thanks joe. I will give this one a look. My only hate is the black finish. I like the one without it better but like any piece of kit there must be some compromise involved. I may get the cheeper kukri machete like my buddy has and try my best to destroy it some weekend. If it holds up I may consider one with better steel.
a 4-5 inch fixed blade knife should allow you to do all the stuff you listed in the pros and cons.
I know. I just want to do it easier. I will always have my cqd mk iv and my cold steel black sable on me at all times. I never intended the kukri to be my only knive. in a pinch, you wont even need a knife to build a shelter. that would suck, but I know I can do it if I had to. That being said, this is called EQUIPT TO SURVIVE so I would much rather carry better gear to achieve those ends than to do without.