heavy work with kurkri/machete

C

Conajohara

Joined
Dec 15, 2000
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Had an opportunity to do some heavy work and at the same time do a comparison test between a kurkri (17 in.) and the U.S. Army machete.
The kurkri outperformed the machete by far. I thought that the 18 in. blade on the machete would have been a big help at the work I was doing (cutting trails on a 10 acre parcel of bush through heavy briar thickets and scrub trees). The machete just didn't have the weight to cut through the tough, woody growth and would hang up regularly. The kurkri with its shorter, heavier blade seemed to really tear through the briars. The smooth wood handle didn't give me any trouble even after hours of work, which was not the case with the machete rough plastic handle.
I'm even more convinced now that a kurkri is much more useful for worldwide survival than a machete, as you would use it to cut light brush, heavy grass and chop and split thick wood. The wide, flat blade digs holes well, too. I've trained in arctic regions, deserts and jungle areas and I really feel that the kurkri would be the superior tool and a far superior weapon. It would be very useful for soldiers operating in countries where the machete is commonly carried, like Central America, Africa and most parts of Asia.
I believe it would give the U.S. soldier a great advantage in any hand to hand combat and would be a outstanding utility tool for clearing fields of fire, fighting position construction etc.
Any of you guys have any thoughts of military applications for kurkris?
 
The khukuri is an excellent versatile tool, that is very good for woody brush. But, don't write off the machete too quickly. Machetes are fantastic on green vegetation. The Ontario Army style machetes are so-so at best. Try getting a lighter machete like some of the ones made by Corneta. These have fairly stiff 1/16" blades that cut really well and weigh practically nothing.

n2s
 
Don't get me wrong, I like machetes, they are very useful. I used them a lot in AK. My only problem was binding and durability. I've used the U.S. army version in 18 and 12 in. and the Martindale Golok, which is a better machete. I was just thinking, for a world wide use you really need the ability to chop heavier stuff. But you're right, you really can't beat a machete on soft, herbaceous growth.
 
I carried my 19" Chitlangi with me when I went to the field while at Fort Lewis. As a mortarman, we were supposed to have several machetes anyway, so my sergeants let me bring my kuk.

Wednesday, I spent more than four hours clearing light brush, bushes, and small trees, using my Chitlangi (other choices would have been my M43, my large GRS, or my
16.5" WWII). I chose the Chitlangi over the WWII because there was so much light brush, with only the occasional tree up to 6" in diameter.
The Chitlangi worked well for the application, though I did find myself with one deep splinter, two blisters, one hornet and two wasp stings. :rolleyes:
Man...didn't actually know I could teleport until that hornet hit my hand!

John
 
Spectre I know what you're talking about! I was a gun bunny and it seemed every position we would occupy would be waist-deep in brush and weeds, which we would have to painfully clear out. The worst problem was putting out the aiming poles at 50 and 100 meters, as you could never get a clear line of sight without cutting a lane all the way out to the far aiming pole. I always favored the kurkri but my gunner favored a machete. You really have to be careful when clearing a position underneath the net, my gunner almost hit my number one man in the face accidentally while cutting deep grass - the incident almost resulted in a fist fight because both men were so upset and scared by it! My number one man said the machete blade went by his face in a blur, making a hissing noise.
 
I agree the 16.5" WW2 is a marvelously balanced device for any number of purposes.

But I really don't understand why there has to be a single winner and everything else a loser from climes of permafrost to forest to jungle to grasslands. Granted, the WW2 would be my all around do everything choice and probably perform adequately wherever. But if I had a truck based bug out kit it would have an axe, a machete, and a shovel in it. Plus some other knives, folding and otherwise.

Why can't a golok or other knife be a better choice in a different area?

Rifle, Pistol, and Shotgun all have a purpose and a place.
 
rusty you are perfectily right,its best to use the right tool for the job at hand!(as all my maimed screwdrivers would tell you!)I was thinking along the lines that troopes can only carry so much stuff that they need as much bang for buck as poss!
 
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