A Kukri for Bushcraft

[oetzi]

Has anyone of you ever used a Kukri instead of an axe or a hatchet?
Where does a utility knife like this has its uses between axe and normal short-bladed knife?

 

[Millbilly]

I own a couple of Kuks, and have tried using all of them while out camping in the woods (i wont say while out bushcrafting, cos im not yet sure what that means ), and ive found the smaller BAS (British Army Issue) one to be the most usefull for me. If you use anything much bigger, the chopping becomes easier but the smaller tasks become harder. most kuks will have a couple of smaller tools with them, namely a Karda and Chakmak. The Karda is a small knife, and is handy, but is usually too small for any serieous work, while the Chakmak is basically a blunt knife, used for straightening out any rolls that may occur on the blade. (but is also usefull for striking against flint for sparks, and opening tins, anything that might damage the edge really). Although they work pretty well, i still carry a knife, saw, and hatchet most of the time They can also be a pain to sharpen.
Ive owned kuks from HI, Tora, and Kukri-house, and found the kuks from Tora to be the best allrounders as far as value and quality go. (and no, im not interested in getting back into all the tora vs hi crap that went on a while ago.) Ive also owned a cold steel kuk, but found it to be a bit pants really.
I think a small kuk would be good if you were looking to carry only ONE tool, but why limit yourself. Kukris are a bit of a jack of all trades, master of none. They are passable bush tools, and very effective weapons, but if your talking about bushcraft in the Ray mears sense, then no. Id stick to the knife, hatchett, and saw combo.

Si

 

[anthonyyy]

I was just going to ask the same question.

I sometimes use a British army machete instead of a hatchet for splitting small pieces of wood. It is also good for clearing brambles. They seem to me to be a more versatile tool than a hatchet when you are only preparing wood for small fires. They are more dangerous however.
I also worry about it being more readily seen as a weapon when I carry it on a camping trip or in the car.

 

[EdS]

another alternative is a good old fashioned British billhook.

 

[laurens ch]

I have the jungle kukri from tora. I prefer my gb hatchet it seems to split better and it cuts logs better too.The kukri is better on the smaller more flexible stuff ,Ithink it has harder tougher steel too.