Okay... Ontario Kukri or Tops .230... Which is more suited to clearing brush?

[bored2deth]

Heya peoples,

Sooooo... Here we go.. As part of my work I sometimes have to clear brush (and trees) from people's property. I often use a good double-bit axe for the trees (I enjoy the workout, the callouses, and simply swinging an axe). For the brush, I've often used a Coldsteel Latin (mid-size) machete, although it's effective...it's handle is too small for my larger hands and tends to wriggle around. It's annoying. Now, both the Ontario Kukri and the Tops .230 are both 1095 carbon, both over .200 thick, both have nice fat handles. The differences that bother me are in blade length, and the tang.

Now, on one hand...I like the blade length on the kukri, as well as the forward weight. On the .230 I like the full tang and the sheath. I've gotten a good clear look at the kukri's tang and it's narrow. A narrow tang with a big fat blade...makes me wonder how durable it would prove, how it would hold up over time. It's tang is as thick as the blade, and seems to be about a two thirds.

So far as I can tell, the .230 would be more applicable for brush, but the kukri can get into tighter spots.

 

[Snakebreaker]

The tang on the Ontario is plenty beefy. I've got one, seen them with the handle off as well. I'm very hard on all my blades and with all the chopping and beating I've done with the Ontario kukri, I can tell you that the tang won't fail. Ontario also uses a very good heat treat. The Ontario kukri is a very durable blade. It's a shame you don't hear too much about their kukri.

 

[Joshua J.]

I'd take the .230 over the Kukri. That said, if there's work to be done I use a good pole saw. No knife will ever come close to being as fast, effective or efficient.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

.230 hands down. No contest.

 

[bored2deth]

The tang on the Ontario is plenty beefy. I've got one, seen them with the handle off as well. I'm very hard on all my blades and with all the chopping and beating I've done with the Ontario kukri, I can tell you that the tang won't fail. Ontario also uses a very good heat treat. The Ontario kukri is a very durable blade. It's a shame you don't hear too much about their kukri.

Good price too . I like the kukri, it's a great piece of steel.

 

[bored2deth]

I'd take the .230 over the Kukri. That said, if there's work to be done I use a good pole saw. No knife will ever come close to being as fast, effective or efficient.

I've never used a pole saw before, but I've used machetes since I was a child. I had an interesting childhood lol.

 

[bored2deth]

Hehehe....I guess I could always make up an excuse to go to Tenn. and head over to SMKW and have a look see. Worst problem about clearing brush....SNAKES!

 

[farmer ted]

...Now, both the Ontario Kukri and the Tops .230 are both 1095 carbon, both over .200 thick, both have nice fat handles.

Looking at their site, the Tops .230 is 1/8" thick 1095, .230 is a reference to the OAL.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Yup--the TOPS is a massively reworked Ontario 18" blank, and is 1/8" in thickness. Honestly, for general brush clearing you don't want to go over that for a machete. I generally like 2.2mm myself.

 

[TwinStick]

Tops.230 hands down. I also have the Ontario Kukri (KLO to some). It is 1/4" thick & great for batoning. The one time i brought it for brush, my arm was sore in about 3 hrs & worse the next day, but i am 50 now. Thin & light is the way to go for brush. Also have a 12" & 18" ntario machete.