KA-BAR 2-1249-9 Kukri Fixed Blade Knife Black Blade with Black Handle and Sheath

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.

Received today, as expected. Upon inspection, found it to be a solid, no-nonsense, extremely sharp tool, which I probably would enjoy using for a long time. Unfortunately, I also found a small rust spot which extends to both sides of the blade. I called Amazon for a replacement, which I was assured would arrive in two days. I'll update. UPDATE 10/13/2013: Replacement arrived in two days, as promised by the great folks at Amazon. Way to go, Amazon! I've upgraded the item's star rating to a five from a four. The kukri is great overall - just be aware that it is high carbon steel, and the same qualities that make it easy to sharpen and to keep it's edge, happen to make it susceptible to rust. SO - between uses, keep it oiled, after use, wipe it down and oil it (out in the field I've used oil from my truck's dipstick - I now carry a can of 3 in 1 oil in the truck). After I get the kukri home, I put some kerosene on a ScotchBrite pad and scrub the kukri, removing all vegetative and zombie crud. Then, if needed, I'll give it a "touch up" with a fine file, oil it, and put it back in it's sheath. The knife (machete) has good balance in the hand, the metal is heavy and strong enough to handle it's intended task,and the Kraton handle is superb. About the sheath - the sheath could be better quality, there's no doubt. What I found was that the leather is very stiff, and dry. The two little closure straps with snaps have been formed with a sharp (deep) U-shape, and when you want to put the kukri into the sheath, you have to have one hand hold both straps while your other hand places the kukri in the sheath - a pain in the butt. So, I decided to nourish not only those straps but all of the leather, with a generous amount of "Bick 4 Leather Conditioner", and I worked the straps back and forth while massaqging them with the Bick'a, to make them more supple and easier to deal with. BTW - I also have a KA-BAR brand USMC knife, the one with the plain (unserrated) blade and the compressed leather, and I have no intention of actually using it, just because it's so darn purdy and I don't want to mess it up. I keep it just for display - a piece of American history. The KA-BAR folks know how to make great knives (and I have no problem whatsoever with the kurki made in the democratic republic of Taiwan - please don't confuse Chinese crap with Taiwanese-made merchandise, they're worlds apart).

I have cleared some thick bush with this knife and have had no issues. It's a great chopper with a nice weight to it. Easily cuts through saplings and branches. I used to have a Gerber machete and it barely lasted a week before the blade was bent and wavy. This knife will definitely last and it takes a beating. The only nick I have in the blade is when I hit a shovel with it by accident. It actually took a bigger chunk out of the shovel. LOL. No complaints here. On year 2 of owning this great knife. My wife just bought herself one too.

Ich war während der Bestellung skeptisch, ob die Qualität gut ist und ob ich mich auf die durchweg guten Rezessionen verlassen kann. Gerne bin ich auch jemand der bereit ist für gute Produkte mehr Geld auszugeben. In diesem Fall kann ich mit Begeisterung diesen Artikel uneingeschränkt empfehlen.

Siendo una mezcla de machete y hacha tiene un montón de aplicaciones, por ser una herramienta que parte y corta por geometría no viene muy afilada y en realidad no lo necesita, siendo un fanático de los filos, le di una pasada con mi lima bastarda para mejorar los biseles y una vez que la deje en 22 grados le hice un micro bisel que afile con pasta de micro diamante y posteriormente me fui a mis piedras hasta terminar con mi mollejón azul, ahora corta y rasura a la vez, es una hermosa herramienta de KA-BAR con un terminado precioso que bien cuidado te va durar años, he cortado arboles mas o menos gruesos, los troncos los parte de un golpe, te ayuda a despejar ramas espinosas en el bosque, en fin es muy buena compra, a mi me ha servido mucho por eso la recomiendo ampliamente.

Más que un cuchillo grande, es un machete. El peso sorprende un poco pero no es difícil acostumbrarse. El filo no es muy agudo, pero se puede mejorar. La empuñadura tiene un excelente agarre y la funda está muy bien diseñada. Gran producto de Ka Bar.

Came sharp, but I gave it a bit more of an edge. Feals sturdy, heavy as I expected. With very little effort I was able to cleanly cut through a 2" branch. Impressive bit of steel. Edge held up nicely as well. Highly Recommended. EDIT: Went camping in Algonquin and this thing was the perfect tool. Even the black finish has held up to the abuse we put it through. Found some dead trees and dragged them back to the site to get cut up. This thing effortlessly cut the branches off in very few strokes and (with the help of a small hand saw) split the logs like any hatchet. No damage to the steel and the paint is only stained from the sap. Want a working knife? Get this one. Slightly more expensive now than when I bought it.