18" GRS vs. 18" AK

bwray

bwray

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I am interested in an effective heavy duty chopping tool and am considering the HI models listed in the title. The "Top Ten" survey results indicate the GRS is the more popular blade, but is it the best chopper? The HI website indicates the AK is up to a half pound heavier than the GRS. Is this weight advantage of the AK born out in fact. I have a couple of HI blades that are not as thick as indicated on the website.

Advise from members familiar with these blades would be appreciated.:o
 
IMHO:

The magic logrithim (sic) is 18" and 28oz. Few less ounces and the chopping ability goes down. Few more and the carryability becomes less, and after hitting around 2lbs even, you have to progress much more up the weight scale to really cut that much more effectively.

The which is better is an old discussion. Yvsa championed the GR and he made a believer out of a lot of us. IN my later days though, I don't believe any blade has the edge. Any like forward weighted khuk, with approximately the same angle of curve, length and weight, is going to cut about the same. A slight exception is how much curve- and then how it cuts is measured by by the difference. A hanshee cuts differently than a WWll because the more pronounced curve handles and strikes differently. I'll not get into that discussion here.

To sumarize; I don't think a 18" AK or a 18" BGR or a 18" WWll is going to cut much different from one another if they are of similar builds.

There may be a slight advantage to the AK and BGRS designs over the WWll depending upon the WWll having less weight forward.

You can also add to this equation the 16.5 Chiruwa AK. Many feel it cuts as well or better than the 18" AK.

I think people like to believe in certain blades for them. Nothing wrong with that.


munk
 
I don't think you'll be less confused after listning to the opinions of the psycho ward. I'm too new for my opinion to count for much, but I've got a 16.5" Chiruwa AK and an 18" GRS. I like the GRS better. It seems to glance off of the target less during chopping. Now, having said that, I feel guilty for saying something quazi negative about my AK.:(
 
aproy1101 said:
. It seems to glance off of the target less during chopping. .:(
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That is my experience. Not sure if it has to do with the design of the actual blade (ie curve) or it is because most GRS's are from Bura and he puts a thinner edge that has less of a tendency to glance. I have never had a Bura AK to know.

I do know that all the khuks I have had made by Sher and Amtrak, and Shankar glanced more, but I think it is the steeper edge profile.
 
Thanks folks. Lo and behold what pops up as a YBB but an 18", 28 oz AK Villager by Bura. I bought it!:)
 
bwray said:
Thanks folks. Lo and behold what pops up as a YBB but an 18", 28 oz AK Villager by Bura. I bought it!:)
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Well guess my advice isn't needed. Well done sir.:cool:

But if anyone may be interested a BGRS of the same weight will cut differently than an AK, or at least it does for me.
Something in the balance makes the BGRS cut like a much heavier khukuri without the extra weight, a real plus IMO.:D
 
You've made a great buy there. Is this your first HI product?
 
Actually Yvsa I am sure to buy a BGRS as well when a comparably good opportunity arises (not for awhile though). The AK showed up during the discussion, weighed 28 oz, had a villager finish (so I will feel comfortable actually sharpening and using it), and the price was right.

BTW, how does one generate the signatures I see on many member posts?

Bill
 
Thanks aproy1101. So far I have a 16.5" Chiruwa AK by Kumar, and an M43 and 22" GRS, both by Bura. I also have several models from another less highly rated manufacturer. Glad to have discovered the HI Forum ... it's a lot of fun. I can tell my wife gets a little tired of hearing about khukuris, so this forum provides her some relief.:D
 
bwray?

upper left blue bar has "user cp" reversed out in white. Click, find "signature" at bottom of screen and have at it.

Very nice purchase. Congratulations.
 
Sounds like you've got it bad. Nice collection though. I can't find a camera, or I'd take some pics of mine tonight. Oh well. Get yourself a Foxy Folly. Mine came in today and I have that same feeling I got the first time I saw a khuk in person.:D :D :D :D :D
 
Yup, real bad. I think I'm going to have to start up an eBay store or something to help pay for my habit. Post some pics if you find that camera.
 
I had some tree work to do over the past weekend and took out 3 HI khukuris(all by Bura) to compare:
1) 18" GRS, 28.5 oz, at top of pic
2) 20" chiruwa AK(as far as I remember of the model), 32 oz at middle
3) 18" BDC, 31 oz, at bottom of pic

I had used the GRS previously on other chopping jobs. I use large gloves and the handle on the BDC felt more comfortable to me than on the GRS because of the longer length, which kept my little finger from sliding towards the butt cap and being crushed between it and the rest of my hand. Unfortunately, arthritis in that finger aggravates the problem.

As for chopping ability, the 20" Ak outclasses both the 18"ers - as would be expected. The next best chopper was the GRS which bit more deeply into the wood than the BDC even though the BDC was a few ounces more in weight. It may be that the edge geometry and more foward balance of the GRS makes it superior in this respect. The BDC balances more towards the handle due to it being chiruwa style - which I like. The 20" AK is also chiruwa style. Other than that the BDC in more "pointy" for those that like that feature.

I don"t feel the weight of any of these 3 is excessive and would tire me any more than an axe of similar weight would. I"ve chopped with a 26 oz. 17" villager on harder wood and then with the 18" GRS above and could tell that the little longer and heavier GRS was superior.

Yangdu, tell Bura his 20" chiruwa AK is excellent and we hope to see more.


standard.jpg
 
Thanks for the report and photos. I got an 18" AK villager by Bura from Yangdu's 1/09 deals. It chops very well but I don't have a comparable GRS for comparison. Oh well, guess I'll just have to buy one when the opportunity arises;)
 
Kismet said:
bwray?

upper left blue bar has "user cp" reversed out in white. Click, find "signature" at bottom of screen and have at it.

Very nice purchase. Congratulations.
Click to expand...

you need to be a basic member (costs $10) to have an avatar or a signature.

i've been here long enough to come under the old grandfather clause that allowed me to keep my avatar when the rules changed. if they ever allow paypal here, i'll up to gold & get my signature back.

the following signature is a figment of your imagination.
___________________________________________
CAVE CANEM ET SEMPER PARATUS
Dic, hospes Spartae nos te hic vidisse iacentes,
Dum sanctis patriae legibus obsequimur

BlueMillieSig.jpg

If they don't want me to eat animals - why do they make them out of MEAT?
 
Thanks for signature info. I finally tracked that down and am now a gold member because I want to do some polling in the future. Have not yet entered a signature - trying to find my list of favorite quotations.:)
 
What I'd really like to see is a comparison of like tools; an 18" AK with the traditional handle compared to a 18" Baby Ganga Ram with the traditional handle. Both weighing about the same.



munk
 
Hey Munk. How does the 18" baby Ganga Ram differ from the "standard" 18" model, or is their a difference? I agree on the value of the comparison you suggest. The first rule of experimental physics is to change only one thing at a time, in this case the blade shape.:thumbup:
 
Well, I saw a lot of chiruwa handles in the pictures, and that design handles, carries, and chops differently than the traditional handle. So a real comparison would be between a like sized and weighted AK Khuk and a BAby Ganga Ram khuk.

People are people. Some say their 16.5 Chiruwa AK's of say 28 oz cut as well as a 18" AK with the traditional handle. And there's lots of fans of the Ganga Ram design, myself included. Some of these fans suggest the Ganga Ram is a better cutter than a AK. I don't know.

Then there's folks who claim their M43s are the Cat's Pajamas. And that has a chiruwa handle also .



munk
 
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