20" Ang Khola-some specifics.

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May 21, 2008
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Im thinking of ordering a 20" ang khola in the near future and I was wondering if there is anything you guy's would recommend that I take in to consideration before making a purchase,styles,handles,etc.
And if any of you gentlemen have a 20" ang khola and a cold steel kukri could you post a pic of them together.I own a cs kukri and would like to get a visual size comparison.
Thanks
 
I can attest that the cutting power and edge retention on my 20" Ang Khola is amazing.

However, it has a fat handle and if you have small hands it might be difficult for you to grip it well.

I have a nice photo comparing it with a Chitlangi and a Sirupati so you can see the dimensions:

HPIM0934.jpg
 
I don't have a CS kukri machete to compare it to.
I have a preference for the Chiruwa style handle (exposed tang, pinned scales), but in reality, even the hidden tang models are still a full tang, and are massive.

The handles are beefy. I have wide hands and it fits me great. Most smaller kukris feel small in my hands.

Going by dimensions, a 20" Ang Khola is going to be massive compared to the Cold Steel.
Even going with CS's Gurkha kukri (which is their big one), it's 5/16 thick, 17" long and 22 oz. By comparison a 20" AK will be roughly a half inch thick, 20" long and 3 pounds, maybe a bit more. I special ordered one and asked it be no less than 3.5 pounds. After many kukris, even the Dui Chirra I picked up recently, that first 20" CAK is still my favorite.

I can't say enough good about it. It's a chopping powerhouse. It has a LOT more power than any of my 18" kukris -- more than an extra two inches would make me think. However, it's not what you want if you're going after a lot of light vegetation.

As for what to look out for? Not much. Yangdu toldme a wood handle will hold up to extensive use better than horn, but guys here have used the heck out of their horn ones with no problems. Chiruwa or non-Chiruwa seems to be a personal preference thing. Basically, pick what you like the best. Read the section on how to test them. When you get it, run it through the tests. Assuming it survives, chances are it'll outlive your grandkids.

Pic of 20" Chiruwa Ang Khola:
GiantCAK01.jpg


ETA: there is one thing you need to watch out for. It's called HIKV -- Himalayan Imports Kukri Virus. It's an aggressive virus transmitted by contact with HI kukris that makes you compulsively buy more. Sometimes it cross-infects and you get HIkV (small "k") -- Himalayan Imports Knife Virus, or HISV --Himalayan Imports Sword Virus
:D
 
Mine's 42 ozs.
I think a regualr 16.5 inch CAK at around 32 ozs is as heavy as you would ever practically need or be able to carry.
 
I own a cs kukri and would like to get a visual size comparison.
Bear in mind that visuals and measurements alone won't give the full story.....
Handled a long CS "bowie" machete a few weeks ago, and it felt totally dead compared to any of my kukris.
 
More to consider.... I've just been out cutting down several large burdock plants which ought to have been seen to a while ago (but weather and other jobs got in the way). The stems are thick, tough, quite spingy and with solid pith inside. At this late stage, problem is that with vibration the seed-heads are going to fall off and are a real pain to collect up.
I tested three types of cutting tool aginst each other....
A Yorkshire-pattern billhook (weighs 3lbs and is 25" long).
A chopping type of kukri, 26oz and 19" long.
A sirupate, 30oz and 20" long.
All very sharp, and have more than enough power to cut the burdock (near ground level) at one stroke, but only the sirupate offers sufficient tip-speed to slice clean through with hardy any shake.

Know from before that a lighter sirupate (21oz, 21") would also have gone through - but in doing so, it requires even more speed to compensate for its lesser mass.
 
ETA: there is one thing you need to watch out for. It's called HIKV -- Himalayan Imports Kukri Virus. It's an aggressive virus transmitted by contact with HI kukris that makes you compulsively buy more. Sometimes it cross-infects and you get HIkV (small "k") -- Himalayan Imports Knife Virus, or HISV --Himalayan Imports Sword Virus
:D

Yep, it's quite virulent, and MediCare doesn't cover it. :(
 
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