The four things that actually matter when you buy a kukri: blade length, steel, tang, and sheath quality. Everything else is preference.
Length
10–12 inches is the all-rounder sweet spot. 8–9 in for ultralight carry; 13–15 in for heavy chopping and shelter building.
Steel
5160 spring steel and 1095 high-carbon are the proven survival steels. Stainless options like 14C28N or 440C trade some toughness for corrosion resistance.
Tang
Full tang is non-negotiable for hard-use. Stick-tang traditional kukris are beautiful, but only choose them if you understand the maintenance trade-off.
Sheath
Traditional leather over wood is excellent in dry climates; Kydex or synthetic for wet jungle or desert.
