This is a review of a horn handled 18" Kobra. This is coming from someone new to knives (see: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...-Kukri-(HI-BAS)-impressions-from-a-knife-newb) so make what you will of it, but know that this is also coming from someone who appreciates fine craftsmanship as well as utility.
So the first thing that I noticed about the Kobra was it's weight. This is a heavy blade. Wait, what!? The Kobra is advertised as "lightest, quickest khukuri in the world" and I'm sure that it is, but this is still one HEAVY DUTY BLADE coming from the perspective of someone whose hardiest blade is the HI BAS. This IS NOT a criticism of the Kobra, it is revealing an amateur's lack of experience instead. I mention this to reinforce that this kukri looks to be well suited for just about any task. This is a well built, heavy duty knife, regardless of whether or not it's the lightest in the fleet and I think that's important to note for anyone who has never seen a HI khukuri. So my impression based on the thickness of the spine is that this kukri could handle just about anything.
I'm betting that the "short" 18" gives this Kobra a significant advantage in this area over its larger brethren too. It's short, yet sword like nature, has led me to call this kukri "The Himalayan Hobbit Sword". Two handed for hobbits, one handed for men. (And I must be part hobbit because I can't imagine wielding anything longer than 18"!)
That silliness aside, I do not have the proper scale to weigh the Kobra, unfortunately, but it does feel lighter than the 15" BAS that I have to compare it with and it feels good in the hand. Practice swings indicate that it is easy to move about and change directions or stop swings at will but with some effort due to the length of the blade and mass so far from the hand. This relative ease of movement is reassuring for one with little martial training.
Moving on, this is a beautiful blade. Everything is perfectly proportioned and sized for me and the handle is absolutely gorgeous! It's even more perfect than the BAS in terms of the finish, it really seems virtually flawless for something hand crafted as it is.
The makers mark is a line with a dot over it, like an "i".
However, I couldn't help but compare this with the existing 15" BAS (rescued from its vacuum) and to my surprise I find that I personally prefer the BAS. So the 18" Kobra is now the kukri that is imprisoned in a vacuum!
I find that the BAS kukri seems easier to move for me, despite the extra weight, perhaps due to the shorter blade having less mass far from the handle affecting my grip, and it actually seems better suited for home defense due to its length as well (don't anticipate using it for this, but still), and it even *perfectly* fits (in sheathe) inside a nightstand drawer. So that must be a sign. I also intend to use this kukri for any necessary chores (or invent chores for it).
So in summary, while I love the 18" flawless Kobra that I received (and I am keeping it after having named it, thank you
) my favorite kukri remains the BAS. There is just something about it that brings me joy--and I can't argue with that.
Finally, if you are reading this trying to decide whether or not to get an 18" Kobra keep in mind the inexperience and mercurial nature of the reviewer. I am just more happy at this time to have the Kobra be a carefully laid away and preserved himalayan hobbit sword, and the BAS be close on hand for anything in general. :-D
If my kukri supply increases again I'm sure I'll have yet another take on these fine blades.
So the first thing that I noticed about the Kobra was it's weight. This is a heavy blade. Wait, what!? The Kobra is advertised as "lightest, quickest khukuri in the world" and I'm sure that it is, but this is still one HEAVY DUTY BLADE coming from the perspective of someone whose hardiest blade is the HI BAS. This IS NOT a criticism of the Kobra, it is revealing an amateur's lack of experience instead. I mention this to reinforce that this kukri looks to be well suited for just about any task. This is a well built, heavy duty knife, regardless of whether or not it's the lightest in the fleet and I think that's important to note for anyone who has never seen a HI khukuri. So my impression based on the thickness of the spine is that this kukri could handle just about anything.
I'm betting that the "short" 18" gives this Kobra a significant advantage in this area over its larger brethren too. It's short, yet sword like nature, has led me to call this kukri "The Himalayan Hobbit Sword". Two handed for hobbits, one handed for men. (And I must be part hobbit because I can't imagine wielding anything longer than 18"!)
That silliness aside, I do not have the proper scale to weigh the Kobra, unfortunately, but it does feel lighter than the 15" BAS that I have to compare it with and it feels good in the hand. Practice swings indicate that it is easy to move about and change directions or stop swings at will but with some effort due to the length of the blade and mass so far from the hand. This relative ease of movement is reassuring for one with little martial training.
Moving on, this is a beautiful blade. Everything is perfectly proportioned and sized for me and the handle is absolutely gorgeous! It's even more perfect than the BAS in terms of the finish, it really seems virtually flawless for something hand crafted as it is.
The makers mark is a line with a dot over it, like an "i".
However, I couldn't help but compare this with the existing 15" BAS (rescued from its vacuum) and to my surprise I find that I personally prefer the BAS. So the 18" Kobra is now the kukri that is imprisoned in a vacuum!
I find that the BAS kukri seems easier to move for me, despite the extra weight, perhaps due to the shorter blade having less mass far from the handle affecting my grip, and it actually seems better suited for home defense due to its length as well (don't anticipate using it for this, but still), and it even *perfectly* fits (in sheathe) inside a nightstand drawer. So that must be a sign. I also intend to use this kukri for any necessary chores (or invent chores for it).
So in summary, while I love the 18" flawless Kobra that I received (and I am keeping it after having named it, thank you
) my favorite kukri remains the BAS. There is just something about it that brings me joy--and I can't argue with that.Finally, if you are reading this trying to decide whether or not to get an 18" Kobra keep in mind the inexperience and mercurial nature of the reviewer. I am just more happy at this time to have the Kobra be a carefully laid away and preserved himalayan hobbit sword, and the BAS be close on hand for anything in general. :-D
If my kukri supply increases again I'm sure I'll have yet another take on these fine blades.
Last edited:
