Buy here:
Cold Steel San Mai Gurkha Kukri (one tested and shown here):
Basic CS Kukri O1 steel:
Mind blowing chopping performance from a knife. That’s the Cold Steel Gurkha Kukri. Born in design from the traditional Nepalese Kukri design, the CS Kukri is updated with proven modern materials and design: SK-5 (Japanese 1080) high carbon steel, longer and flared Kraton grip (love it, absorbs shock well), full flat grinding (love it, preferred), a tip capable of pierce cutting, and an outstanding lightweight Secure-Ex plastic sheath. This sheath carries the Kukri securely, is quick attachable, has a metal snap retention strap (not cheesy Velcro), and won’t retain water (critical for real multi-day adventures). Blade execution aside, It gives substantial advantage to this Cold Steel version. Unlike most traditional Kukri offerings, the quality is known, documented, and backed up by a USA factory warranty. This design dominated my cutting tests, even when pitted against other favored and proven large blades (Ontario RTAK II, Junglas). The weight forward, curved, FFG blade blasts through wood, minimizing work and calorie expenditures (be careful in cutting, it will remove your arm). While it is a heavy 31 ounces, the 5/16″ inch thick Gurkha Kukri fulfills the wilderness role with results that demand respect (batoning performance was not evaluated here). The steel showed outstanding edge retention and toughness in testing and this Kukri has a precise razor sharp geometry (unlike some native designs). The blade curvature accelerates cutting, especially when the knife is slammed home on the sweet spot. As proven in history, the Kukfi also makes an outstanding combat blade as well, easily capable of lopping of heads or arms (history proven). The thick, strong spine can deliver bone-braking non-lethal impacts as well. The only meaningful downsides would be the cost (around $170 for the SK-5 version, 2010 prices), higher difficulty in sharpening the large continuously curved blade (anyone whos says it’s just as easy is wrong), and its high propensity to rust in the uncoated version (good looking but impossible to keep rust free). I recommend buying the SK-5 version, DuraCoating it for rust resistance and saving hundreds of dollars over the stainless Kukri San Mai III verson (excellent but outrageously expensive). Additional to the wilderness and combat roles, the Gurkha is just a cool knife to add to a collection and gives great collecting pleasure. But for real wilderness adventures (not just backyard forum demos), this is the Kukri that will come me along for the trek. It’s an intimidating “woods battle axe,” in knife form. ////////////////////////// Nutnfancy Likablity Scale: 10 out of 10 ///////////////// Music licensed from: www.danosongs.com ///////////// Many are passionate and maybe even myopic on their Kukri choices. They wish to prove their knife choice/cutting/sharpening technique is the right one and that all others are foolish… as are their advocates. This seems prevailent in the “Kukri” fan club at times. These attitudes are not welcome in TNP, save it for your forum. Please be civil, be respectful of the work here, and avoid eltism on your choices as you discuss your blades. Otherwise I will shut down the comments.
