1st choice got to be wright

blindref

blindref

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Joined
Jan 15, 2003
Messages
83
Dear sir's,I have just been here five mins and i feel the need to buy,You know what i mean that feeling that if you don't buy something right now you'll just go stark raving mad,Or is that just me,ok i guess i can live with that sorry for ranting on,Ok i need to buy so i need some help,I love military equipment so something with some heft and bite,Well not to big.Remember this is my first one so please be gentle with me.Please guys recommend away,I want pretend to know anything about these knives but you guys do,so please help :D
 
Don't worry a bit. You are simply manifesting the usual 8 year old boy in a candy shop with a limited amount of money syndrome.

Take your time. As an adult from Wales, I'm sure you've ben taught to discount stories of things supernatural. I used to feel that way myself. But you know, I've come to suspect that reality here ( the US and UK ) may not necessarily translate to what is reality in Nepal. As you become familiar with the HI khukuris, you'll find some of them speak to you. Some barely whisper, and others talk quite loudly. It seems to have something to do with the forging process and the sweat, tears, and blood that is used to make the khukuri. With the kami's ( smith's ) mastery of ergonomics in a special way that is passed on from generation to generation without being written down. One of these days you'll find THE khukuri, and tell yourself that now you know how Arthur Pendragon felt holding Excalibur for the first time.

( OK, so sometimes I exaggerate a wee bit. )
 
I know what you mean!! I've got to buy SOMETHING!! Right now!!:D

An Amtrak 15" AK.or An Amtrak BAS. I really like those. Don't think you can go wrong, But it probably depends on what you will use it for.
 
... military equipment? first khuk? not too big?

sounds like BAS or 16" WWII or 18" GS to me (but I am quite new here myself too). I think we all know this need to buy :D - we Europeans needed a HI shop over here to save shipping costs and time (waiting for the postman (I received only one package from Uncle Bill so far - but with four items...planning to get anothe package with three knives :rolleyes: )
You will be lucky with whatever HI khuk you get, that`s for sure.
Bye
Andreas
 
Good recommendations above. But, it doesn't really matter. Once you get HIKV you'll want them all!:D Actually the 15" AK or the BAS do make good first choices.
 
already, so might I suggest going big. You deserve it. My first (ah, I remember it fondly :)) was an 18" Ang Khola. Excelletn chioce for medium to heavy cutting tasks, like an axe in a knife package. Born for abuse.

On the lighter side, the 18" to 21" Gelbu special or Chitlangi are awesome options. The furniture on the GS is more understated, and the Chit has more intricate carving in the steel, and twin fullers. but the GS has a single fuller along its length. Both make for a dynamic an responsive knife. the 21" are around 2pounds, (1.8Kg?) and are swords in a knife package.

Anyhow, these worked for me.

Keith
 
Those 18" AKs are a good balance of axe, knife and machete. Another good one for the military minded is the chiruwa. It is the best of the so called tactical knives on the market. With the big push for the features that the chiruwa has, like the full tang and extra thickness it may be the best choice for the military buff. Comes with a great guarantee too!
 
Blindref, what I like and use may differ for you. I have been introducing new fellows to HI khukuris. To someone who never handled a khukuri, or used one, they ALL prefer a sirupati 18" to 20".
For work I recomend a AK, any size is a winner. I have two WW11 18" if that means anything.;)

The WW11 is a worker and good at personel protection. Ask away if you are confused with anything. Or any model. I'm sure there is at least one member who has used every type model made and can give you a report. :)
 
My first khukuri was a 20" Sirupati that I bought used. It wasn't an HI, it was Gurkha House, now out of business. My first HI was a 16.5" chiruwa (full tang) AK. Though I have many now, it's still my working khuk. Not too small, not too large, but it will do whatever is asked of it. Now I'm kinda small, 5'-5" tall, so a bigger guy might like a bigger khuk. But you said not too large. In a way, it doesn't matter what you buy, because if you're like most of us, it won't be your last.;)
My suggestions, in order are:
16.5" chiruwa AK
20" Sirupati
15" BAS
16" or 18" WWII

Good luck & enjoy!

Steve
 
If you have an affinity for militaria, then I would go for an 18" WWII or a BAS.

Like most here have already said: it really doesn't matter which one you get first. You will love it and there will be more.:D

Phil
 
Steve, my first real khuk was from GH also. The actual first one was from Atlanta Cutlery years ago. Not impressed with that one. The GH khuks are nice and Lalit is still in business as Khukuri House. Good khuks but not HIs!!!! First time buyers note that! The HIs are far superior and working with Uncle Bill is an absolute pleasure. Can't go wrong with HI.
 
blindref,

im with ferrous and hoghead on this one, if you are a big chopper, or just like big (but not too big) knives, an 18 AK is a beauty. Thats what Ive got (sadly all ive got:( , finances are limiting), and i get a helluva lot of use out of it. every time i walk in the woods (frequently) i carry it on my belt to clear deadfall, and for a lot of the downfall on trails, i find it more efficient than an average axe. it may not slice the small stuff as well as the thinner blades, but it still does the job, and when it comes to splitting and chopping, you will be glad its in your hand.

Quad
 
16.5" WWII by Bura. The one khuk to grab when the task is unknown.

Also great sleep enhancer. Place in reach, drift off to sleep. just don't sleep in the nude or you might end up missing something valuable.

Horn handle preferable, but wood is fine if that's what's in stock. Don't go to the 18" size, it changes the balance from perfect to merely superb. I had the 16.5" and let it go. I tried a wood handled Sher 18", but it isn't quite the same thing. Bill sent an 18" horn handled Bura. Not what I wanted but I couldn't make myself send it back. 17" M43 ain't bacd neither.
 
I am currently in the process of getting my friend in the marines a khuk.

I have decided on the 16.5 inch WWII model

the reason is that its a little bit lighter than the AKs bcs its made for a more "dual" purpose role. fighting as well as chopping.

keep in mind that there is variation btwn same models becaseu they are all handmade and also each kami makes their blade in "their vision" of what it should look like. So there is overlap in weight and sizes.

My first and only blade is a 16.5 AK chiruwa. I love it but its very hefty on my belt when sheathed.

I recomendthe following in no particular order as your first khuk:
15 AK
BAS
AK Chiruwa - If you want something more heavy duty
16.5 WWII

note that UB thinks that the WWII is the best all around model.
 
Blindref, my wife's grandmother is from Wales (sidenote). My first khuk was a BAS and it was a good choice. You can decide from there where you want to go with the next one; up or down, bigger or smaller, heavier or lighter. Even with the others I have, the BAS is probably the most handy around the house and yard. There are very few tasks that it can't handle. Bigger chores get bigger khuks; chopping firewood gets the 18" AK or 20" Sirupati. Light branch trimming gets the 15" Sirupati, not because the BAS can't handle it, but because the 15" Siru feels so good; lighter and quicker than the BAS.

Well, I'm sure that cleared things up for you. :D I guess you are going to have to do like a lot us did and resign yourself to the fact that you can't go wrong with a khuk from HI. Rest easy knowing that your first will not be your last.

Welcome to the cantina.

Ben
 
My first khuk was a BAS while I was living in Dublin and it was a magical experience, my second favourite after that would have to be my Chiruwa which I gave to a very good friends Dad.

As a first I would recommend the BAS as you will deffinetly get one at some point and why not begin with it. Also remember these are big knives - so at 15 inches and about 600 grams - it's gonna seem like a beast at first.

Ask Uncle to make the choice for you - you won't be dissapointed with any of the HI khuks.



;)
 
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