Machetes

The ESEE Expat Libertariat Mini Machete Review

I’m a big fan of ESEE knives. They tend to be strong, well made, and designed to last. On top of that their knives tend to be very affordable and very simply made. Their target audience is often the outdoorsman, the hunter, the prepper, and general adventurer. The Expat line is a specialty line of knives designed outside of the typical ESEE crew.

Buy the ESEE Libertariat at BladeHQ

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I’ve previously reviewed the Expat Cleaver and I was a big fan. The second Expat blade is the Libertariat, which is a compact machete designed for a few different purposes. This is a blade that is lightweight, easy to use, and can be used for a variety of purpose outside of hacking down a path.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The ESEE Libertariat has a 9-inch blade and an overall length of 14 inches. The blade is two inches wide and .12 inches thick. The handle is 5 inches long and 1.125 inches thick and made from wood. The Libertariat ways 13.08 ounces and comes with a canvas sheath.

It’s a very small, but also a very lightweight knife. The Libertariat doesn’t have a lot of weight to it, but it can still handle underbrush, vines, and limbs. I’ve even cut down some small trees without issue. The Liberariat lacks a point and is cleaver like. The lack of a point has never been an issue in my use of this tool.

The blade is made from SAE 1075 steel. It can get very sharp and is a good hard and tough steel. It can take a real beating when used as a machete is intended to be used. Of course, it doesn’t hold that edge for a long period. I find myself touching it up before any kind of daily use or yard work.

The blade has a Condor classic finish. This is a hammered finish that gives it the appearance of a tool built a long time ago. While it’s stylish its also effective, I rarely apply oil even though I live on the coast, and have yet to see rust.

As I mentioned this small machete is designed more or less as a bush tool more than a yard working machete. It can serve as a machete, as well as a general survival knife. It’s small and handy and could be used to clean game in a pinch.

The spine is a flat 90-degree surface that makes it easy to strike a ferrous rod with. The flat surface also makes it easy to baton wood into pieces if needed. I ‘ve batoned several pieces of pine wood without a problem. The hole at the tip of the blade allows the insertion of a rod to make what is basically a draw knife from this mini machete.

The Little Libertariat can do it all, or at least try to. Most importantly it’s an impressive machete. It chops and slices without issue and chew through some seriously thick material. As a small blade with little heft, you really have to know how to work a machete. Even an expert is going to expend more energy using the short and light Libertariat than a standard machete though.

With such a small blade you are using more energy, and losing reach causing you to bend over a bit to reach ground level. That’s the price to pay for a smaller, lighter, and handier machete.

Handle and Ergonomics

The handle is made from wood and very smooth. In over a year’s worth of use I’ve never felt it slip from my hands, but I would see why some would want some form of checkering. I also haven’t developed hot spots when using the Libertariat heavily.

However, I did notice after one long day my hand got quite tired of handling it. The small handle requires a tight hold and that will cause fatigue to set in quicker than a full, thick, hand-conforming handle.

The angle of the handle is perfect for machete work. It tilts the blade slightly forward and gives you an angle that maximizes your swing. This makes your swing more natural when you use a proper technique or flicking the wrist prior to contact you’ll use less energy and cut deeper.

The Sheath

The sheath is very simple and made from a khaki colored canvas. It feels quite strong and very durable. Four metal snaps run along the seam of the sheath and hold it all together should the stitching rip or fail, or become cut all to hell from inserting and removing the machete over and over.

There seem to be two styles on the market. One that leaves most of the handle exposed and then mine which covers a good portion of the handle.

With mine the sheath covers the majority of the handle and drawing the Libertariat is not a fast endeavor. I have to pinch, pull, then grip the handle properly. I see why some of the newer models come with a sheath that allows a full grip.

A small thong secures around the handle and keeps the machete in the sheath. It attaches the belt through a loop and that is really all she wrote. It’s simple, but it works.

The ESEE Expat Libertariat Mini Machete Review – Final Thoughts

The Libertariat can do everything a bigger machete can do… with a lot more effort anyway. Its small size makes it easy to use for a variety of tasks outside of just hacking and slashing brush. It’s very light and would be a great camp tool, or for a hiker looking to cut pounds.

For the price, it is hard to go wrong. Plus ESEE backs it with their lifetime, no questions asked warranty. The Libertariat is a potent little tool that will serve you well for a long time.

ESEE ESLIB-BRK Expat Libertariat Machete Knife, Black, 9 in

90 degree spine for Ferro rod Use
Draw knife Hole in blade
Condor edge
A lightweight tropical survival knife
Care instructions: Hand Wash

I recommend purchasing the ESEE Expat Libertariat at Amazon or BladeHQ. Thank you very much.

CRKT Chanceinhell Review

by Dan Jackson 2 Comments

Last Updated: September 7, 2019
Through his many collaborations with production knife companies Ken Onion has become one of the most recognized names in the cutlery industry. The Kershaw catalog is still chock full of Ken Onion classics like the Blur and Leek, Zero Tolerance landed him as their first big collaborator with the 0300 and 0350, and he has more recently released a number of excellent designs through CRKT, including the recently reviewed and highly acclaimed Swindle. I’ve waxed poetic about the man’s designs for the better part of a dozen knife reviews.

Buy the CRKT Chanceinhell at BladeHQ

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That said, this review is still a first, as it is my first review of a KO fixed blade. Ken has released several fixed blade designs over the years, including a couple interesting lines of kitchen knives, but he is mostly known for his folders. To my knowledge the CRKT Chanceinhell is his first production design machete, and the Chanceinhell is an interesting piece. The deep swooping blade and aggressive handle shape is a pretty serious departure from your typical machete design, yet it still pays homage to the classic machete. Will the Chanceinhell represent another step forward for the Kenster, or has he overreached with this bold take on a classic outdoor tool? I’ll to get to the bottom of it with this review.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Chance in Hell has an overall length of 17.88″, has a 12″ blade, and weighs 1 pound 4 ounces. This knife is similar in length to my ESEE Junglas, but isn’t a great comparison because the Junglas is made from much thicker stock and is way heavier. The Chanceinhell is slimmer and lighter in comparison, and is more of a true machete than the Junglas.

Blade thickness on the Chanceinhell is 2.5mm, and the Chanceinhell is a lot lighter than my Ontario Machete. Granted my Ontario is a 16″ blade and this is a 12″, but the knife definitely feels light and nimble in hand. For those seeking out a larger machete the Halfachance, with its 14″ blade and interesting Parang blade shape, may be a better option.

The Chanceinhell features a bold drop point blade shape. While it loosely follows the classic latin machete pattern common on more traditional machetes you definitely get a lot of Ken’s design influence showing through with the deep belly and curving blade. The first inch of blade actually forms the slightest recurve, but for all intents and purposes this knife does not have a recurve. Just like my Ontario Machete and a lot of other machetes, the chance in hell has a saber grind (low flat grind). The edge is v-ground although it blended into the saber grind and almost feels like a convex.

The steel on this knife is 65Mn carbon steel. This is a steel that I have previously had zero experience with. All I know is that it’s a carbon steel and will rust if you don’t take care of it, so I’ve been hosing mine down with WD-40 after every use. So far I have had zero issues with rust. Given the price point my guess is that it’s comparable to 1075 or 1085, but that is just pure conjecture.

In practice this seems like a hearty steel and a good choice for a machete. I have beat on this knife pretty hard, trying to baton it through 6″ diameter pieces of oak (I was largely unsuccessful, but the machete held up well), lots of limbing, chopping up some fairly stout branches, and plenty of brush clearing and more typical machete tasks. It has held up well, with no chipping, bending, or cracking.

The big belly of the blade actually gives the knife a nice forward heft and generous sweet spot. The black blade coating does not have much texture to it and the blade stock is relatively thin so the knife bit deeply into the various woods I cut with it. Speaking of the coating, the blade comes powdercoated and this coating as actually held up really well. I haven’t been able to wear it off, and like I said I’ve been working with this knife pretty seriously so I figured if it was going to start to come off, it would have by now. All in all I am pleased with the performance of this machete.

Handle and Ergonomics

The Chanceinhell’s handle is made of injection molded thermoplastic rubber (TPR). The rubber handle fully engulfs the tang (my understanding is that the tang pretty much runs the length of the handle) and is held in place with a series of tubular pins. This isn’t immediately apparent from the pictures, but this handle is over an inch thick. So far I can’t complain. I’ve used the knife on a dozen or so occasions and have yet to see any splitting or cracking. Granted I live in Florida so we don’t get much fluctuation in temperature down here but this handle has held up well.

The handle shape is probably the most characteristically Ken Onion aspect of this design, and features plenty of his swooping curving lines. Another interesting ergonomic aspect is the negative angle (pistol grip) to the handle. It all looks great on paper but a huge question for me was whether this thing would actually work in my hand. I’m not going to lie, it took only 10 chops with the Chanceinhell before a fairly substantial blister opened up on my palm below my pinky. That did not bode well for this machete, but I have to say that I haven’t had a blister or hot spot from this knife since.

I don’t mind the negative angle either, as it tends to accentuate the forward heavy chopping nature of the knife. This handle design works well for me, and I’m saying this after dozens of sessions with the knife. I am not sure if I would say it is “better” than a more classic simple handle shape; it’s just different and I am sure it will work everyone’s hand slightly differently.

I will say that I think the TPR is a great handle choice from an ergonomic perspective. This is like the orthopedic shoe equivalent of knife handle material. It will absorb some of the vibration from the blade, and the light faux pigskin texture holds the hand in place, even when you are tired and sweaty. I like that aspect of the handle a lot, and it has held up well. No cracking, splitting, etc.

Sheath

The Chanceinhell comes with a nylon sheath. It’s pretty basic, with a large belt loop that can be strapped down or used as a dangler. The belt loop is held together with velcro, and I like how you can use the belt loop without having to take your belt off. The edges have been stitched and riveted together, and the blade is held in place with three snaps.

These snaps do an OK job retaining the blade. If you play around with it, you can pull the knife out without releasing any of the straps, so this is not something I would recommend carrying upside down or jumping out of an airplane with.

It’s a far cry from the molded kydex sheath of my Junglas, but then again the price of this knife is a far cry from my Junglas, so it’s pretty much on par with any other Machete/sheath combo you will find at the $40 price point. It’s lightweight and basic, but gets the job done. You can’t expect to be blown away by the sheath at this price point, and in that respect the sheath met my expectations.

CRKT Chanceinhell Review – Final Thoughts

the Chanceinhell is an interesting take on the machete. Ken has less room to move when it comes to reinventing a classic tool like the machete, but I think he did a good job in distinguishing this from the pack, while still leaving you with a functional and robust design. This has been married to materials that are price appropriate and well executed, leaving you with a functional and affordable package.

I was most pleased by the way this machete cut. I have been wielding my Junglas around for quite some time now, and although I love the weight to that knife, the thick grind and chunky powdercoat means that it is not the leanest chopper. The Chanceinhell actually cuts better than my Junglas, but has still held up well under my use. The sheath, like on many inexpensive machetes, is merely adequate. I think the knife itself is significantly better than the sheath.

I take pride in actually testing everything that I review, and I spent a few months with this machete prior to putting pen to paper. It’s a stout tool and I have come to respect it, but I am hesitant to give it a blanket recommendation because I am not sure whether the handle design will work for everyone.

If the idea of a Ken Onion designed machete intrigues you, try it out and see what you think. I have enjoyed mine and will continue to reach for it when I need a lightweight machete for camping or yard work.

CRKT Chanceinhell Fixed Blade Machete: 12 Inch Black Powder Coated Carbon Steel Drop Point Blade with Nylon Sheath for Survival, Hunting, and Camping K910KKP

Enhanced Protection: Black coating improves corrosion resistance
Exceptional Grip: Football textured handle for grip
Built Tough: Reinforced nylon sheath provides carry options
Designed by Ken Onion in Kaneohe, Hawaii
Limited Lifetime Warranty covers any defects in materials or workmanship, see company site for details

I recommend buying the Chanceinhell at BladeHQ or Amazon. Thanks for reading.

Viper Carnera Review

by Dan Jackson 2 Comments

Last Updated: September 16, 2019
Viper Knives is a relative newcomer to the US cutlery scene, and is a division of the Italian manufacturer Tecnocut, a company that I am frankly not that familiar with. I was first acquainted with Viper at Blade Show 2013 it was there that I had the opportunity to handle most of their line. Like many of the knives coming out of Maniago Italy I was impressed with the sophisticated designs coupled with tight fit and finish. One blade that especially caught my eye is the Carnera – a long lean chopper named after Italian pugilist Primo Carnera.

Buy the Viper Carnera at BladeHQ

The knife’s sleek lines remind me somewhat of an Italian sports car, which certainly doesn’t hurt a first impression, but what I found most intriguing was how balanced and comfortable the knife felt in hand. This was something that had the potential to be a serious tool: light, balanced, comfortable, and featuring well finished high end materials. I couldn’t resist, so the Carnera ended up traveling back with me from the show.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Carnera has an overall length of 15.25″, features a 9.5″ blade, and weighs in at 17.5 ounces. The knife is approximately the same length as the ESEE Junglas, but in hand they are radically different knives. The Junglas is an absolute tank. If I needed something to survive the end of days and didn’t mind some extra weight I would put the Junglas on my short list. It was and continues to be one of my all time favorite heavy duty choppers. The Carnera, on the other hand, is much more efficient and refined. Its sweeping handle flows into a broad and confident clip point blade. It has a slight forward bias lending it towards chopping, but it still feels fast and fluid. The stock is thick but the wide blade coupled with a full flat grind lightens the knife significantly. Where the Junglas could be considered an all out survival knife, I feel like the Carnera is more suited for work as a camp knife or heavy machete.

I should mention that the knife comes in 2 main flavors; the stonewashed version with wood handles and leather sheath shown here, and a more military inspired version with a black PVD coated blade, micarta scales, and a cordura molle compatible sheath. Both versions can be examined on the Viper wesbite.

Viper selected D2 for the Carnera. D2 is a semi stainless, which on paper seems like a good compromise given that the blade is naked but still needs to be tough enough to resist chipping under heavy use. Done right D2 provides a good mix of toughness, edge retention, and resistance to corrosion. I’ve had good experiences with D2 and I’ve had OK experiences with D2 – it depends entirely on the heat treat. Done right it can be a great steel (as evidenced by master knifemakers like Bob Dozier using D2 exclusively).

Thankfully my experience with the Viper and it’s D2 blade has been nothing short of excellent.

As usual, I wish I could have taken this guy up into the Rocky mountains, or better yet, the Italian countryside for some extended use and testing. I had to settle on the less exotic location of my back yard. The good news is that I had a dead ficus tree that was in desperate need of an ass kicking, so I can at least assure you that this knife saw a good amount of use.

I mostly chopped with this knife. I chopped through thick tree limbs (anywhere from 4-7″ in diameter) and did quite a bit of limbing, light chopping, and clearing as well. It’s a great chopper. The full flat grind gets reasonable thin and comes to a nice traditional V edge. The knife bites deeply into wood and the D2 holds a nice aggressive edge, even after extended chopping sessions. There is enough weight behind the blade to get some good work done without the knife being overly heavy. A practiced hand should be able to get a lot of work done with it. My technique leaves something to be desired, but I was still pleased with the end result.

I will say that the full flat grind does not lend itself to batoning, which was not a big issue for me. If I really needed to split with this knife I’d use the Carnera to carve up a wood wedge and use that instead.

With a retail price of over $200, it’s worth talking about the fit and finish of the blade. The grinds on my knife were even and the edge was perfectly applied. The spine is capped (rounded) which is a very nice detail on a production knife. My version of the Carnera came with a lightly tumbled finish. This is a good choice for a semi stainless steel like D2. That said, I did notice a light patina form on my knife, and generally found it more difficult to keep clean. An application of [easyazon-link asin=”B000V72992″ locale=”us”]Bar Keeper’s Friend[/easyazon-link] or a similar cleaning agent will brighten it back up instantly. Alternatively, you could always opt for the PVD coated variant.

Handle and Ergonomics

One thing I immediately liked about the Carnera was the traditional wood handle scales. I think the wood is a very handsome option, although their micarta offering would probably be a little more practical. Viper selected Pau Santo wood for the handles, a wood I was previously unfamiliar with, but it has a pleasing and tight symmetry to the grain and strikes me as a great choice. The handle slabs have been bolted on, and were left with a smooth semi-glossy finish. There are 2 lanyard holes although I always used the knife without any lanyards and found that the grip was still secure.

The secure grip is thanks in large part to the elegant flowing handle design. The handle has these seductive curves t that are visually appealing but also highly functional. The knife felt very controllable in my hand, even when I was tired and sweaty after an extended chopping session. Not once did the knife slip of feel insecure, and it was extremely comfortable as well. I am very pleased with the handle design. It’s beautiful, comfortable, and entirely functional.

Sheath

The Carnera comes with 2 options for the sheath: the leather sheath (shown here) or a cordura molle compatible military style sheath. Generally speaking, I like the leather sheath. They used thick pieces of leather and it compliments the traditional wood handles, although I would have loved it if Viper made this with a brown leather sheath – I think that would have looked especially handsome. The wide blade profile means they had to get creative with the sheath design, but the end result looks good and works well.

Practically speaking, the knife is securely held in place with a single snap, and the sheath features a generous belt loop with an easy to remove snap. It is adjustable and comes with a piece of cord that could be used as a thigh rig. I can see how the wide clip point blade provides a challenge for designing the sheath (much like a kukri style blade does), and given that limitation Viper came up with a sturdy and functional sheath. That said, this is a knife that I could justify having a custom kydex sheath made for – and I may eventually decide to do just that.

Viper Carnera Review – Final Thoughts

The Carnera is my first extended experience with a Viper product, and I was left very impressed. For a guy that likes capable choppers the Carnera is a lot of fun, but it is a serious tool that benefits from a very practical, very functional lightweight and balanced design. The sleek Italian lines, tasteful material selection, and excellent fit and finish make it a very well rounded package that should appeal to both collectors and enthusiasts.

As for potential downsides, this is a premium offering from Viper and the price reflects that, but you get what you pay for and I don’t think their retail price is entirely out of line. Perhaps the biggest problem is that these knives are still somewhat difficult to acquire here in the States. Thankfully, BladeHQ has recently picked them up (at least the stone washed version of it), so I expect we will be seeing more and more of this knife in the days to come.

Viper Carnera – $239.95
From: BladeHQ

I recommend purchasing the Viper Carnera at BladeHQ. Purchasing anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated! Thank you very much.

Ontario Machete Review

by Dan Jackson 10 Comments

Over the years I have had several requests for machete reviews. To be perfectly honest, I’m not sure why it has taken me so long to deliver. The machete is a timeless tool. Although it is most readily identified with jungle survival, its applications are far reaching and potentially adaptable to a wide variety of climates. I happen to live in SW Florida and can safely say that the machete is well suited to this semi-tropical region carpeted with fibrous palms and grasses, thick vines, and relatively soft woods.

Buy the Ontario Machete at BladeHQ

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I’ve had the ability to sample a number of machetes over the years, but can still think of no better machete start with than the Ontario 18″ Machete. The model number is 6145 ad the knife is sometimes referred to as the “military machete.” Whatever you want to call it, this is a high end take on a classic tool. This knife will cost a little more than a $10 or $15 Chinese machete, but I humbly submit that this American made piece is well worth the premium. If adequately maintained the Ontario Machete will provide a lifetime of service and is an extremely rugged and capable tool.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

This particular Ontario machete has an overall length of 23″, an 18″ blade, and weighs in the neighborhood of 1 lb 7 ounces. This is a heavy machete with a thick 1/8″ (3.2mm) blade. Ontario makes their machetes in 3 different sizes: 12″, 18″, and 24″ blades. I like the 18″ size. It has good reach for clearing light vegetation, but the thick steel has enough meat behind it to tackle much harder tasks. I feel that the 24″ machete is too heavy for my purposes, while the 12″ model lacks the reach I want for a machete. Of course, everyone’s needs are a little different. I like the 18″ configuration and think it hits a nice sweet spot for my purposes.

The blade itself is a classic latin machete pattern. The knife features a partial flat grind that travels about 1/2″ up the blade. I have read that the edges these knives ship with can be kind of hit or miss – some arrive very nicely ground with shaving sharp edges, others are uneven and dull. My edge was serviceable and able to cut paper – completely adequate for the kind of bushwhacking I put it up to.

Ontario selected 1095 high carbon steel for the blade, and heat treated it to approximately 55 HRc. I have talked about 1095 time and time again, but it’s a great tool steel that can get nice and sharp while remaining incredibly tough. It’s a great choice for a heavy duty chopper like this, and the heat treat has been done right. This is where the Ontario steps away from the $10 and $20 machetes you will find at Wal-Mart. Those tools are absolute crap and will not hold an edge like this machete which tend to warp, bend, and even break in half under use. Ontario coats the blade with a zinc phosphate coating that has held up really well in my testing and use.

Speaking of testing and use, lets talk a little about what I did with this machete. Since I recently moved into a new apartment I had to get a little creative. I figured hacking through 2x4s in my living room, while thoroughly satisfying, was neither a good test of the knife nor a sane strategy for retaining my security deposit. So I moseyed on over to a piece of private land a few miles into the interior of South Florida.

A fire raged through these parts a few years ago, and the charred remnants of scrub pine still stand sentry to the sandy trails and switchbacks the landowners have carved through their property. I spent the better part of an afternoon clearing low lying palmetto plants, chopping through downed limbs, and even felling a fairly substantial dead pine tree (and nearly killing myself and my camera in the process – don’t try this at home). The Ontario machete exceeded my expectations in every regard.

The knife is so sturdy and heavy it’s almost too much to wield for traditional machete work. If all you are looking to do is clear very light brush, you may find this to be too much knife for your purposes. I won’t claim to be in great physical shape, but I think the 1/8″ steel will wear down even a practiced arm after a while. It’s a big and heavy knife and throwing that much carbon steel around quickly soaked my shirt with sweat.

I will say I pushed this machete far beyond the natural limits of this kind of tool. I think it is important to emphasize the bad experiences I have had with cheaper machetes that have bent and even broke in half on me. I took out a 8″ diameter tree (a dead tree) with this knife and the edge was still sharp. This is thing is a beast. If you are looking for a budget chopper but still want quality I think you will be pleased with the capabilities of this knife.

Handle and Ergonomics

The Ontario machete is a full tang knife with thick plastic handle slabs riveted in place. It’s an extremely strong design and it comfortably fills the hand. There is an extended pinky notch on the back of the handle that helps hold your hand in place. The corners are rounded and comfortable and there is a hole for a lanyard.

Having spent some time with this thing sweating under the southern sun, I will say that I noticed a distinct absence of traction with this handle design. I’m not one for overly textured handles, as they can quickly beat up your hands, but I advise either making use of the lanyard hole or wrapping the handle in some sort of athletic tape. I will say that I had no issues with hot spots or blisters.

Sheath

The Ontario machete does not come with a sheath. It’s ok because many aftermarket sheathes are available. I advise going with a classic plastic Rothco sheath (pictured) over a nylon sheath. The nylon sheathes get torn up easily while the plastic is both reasonably light weight and secure.

I modified my sheath a little by removing the stock belt clip the sheath ships with (it only works with old school military belts), and drilling 2 holes to make a paracord sling. I took some scrap leather and made a little shoulder pad and carry the machete over my shoulder. I then used some ranger bands (thin strips of cut up bicycle tubing) to attach a sharpening stone. Big hat tip to David Canturbury for the idea – it all came from his YouTube video that you can watch here.

I ended up spending an extra $15 or so for the sheath and sharpening stone, and maybe half an hour modifying the sheath, but the end result carries well and is quite comfortable. I highly recommend this style of sheath and carrying configuration.

Ontario Machete Review – Final Thoughts

The Ontario machete is an excellent all-around chopper. While it can certainly handle light brush and grasses, chores typically associated with machete like tasks, the knife is overbuilt to handle far heavier jobs as well. Ontario’s offering is made of solid materials, benefits from a classic design, and is well made. I am of the opinion that every man should own a machete, and if you can only have one then the Ontario should be at or near the top of your list.

This is a little more expensive machete than the bargain bin crap that you will find at big box stores, but for around $50 you can put together a machete and sheath system that will serve you very well and last a lifetime.

The only potential downside I see to this kind of machete is the weight. If you are looking to work with this machete in a field for 8 hours a day you either have to have way better technique than me or resemble The Rock, because this is a heavy knife capable of far more than light clearing tasks. In that case you may want to consider a smaller and/or lighter option.

Ontario Knife Company unisex adult 1 18 Military Machete, Black, Pack US, 1 Pack

Overall length is 24"
Made of 1095 Carbon Steel
Blade is hardened to 50-55 HRC
Molded plastic and riveted handle
18" blade

I recommend purchasing the Ontario Machete at Amazon or BladeHQ. Purchasing anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated! Thank you very much for reading.

Ka-Bar Kukri Machete Review

by Dan Jackson 17 Comments

Last Updated: July 27, 2019
The Kukri is an ethnic design that has truly stood the test of time. Originally the kukri was meant to be a fighting knife. Members of the Nepalese military carried these blades, most notably their elite Gurkha regiments. These days you don’t need to be an elite warrior to wield one as most knife stores and your favorite online blade retailers will carry these. Today I am looking at Ka-Bar’s take on this traditional knife, their Kukri Machete.

Buy the Ka-Bar Kukri at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

Purpose

We purchased this knife for clearing land and chopping. We have a little bit of land and this is the perfect knife to clear ground with, chop wood, trim trees, etc. I personally wouldn’t label this as a dedicated “survival knife” but if it works for you then by all means feel free to use it as such. I wouldn’t really call it a “machete” either – this is a heavily built knife, and designed for serious chopping. I wouldn’t hesitate to use it in any situation a hatchet might be used. Your average machete would break in two if you tried to do half the stuff this knife is capable of (like chopping through 8″ diameter trees).

Also, the Ka-Bar Kuktri could could also be a good piece for your car/truck, bug out bag, etc. This is a sturdy tool, and one I wouldn’t mind having in my arsenal if the S happened to ever HTF. I also like how the knife is at a price where you can afford one “just in case” and not feel like you broke the bank.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Kukri Machete has a blade length of 11.5″ a total length of 17″ and a weight of around 20 ounces (~1.2 lbs). Like I said, this isn’t really a machete. It’s a stoutly built tool and will do a lot more than hack through light brush. The kukri blade shape puts a lot of weight towards the front of the blade and makes for an excellent chopper. I’ve had no issue taking out 1-2″ diameter branches with a single swipe, and if you can place your blows effectively this knife will devastate larger limbs (or fell small trees) in no time. There is a partial flat grind that begins about an inch up the blade, and a smaller unsharpened swedge running along half of the top of the knife – presumably that reduces the weight a little and reinforces the tip.

Ka-Bar went with 1085 tool steel with the Kukri, and I think it’s an excellent choice. 1085 is very similar to 1095, the steel ESEE uses on their (expensive) hard use survival knives. 1085 is a very tough high carbon steel that takes a good edge and holds onto it well under outdoor use. Speaking of edges, I was actually pretty impressed with the factory edge on this thing. Most machetes come real dull, and rely on leverage to power through material. I could push cut paper and shaved a nice bald spot on my leg with the Ka-Bar. The kukri shape will be harder to sharpen than say a classic drop point, but it is not impossible – especially with a sharpening rod or small stone.

I did manage to chip the blade when I missed my target and banged into some rocks. What can I say, a rock will typically trump the edge of a knife – no surprises there. I’m just happy the Ka-Bar didn’t crack in half, and removing the chips with a file was easy enough. 1085 will rust so you need to keep this knife clean, dry, and preferably coated with a little oil. Ka-Bar went ahead and gave this knife a nice and durable flat black powder coating. In practice this coating has held up really well, and I haven’t had any issues with rust (despite using and storing this knife a stone’s throw from the Atlantic).

Handle and Ergonomics

The Ka-Bar Kukri comes with a large and comfortable handle. This is a full tang knife, something I would expect to see in a heavy chopper, and the handle is made of black kraton. Kraton is a hard rubber material, and performs well with wet or dry hands. Although I had no issues with slipping you would still be well advised to take advantage of the large lanyard hole as you definitely do not want this knife getting away from you.

The large handle is designed with chopping in mind. I like how thick the handle is and the lightly textured kraton provides plenty of grip. I also like how the pommel is slightly curved to provide a “catch” for your pinky finger. This does a good job keeping the kukri from slipping away; even after extended chopping sessions with wet/sweaty hands. I did have a blister raise up on my palm after a day of use, but a pair of gloves probably would have avoided that. If one blister is all that happened to my hand after 6+ hours of heavy chopping I’d say this handle is pretty darn comfortable.

Sheath

The sheath is made from a combination of black leather and cordura. It is a simple sheath with 2 snaps to hold in the blade. I find that sheaths for kukris are generally a little awkward in comparison to more traditional blade shapes (to account for the somewhat odd shape to the blade). Ka-Bar’s sheath is no exception, but it totally works.

I will say that the sheath is sturdy and it holds the knife well. As for attachment methods, your only option is a belt loop on a D ring that has been riveted together. There is another smaller D ring at the bottom of the sheath that you can lash that to your leg. In the world of high-speed kydex sheathes this option is nothing to write home about, but in practice I found the sheath to be entirely adequate – especially for the money. Ultimately I carry the knife on my belt, and it works really well for getting from point A to point B. I find that I can get the blade out by unsnapping the top snap, and the knife is easy enough to remove and insert. No complaints with the sheath.

Update and some field testing footage

Hard to believe this review was originally penned over a year ago! Since then the machete has seen a good amount to use and I have updated the review to reflect some of my experiences. We managed to chip out the blade badly on some rocks. This video shows me repairing that and chopping up some wood with the blade. This thing is a BEAST of a chopper.

Ka-Bar Kukri Machete Review – Final Thoughts

If you are looking for a durable chopper Ka-Bar has you covered with their Kukri Machete. I don’t like calling this one a machete because it performs more like a small axe, but who really cares about the semantics. This knife will clear brush without hesitation and plows through medium sized branches with ease. If you need something for heavy yard work, or want to add a capable chopper to the arsenal, I can safely recommend this one. The knife itself is a good design and is well made from high quality material. For the money the sheath does a great job.

What else is there to say? If you want a versatile knife with serious chopping power for around $50 I totally recommend the Ka-Bar Kukri.

KA-BAR 2-1249-9 Kukri,Black

Made in: Taiwan
Category name: machetes
Made in USA or imported
Black Kukri-style machete with carbon-steel blade
Ideal for chopping weeds, clearing campsite, and more

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