KA-BAR2-1249-9 Kukri,Black

I will keep this short simply because of all the other reviews written even though I usually write huge long reviews for blades! Goes to say that I don't need to repeat anything- exactly as expected as said from other reviewers! To start, I'm a teenager male survivalist. Ever since I got my first knife when I was 9 years old, I have been fascinated in studying knives and their Rc, Heat treatment, Handle materials, knife making( yep this is a fun but patient-requiring thing to do!- although I don't know how to forge a kukri yet) , and much more. However, my biggest teacher was the one of trial and error. I have learned which knives are good- full tangs, locks, etc. I used to get a knife and get upset after a few days simply because I didn't think it was ' good enough'. A lot of knives broke. A lot of money was wasted on junk knives that had hypocritical good looks about them at the flea market. But ALL THOSE HARD SHIPS WERE WORTH IT!! - even for just this one knife!What I am trying to say is that all that was worth it just for this knife. This is the best knife I have ever owned. Ok, yeah I have 100$ knives in my drawer too but those are large lock blades and bushcraft knives. Even though I am still in my high school years, I try to make money off ebay by selling things. With the money I got recently, I wanted to get 'the best "chopper" I could get'for the money. Hopefully a kukri. Then I found this one. I usually don't like kraton handled knives, simply because of the bad experience I had with Cold Steel. They make my favorite folding knives, but when I tried out one of their kraton handled knives, after a few months of use the rubber started to separate from the tang, making it a very loose handled knife. Turns out I am not the only one who had this problem- look it up online. However, I think this is a thing with Cold Steel because I have a Sog field pup and it has gone through tons of abuse; the kraton handle is just as firm as day one. Any way, back to the Ka-Bar kukri. I didn't notice it at first, but when I was using it I noticed that there were two notches in the front and back of the handle, where the blade meets the handle- assume the knife is edge down. There is a notch right between the handle, exposing the tang a little. This is on the front too. ( see pictures by product picture) Then it hit me- this is to allow flexibility of the blade when swinging. Cold Steel doesn't do this, so when their kukri's hit a branch or log, it stretches the rubber a little. Ka-Bar on the other hand has these life saving notches, which will protect the rubber handle from any threat of dislodging. BRILLIANT!!!! I would give the genius who thought this up a beer if I only knew who :) The sheath is great- what's all this hype about a bad sheath?? It is a good sheath. Besides, consider it a bonus. The knife beats its price range by a long shot; I would take this kukri over the CS kukri(even though it is like 190$) any day.Onto the performance. This knife does not come literally 'razor sharp' as some said. The term 'razor sharp' has come to mean that it is extremely sharp nowadays, but it isn't. It came VERY sharp, almost razor sharp. Any way I went out and chopped down a tree about 4" in width. Then I chopped it into sections, maybe 5 logs. WOW!! It bites really deep and is comfortable when chopping. Ontop of it all, it was almost just as sharp as when I got it through ALL that!! But here's the best part- It took just about a few swipes on a kitchen rod and strop and it was razor sharp (yes literally)!!! I am amazed how long it holds its edge, and its sharpen ability. I was also able to chop a coconut in 1 blow!! This is where the ridge on the back of the blade comes in handy- great for smashing. Amazing blade. The steel is 1085, which is about the equivalent of sk-5(what CS uses). Love it. The coating on the blade is fairly tough too. It had a few blotches when held up to the light (there when it came or me?) but that doesn't matter. GREAT KUKRI!!!! You won't be disappointed. I am a survivalist too- and believe me, if ever you need one blade to take with you, this is the one, even though I always take 3 ;)*UPDATE* Well, it had to happen...the coating started to look ugly from use. I decided to strip the coating out, and make a nice satin finish. Turned out pretty well! Not a perfect strip, but it looks way better than the ugly coating that I had messed up. What I did was start from 50 grit all the way up to 220 grit, which gives it a good look. You can still see some small scratches in the picture, and that is simply because I don't want to go any higher(the shinier the blade the more likely it is to get dirty faster..)but it still shines like a mirror and looks like a CS gurkha sk-5 model! See pics and video-I hope this may have helped!! Check out my other reviews too,Joe

I bought this Ka-Bar 8 months ago and intended to use it as a camp/utility knife. I don't typically review items so let me just get right to it. Buy it it now. If you are interested enough in this blade to sift through the reviews then just buy it, you will not be disappointed.If you are still reading this instead of entering your Ship To information then you are one of those people that need a little more info, so read on.First impression opening this Kukri is summed up most completely with "F-yeah." It looks awesome. This knife has the presence of a serious tool/weapon without sacrificing utility for that ninjas and zombies BS that will have you laughed out of camp. It has confidence inspiring heft but is not too heavy to wear on a belt all day. The blade is strait and sharp. The coating seems to be of high quality. The rubber of the handle is soft enough to provide excellent grip and still very firm and durable. You will not be able to wait to try it out. That says something about a tool.First impression using this thing was "........." Speechless. I've used plenty more traditionally shaped machetes as well as all manners of axes and hatchets. This is a tool in a different class. There is a reason this blade is shaped this way, it just works. If you like and have time i'm sure you can find mounds of information on why the KuKri style blade increases the force of impact, I don't need to go into it. What I will say is that saplings or branches up to 2" take very little effort, it slices right through them, not breaking them, slicing them like a carrot. I reach for this over the tree saw for anything under 6". It does this while maintaining a relatively short blade and compact feel. I feel much less fatigue than other chopping tools. It's relatively compact size lends to ease of use and control as apposed to wild "hail Mary" swings of heavier or longer tools. Precision is safety right?This one tool is about all you need in camp. Pair it will a good pocket knife and you are set. No need for a hatchet, it is awesome for kindling. No need for an ax as it can chop with the best of them. No need for a fire poker, no need for a spatula to flip steaks, no need for a bottle opener. The uses for this knife are only limited by your resourcefulness.It is durable beyond belief. I have used it to split large rounds of fire wood by embedding it in the round then repeatedly slamming another round down on top of the blade, no joke. It worked and came out none the worse for ware.The curve of the blade makes it a little tough to sharpen with a stone,but with some practice you will get it. If not clamp it in a table vise and use a file, or kitchen knife sharpener, whatever you want. It's not a picky blade when it comes to taking and edge on.So to the nay-sayers giving poor reviews; Yes, this is a $45 Kukri made in Taiwan, not the USA. This doesn't matter in the least to me. If this matters to you, take your snobby self back to the beginning of the 20th century when this was actually relevant, the grownups are trying to talk. Also, in 8 months of ownership not one branch has refused to cleave, round refused to split, brush refused to yield or tree refused to fall because this blade didn't say "USA" on the side. Seriously in the 100's of swings and hacks I'v taken with this blade I don't think country of manufacture came up once.This thing looks every bit as serious as it is. Its intimidating on the hip, and it damn well should be. If you are shy on the hiking trail or sensitive to offending day hiking granolas with the presents of such a formidable implement of man, then stick to your multi-tool in it's cute unassuming leather pouch. This thing hangs low in its sheath its large and black and has that unmistakable wicked curve of an ruthlessly efficient cutting tool. It is awesome.It will outlive it's sheath. I fashioned a sheath out of kydex that is working beautifully. If you aren't handy in that way then pony up the cash and by one off ebay. I've seen a guy selling them out there and they look quite amazing.In summary. If you want a no nonsense utilitarian tool that will look after you in the woods and never quit. Buy this, worth every penny.If you are too xenophobic to carry a tool not made in your own back yard, then I feel bad for you, because this thing is executed perfectly and the price is right. You are missing out.

I love it! It’s sturdy and durable and does everything I want for now.