12 inch AK first review...

Joined
Jan 30, 2002
Messages
7,269
It arrived Friday. On Friday, it got a work-out. On Saturday, it rested. On Sunday, it was used on a hill-side full of multi-flora rose bushes and wild cherry saplings.(MISERABLE work)

dimensions? 12 in overall, 7 3/4 inch blade, 4 inch handle. AK by KS with a trident. Top of blade as thick as my 15 in Bura AK.

But, it has a sense of being about one-third the size of the 15 inch AK. It has so much less weight, and almost seems invisible after using the larger knife.

I love it. It would work perfectly for deer butchering, a job the 15 inch had too much size to be handy for.

On the wild cherry trees, it sliced through with one or two chops on green trees 7/8 to 1 1/2 inch thick trees. If I had put more slam in to the hit, it may have gone through all with one hit.

With the multiflora rose (a spreading, thorny, annual or eternal, clingy, nasty, evil bush-like thing), the 12 inch was less useful because the lack of reach--you have to push the branches back and cut down at the ground/root level. Also, the lesser weight at the end of the swing inhibited the slicing ability. The 15 inch AK was much more effective.

Even with leather gloves, protective glasses, leather coat and head protection...multiflora rose is evil...so the longer blade helped keep me further from severe damage.

So, the 12 inch AK will be carried much more frequently than the 15 inch because it is less conspicuous, has a spine that will allow me to drive it through branches for firewood for light camping, is of a size to use handily for large game.

It cannot replace the 15 inch though. If I were to spend a week-end camping and needed much more than just cooking wood for a small fire, if I wanted to clear, or utilize large saplings for a shelter support, if I were going into areas I was not familiar with...the larger bladed AK would probably be my choice.

I guess, the bottom line...is that they really aren't different sizes of the same knife...they are entirely different tools with remarkable utility.

Finally,

Thank you, Bill and Bill
 
Thanks, Kis. Good point about their being different tools altogether.
 
The 12" AK is a very capable knife, even considering it's small size. Paired up with a good saw (come on guys, chopping's fun, but sawing builds up the wood pile faster and with less work), I could get by pretty good in "the wilderness".

Uncle, any word on any 12" AKs inbound?

Sarge
 
I think he's got some in stock.
I've been considering one for a trunk tool-kit knife. In a perfect world mine would be a wood-handled blem as it will be neglected/out of sight for 99% of the time.
 
Inevitably, I had to use my "hit it with a stick" technique on the new and already much-loved 12 in AK.

Firkin, (edited to include Ferrous and Tom Holt) I know you talk about center of percussion for hitting efficiency, but those of us with less sophistication have a tendency to line up the blade into the wood, hang on to the handle, and whomp on the spine of the sucker with a log/stick/heavy kindling.

This blade slices through like the best combination of a splitting wedge and a fine-bladed trimming hatchet!

The first 1/2 inch of the blade moves down into the wood, then the thicker (?1/4 inch?) portion of the blade pushes the wood further out, and finally the spine portion completes the separation. The fact that the blade is just under 8 inches long allows me to get a more substantial hit on the end of the blade extending from the wood while I hold the handle down firmly.

The impact of the baton makes no marks on the khuk.

The USE of the baton allows me to carry less weight to the camp/cutting site, and pick up my "whomper" there. As I mentioned before, it's also less conspicuous.

I think Pappy, and Sarge and Yvsa have all talked about the utility of the 12 incher. I am firmly in their camp.

Shirley? did you mention an interest in the 12 in AK? Go for it!
 
"I think Pappy, and Sarge and Yvsa have all talked about the utility of the 12 incher. I am firmly in their camp. "

By golly Kis, that's a camping trip I'd like to go on. Oh, you mean you're in agreement about the littlest AK. Yessir, good knives.:D

Sarge
 
Fine Aardvark, just kind of slow on the uptake. I was thinking a camp out with Pappy, Yvsa, and Kismet would be a fine thing. Big pot of chili, maybe a jug of that clear stuff that burns going down. Then I re-read about the "utility of the 12 incher" and caught on. No sir, don't think I'd care for any such goings on as that.:eek: :rolleyes:

Sarge
 
"Firkin, I know you talk about center of percussion for hitting efficiency, but those of us with less sophistication have a tendency to line up the blade into the wood, hang on to the handle, and whomp on the spine of the sucker with a log/stick/heavy kindling."

Well, it was really Ferrous and Tom Holt who brought the CoP up. But more than efficiency is involved...if the force isn't tranmitted to the wood, then the knive is having to dissipate it itself. Put quite simply, if the blade is stuck in a piece of wood, and the spine is wacked, and there is a big shock at the handle, then the tang and posibly handle, is likely being severely stressed, even for a khuk. When chopping this kind of shock is uncomfortable, and is naturally avoided.

Incautious baton work is how I think I broke the tang on a GRS, and it was right at the buttcap!! Inspection revealed that the tang was ground down to fit the buttcap, creating a stress risor, but it was still a bit of a surprise. If a lot of strong blows are to be delivered, it's probably worth paying attention to. This was tough wood I couldn't split with the 3 lb GRS, so I wasn't tapping on the spine, I was whaling on it. I suspect the problem is more of an issue with bigger, longer blades, as the vibrations may be larger, and the tangs will be stressed more due to added leverage/mass when chopping. I also was sticking the blade, and then slamming the knife with attached wood down onto the block, which is also extreme, but here you really get a jolt in the hands if you screw up, so it's likely that the CoP will be paid attention to.
 
Can you tell me the measurement of the handle? Size of Karda, Chakma(same as for 15"AK)? Got the just under 8" for the blade. In the can only take one scenario, would you consider it an all-arounder. Asking because AK's keep being referred to as "Choppers", in wilderness camping there's alot of, sorta whittling-making your own stuff. And I know I wouldn't be able to whittle well with the 15".
 
Youngwood? not sure that all kamis have the same size standards.
Chakma is 3& 1/2 in. for the 12 in., 5 inch for the 15 in.

The 12 inch C&K are barely functional, really.

Karda is 3 7/8th in. for the 12 in., 5 & 3/4 inch for the 15 in.


Handle circumference for 12 inch (at thickest, just behind bolster, not counting the butt flare) is 3 & 1/4 inch. For the 15 inch, it is 4 inches.

Not trying to avoid the question, but I'd always have my old pocketknife with me in the woods. As I said earlier, I found the 15 AK too much knife to bone out the deer this last fall. I believe the 12 inch would work out fine. (But, keep in mind, I had to bone the deer, not just quarter it, and cut roasts, ribs, and chops...Wisconsin had a Chronic Wasting Disease hysteria this past fall and warned against entering bone marrow--so I needed a finer bladed knife than the 15 in AK to work with.)

But... yes, the 12 inch would be a fine all purpose camp knife. Stout enough to cut through wood for splitting, small enough to be used to cut onions or potatoes for the pot. For skinning out small game, the karda would pierce the flesh and let you pull it off...but a larger blade would be easier to work with.

And a campfire, Pappy, Yvsa, Sarge, and others...big ole pot of chili, some corn bread, camp coffee so rich you can float a knife on it, GREAT stories (some of them actually true), maybe some of that clear burning stuff Sarge was talking about, and a five gallon bucket filled with country fudge for later...with the sky so clear that heaven speaks back.... nice image. EVERYBODY come!
 
Youngwood= It's me, Shirley!
Sorry just getting by, learning to post.

Thanks for detailed answer. Just trying to find out more about any 12"ers and perhaps 15" Sirupati.
Ch & K barely functional why? Would it suit small hands? Or not good enough to use?

Very good report. Will have to do search on more.
 
A proper karda ( by-knife ) and chakma ( steel or burnisher ) are made roughly equivalent to the length of the particular knife's handle.

When you get down to 12" size, the by-knife is maybe 1&1/2" in blade, and the chakma about that. That's too little to hold onto for the by-knife. And WAY too close to the khuk's edge to be getting your fingers in case you get the least bit careless.

Another problem with chakma and karda is endemic to Nepali villages. The locals go to buy a khukri, they don't buy a scabbard. The scabbard adds to the price. And the chakma and karda add more to the price. Up to 20 years ago there was little trash in Nepal. It got used up. If you still had a chakma or karda and the khuk wore out, you kept and used them instead of throwing good money away on what you already had.

Of course the sets made up for tourists have them, but poorly finished. Even at Himalayan Imports, the kamis have helpers. If the helper can make the by -knives or burnishers the kami can concentrate on the production of khuks.

Another fact is the zippo and now the bic lighter. One of the main uses historically of the chakma was to strike sparks with a flint. Nowadays they have other means to produce fire. Or sharpen the blades. So getting the little chakma and karda properly tempered is no big deal as long as it looks good ( far as the kamis and their helpers are concerned ).

Hope this answers some of your questions.
 
Rusty, how does a 12" sirupati compare to a 12" AK? No, I don't recall from the shopping site if there is a 12" siupati, but seem to recall you use one as a hidey knife.


munk
 
I'm sure Sarge said that his first khuk was a 12" Siru. He is pretty knowledgable about a lot of different knives and has made a bunch. From what I hear he knows about most of them through personal use. He seemed to like the little Sirupati very much. I think he plans to take a 15" with him when he heads to Kuwait. The 15" is really a good knife to have in a fight. For most uses I like the 12" AK just because of the added weight over the Siru. The little Siru would sure be a handy knife in the kitchen. They all seem to have their own little nitch in the ladder of uses. From the smallest to the biggest.:)
 
Okay. Understand the "barely functional" now.
Appreciate your informative answer; especially the Nepali background on the why's and what fors.

Munk,
Good question!
 
Now that you've got all that stuff clear in your mind...

I offer for your consideration: THE PEN KNIFE !!!

I don't have one...but you should at least examine the specs and the reviews. Lovely design...a bit more western in orientation.

Hang in there, Shirley...you can get through this.
 
Had 2 12" Sirupati's, and 3 12" AK's.

The one siru I named Audrey afrer the carniveroud plant in "Little Shop of Horrors". Light, fast, bloodthirsty. The heaviest of the AK's came in at nearly a half inch spine. I called it my "Pocket Battleship" after the Graf Spee.

The 3 in between, well the siru was a bit heavy and the 2 AK's a bit light. Not a dime's difference between 'em. Any of them would be nice to have when you decided you didn't need a khuk. ( Much the way I stick a M38 S&W Airweight Bodyguard in my pants when I don't expect trouble. )
 
Back
Top