CS vs Kabar Khukuri Machete

udtjim

udtjim

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Sep 4, 2007
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Putting CS president aside, who has used both of thes choppers and whats your opinion? The CS is one inch longer and half the price but how do they work?
 
If you are talking about the cs cheap machete then the ka-bar is the winner but if you are talking about the cs gurk or even the ltc the ka-bar doesn't even come close.
 
I have both. The Kabar simply blows the CS kukri away. They are not even in the same class. The CS is light and won't take a decent edge. The Kabar is heavier and the steel takes a great edge and holds it all day chopping brush. It held its own against a Busse Battle Mistress cutting brush.
 
For brush and undergrowth I would rather swing the cold steel kukuri machete. I've enjoyed mine it was a hell of tool for a 12- 14" blade, but now favor the Tramontina bolo. Only handled the kabar at a gun and knife show and would probably prefer this blade for heavier chopping of hard woods and having the versatilty of being used for knife duties.
 
The CS and the Kabar are in two different classes. I wouldn’t say that one is better than the other. I think that a better description is to say that they were designed with different tasks in mind. The CS is a true machete. It is best suited for light chopping and brush and undergrowth work. The Kabar is less of a machete and more of a hybrid, an in-between a machete and a real Kukri. It chops better because of its greater weight and thicker profile, but it is not as good for grass or undergrowth.
 
I do not want to offend anyone with my opinion of the CS kukri. I want to qualify my statement with "in my humble opinion".
 
I really like the ka-bar, never tried the cold steel.
The ka-bar surprises me with how well it chops every time I use it, I wonder if the HI ones are that much better.
 
Again if you are talking about the Machete's the Kabar takes it. If your talking about the Ghurka Khukri or the LTC I have found favor in the CS especially the thick Ghurka.
 
Quality; there is not a really big difference, as name brands are generally going to be pretty good because they are in competition.
Blade shape is the real question here.

The reasons for a khukuri's shape have a lot to do with it's weight. Take away the weight, and you start to experience the downsides of the khukuri shape, namely serious throwback from glancing blows. The weight is necessary to drive the lowered belly of the blade into whatever. Without the weight, leverage caused by this dropped blade easily twists the knife in your hand, with potentially injurious results.

I don't think the khukuri shape lends itself well to longer blades of thinner, lighter stock. The Cold Steel part of this conversation should include the point that they are a marketing driven company who caters at their low end to people who don't know better. Some of these designs look cool but may not function all that well due to the design, if not the level of quality.

There is a reason that machete's tips are inline with their handles for the most part, and that is control, which you need more and more of with each added inch of blade length. Especially when dealing with a very flexible and light blade.

The best design for a machete in most parts of north america is the bolo. A latin shape is best suited for tropical regions with extremely large leafy plants where reach is a real benefit and the hook at the end can be used to move stuff out of the way.

You should chose the length of blade considering your height. For example, I'm about 5',3" and my ideal machete length is about the shortest; 18". My brother in law is about 6', 6" and he has no problem swinging around a 24" machete. Physics is part of the customization process when it comes to choosing a tool like a machete. Bigger is not necessarily going to function better for you.
 
Very good points. Thats a big help. I think that a pretty heavy 12-15 inch would suit me best.
 
I have used the KABAR Kukri quite a bit for the last month. Unreal! it "snicks" thru limbs, chops very well, holds an edge all day and has a very comfortable handle.

a 10 for performance, a 10 for price
 
If what you are looking for is a good chopper, the Kabar Kukri Machete will serve you well. I prefer it over the CS for light to medium chopping. For medium to heavy chopping, you want a harchet or a HI Kukri. I have the Foxy Folly and I love it, but for really heavy chopping you want a dedicated chopper like an Ang Khola or a WWII model.

Keep in mind that with Kukris, shape is only half the equation. You need to know how to use it to its fullest potential. You do that by flipping your wrist forward just before impact. Getting the timing right takes practice, but isn't dificult. That maximized the Kukri's momentum while changing the angle of impact. This combination creates the "shearring" effect that make Kukris so effective. Whitout that angle change you are just using an above average chopping tool.
 
I make walking stickss so most of my use for it will be chopping small branches of the main stick and getting them ready to strip off the bark. I spend a lot of time in the woods/shelter belts looking for nice sticks. I am also looking forward to some winter camping.
 
you'll enjoy peeling the bark off with that recurved edge!
 
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