If I hear the name Ka-Bar I think of the tried and true fighting knife that’s standard equipment for U.S. Marines. It isn’t fancy, but most Marines can’t break it. Ka-Bar does branch out into other parts of the knife industry from time to time, and the 17″ (overall) Black Kukri is one of the company’s efforts to exploit markets beyond the Marine Corps.
This isn’t the classic Gurkha knife (which still is standard military equipment for soldiers in India). It’s been redesigned for the American market. Part of me likes that, and part of me doesn’t. The blade is lighter than the traditional kukri, which does make it more sensible if you intend to do some long distance trail hiking. But if you are an ultralight hiker, you aren’t going to pick this mini-machete as a companion. Well, I might, but most backpackers wouldn’t. Hikers argue about ounces, and whether it make sense to carry them: I would say that when a knife is concerned, ounces are justified.
This knife was designed with the weight forward. If you look at the design of the blade, leaf pointed and hooked, it’s obviously made for chopping and slashing. That’s useful for outdoorsmen who might need to clear a campsite or cut a trail. In Colonial India this knife was used for that purpose as much as for combat. Dropping the weight from the blade makes it less efficient for chopping brush, but easier to carry. In our modern times, when we visit the wilderness rather than conquer it, that makes good sense.
The blade is made of black anodized 1085 Carbon steel. In spite of constant market pressure to go with something cheaper, Ka-Bar still managed to provide quality materials on this one.
Find this Ka-Bar Kukri:
