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As a "Registered User" you can't PM. Gotta spring the 10 bones for Basic membership, or Steven could send you an email, or turn on his email so you can send one to him
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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
2016! The year I'll get my first Khukuri! I need your help though...
- Thread starter Trailing Point
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Trailing Point, since this is to be your first Khuk, allow me to suggest the KLVUK because 1. It is your first and will be one of the least expensive khuks you can obtain from HI. The inexpensive experience gained with it will help you understand just which khuk you might want for a steady companion that is not quite so homely. 2. They are NOT fancy, shiny, or necessary svelte, but they are beyond work horses, they are out and out field mules! 3. They can be ruggedly used, abused, and like the old Timex watch adverts "They can take a lickin' and keep on tickin'." My experience has been somewhat extensive as there are well over 200 hours with my Kesar Lal cutting 1-2" saplings and small tress up to about 15 cm. The tip gets buried into the soil time and again. A few, I stand corrected, several small stones have been struck and I've only rolled an edge one time by striking a piece of buried concrete. The blackened and rough forge finish still looks blackened, perhaps more brown now, but it's rough forged finish has not been hurt in the least and actually looks better through use....and I don't worry over it when it gets loaned to a friend! A drawback is they normally do not have a sheath. Mine didn't so Pugs (on this site) made a superb pair of pants for it and now ol' Kesar may be homely, but he's dressed to the nines!
On the other hand, I also have a custom M-43 which is larger than the KLVUK and has more flash. Through use & experience, I feel that if a person can have only one all-around khuk, the M-43 is the khuk to have. It's robust, relatively handsome, and can take off someone's leg like it was hot butter. I've thrown mine quite often at playing cards stapled to tree trunk slabs like one does when throwing tomahawks or knives, (and heads do get turned when I do) and the blade can take the abuse. It has severed a 11 cm walnut tree (and only one) with one well aimed and planned blow. It's down side is that is heavier as one expects military style equipments to be.
On the other hand, I also have a custom M-43 which is larger than the KLVUK and has more flash. Through use & experience, I feel that if a person can have only one all-around khuk, the M-43 is the khuk to have. It's robust, relatively handsome, and can take off someone's leg like it was hot butter. I've thrown mine quite often at playing cards stapled to tree trunk slabs like one does when throwing tomahawks or knives, (and heads do get turned when I do) and the blade can take the abuse. It has severed a 11 cm walnut tree (and only one) with one well aimed and planned blow. It's down side is that is heavier as one expects military style equipments to be.
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Shoot me a mail........ steven(at)seatechsa(dot)co(dot)za and we can talk.
Cheers mate
Steven
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Regarding the lion and other big ones, make sure the blade isn't too long. As much as reach makes sense in a fight you can prepare for, chances are high the lion will be on top of you before you realize it is there. A long knife needs more space to maneuver and is harder to draw it out of its sheath.
In a surprise scenario instinct will make you try to put your arms between the lion and your face and body to protect yourself. After that first reaction only you will remember to grab your knife. Wouldn't it be great if your knife is carried close to where your hands are at that critical moment when every split second counts, on the front side of your body?
The solution might be to have two knives. A longer Kukri on your belt or in your pack for when you have time and space to draw it and a smaller one on a neck chain, backpack shoulder strap or front of your belt.
In a surprise scenario instinct will make you try to put your arms between the lion and your face and body to protect yourself. After that first reaction only you will remember to grab your knife. Wouldn't it be great if your knife is carried close to where your hands are at that critical moment when every split second counts, on the front side of your body?
The solution might be to have two knives. A longer Kukri on your belt or in your pack for when you have time and space to draw it and a smaller one on a neck chain, backpack shoulder strap or front of your belt.
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No offence but have you ever seen a fully grown male up close?
A pre-64 Winchester in .375 H&H is the only "Lion knife" I want.
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Lol.
I've seen male lions. Even the small ones will give you trouble aiming and shooting when they are already playing with you.
"no offense" if you have to say that you know already what you are doing. Offensive is only that you singled me out to make some snarky comment.
So here is your little summary for easier reading.
The op asked for a knife which in an highly unlikely event might have to be used against a lion or other dangerous animal. .
Somebody else suggested it better be a long one for the reach advantage. I agreed that's good unless the lion is already on you since you will have trouble drawing a long blade and moving it around will be hard too if there is no space. Concluding having both options would be great. One smaller one on the ready in front and a longer one wherever it fits.
Hope that helps you a bit.
With the same reasoning a pistol might be better in a surprise attack than your winchester. Thus carry both. The long one if you have time and room to use it and the pistol on your body in case you dont have that time and space for example when that beast chews on you in your sleep.
Added:
https://youtu.be/ueJ2hA09iAE
Fake friendly tiger attacks.
They just give an impression of the problem I was talking about earlier.
I don't see a way of drawing aiming and using anything long. Look at the speed, covered distance and size and weight and what he's going for and remember thats only a friendly tiger. Even drawing something short from the front of your body might be futile but at least you got a better chance. If of course you see it coming or are actively hunting the animal then by all means go for something longer with more power.
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Interesting reply..........
Bawanna
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Always had a warm spot for pre 64 Winchesters myself. Had a 338 and a 375 back in my more lucrative days.
Highly doubtful any kind of pistol is allowed down in those parts but if it was I'd definitely have a pistol as well.
Size large.
Group hug, be happy!
Highly doubtful any kind of pistol is allowed down in those parts but if it was I'd definitely have a pistol as well.
Size large.
Group hug, be happy!
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Message me your details and your nearest Postnet branch and after Xmas I will send you a present.
That's why I love this forum and the people in it. Where else would you find a such a generous, good natured, and caring bunch of folks? I have yet to find a place like HI and its forum anywhere on the web or in person. The guys and gals here are simply the best. Auntie's karma is infectious, and the positive energy can be physically felt just from reading peoples posts. I applaud you Steven65 and everyone else with generosity in their hearts. The HI forum is one of the few places online that can put a smile on my face everyday.
Oh and Steve65... you are correct about your pre 64 Winny... I have a pre 64 controlled round feed Winchester in .280rem or 7mm express depending on which ammo maker you buy from. I know .280 is a bare minimum for large game, but the Winchester pre 64 controlled round feed action is dead nuts reliable.
The bolt captures the rim of the case and feeds it into the chamber all while keeping it within the extractor/bolt face. Other designs like Browning, Remington, ect don't control the cartridge. They just push the cartridge forward enough to release it from the magazine. The Winchester on the other hand can be cycled upside down, side ways, facing straight up, ect... Meaning the round will go in the chamber everytime and not fall in the dirt like other designs.
A .375 Holland and Holland would be perfect, but I think I would go with a .416 rigby lol.. just incase a Rhino charges.
A knife to defend against a lion? Unless you shoot him before he gets to you consider yourself DEAD MEAT! That cat can disembowel you with his pinky in less than a second. There have been people hunting lions for years and still do to this day. NONE of them consider bringing a knife as defense or a "backup" weapon. Throwing a rock or some other object would scare the beast away more than a shiny blade. Sure you might stab him or get a slash in, but it really doesn't matter because even if you could stab the big cat you would be bleeding out before you even got a chance to pull the blade out of the beast belly. Don't bring knife to a gun fight and don't bring a knife to Africa for anything other than general blade work.... of course this is just my opinion. I would rather walk around with a spear as back up than any knife.
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Mauser control feed actions like CZ's are the staple of most of the dangerous game rifles used down here.
Fortunately South Africa is still one of the few countries on the planet left where handgun CC is still permitted. Our gun laws have become far more draconian in the past few years but CC is still possible. That said I know of few bush professionals who actually carry a handgun for dangerous game purposes. The most dangerous thing down here still walks on two feet.
Thank you Sir. Your comments mean more to me than you can know.
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I've been blessed to be able to say I've been to SA on Safari to SA. I carried a side arm in a shoulder holster the entire time. Once even into a bank in Kimberly when we came out of the bush after a two week trek. Being from the States, I felt odd but, our PH assured me there was no better place to have a side arm than in a bank. Of course it was his wonderful SA humor. I also unintentionally came face to face with a CB in the long grass that gave me that infamous look that "I owed him a whole lot of money"! I felt mighty small even with a .378 Weatherby and side arm at hand. I venture to say if all I'd had were a blade of any type, washing soiled safari clothing would have been the least of my worries if he'd charged.
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Jens, I'm actually surprised that I'm mentioning this before you, but I have to throw the ASTK into the ring for consideration. Of all the HI khukuries that I own, if I could only grab one, it would be one of my Amar Singh Thapas.
Enough belly for skinning (in a pinch), enough point for pokin', stout handle (yes, I know, both handle types are stout), and a hole for a lanyard if you want it.
Both of mine were made my Lacchu, and are about the same length, but handle differently due to weight. One is a hair over 32 oz with a wood handle, the other is 26.4 oz. The heavier one feels like a one handed battle axe, the lighter one feels like a fighter. Never used either on anything living, but the lighter one works great on light brush, and processes heavier wood with no problems.
As for lions, I would suggest, whatever model you choose, that you forego lubricating the blade with any petroleum products in favor of a heavy coat of bacon grease. That way you can throw it down and gain a couple extra seconds to run while the lion stops to sniff it.
Enough belly for skinning (in a pinch), enough point for pokin', stout handle (yes, I know, both handle types are stout), and a hole for a lanyard if you want it.
Both of mine were made my Lacchu, and are about the same length, but handle differently due to weight. One is a hair over 32 oz with a wood handle, the other is 26.4 oz. The heavier one feels like a one handed battle axe, the lighter one feels like a fighter. Never used either on anything living, but the lighter one works great on light brush, and processes heavier wood with no problems.
As for lions, I would suggest, whatever model you choose, that you forego lubricating the blade with any petroleum products in favor of a heavy coat of bacon grease. That way you can throw it down and gain a couple extra seconds to run while the lion stops to sniff it.
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Sleeper, I second your bacon grease suggestion.
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I love both my ASTKs they are my best choppas for hard wood. But they are also my heaviest.
If they would come as light as my KLVUKs I'd have suggested one to the OP but then so light they wouldn't be an ASTK anymore. He mentioned mainly light brush, occasional chopping and
unlikely wild animal encounter last ditch scenarios
and thus was looking for something fast and light to carry.
Bacon grease might even repel vegetarian Rhinos? I use Lanolin, sheep wool fat, I bet the lion would appreciate that too but might need a dentist after biting on aunties steel but maybe he can straighten them out using the Chakma?
_
Anybody remember the lion which jumped into a car and killed the lady while the guy next to her got hurt trying to push it away? Spear/ long gun/ long Kukri or shorter knife / pistol?
Lions are fast and masters at stalking if it hunts you you wouldn't see it coming. Once you hear or see it you will have 1 second max. Please refer to the tiger attack videos above. Is that enough time to bring a spear between you two when you are surprised, when it's dark, when you wake up from your sleep, enough time to grab lift aim and fire a gun? Judging by my last car accident (some lady ran a stop sign) it's not enough time to react and all I had to do was hit the break with my foot. So me being a snail I'll probably be pinned down and maybe dead before I have a clue. In case I'm not dead yet I'd seriously prefer something short already hanging readily on my body when lying under a lion. Not really how I would chose to fight but the more likely scenario given a lions superior skills speed and strength.
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Just for our US friends the R1 is a FN-FAL built in South Africa by Lyttleton Engineering which produced all the small arms for the South African Military and police. Info >>here<<
In the late '80s I worked for the largest Arms and Ammo dealer in Natal and we serviced all the Natal Parks Board big game rifles. Mostly they were CZ 458 Win Mag's and a smattering of other guns. I don't ever recall seeing any handguns.
To me the Khukuri and the Mauser/pre-64 control feed action rifle share a fews basic traits.... elegance, reliability, and simplicity in design. In the African bush these are traits that are much admired.
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What a marvelous thread !
From inquiry to well-conceived replies, to a most gracious offer, to a small thread veer about fighting lions with a knife, back to the generosity of spirit and substance...
the heart of HI continues to beat strong after all these years.
Thank you, Gentle People.
From inquiry to well-conceived replies, to a most gracious offer, to a small thread veer about fighting lions with a knife
, back to the generosity of spirit and substance...the heart of HI continues to beat strong after all these years.
Thank you, Gentle People.