KukriBlades.com - Kukri Knife & Survival Gear Reviews - Part 4

Schrade SCHF10 Review: Extreme Survival Knife
Posted in: Survival Knife Reviews by Michael on January 30, 2014
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If you happen to be searching for a durable, inexpensive survival knife for less then $50 you should definitely take a long look and consider the Schrade SCHF10 Extreme Survival Knife. Schrade knives have won many fans among hunters, campers, backpackers and the survival community. That popularity is well deserved. As you will see below the quality and construction of the SCHF10 make it an excellent addition to the Schrade range of fixed blades.
Schrade has a very long history of producing high quality yet affordable knives. The company was first formed in 1892 by George Schrade, an inventor from England. Schrade is best known for his first knife design which was the switchblade. In 2004 the company was purchased by Taylor brands LLC who also manufacture Smith & Wesson Knives. They have continued the proud tradition of making first class survival knives under the Schrade brand name. Can the SCHF10 provide high performance, quality build materials and reliability for under $50? You bet! Continue reading our comprehensive review to learn why. Continue reading this post ➜
Woodman’s Pal Review (Model 481)
Posted in: Machete Reviews, Survival Knife Reviews by Michael on January 19, 2014
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Please take a moment to examine the Classic Woodman’s Pal. Part knife, part machete and part sickle. It’s a tool that’s held American interest for over four decades. Designed and manufactured in the USA by the master knife craftsmen at Pro Tool Industries, the Woodman’s Pal is unique in its ability to serve a wide variety of purposes. The question is can it serve them well enough to measure up with tools that have a dedicated purpose? Take a moment to read this review of the Woodman’s Pal 481 and get our honest opinion on this large, oddly shaped classic.
First things first. Straight out of the box this tool is certainly an attention getter. The unique curve at the tip of the blade which is intended to make it useful for everything from cutting through foliage, to chopping firewood, clearing downed trees and everything in between is a head turner. Continue reading this post ➜
Condor Heavy Duty Kukri Review
Posted in: Kukri Reviews by Michael on January 9, 2014
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The Condor Heavy Duty Kukri was designed by Joe Flowers and produced by Condor Tool & Knife. They have been manufacturing similar products since 1787. In 2004, the company started a new product line which specialized in knifes made specifically for the North American and European outdoors market, and now stock a wide variety of knives, axes, tools, shovels, machetes, and swords. This particular model is intended to be a compact – but heavy – version of a larger-sized Kukri knife and has all the penetration power and heft of a regular Kukri.
Featuring hardwood handle scales, durable leather sheath and a well-constructed 10-inch blade with convex grind, this Kukri knife from Condor is one of the most popular in its price range available on the market today. It is heavy and thick, making it capable of carrying out a number of heavy-duty chopping tasks that similar sized knives simply couldn’t take on. Our review of the Condor Heavy Duty Kukri below will cover all aspects of this budget Kukri and why it’s one of the best bargains on the market. Continue reading this post ➜
SOG SEAL Pup Elite Review (Model E37S-N)
Posted in: Survival Knife Reviews, Tactical Knife Reviews by Michael on December 30, 2013
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Whether your looking for a tactical knife for military use or just a reliable, all purpose knife ideal for backpacking, hiking and camping, the SOG SEAL Pup Elite E37S-N with black coated TiNi (Titanium Nitride) blade is well worthy of consideration.
This knife measures 9.5 inches overall, with the straight edge blade measuring 4.85 inches in length and width of 0.185 inches. It is fairly light weight, largely because of the handle which is made from glass reinforced nylon; SOG say that the weight is 5.4 ounces, but in fact it weighs 5.7 ounces. Nevertheless, it is certainly light enough for backpacking when weight is a major consideration. But don’t let that fool you. The SEAL Pup Elite is as tough as nails, which you would expect from a knife designed for the Navy SEALs. Continue reading this post ➜
Benchmade Bushcrafter Review (Model 162)
Posted in: Survival Knife Reviews by Michael on December 15, 2013
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The Benchmade Bushcrafter 162 is Benchmade’s first foray into the bushcrafting knife niche. Not typically part of the bushcraft genre, Benchmade created a blade with the user in mind. With a sleek full tang design, the Bushcrafter offers a thick blade and ergonomically sound handle with titanium tubing and red spacers that fit smoothly into the tooled leather sheath.
The blade is made of S30V stainless steel and is a high ground, drop point blade with a shiny, polished finish. The G10 handle has been hand-blended and contoured, and its dark green color allows it to blend with the bush. With a sturdy, full tang as well as a 4.4 inch cutting edge, the blade holds up beautifully and is extremely durable. All around, this is a fantastic looking product by Benchmade up for review. Continue reading this post ➜
Ka-Bar Kukri Machete Review (Model 2-1249-9)
Posted in: Kukri Reviews, Machete Reviews by Michael on November 16, 2013
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The Kukri style knife has a rich and romantic history. Designed for warfare, it is the prized possession of every Nepalese Gurkha soldier, past and present. On the other hand, a machete also has an exhilarating history as a weapon of war. It was used in a number of confrontations, from the Rwandan Genocide to the Battle of Havana.
Ka-Bar inventively took the ideas of each of these powerful knives and interweaved them into one. Thus was born the Ka-Bar Kukri Machete (Model 2-1249-9), a knife containing the shape of the Kukri, the ferocity of a machete and the chopping power of an ax. Read on to find out what makes the Ka-Bar Kukri Machete a very competent tool for heavy yard work, clearing bush, chopping and trimming.
Specs, Dimensions and Weight
The overall length (from the end of the handle to the tip of the blade) of this Ka-Bar Kukri Machete is 17 inches. The blade alone is 11.5 inches long and 0.165 inches in thickness with an edge angle measuring in at 20 degrees. It features a full tang design with partial flat grind. The entire tool weighs roughly 1.2 pounds (20 ounces). Continue reading this post ➜
Ka-Bar Becker BK4 Machax Review
Posted in: Machete Reviews, Tactical Knife Reviews by Michael on November 2, 2013
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It was in the early 1980s that Ethan Becker founded his Becker Knife and Tool industry. He always had a fancy for industrial-strength tactical and survival knives for himself and it was this passion that triggered his interest in designing, manufacturing and selling high quality knives and other cutting tools. One of these knives is the Ka-Bar Becker Machax, which is also known simply as the BK4.
Becker’s knives of the BK&T line have grown and evolved a lot over the years and are now especially popular for their high quality design, exceptional build quality and all black construction. The growth of this line of knives is attributed to Mr. Becker himself spending lots of time outdoors using and testing many different types of knife designs and other outdoors equipment.
The Machax is one of his first designs and it was in the year 2008 that he collaborated with Ka-Bar, which gave him an opportunity to once again release the BK4 knife to the masses in response to its lasting popularity. Continue reading this post ➜
TOPS CUMA Tak-Ri 2 Review – Tactical Kukri Knife
Posted in: Kukri Reviews, Tactical Knife Reviews by Michael on October 29, 2013
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The TOPS CUMA Tak-Ri 2 (available @ Amazon) is not your average tactical knife. This is a very unique curved blade based on the iconic Nepalese knife that can be used both as a multi-purpose survival tool and for defensive purposes. It is the Nepalese’s traditional blade, a popular weapon of choice that is carried around by most of the Nepalese serving the various armies around the world. TOPS has put their own twist on the classic Kukri blade shape with the CUMA Tak-Ri 2 and its more Western oriented design.
When you speak of a tactical knife, it usually means a blade size and shape with practical functionality in hand-to-hand combat for both military and law enforcement. All this was definitely kept in Sijo Waysun Johnny Tsai’s mind while designing the CUMA Tak-Ri knife. Sijo Waysun Johnny Tsai is also the world famous CQC expert who created the CUMA Tactical Street Defense program in 2000. Continue reading this post ➜
Ontario Knife Company Kukri Review (Model 6420)
Posted in: Kukri Reviews by Michael on October 26, 2013
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases (affiliate links).
The Ontario Knife Company Kukri (model 6420) being reviewed here is not a traditional Khukuri and should not be judged as such. Rather, it’s a hybrid between the Nepalese Khukuri design and the machete, similar to a U.S. Marine Combat knife. There are a few major differences between traditional Nepalese made blades and the American made OKC model.
The OKC Kukri comes with features such as a Kraton handle, nylon sheath and black blade coating while traditional Khukuris are rarely coated and usually have water buffalo horn or wooden handles with a full leather sheath (usually wood wrapped with leather made from water buffalo hide). Keep reading our review of the Ontario Knife Company Kukri below to learn all about its strengths, weaknesses and other important details that may interest you when shopping for a tough, sharp and reliable Kukri. Continue reading this post ➜
Ka-Bar Combat Kukri Knife Review
Posted in: Kukri Reviews, Tactical Knife Reviews by Michael on October 21, 2013
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases (affiliate links).
This Ka-Bar Combat Kukri is a modernized version of the legendary Gurkha weapon. It offers the best of both worlds: the fierceness of the famed Nepalese fighting knife and the reliability of a no-nonsense survival knife.
Ka-Bar is one of the most reputable US brands and this model in particular is manufactured in Olean, New York. It is smaller than the full-sized Ka-Bar Kukri and Machete, but it could definitely hold its own. If anything, the smaller profile and lighter weight makes it just the right size for combat carry.
Blade Steel
The blade of the Ka-Bar Combat Kukri features a 1095 Cro-van Steel with full tang construction. The material is a strong carbon steel that is easy to sharpen. It is one of Ka-Bar’s top choices in steel, which has an HRC hardness rating of 56 to 58. Continue reading this post ➜