Exactly. It's a great compromise. And as Horn Dog said, the 1311 is some nice steel.
So far as a long, curved blade is concerned, that sounds like a cane knife. Also, the panga has a big, up-swept hook on the end that adds mass. Sharpen that hook and you get what is used here to cut vines and sugar cane. The swing doesn't have to be precise and the vine doesn't move out of the way.
When in heavy tropical vegetation, I find a kukri much less useful. There simply isn't enough woody-stuff to stand up to it. But I have razor grass that grows 2 inches per day. They're just night and day.
Agreed, standard thickness traditional kuks are usually to thick and to short to be very effective at grasses. The 1311 is a real nice compromise between a thick chopper and thin machete.
