November 9th, 2022
6minute read
As survival tools go, I was missing one.
I needed a heavy-bladed hard-use tool to include with my outdoor gear.
Called the Halfachance, this blade looked like the right survival tool for me.
Subject of this review: the CRKT Halfachance. A parang-style knife, the author found it to be an excellent work and survival tool.
But looks can be deceiving.
I needed to know if this tool would perform in the real world.
In this CRKT Halfachance review, I put the parang to the test.
In fact, the parang-key in blade resembles several other knives from this region including the Filipino bolo.
The blade is a full 14 long with a big belly to enhance its slicing and slashing capabilities.
Traditionally, the parang is a working knife not a tool of battle.
Designed by Ken Onion, the Halfachance offers a blade in the style of a traditional parang while using modern materials for improved performance.
The large belly provides for good skinning characteristics while the hump adds a bit of mass for chopping.
Onion designed the knife for CRKT and selected 65Mn carbon steel for the blade.
The brush I needed to clear consisted of vines, native saplings and fast-growing invasive trees from Asia.
CRKT includes a nylon sheath with the Halfachance. The sheath is designed to be carried on the belt, but it can also be lashed to a pack or other equipment.
I was immediately pleased with how sharp the Halfachance was right out of the box.
It cut through limbs and smaller saplings with a single arc.
The tool was lightweight with the felt weight toward the blades tip.
Branches and saplings were no match for the CRKT parang. With the correct technique, it sliced through brush easily.
While I still needed to put some muscle behind the swing, the Halfachance did the hard work.
One of the things I liked about the Halfachance was the overmolded handle.
The grip feels like the soft, yet firm revolver grips made by Hogue.
The author spent time clearing brush on his land with the Halfachance. He found it to be a legitimate working tool.
This proved to be decisive in allowing for longer chopping without fatigue.
The overmolding texture was grippy without feeling sticky.
CRKT likens the grip texture to the pebbling of a football.
The synthetic material used for the handle absorbed shock and offered a good grip while working.
Its not a bad description for the look and feel of it.
Additionally, the texture worked well with the no-name leather work gloves I use.
I also gave the Halfachance a go with a pair of Mechanix M-Pact gloves.
Substantial amounts of brush was cleared in a very short amount of time. All of the limbs shown in this photo were cleared in less than five minutes.
The two products combined well to provide both a firm grip and remarkably little jarring in hand during chopping.
The Halfachance has five holes in the handle designed for attaching a lanyard.
Three rugged snaps ensure the parang stays in the sheath until it is intentionally drawn.
The CRKT Halfachance balances well in the hand and makes short work of overgrown property. The author found it was made of high quality materials.
After about an hour of land clearing, the Halfachance parang remained sharp and capable.
It seemed to do well with this routine.
One thing that really stood out to me was how affordable the Halfachance is.
For less than $80, the parang outperformed the other knives and machetes I have tried.
To top it off, CRKT backs the blade with a lifetime warranty.
As a machete, I found it was up to the task of handling heavy brush.
Based on my testing of this parang, I feel good about adding the Halfachance to my survival tools.
I needed a quality machete-style blade and this Ken Onion design earned its way onto the team.
My only issue is I have to buy another one as my wife claimed this parang for herself.
Go to forum thread
CRKTHalfachance with Springfield Armory Logo
MechanixImpact Resistant Gloves
