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Best Kukri Machete

Last Updated: December 26, 2020

Finding an excellent machete to add to your survival kit is essential, and that’s why we are exploring five outstanding blades on the market to find the best kukri machete for you.

This multi-purpose tool is an excellent investment to tackle various outdoor obstacles and to help complete even the smaller tasks included in your survival.

Kukri machetes will help with combat, chopping, clearing thick brush and felling small trees, and it will also protect you from the unknown.

Before making your decision, you need to have a clear understanding of what your endeavor will involve.

Research is essential, and luckily for you, we have compiled a list of our five best kukri machetes and hope you find one that entertains you and your survival journey perfectly.

Let’s meet the lineup!

Our Reviews
1

Authentic Gurkha Kukri

Originating from Nepal, the Authentic Gurkha kukri is designed for various tasks, such as household purposes, outdoor activities, or jungle warfare. It will inevitably be a good fit for a survival situation.

Similar to the construction of a machete, this kukri includes an inwardly curved blade — this is equally used as an outdoor tool and a weapon.

The knife is made from highly graded carbon steel, with a polished blade, and crafted to withstand various climates.

For when greeted with a challenging day and the finish line is far, this lightweight mini-sized kukri won’t add to the challenge; instead, it will provide comfort and ease throughout.

It falls on the mini-sized knives with an overall length of 11 inches, the blade is 6 inches and gives you exceptional control when skinning animals. You should note that sizes will vary ever-so-slightly due to them being handcrafted knives.

Its Rosewood handle provides a good grip for when concentration is vital.

It is essential to consider the weight and size of your final purchase, and ask yourself, what machete is best suited to your overall strength and ability?

At an affordable price, this budget-friendly knife opens the doors to survivalists of all backgrounds and offers durable and high-quality performance.

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Pros

  • High grade carbon steel
  • Lightweight
  • Budget-friendly price
  • Features an easy sharpen

Cons

  • Sizes could potentially be inconsistent
2

Honshu Boshin Kukri

The Honshu Boshin Kukri has skyrocketed to international acclaim and has made an impression with survival enthusiasts. The Boshin range of blades is known for its durability, reliability and all-around excellent quality.

Each blade in the range adapts to various activities and challenges that you will encounter on your adventure, and you will find one that best suits you, for sure.

It has a blade length of 13.12 inches and an overall length of 19.6 inches and compared to most, it is considered to be a more substantial scale machete.

This machete looks the part and has quite the appeal with many survivalists out there, with its stainless steel construction. Its stainless steel blade makes this product water-resistant and is be able to withstand wet weather conditions, rust-free.

Like most, if not all, machetes out there, a leather belt sheath is included to protect it when not in use. The quality of the sheath determines the safety of those partaking and the durability of the machete.

It only comes in one blade size, which can decline the attention of many customers due to different hand sizes affecting the practicability of the product.

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Pros

  • Stainless Steel
  • High-duty
  • Water-resistant
  • Includes leather belt sheath

Cons

  • Comes in one blade size
  • Bigger than usual Kukris
3

Tops TPBKUK01-BRK Bushcrafter Kukuri

The Tops Bushcrafter Kukuri is a great knife that can do just about anything; this outdoor tool is a pleasure to own and will undoubtedly lift you to your full potential during your survival journey.

This sublime machete is explicitly designed for both bushcraft and survival.

Crafted to have the right size and strength to complete various challenges in a survival situation, yet light-weight enough to prevent hand exhaustion and make it a smooth process throughout daily use.

With an overall length of 14 inches and a blade length of 7¾ inches, this lightweight knife weighs 1lb 6.2 oz and is featured on the lighter weight side of the spectrum.

A blade constructed with 1095 High Carbon Steel, with a black traction coating, makes it the perfect material to endure various weather conditions and climates you will find yourself in.

The handle, too, is made from black linen micarta – these materials combined increase its water-resistance ability meaning it can be used under harsh conditions and not injure your hands from continuous use over longer periods of time.

At a premium price, this product will be worth the long-term investment and guarantees a durable lifespan.

However, if this stretches your wallet, then we suggest sticking to your budget, as there are plenty of high-quality kukri machetes out there at an affordable price.

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Pros

  • 1095 High Carbon Steel
  • Full Tang
  • Handle has good grip
  • Water-resistant

Cons

  • Premium price could turn off some potential customers
  • Big in size
4

KA-BAR 2-1249-9 Kukri

The KA-Bar Kukri has a blade made from 1095 carbon steel, which is an excellent steel choice as it is the most durable out of the three options.

Where it has impressive durability, it misses the mark by not being water-resistant and will eventually cause your knife to rust. Meaning your kukri will need to be maintained, by polishing the blade with oil, regularly to improve its performance and lifespan.

The handle, made of Black Kraton rubber, is full tang, which benefits the efficiency and your overall control of the swing. The handle’s thickness and lightly textured Kraton makes for a sturdy grip.

This means it performs well with wet or dry hands, although to avoid any slips, we advise taking advantage of the large lanyard hole included to prevent losing your knife, and therefore protection.

Included is a sturdy sheath made from a combination of black leather and Cordura.

It offers a belt loop or a smaller D ring to attach to your legs. This useful feature provides choice and comfort for how you carry the knife with you – which all goes down to preference.

If you want to add a capable chopper to your survival kit, with a moderate price attached to it, then I can safely recommend this one.

The knife itself is constructed with high-quality material, and, for the money, the sheath does an excellent job.

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Pros

  • High in Carbon Steel
  • Manageable size (10inch blade)
  • Full Tang
  • Features impressive sheath

Cons

  • Some materials used lack in quality
  • Not water-resistant
5

Condor Tools & Knives Kukri

What the 60217 Heavy Duty Kukri Knife prides itself on the most is in its name. This heavy-duty knife is designed to be repeatedly used in the most challenging conditions.

Its high duty characteristic is the result of the knife’s blade being crafted by 1075 High Carbon Steel, which is the best overall steel to be used for any blade.

It also offers a Full-Tang design to provide you with ease during various chopping tasks!

A blade length of 10 inches and an overall length of 15 inches, it isn’t as compact as some of the other contenders featured on our list.

You must consider your strength before eyeing-up this knife because it is on the heavier side and could burden your power.

However, the thickness of the blade (approximately 6mm) is one of the thickest I have found on a knife, which is impressive and will create many chopping success stories.

The handle scales, made from American Walnut, create a hard and stiff grip. For ease of access at all times, this knife includes a black leather sheath with a belt loop for maximum comfort and convenience.

This durable and versatile knife, if you can handle the weight, is an outstanding survival machete, and for its price, it will be an excellent investment lasting you for a long time.

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Pros

  • Hardwood handle
  • 1075 Carbon Steel
  • Includes leather belt sheath

Cons

  • Price might turn-off some potential customers

Blade Material

The material used to construct the blade of the kukri machete varies, and when choosing the knife, you should understand the pros and cons of each knife to be best suited to the environment you will inhabit.

You want a machete that will help you succeed in various areas of your endeavor. The materials used for a blade are generally narrowed down to stainless steel, carbon steel, and high carbon steel can all prosper and here’s how:

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is carbon steel with nickel and chromium, which makes the steel an aesthetically appealing silver and makes it rust-resistant — the better the rust resisting ability, the less maintenance work needed.

However, although easier to sharpen, stainless steel has a lower strength than carbon. Its low power makes it prone to breakage and can be a problem when hacking away at heavier materials.

If the style is essential to you and you tend to find yourself in wet climates, then a stainless steel kukri machete might be suited to you.

Carbon Steel

Carbon steel blades are the most durable blade out of the three.

As carbon isn’t water-resistant, it will require regular care and attention. To increase a carbon steel blade’s longevity and use it to its full potential, it will need polishing with oil.

Frequent maintenance can be an inconvenience in a survival setting, as it can be time-consuming and distract you from more important parts to your endeavor.

The natural hardness to the blade can make it hard to re-sharpen, which can be a problem if used over more extended periods of time. For survival purposes, however, a carbon steel blade can take you places.

High Carbon Steel

High carbon steel tends to be on the pricier end of the spectrum because of its impressive blend of both stainless and carbon steel. The practical attributes of each steel merged, creating one solid item.

It has the water-resistance stainless steel offers and the moderate strength that carbon brings to the table, and together increase durability and expands the climates of its use.

When you look at the machete market, you will find that the vast majority of machetes are constructed with high carbon steel because of its durability. Durability is very good for the edge, and the comfort of sharpening will eventually increase over time.

Length and Thickness

A machete blade’s length varies tremendously, with the busy market that has experienced quite an evolution. You will find blade lengths as short as 8 inches and as long as 28 inches, what you go for, will all depend on preference.

Short Blades

The short blades tend to offer more control over the swing of the blade and are best suited to narrow spaces.

When you opt for a machete with a smaller blade, you will find they are more lightweight and compact. However, the shorter length also takes a dip in momentum and will require more energy to use and to cut deeper.

Long Blades

Long blades, on the other hand, because of its size, won’t require as much energy and therefore won’t exhaust you during your activities. The chopping ability outperforms shorter blades, but the control is less.

However, longer blades hold significant weight, so consider the weight you desire for your encounters with the outside world.

Thin blades are effective at completing smaller tasks such as cutting soft plans, vegetation, and preparing food. They are less effective used in hard chopping, and more strenuous tasks should be performed with thick blades.

Blade Tang

If you will be using your survival machete a lot during your encounter with the outdoors then we recommend to find one that is full tang. A full tang blade allows for great balance and leverage capabilities throughout use.

When the metal weighs more, it’s usually because the knife is superior in durability and strength.

If a reduction in weight is what you’re looking for, then a partial tang will give you that.

However, it doesn’t have as much substance as a full tang, and although improvements have been made in the metal used, we recommend opting for a full tang blade.

Handle Shape and Material

The handle of the machete is essential to overall comfort, and you’re comfortable when using the blade, you’re more likely to perform well.

Most machetes out there have a simple design with a crossguard that protects your hand from the blade.

The handle is prone to moisture, including rain and sweat from your hands. So, the tip of the handle needs to have a unique grip to prevent the machete from slipping and causing unnecessary accidents.

You should consider the shape of the handle, which is usually round, square, or curved.

Circular and curved handles bring more comfort to your handling, whereas the square-shaped stems are more likely to cause blisters.

Recap

Over the years, machetes have gained popularity in both minor outdoor activities and in a more severe setting where a matter of life or death is involved.

After assessing these top 5 blades, we have concluded that the Honshu Boshin Kukri is the best out of the lot in terms of quality, price, and even its attractive image.

This stainless steel, high-duty, and water-resistant machete have what it takes to endure usage over long periods. It will entertain various climates and especially thrive during torrential rain.

However, all of the kukri machetes featured on our list are deserving of the title Best Kukri Machete, and it all comes down to preference.

Thanks for reading! Have you found your match? We hope you have!

Please leave any feedback or recommendations for future reviews in the comment section below. We’d love to hear from you.

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