Recommendation? FOMO - I need a huge huge blade!

I need a big blade for chopping, hiking, battoning. Which one would you get?

  • Ontario RTAK II 1095 (~$200)

    Votes: 4 10.3%

  • ESSE Junglass 1095 (~$300)

    Votes: 29 74.4%

  • Cold Steel Gurkha Kukri A2 (~$300+)

    Votes: 6 15.4%
  • Total voters
    39
W

West Šenkovec

Joined
Jan 19, 2013
Messages
48
For a couple years I had an Ontario RTAK II on my ebay watch list but I never pulled the trigger.
A couple days ago I noticed there weren't any on ebay. I panicked and decided to buy one.

I could only find one in the UK for ~$200 shipped but in 1095 steel which got unfavorable reviews due to chipping and warping. Some people got a replacement no questions asked and others never heard back from Ontario. That's too much money for me to baby a work knife and to live in fear to not have any warranty.

The alternative is the ESSE Junglass that has no choil or pocket for a sharpening stone but it has better F&F, handles, kydex sheath and a lifetime warranty. Sadly it's around ~$300.

I love Cold Steel products and I always wanted a Cold Steel Gurkha Kukri. With the recent sell of CS maybe that's my last chance to get one in A2. Price ~$300+

TL; DR: I need a big blade for chopping, hiking, battoning. Which one would you get?

a) Ontario RTAK II 1095 (~$200)

b) ESSE Junglass 1095 (~$300)

c) Cold Steel Gurkha Kukri A2 (~$300+)
 
steelhead seeker said:
If your really worried about warranty then the ESEE is the way to go. The extra money you spend gives you piece of mine.
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I don't plan to intentionally destroy the knife.
The warranty was or is only a consideration because I've read that the RTAK is a hit or miss with the quality control.

It's a bit painful because I saw them under $70 and I have to pay much more here in Europe. Of money was no option I would get the Junglass and the Kukri. That's one wicked blade. I think it would chop better too. The Junglas/RTAK on the other side have a straight edge and they can me used as a machete.

hhmoore said:
Kabar Becker BK9
Click to expand...

Thank you for the suggestion but no thanks lol. I held one years ago and maybe they changed the design but then it was bad IMO. Looks cool, high price, I would need new handles, the sheath was similar to the RTAK one as far I remember but it was sharpened like a pry bar. Probably very durable because it was thicker behind the edge. (What edge? Lmao)
 
Last edited:
I have Warcraft Tanto, it cost me 150€ on a discount, and with another 50€ you can get a nice custom Kydex sheath.

It's CPM-3V steel, it's tougher, more corrosion resistant and more wear resistant than 1095.

It might not be as big as you want tho, but there is an XL model too, bit more expensive but it's just huge.
 
West Šenkovec said:
I love Cold Steel products and I always wanted a Cold Steel Gurkha Kukri. With the recent sell of CS maybe that's my last chance to get one in A2.
Click to expand...
Worth having , IMO , for it's own sake ...as a medium weight kuk , fighting knife . Great knife , lots of fun . :cool::thumbsup::thumbsup:

Can definitely handle some medium wood chopping and trail clearing , also .

Best for your purpose ? That I don't know about . :confused:

I wouldn't baton with mine and would prefer to use my Estwing camp ax and/or a saw for any large amount of wood processing / clearing .

Mine is in O1 steel and probably that's what you'd receive . Works fine !

If you want a kukri for mostly heavy chopping , I'd get something heavier . Probably get more for your money elsewhere now .

I wouldn't count on Cold Steel for warranty service at the present time either . :(
 
EatingSarma said:
I have Warcraft Tanto, it cost me 150€ on a discount, and with another 50€ you can get a nice custom Kydex sheath.

It's CPM-3V steel, it's tougher, more corrosion resistant and more wear resistant than 1095.

It might not be as big as you want tho, but there is an XL model too, bit more expensive but it's just huge.
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:) Great survival knife , very tough steel , and pretty easy to carry in the 7.25" blade model , but kinda short for much wood chopping .

Real hard to find one of the largest ones , ~12" blade . Wanted one , but couldn't find anywhere . :(
 
West Šenkovec said:
For a couple years I had an Ontario RTAK II on my ebay watch list but I never pulled the trigger.
A couple days ago I noticed there weren't any on ebay. I panicked and decided to buy one.

I could only find one in the UK for ~$200 shipped but in 1095 steel which got unfavorable reviews due to chipping and warping. Some people got a replacement no questions asked and others never heard back from Ontario. That's too much money for me to baby a work knife and to live in fear to not have any warranty.

The alternative is the ESSE Junglass that has no choil or pocket for a sharpening stone but it has better F&F, handles, kydex sheath and a lifetime warranty. Sadly it's around ~$300.

I love Cold Steel products and I always wanted a Cold Steel Gurkha Kukri. With the recent sell of CS maybe that's my last chance to get one in A2. Price ~$300+

TL; DR: I need a big blade for chopping, hiking, battoning. Which one would you get?

a) Ontario RTAK II 1095 (~$200)

b) ESSE Junglass 1095 (~$300)

c) Cold Steel Gurkha Kukri A2 (~$300+)
Click to expand...
I have the Esse Junglas and the CS Gurkha Kukri in carbon 5. The kukri is significantly thicker, slightly longer and therefore a little heavier. For some really demented chopping I'd go with the kukri.
 
I voted for the ESEE, but I second the motion for a light axe of some variety followed by a small to medium knife.

Zieg
 
West Šenkovec said:
I don't plan to intentionally destroy the knife.
The warranty was or is only a consideration because I've read that the RTAK is a hit or miss with the quality control
Click to expand...

You made it sound like more than a consideration. And even if you don't plan to "destroy" the knife you sure seemed worried about warranty...

"That's too much money for me to baby a work knife and to live in fear to not have any warranty."
 
ESEE from those listed......or
Hit up the custom knife makers section of the exchange.
DviP9K1.jpg
 
EatingSarma said:
I have Warcraft Tanto, it cost me 150€ on a discount, and with another 50€ you can get a nice custom Kydex sheath.

It's CPM-3V steel, it's tougher, more corrosion resistant and more wear resistant than 1095.

It might not be as big as you want tho, but there is an XL model too, bit more expensive but it's just huge.
Click to expand...

The XL cough my attention when it was announced. It's sold out, more expensive, hollow grind etc.

Larry Turko said:
I have the Esse Junglas and the CS Gurkha Kukri in carbon 5. The kukri is significantly thicker, slightly longer and therefore a little heavier. For some really demented chopping I'd go with the kukri.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input. Maybe I'll get the kukri while I still can and the Junglass down the road. I'm still open for suggestions.

The Zieg said:
I voted for the ESEE, but I second the motion for a light axe of some variety followed by a small to medium knife.

Zieg
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I always have a smaller knife on me. A hatchet is not as practical for me.

steelhead seeker said:
You made it sound like more than a consideration. And even if you don't plan to "destroy" the knife you sure seemed worried about warranty...

"That's too much money for me to baby a work knife and to live in fear to not have any warranty."
Click to expand...

Well considering I'm paying three times the price that was in the US I wouldn't like it to be a safe queen. I don't want to spend money and then not use it because of fear that it might chip during tasks that a much cheaper knife could handle. This isn't a problem with CS because there wasn't a large amount of reports regarding chipping and snapping blades.
 
I'd go for an ESEE or TOPS, I'm not sure if you have looked at all of the TOPS selection of big choppers, I thought I'd mention them in case you haven't seen them. Easy to get hold of in Europe we have their entire range here in the UK, here are some TOPS models I think are in the league of what you're looking for.

TOPS KUMA TAK-RI
TOPS TAHOMA FIELD KNIFE
TOPS TUNDRA TREKKER
TOPS TEX CREEK XL
TOPS ARMAGEDDON

All of the TOPS knives I've ever handled have been robust and good quality heavy users.
 
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