparison review Vic. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

I haven't had a chance to use my Waki yet. But, your review pretty much sums up what I expected.

I expected the Waki to offer and deliver more power if gripped at the back or if using it's optional two handed grip. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

And I expected the lighter and shorter oal Northwind to be more nimble and long machete like - yet still cut and chop very well..... as I pretty much already knew. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

I expected BOTH to be sufficiently tough and BOTH are GREAT tools. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />


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While writing this, I pulled out my Northwind and it bit me. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
I still have my Northwind's old (now worn) card-board blade cover. I keep Ren-Wax on the blade, but 0170-6 is as prone to rust as SR-101. So, I don't store in it's leather sheath (Northwind came with leather sheath). Actually, I never store ANY of my knives in leather sheaths. But, I do keep quite a few of the blades in kydex if they come with kydex.
I normally" only grab that VERY sharp blade by the handle. But, I had it standing vertically between my credenza andknife storage drawers under my credenza (too long to fit in drawers ). The handle fell back, so I pulled it out by the blade cover tip with my right hand and stupid for a second reached with left hand to grap the back closer to the handle to not beat it up when dragging it out from between the tight spot it was in. And right as my left hand was reaching the blade the cardboard slipped forward to expose blade. I just "barely" touched the blade and I got a nice little slice on my left index finger. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/doh.gif" alt="" />

I try to be careful with these sharp things. They do bite. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

My Cheness Katana still makes me quite nervous when handling. Honestly, the Northwind is 2nd behind the Katana. Their size along with those VICIOUSLY sharp convex edges require respect and attention. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

My Waki doesn't have that type of edge yet..... Someday. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

.

Oh Doug, I know darned well you are going to do a great convex job on that Waki. My Waki bit me right after I convexed it. It was balanced on my belt sander motor and started to fall. It just grazed the top of my left index finger and left a nice clean slice. It healed fast. Your'e right, these big sharp things demand our attention and respect. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Nice job, Vic. Great pics. I wondered how the Northwind would compare to Waki.

To sum it up, the Northwind is the better machete and the Waki is the better weapon and the more powerful chopper. But only if it is sharp.

Good info HD

Any thoughts on which is more nimble, easy to control, alive in the hand...that kind of thing?

Yeah... SR-101 gets PLENTY sharp. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

And you are right, I will eventually strip and convex at least one of mine. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Hopefully, by repeated saying, others will learn from our mistakes about how these swords are quite dangerous - especially when HIGHLY sharp. Hopefully, nobody gets more than a little love bite. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crossfingers.gif" alt="" /> But, obviously, when "sharp", these swords "deserve" SERIOUS attention and respect. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

.

The Waki is much heavier, so compared to the Northwind, it is slower in the hand. A lot of it has to do with technique, though. The long handle on the Waki allows for different grips. Gripped up near the front, the heavy handle acts as a counterweight, allowing for fast snap cuts and such. It also can be used to increase reach in a thrust or slash. I admit, I am not an expert with swords and I am still learning how to handle the Waki. I'm sure that someone more proficient with such weapons could do better than I can. The Northwind is much like a machete, and I am very familiar with using those.

Id take the Waki over the Northwind. SR101 is a great steel and ive always wanted one of these.