Ergonomic Kukri recommendation

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dorpmuller

Joined
Oct 25, 2010
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I'm looking to get a chopper for doing yardwork. I'll probably be chopping branches up to 2-3" in diameter, and I can't use a hand pruner comfortably any more to cut small branches.

I have carpal tunnel syndrome and bad tennis elbow in the strong hand-squeezing hurts! I figure chopping would be much more fun and easier on everything, impact aside. I'm fit except for this.

I've done a bunch of reading here and checking reviews. I need something that is longer and heavy weighted in the cutting area so at least some of the job gets done by inertia, and of course a comfortable handle.

So far I'm set on the Ontario kukri or the Kabar. (Love my Kabars!) HI too expensive-I'm wanting to keep it ~$75.00. (poor income) Please, customs/exotics are out... this is gonna be a user.

I love the looks of the Machax but I have a feeling it'd be too short for me, and God knows when it'll come out. I don't need vaporware.

Can you recommend anything? Or stick to Ontario/Kabar? I'd settle for used either-cheaper the better!

Thanks,

Rich
 
Kabar is an excellent choice. If you want a more traditional kuhkri you may want to check out kuhkri house. I think you can find something in your price range. They have a U.S. distributor based in Texas and that would help out with shipping cost.
 
This isn’t the neighborhood to diss knives. :eek:

But with carpal tunnel and tennis elbow, you might consider a lopper. Those long handles give you plenty of leverage, with little stress on your joints. They're easy on the wallet as well.
 
Raymond1000 said:
This isn’t the neighborhood to diss knives. :eek:

But with carpal tunnel and tennis elbow, you might consider a lopper. Those long handles give you plenty of leverage, with little stress on your joints. They're easy on the wallet as well.
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Been there, done that... getting the jaws with long handles placed right is like playing a video game, and not fun!
 
I'd go traditional. I believe (I may be wrong on this one), that the flared handle of a traditional kukri is designed specifically to be used with a looser grip. Might be just what you are looking for.
 
dorpmuller said:
HI too expensive-I'm wanting to keep it ~$75.00. (poor income) Please, customs/exotics are out... this is gonna be a user.
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If you're patient, you can find a "blemished" HI for ~ $40-$60 plus shipping on the HI subforum.

Just sayin'. I'd take a handmade HI kukri over a production model any day. My ASTK from HI is a very hard use blade, and despite their looks, the handle of a traditional kukri is very comfortable in the hand. and does not require a tight grip at all.
 
I love HI but they are not the solution in every case.

CS makes a couple inexpensive machetes w/ the kukri shape, though they are thinner than a traditional kukri. I think they have a 2-hander as well that might work well for you.

Also try the woodman's pal, which also gives you a hook to use on the occasional root.

And how about a survival saw, these are basically like a length of chain (like a chain saw), the ends are often nylon loops vs: handles. These might be a great way to bypass wrist pain though they are really for larger stuff vs: brush. A combination of one of these and a machete can probably take care of anything your yard throws at you and the damage would probably be far under $50.

Hope things improve for you on both the health and financial front.
 
You might want to look at Cold Steel magnum Khukri machete. Cheap, with a forward balance. The handle may need a grip tape wrap for you to be comfortable. Add a lanyard, and a set of work gloves and give her a go. You would still be below your price range, even if you bought a new set of work gloves!


I have one, and it does the yard trimming very well. It is easy to generate enough tip speed for light brush chopping as well.

As a bonus, you don't care if you bang rocks with it!

Either the large or small would work, but I have the large for the extra length.
 
Stay away from the current Condor Kukri. I've seen a lot of them snap because the kaudi is too deep. The Heavy Duty that is slated for later this year would do better. I would actually prefer the Ontario to the Ka-Bar. I like the more aggressive bend and it holds very well.
 
Knifeclerk said:
Stay away from the current Condor Kukri. I've seen a lot of them snap because the kaudi is too deep. The Heavy Duty that is slated for later this year would do better. I would actually prefer the Ontario to the Ka-Bar. I like the more aggressive bend and it holds very well.
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As far as I've been able to see it hasn't been a problem of depth. Many other Condor models like the Viking (which I've used and abused for years--and it's stainless, no less!) are thinner at the base of the blade than the Kukri Machete is. The ones I've seen have been the result of bad heat treatment, and they naturally broke at their narrowest spot. They had a couple bad runs of them a year or two ago. Haven't seen any recent problems, though please correct me if I'm wrong. :)
 
The cheap cold steel ones, the grip sucks so you'd have to wrap it with hockey tape of something, but they're cheap, easily sharpened, and bite deep.
 
to be honest out of my KLO's, my Condor is the most ergonomic and best performance. I have arthritis so I understand about feeling shock in the shoulder, elbow and wrist. As far as machetes go, KLO's aren't a bad option, though allaround something with a hickory handle like a 20 inch Wetterlings axe or a Council Tool Brush Axe is going to soak up alot more shock than a full tang machete.
PS, a year and a half of ABUSE on the Condor Khukri and no sign of any structural damage.
 
Bigfattyt said:
You might want to look at Cold Steel magnum Khukri machete.
Either the large or small would work, but I have the large for the extra length.
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Beat me to it.The CS kukri machetes are great and cheap. I've got 13 acres to tend to and when I'm clearing brush,limbing trees,etc., I turn to one of my CS machetes.The Kukri's are good,I also like my bolo and panga machetes.Really can't go wrong with the CS machete line.I like Kuks as a woods carry knife but when I know I'm going to be out all day working the property a machete is the way to go.
 
Easyjack said:
The cheap cold steel ones, the grip sucks so you'd have to wrap it with hockey tape of something, but they're cheap, easily sharpened, and bite deep.
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The grip is fine--the texturing is just over-aggressive. Give it a quick 5-minute rub with some 400 grit sandpaper and you'll be golden. I had to do the same with my 2-handed panga, actually. The textured grip was causing blisters until I buffed it a little.

For those not in the know, Cold Steel contracts all of their machetes through Lasher Tools of South Africa. The factory edges absolutely BLOW and are often overheated from the rough grinding, which is why I sharpen mine in-house. I wouldn't feel comfortable selling a stock one to someone unless I knew that they knew how to refurbish the edge properly. For those without the knowhow (and granted, it's not rocket science, but still...) it can be a frustrating experience. For those who DO know how, I just save them the time.
 
i'd probably suggest something like a small two hand axe, or even electric saw thingy...

khuks work best with snap cuts... not unlike cracking a whip, and with CT and TE, that would aggravate them something fierce. if throwing a frisbee or swinging an actual tennis racquet bothers you, putting a heavy knife at the end of your arm might be iffy.

course, i would also say that i fixed my tennis elbow - had it 9 months. solution? figure out what was causing it, and stop. then build up the muscles, and be aware of the bad action. same for the wrists. a lifetime of typing, but no CT from that, but definitely got it from gymnastics. too much stress.
 
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