Ontario Cutlery Kukri and other big blades

This post is about my new Ontario Cutlery Kukri. This is one massive blade! Its 1/4" thick solid 1095 high carbon steel. The other two blades pictured here are high carbon steel. I love it. High carbon is easy to sharpen, holds an edge and is the perfect steel for a survival knife. Stainless steel has its place in survival blades but I prefer it for smaller blades like folders and smaller fixed blades. My only complaint is the sheath Ontario put this fine knife in. It is very flimsy, has a lousy fit and poor retention. I will be making an all leather sheath for this knife. It deserves it. 

As for cutting abilities, it cut through a 4" seasoned log of incense cedar in less than a minute. The edge is still shaving sharp. I had no problem controlling the knife and the handle is comfortable. At first I was concerned about the handle being a touch smaller than the KA-BAR Kukri's but its not really a big deal. A light stropping with my red rouge treated leather strop brought back the edge to its original sharpness. This probably wasn't necessary but its a force of habit with me. I touch up all my blades before I put them away.

  I purchased this knife from Chestnut Ridge Knife Shop. They're in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, close to my home town of Connellsville. I searched the net and they offered the best price: $51.99 plus $7. for shipping. I ordered mine Monday morning and it arrived Thursday in central California! Thats pretty good service! I've heard nothing but good stuff about these folks. 

I was kind of skeptical about this knife when I first researched this knife. I read a post in one of the forums that the only stamping on the blade was "KUKRI Made in USA". Later I discovered that these were made for one of the big retailers like Brigade Quartermaster or some such and didn't have the Ontario stamp put on them. Another oddity is the fact that they aren't listed on the official Ontario Knife Company website catalog. If I hadn't purchased it from a reliable source, I would still be skeptical about its pedigree. Ontario has been making very good quality knives since 1889 and this blade reflcts the high quality they're famous for. 

I read where some folks were complaining about edge symmetry being off, meaning one side of the edge was ground different from the other side. This can cause some weird chopping anomalies but wouldn't really affect general cutting. The grinding on mine is perfect, both sides being even and true. I imagine it all depends on who is doing the final grinds and maybe its the new guys turn at the bench and he hasn't got it down quite yet.

As I said, my only complaint about the knife is the sheath. Its lousy fit and the belt loop. I will put a suspended loop on my sheath like the KA-BAR when I make it. I'll be sure to post a photo of it.

This first photo shows a comparison of three different big blades. Top is the KA-BAR Kukri, 17" OAL, second is the KA-BAR BK&T 9, 14 3/4" OAL and third is the Ontario Kukri, 16 7/8" OAL. Blade lengths: KA-BAR Kuk-11 1/2", BK9-9 1/4", Ontario Kuk-11 /5/8".

 This photo shows a full view of the Ontario Kukri.

This next photo shows the only markings on the Ontario Kukri.

 This next photo shows the back side of the Ontario Kukri and the KA-BAR Kukri in their sheaths.

Heres a shot of them from the front.

This next photo shows the lousy fit of the Ontario sheath.