BK9 vs. Imacasa Machete vs. Cold Steel Kukri (Photo Heavy)

[willworship]

Today (nearly February) was a beautiful day in Kansas, right around 70 degrees and sunny--a perfect day to be outside and playing with knives! I decided to battle it out with my three chopping blades, to see which one would come out on top. (I also did another versus battle including the BK2, which I'll post later...). The wood I was using was well-seasoned oak from my yard. This stuff is REALLY hard (as the results will probably indicate).

Here are the contestants: an Imacasa 18" Pata de Cuche Machete, a Cold Steel 13" Kukri Machete, and the BK9 (Camillus era). The Imacasa has more or less the factory edge, and I have convexed both the kukri and the BK9.

First test: bite. I wanted to see how deep each blade penetrated with one good swing.

Here's how the Imacasa fared:

and the CS Kukri:

and the BK9:

I was really surprised at how poorly the Kukri did in this one. I even tried it a few times to see if it was a fluke. The other swings produced the same result. The BK9 was the winner here by a little bit.


The next test was straight-up chopping. I basically just chopped on one side of the same branch until I got all the way through with each knife, and I counted the strikes.

The Imacasa - 100 strikes

The Kukri - 75 strikes

The BK9 - 76 strikes

I was really surprised by the result of this one, as well. I had used each of these individually to chop (the BK9 more than the rest), and I thought that the others would do better, but I was mistaken. The wood was the reason the BK9 had struggled in the past. Seasoned oak is just that hard. I would even argue that the BK9 suffered some from being my first victim, because it took me a few swings to get into a good rhythm.

The BK9 is every bit as good as my kukri, and better than a machete that is twice it's length. I am really impressed with my 9, folks. My choice for the win: the Becker BK9. The thing is a beast, and is much more effective at batoning because of the blade thickness and shape (which was not part of this test). Also, I must say - convex edges dominate in chopping.


Hope this is helpful for you, because it definitely gave me some more data to go from when I'm packing my bags to go out in the woods.

 

[Silverthorn]

I have the CS LTC kuk which is the same shape as the Kuk Machete but thicker. I think it would perform better than the Machete version but for a 9 inch blade the 9 is sick

 

[7rip13a]

A good review, thanks for sharing Will. However, I gotta ask: how sharp is the factory edge on the Imacasa? Perhaps a convex edge on it would have given you a better result.

 

[instructed2]

I would be curios to see a shoot out between the KA-BAR kukri machete and that CS kukri.

 

[willworship]

A good review, thanks for sharing Will. However, I gotta ask: how sharp is the factory edge on the Imacasa? Perhaps a convex edge on it would have given you a better result.

I definitely think that would be the case. It was good enough for chopping (touched up with a file), but it wasn't close to a convex. That's why I thought it should pointed it out in the comparison.

 

[willworship]

I would be curios to see a shoot out between the KA-BAR kukri machete and that CS kukri.

I think the KA-BAR would destroy the CS, just from sheer mass alone. Especially if the KA-BAR were convexed, I don't think it would be close.

 

[NixKustoms]

we need to know; is the 9 convexed?

 

[Moosez45]

I am surprised.

Surprised that BK9 wasn't over in the corner roughin' up the other competitor's while you weren't lookin'.

I prefer Tramontina in my machete's, but Imacasa makes a good one.

I've never liked the CS Kukri 'chete. Just, doesn't work for me.

Winner, BK9.

Moose

 

[Quick Steel]

Believe this is related. The current Blade has an interesting article on the choppers used by ICE (Immigration & Customs Enforcement.) Many man hours spent regularly chopping out marijuana plants. Their favorites are the CS Latin Machete and the ESEE Lite Machete.

 

[willworship]

Just for kicks, I'll throw this into the mix for comparison's sake: my 15" Trailblazer Sawvivor.

In 51 easy strokes, this branch was history, and it took less than half the time of chopping. That, plus the fact that it weighs hardly anything, makes it an enticing choice for wood processing needs.

 

[Bladite]

i like me saws. been thinking of a silky bigboy...

 

[Flexxx]

Need to throw the Junglas in the mix....

IMO a good machete will out chop the BK9 and Junglas.

but there not as cool for sure

 

[Moosez45]

Need to throw the Junglas in the mix....

IMO a good machete will out chop the BK9 and Junglas.

but there not as cool for sure

My Tramontina is pretty cool.

My mom says so.

Moose

 

[willworship]

we need to know; is the 9 convexed?

Definitely. I wouldn't have it any other way. I don't think I would ever go back to a beveled edge for a woods knife (Scandi grinds are also pretty sweet for bushcrafting). On my folders, I don't really care, but I pretty much convex all my larger knives now.

 

[willworship]

Believe this is related. The current Blade has an interesting article on the choppers used by ICE (Immigration & Customs Enforcement.) Many man hours spent regularly chopping out marijuana plants. Their favorites are the CS Latin Machete and the ESEE Lite Machete.

I have seen machetes do some pretty amazing things. Down south (S. America), they use them for EVERYTHING. I've seen them used for hammering, for opening Brazil nuts, tree limb removal, and everything else you could use a tool for. I don't doubt this at all. I think if I spend a little more time on the edge, it will hold its own.

However, the results of the BK9 were still pretty amazing for a 9" blade.

 

[Silverthorn]

Moose I will bring my LTC to the gathering and we can see if you like it better than the KukChete
Its the same blade profile but sabre ground and much thicker blade.
I am really digging it so far, but i think my "new" Camillus BK-9 full convex might just make me cry.

 

[willworship]

I am surprised.

Surprised that BK9 wasn't over in the corner roughin' up the other competitor's while you weren't lookin'.

I prefer Tramontina in my machete's, but Imacasa makes a good one.

I've never liked the CS Kukri 'chete. Just, doesn't work for me.

Winner, BK9.

Moose

I loved my Tramontina before it got jacked from my garage. Talk about high-value! I think the Imacasa would do much better in the mix with a convexed edge. It's definitely easy to get a good swing with, it just doesn't bite very well yet. I am going to take it to the belt sander this week and see what I can do with it.

As far as the CS, I love the handle on the thing, but I'm not overly impressed with the performance of the blade, even with a convex edge. From a leverage standpoint, the extra 4" on the blade should give it an edge for chopping, but I think it's too thin.

The BK9 is a beast, regardless of the competition. I am really impressed by what I saw today.

 

[Moosez45]

Moose I will bring my LTC to the gathering and we can see if you like it better than the KukChete
Its the same blade profile but sabre ground and much thicker blade.
I am really digging it so far, but i think my "new" Camillus BK-9 full convex might just make me cry.

Cool, I look forward to checking it out.

Moose

 

[willworship]

Need to throw the Junglas in the mix....

IMO a good machete will out chop the BK9 and Junglas.

but there not as cool for sure

I would love to, if I had the funds to acquire one!

I think a machete with a convex edge would do much better, but by how much? The space the BK9 or Junglas take up is much less than a large machete, and the weight is probably about even. I guess it depends what your load-out needs are. If space is an issue, I wouldn't think twice about taking my BK9 after how it performed today.

 

[Hunter Sharp]

I have all three but I can't keep them in the same room because my bk9 will piss all over the others! I guess it's a dominance thing.