16.5 WWII or Chiruwa?

namaarie

namaarie

Joined
Aug 23, 2004
Messages
1,499
Hey everybody!

I am going to buy a khukri soon, and I'm sure that I want a HI khuk. I've narrowed it down to the Chiruwa Ang Khola or the 16.5" WWII. Either would fit me pretty well. Which should it be?

To help you answer, I'll tell you a little about what I want in a khukri. I backpack and do a lot outside. I want a survival knife, but I also want a good weapon if the need should arise. I hear that the Chiruwa chops better and the WWII is a better weapon. Is this right? Is either better at both? I also like the Chiruwa's "bend or break, get 2 free" guarantee.

At this point, I'm leaning to the Chiruwa. Is there anything I should know?

Thanks for the help!
 
The best combination weapon/ chopper is the WWll 18" - my opinion and many others.
Best all around khuk- Bill Martino
(I'm not sure if this includes Rusty's ridiculous love affair with the 16" WWll or not.)

The chiruwa is a wonderful blade. It chops and carrys well. It will not be as fast as the WWll, even with similar weights because the AK is more weight forward.
You can't really go wrong with either.

The 16" WWll is going to be much lighter and easier to carry than the other two.


munk
 
The Chiruwa is a dedicated chopper. Period.

The 16.5" WWII is an unbelievably balanced knife for anything. It inspires confidence and if I didn't know what I'd need a knife for, the 16.5 WWII is my choice. I have 4 of them, three by Bura, one by Sher. I have 2 18" WWII's, one by Bura,one by Sher. Munk will probably tell you to grab an 18". He's bigger than me.

If you want a Fighter that does other things well also, get an 18" Sirupati.
 
I would go for a WWII in that situation, a bit more all-purpose. Best case if you're worried about the tang (I'm not) may be to ask Uncle Bill, or just watch the specials, for a chiruwa-WWII. They come through only occasionally, but are usually very nice knives. I find they have marvelous balance, more neutral than front-heavy chopper.

Once HIKV hits you'll likely end up with more than one khuk, so don't sweat the small differences much :D, try one and go from there.
 
Munk will probably tell you to grab an 18". He's bigger than me... Rusty

Balance is very important. The 18" is too long for Rusty. I know the 18" will outchop the 16", but the 16 has got to be faster.

But for me, the blend of speed and power in the 18" is the way to go.
And I don't notice much difference in carrying khuks that weigh around 22 oz or khuks that weigh 28.

Rusty's right about the Chiruwa AK. You'd have to have an awfully strong wrist to make that a fast weapon. And if you were that strong, the WWll's would be all the faster. The chiruwa is the end of the world, gotta whack it, chop it, or pry it tool. It is the crowbar of khukuris. Some folks like it because it is shorter, easier to carry than the standard 18" AK chopper to which it is most often compared in ability.



munk
 
Get a Chiruwa AK and you won't have to worry about a broke tang when you are backpacking in the middle of nowhere.

Another $.02 worth.
 
Don't listen to raghorn- he knows darn well I wanted that rare find- a heavy 16" WWll. It's almost a chiruwa, but probably doesn't have the same amount of weight forward.

Some fear broken tangs in the traditional design. Yvsa and others prefer the traditional design.
Get both and go forth happy.

munk
 
When you consider that knife knuts endlessly discuss the merits of 12" overall straight knives as "choppers," a 16" sirupati is one heck of a "chopper" that is a classic weapon. I have a little 14" Siru that I have backpacked, and it splits wood for the fire or takes poles quite nicely. Ideally, you try them out in your hand first. This is a very personal choice.
 
What are the primary differences between the BAS and the WWII. Is the BAS just a little smaller?

Thanks,
David
 
Munk once wrote that the AK was more "tip heavy" than the BAS. This makes it a better chopper than a BAS with a similar weight. The BAS would be a little quicker and more manouverable in the hand.

I'm bruiseleee and I agree with this message.
 
Namaarie I'd personally recommend getting the 16.5" WWII. As others have mentioned, its a very good all rounder. Such a khuk will give you an idea of what you want in your ideal khukuri. If you get one and decide you would prefer the Chiruwa, you can trade it back in. Or you could just get both of them, like many of us already have. ;)

Bob
 
I gotta fall on the 18" WWII side on this one. I owned a 17" chirwa AK by kumar for a little while. Kumar is my favorite kami, the blade was flawless with fullers even and straight, the handle pinned well. everything was in place as it ought to be. It felt really good in the hand, but it just wasn't for me. It was thick and bit my hand when i chopped. It obviously didn't want to live with me. I sent that one on to Dan Koster when he was asking for some donation khuks to get a friend hooked on khuks. For all i know the AK now lives happily in someone else's belt today. It just couldn't replace my beat up, strained up, well loved Kumar 18" WWII. It takes an edge and holds it like a dream. If i could only take one khuk with me to hump it out for a long trip, the 18" WWII would be my choice. Its not a dolled up khuk to say the least, but it has its own quiet beauty. Kinda reminds me of a sweet curvy brunette in a 3/4 length baseball tee shirt and dusty jeans as the autumn sun sets and hits her side profile. She won't win any Miss America contests, but there's an honest beauty in how the sun paints her natural form and scatters the light off her sunflower eyes. That's how the WWII strikes me as far as khuks go. Try one. you won't be sorry. Hell, do like munk says: Get both the WWII and the AK.
BTW, welcome to the cantina:)

Jake
 
Jake? you are turning poetic.


For me, the very best user and friend I had was the 15 Bura AK. It was older (no initials, just his mark) and heavy, but for someone of my stature it worked wonderfully.

As for weapons-grade khuks...er...somebody start an informal poll to see how many times anyone on the forum has used a khuk as a weapon, excepting those service people out at risk right now.

All the best; read the safety thread.
 
Kis, you're right. I'm a hopeless poetic romantic at heart. However I dare say that metaphores and similes comparing knives and young women will get me locked up in most circles:) A man only has so much passion to divvy out. We must pick and choose what stirs our emotional fiber. For some it is politics. For others it is music. For me, my passions are women and knives. Both will always be a part of mankind. And both will always inspire men to do the most idiotic of feats both heroic and utterly foolish. And both will always be a source of man's pain as they cut deep effortlessly. And both will always be a prized treasure that will be charished by some, envied by others, and neglected by more than a few. Not all for the same reasons, but i suppose truth is truth:)
I think i'll go home and polish up my trusty WWII, but first i'll stop and get the lady some flowers:D

Jake
 
was my first and is still my favorite. But if I was planning on packing one on a hike it would be the 15" AK. There are still a few I have yet to try...15" & 18" sirus, BAS and the 16.5" WWII. The 15" AK is a lot quicker than the big WWII but the WWII will out chop the little guy any day of the week. They have a way of finding their way to the right owners. Happy hunting.

Frank
 
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