For those that don’t know KA-BAR was established pre-1900’s. Over a century of knife making experience definitely shows in the blades they sell. In this KA-BAR kukri machete review we will break down everything there is to know about this very special machete.
KA-BAR Kukri Machete Features:
KA-BAR Kukri Machete
- 11 1/2″ Blade
- Kukri Design
- 20 Degree Edge
- 1085 Carbon Steel
- Ergonomic Handle
- Epoxy Powder Coated
- Hollow Grind
- Good Size to Weight Ratio
KA-BAR Kukri Review – This Machetes A Real Winner!
Simply put this KA-BAR machete is a durable workhorse and struck me as a very high quality tool.
I’ve run several field tests on it and it holds up very well. I cut through several 5-7″ thick red cedar logs quite quickly when collecting firewood. I also used this machete for a good 5-6 hours when clearing a large section of brush from my uncles backyard.
The ergonomic zytel nylon resin handle kept my hand comfortable the entire time which was quite surprising, my experiences with most wood and plastic handles were not as forgiving.
Although I really find the KA-BAR kukri to be an amazing value I do have a few things I think could have been improved. For one the powder coated finish is kind of low quality which is not really acceptable for a $50+ machete. Other than that I only wish the blade stretched out just a few inches longer as this would improve the chopping abilities of an already powerful blade.
I was originally concerned by the blade being manufactured in Taiwan as I know many others are however the amount of abuse and field testing I have put on this machete put an end to my doubts. It’s 1085 carbon steel with a hollow grind and it packs a lot of chopping power.
I’ve been a huge fan of KA-BAR blades ever since I first started collected knives, I have many in my personal collection. The Kukri was my first machete from KA-BAR and is really something special, it ranks as one of my top 5 favorite survival machetes of all time! I’d recommend it to everyone who’s unsure about how to choose the perfect machete.
The Kukri was the only machete I have ever purchased from KA-BAR and it will not be the last. At the time of this review KA-BAR sells two black series machetes; the kukri and the cutlass. In the future I’ll purchase the cutlass model and share a review on that as well.
KA-BAR Kukri
KA-BAR Kukri Machete
I’ve owned the KA-BAR Kukri since it was first released. I absolutely LOVE this tool. I use it every chance I get and out of my 8 machetes I own, this one’s my favorite.
Thanks for leaving your review Martin. Our staff love the KA-BAR Kukri as well!
I’m deciding between 2 other machetes and this one. I think this Kukri might be exactly what I need but I kind of like the design of the other ones a bit more.
Any advice?
Always go with functionality over aesthetics. Are all 3 Kukri style? I’d read reviews on each of them individually, that’s the best way to decide which machete is best suited for your needs.
This kukri is a beast! It can handle all kinds of tough work and the super comfortable handle keeps stress off your hands. It’s my go to chopping tool for clearing out small saplings or clearing unwanted brush out from my backyard. I live out in the woods and this machete is a very handy everyday tool.