Are you looking for a reliable, rugged chopping blade? Maybe you want to equip yourself with an awesome, versatile kukri as you explore the outdoors. You may find this blade to be a fantastic addition to your camping gear. So, let’s pour a glass of ice-cold whiskey and push through this Condor K-Tact Kukri review.
This machete is made from high-carbon steel material. Its name draws inspiration from Alan Kay, a survival expert and the winner of the epic TV series “Alone” (season 1).
A seasoned survivalist improved the design of this product, which is an awesome perk. The kukri comes in two stylistic designs: military green and desert sand (this one is military).
The Background Story
This blade was designed by Joe Flower. He is a renowned writer and outdoor enthusiast, who designed many of the wonderful Condor products. Alan Kay hoped on-board and started collaborating with Condor to create the best survival kukri.
The original kukri, initially proposed by Joe and manufactured by Condor tools & knives, was used by Alan in the first season of “Alone”. After winning the series that aired on the History Network, he contacted Joe and suggested a couple of tweaks that would make this knife even better. Condor took his advice and created a new product which later becomes the amazing K-Tact Kukri.
This blade has an awesome reputation among many outdoor enthusiasts, craftsmen, hobbyists, etc… I like it because of its history and multi-purpose ability.
But does its reputation hold true? I wanted to find out. So, I started my research which resulted in this product post, the Condor K-Tact Kukri review.
First, we are going to look at the feature specs to get a first impression of the product. Personal experience taught me many lessons about knives and blades – I know what to look for. I will enrich my review with other people’s input – buyer impressions and user experience.
Since I have worked with these kinds of products in the past, I will try to be as fair as possible. I promise I won’t allow my affinity for Condor blades affect my opinion.
Feature Specs
This list offers a basic first impression of what this kukri has to offer. The materials are of decently high-quality, and the measurements are within our expected range for standard kukri. In the next section, we will go into more detail.
- General: Full-Tang, Sharp and Battle-ready, Flat grind.
- Material Blade: Carbon Steel 1075
- Material Handle: Micarta (Hardwood pattern)
- Material Sheath: Kydex
- Hardness Steel: 56-58
- Color & Finish: Army Green / Desert
- Length Overall: 15″ (38,1 cm)
- Length Blade: 9.76″ (24,8 cm)
- Length Handle: 5.2″ (13,3 cm)
- Thickness Blade: 0.24″ (0.6 cm)
- Weight Kukri: 1 lbs, 11 oz (770 grams)
- Weight With Sheath: 2 lbs, 3 oz (990 grams)
Condor K-Tact Kukri Review
I trust this machete! Good steel, great chopping ability. Even though the sheath could have been loosened a bit, and they could have sharpened the edge a bit more, I love how this blade performs in mundane backyard work.
Before we go on, if you want more info on this product, click here to see it on Amazon.
Kukris are curved, single-edge machetes with a forward arc. This upper part of the edge is ideal for chopping, since it is heavy, and it has thickness. The lower part is just as sharp, and I always used it for feathering wood, plastic or cutting stuff.
Ideally, you want to distribute your daily tasks and use the blade in its entirety. That way you won’t end up with one part completely worn out. If you over-sharpen half the blade, you’ll destroy its original proportions – if that matters to you; It does for me!
Some users reported the chopping part wears out after long-term heavy use, while the lower section doesn’t really dull. I would not blame the kukri for that!
The complaint didn’t shock me a bit! Obviously, that will happen if you cut and chop with the same section of the blade. The over-used edge will wear down while the under-used portions won’t suffer a scratch. This holds true for any machete but especially for kukris!
Even when you slash bamboo mats with a katana, you will overuse the middle section, and completely ignore the tip and handle sections.
The solution is harder steel, like L6 Bainite and T10. Or tempered Damascus steel. However, no matter how much you search, you won’t find a kukri made from these incredible materials. I don’t know why; most tool and knife companies reserve their best steel for katanas. Those swords are more vulnerable after all.
Don’t worry! Condor did not disappoint, and they crafted the K-Tact Kukri blade using the second-best option: 1075 high-carbon steel. It has a good reputation in my book: 1075 offers a balanced compromise between hardness and toughness.
Reminder for everyone: Hardness helps keep your steel sharp. However, an overly-hard blade may chip or break. Toughness prevents damage, but to make a tough machete you need softer steel. So, these two properties work in opposition and you need to find a balance.
The handle feels comfortable and easy on the hand for precision tasks such as trimming, cutting, whittling, etc… You can use the razor-sharp edge for carving meat and skinning game. The lower edge doesn’t fall behind – it can slice and feather effortlessly.
The Blade
Condor stepped up their game with their new K-Tact Kukri design. It is smooth, shiny and aesthetic. Attractive visual cues really work on me, and I have fallen in love with this model.
The 1075 carbon-steel is the best choice. I say this because the kukri is mid-range, with a 10 blade (25 cm). Most likely you will not be chopping huge logs with a machete that size.
Low-stress tasks don’t require super-tough steel. So why not go for a slightly harder metal? Well, CS-1075 suits this kukri.
Blasted satin blades look amazing. And that is another plus, if you are visually oriented, like me. Despite how pretty the blade finish is, I would have preferred a black coating for better protection. No problem! Just make sure you clean the blade after using it.
The K-Tact Kukri doesn’t dull easily because of the high-carbon steel. The recurved section does a decent job at cutting branches for the fire. It can perform most tasks that a big kukri can. Just don’t try to take down a tree. Outdoor enthusiasts should have this knife because it is durable and efficient.
The lower section of the blade is sharper than the top part. I find that useful for small-size tasks that require skill and hand dexterity: trimming, whittling, feathering, staking, etc. So, this part of the blade is equally useful.
The kukri is mid-weight and easy to work with. It is not a heavy-duty machete, so I found it easy to use and safe to handle. For a full list of recommended machetes of different sizes, check out this post.
The Handle
Alan Kay designed the handle and it’s ideal for medium to large hands. Handling is decent and the kukri rests comfortably in my grip, but it is kind of bulky for smaller hands.
Micarta is a good material for knife handles, I think it is the most common choice for knife manufacturers. The K-Tact handle has a wood-like, wavy pattern – quite cool.
Condor K-Tact Kukris come in two flavors: Desert Knife and Army Green. The only difference between these two is the color of the handle and sheath. The K-tact Desert knife has a yellowish-brown, sandy color (as the name suggests). Army Green appears more balanced with its grayish-green color palette. Other aspects are identical.
The Sheath
Putting on the sheath was difficult at first. That sharp, recurved blade doesn’t forgive any mistakes, so be warned: Whenever you draw the blade, be careful not to split open the seams. It happened to me more than once. (Not going to happen to this sheath, and you will see why.)
The K-Tact kukri sheath is made from kydex, a super-resistant thermoplastic material. Don’t worry about damaging it, kydex is incredibly resilient – they even use it for aircraft bulkheads.
Protective sheaths are necessary not only to make your trip easier but to shield the steel blade against aggressive environmental factors such as moisture, water, oxidation.
Condor’s design hits another important check-mark. Both the Army Green and the Desert Knife sheaths feature the same military, tactical genre – but in different colors, as I mentioned before.
At first, it can be tricky to draw the kukri from the sheath. Despite that, it may still slide out unless you snap the side strap. The sheath has a little lateral snap that is supposed to hold the kukri inside.
Camp-side activities won’t see you lose the kukri, but when hiking or running, the blade might slide out from the sheath. So, don’t forget to pop that strap in place.
You can secure it around your waist, it has a thick belt-loop. Also, the sheath is well stitched with coated screws.
PROS
- Tough, durable, strong 1075 steel.
- Maintains sharpness.
- Resilient handle and sheath.
- Beautiful design.
- Front-heavy, good cutter, and chopper.
CONS
- Sheath quality.
- Poor compatibility with sheath.
- Not razor-sharp.
User Opinions
Customer opinion is important, and I always do my research. My experience with the kukri is limited to a single item. But how does this blade meet the needs and expectations of other buyers? How is user satisfaction? Does the K-Tact fulfill their needs? Here is one person’s point:
The Condor K-Tact Kukri review would not be complete without the buyer’s comments section. So, let’s get started. Check out more user reviews and opinions on Amazon to see how sharpness is rated by top customers.
The Negative Side
Most positive reviews spoke about the kukri knife’s toughness, beautiful design, good handling.
I stumbled across a few negative comments: A handful of disappointed buyers reported that the K-Tact Kukri was not sharp enough when they received it. They had to sharpen the blades before they could use them for cutting and chopping.
The second point was the sheath. A couple of guys said it is too tight for the blade. Leather side-strap isn’t great – it doesn’t snap tightly. So, the sheath doesn’t retain the kukri optimally.
The Positive Aspects
After reading reviews and hearing different opinions, it became crystal clear this machete’s best feature is its strength. People keep saying “it is a beast”, “it eats its way through small branches”, “it can chop like crazy”.
That leads me to believe that I am not the only one impressed with the blade. It is a damn good steel. Condor K-Tact kukri is a decent, mid-weight chopper – everyone is very pleased in that regard.
Even if the blade is not razor-sharp, it’s still sharp. Most people customers did not complain about it, aside from the odd mention. Here is a list of favorable points for this kukri knife:
The upper part is thicker and front-heavy. Good for chopping.
Heavy polished steel pommel, at the end of the handle. This tiny addition balances the kukri more evenly. Decent balance and better handling earn this kukri extra points.
The belt loop seems strong. I think it is leather, I am not sure.
Alan Kay improved the kukri for the complete outdoor survival experience. When it comes down to survival, I trust that guy!
Conclusion
Condor K-Tact Kukri is a decent heavy-duty knife. The blade is well constructed, tough but it could be improved with a little more sharpening. It is a decent chopper, a good cutting tool, very versatile and multi-functional.
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There are many things to be said about the sheath. I heard many pros and cons, but it works for me. The blade is high-quality, it has a great design and an elegant touch.
That completes our Condor K-Tact Kukri Review. Other than that, I will let you make up your own mind! Cheers!
