Here's what they say.

http://www.gerbergear.com/Survival/Gear/Bear-Grylls-Compact-Parang_31-002072

If I recall right you have the BG parang? What do you think about it? Gerber has nowadays quite much that cheap China stuff.

Yes, I do have the full size parang. I like it. I haven't chopped anything larger than about a 3 inch or so tree with it but it did pretty well. I'll probably pick up this new one just as a smaller companion piece.

BUT if either one of these blades fail (break) on me I will never own a Gerber again.

I have same kind of thoughts about my Cold steel barong (cheap China model). I have chopped some bush with it and it performed quite well, but it´s not a quality steel tool.

To me they (Yours and mine both) are just knock around blades to use and abuse when the edge will in all probability get damaged on rocks or some other stuff.

Yes, cheap blades are easy to use; you don´t have to be so careful with those.

My Fällkniven H1 arrived and I tried the mousepad and sandpaper sharpening like I tried it before with the War Dog. Well I quess the convex sharpening is not for me.

After working couple of minutes with my Spyderco sharpmaker I could easily shave my arm - now it feels so soft...

They say that you shouldn't put any pressure on the knife when you are sharpening on the pad/paper. IF you apply to much pressure you will actually dull the edge as it will allow the soft pad/paper to roll up over the edge rounding it off. They say to let the weight of the knife do the work.

(I can't do the mousepad/sandpaper thing either)

I am a firm believer in using what works for you.

Only 185 more posts to break 800 Thousand! Let's get busy dogs!

I´ve been busy working and now it´s Miller time!

Stay safe my friend!

See you later!