Cold Steel Kukri 13″ Machete

To start this review, I will talk about statistics. The blade is 13 inches, shorter than the magnum kukri which is 17″. The blade is 1055 medium carbon steel just like every other Cold Steel machete which is an ok choice for the application. Handles are made out of polypropylene on this model and all other models. Blade thickness is 2.75, and has a weight of 1 pound or 16. oz. The combination of the 13 inch blade and 2.75 millimeter thickness provides for a good hacking/chopping tool.

The 1055 medium carbon steel blade is a tough,and pliable steel that can be bent and go back to its original form. The issue that I have experienced with several other Cold Steel machetes is that you have to re-profile the edge and sharpen it because the factory edge on Cold Steel machetes is poor even for a machete which is not supposed to come sharp. The edge folds often if you have a very sharp hone but stays good if it just has a good utility edge which is in between dull and razor sharp. The black anti-rust coating stays on very well and if it comes off the blade WILL rust, it is not a stainless steel blade.

The polypropylene handle scales are very grippy and have medium quality. They are soft which means they can be torn/sliced off easily. They can and will come off if a lot of shock is applied to the machete. Now for effectiveness, I believe that this machete is not a good utility blade. It is simply not shaped right to do good chopping against hard objects like wood, however this blade would make an excellent combat machete as it is correctly shaped to stab and is thin to cut through flesh with ease. The handle is very well designed for the blade shape and follows traditional design. It is checkered and very grippy.The price is around $20.This is a high value blade which comes with a nylon/cordura sheath and is recommended. Overall likability 8 out of 10.