A little help choosing the right Khukuri

S

Shadow101

Joined
Sep 23, 2009
Messages
59
After weeks of reading trying to figure out what I "need" / want I thought I would ask here.
I am looking for a hard use khukuri that will be used as a survival type blade. Chopping,hacking out in the woods. I am an avid outdoorsman, and usually carry a 12 inch Ontario machete. I have wanted a khukuri for a few years but never commited the funds. mainly due to the options.
I am not concerned with fit and finish as I will use the blade.
I would like the best compromise between weight and length vrs. carribility.
Most of the time it will ride on the pack but I can think of several instances it will be on my hip.
I like to build survival shelters, fires, chop my way through mtn. laurels and briars. Most of the time I am teaching woodscraft to a bunch of youngun's in the Boy Scouts so tough is key, but price is also very important to me.
Any help, tips, or advise ya'll can give would be much appreciated.
 
Check out yesterdays sale there is a WWII and a BDC both of which are good all around kurkris and for what they are being sold for you cant go wrong...
or you could wait for a M43 to show up, it has gotten some great reviews as of late.
 
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my ww2 does similar duty.. a slightly thinner edge than standard so that it goes through the finer stuff, but its a real workhorse of a knife.. it still kinda looks good too, distinguished with its patina and rough wear marks.
 
Any of these will suit your needs quite well and be warranted for such use. Being of medium build, I myself find a 15" khukuri to be the best compromise for length vs. weight. Larger people would probably find 18" quite suitable. 12" models will still chop well but are a little short for trail clearing and a little too small for wood splitting and such. As for weight, the churwa style will be slightly heavier than non churwa, but will be a good bit tougher in the handle area. Go as light as you feel necessary, but remember the lighter you go the less hitting power you have.

1) Chiruwa Ang Khola (the only khukuri warranted for use as prybar)
2) Ang Khola
3) British Army Sevice
4) World War II
5) M-43
6) Ganga Ram Special
7) Bonecutter
8) Pen Knife
 
Shadow101 said:
I am looking for a hard use khukuri that will be used as a survival type blade. Chopping,hacking out in the woods. .. .. ..I would like the best compromise between weight and length vrs. carribility.
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With those two conditions, an M43 will be the best choice. I think they come in 18.5" versions most often.
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I prefer my 20" CAK over the M43, but the CAK is not a compromise for weight vs carryability, it's a balls-to-the-wall toughest-you-can-get option with no regard to size or weight.
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I think M43's are a little big. As was mentioned, if you're going to be carrying the thing with you all over the place, 18" is going to get in the way, and the weight will be a drag. My two cents would be to not go over 15", 16.5" tops. As a result, go with..

Chiruwa AK, Ang Kola, or a British Army Service.

I've got a BAS and use it for similar things - it chops fantastically and isn't too heavy to take with you on the trail.

That said, i'm kinda a slight skinny guy...
 
For what your requirements are, it's hard to beat a 16.5" WWII. Just so happened to have been my 1st khuk.
 
Just buy the one that you think looks good and might fill your needs.

then you will become addicted to the power of the kukri, and end up buying a bunch of different models, and eventually you will have enough styles to fulfill every need you can think of.
 
There *is* a valid point here, about size: although I sure don't "regret" my 18.625" M43, a 15" BAS would be a lot easier to pack into my shoulder bag! But that's just one factor, so don't let it decide everything.
 
All of my khukuris are 20"+ and I don't have any problems hiking with them or using them for long periods of time.
 
I have an Ontario machete and a WWII. The machete is about 17.5" overall in length with a 12" blade and the WWII a tad over 18" overall with a 12" blade. The WWII is twice as heavy however (about 31 oz according to it's description) but not so heavy it's a burden imho. I was helping my friend and his grandfather cut some branches and rose trees for a good 3 or 4 hrs last weekend with it no problem. I would definately reccomend a WWII and if the 18" model seems a little heavier than what your looking for, I'm sure a 16.5" WWII would suit you needs.
 
My 25 in kobra has about a 19in blade...knives with that long of blade don't come up often you will more than likely have to order one. In all honesty once you hit that size they are more of a sword than a knife...what are you planning on using it for?
 
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gga357 said:
Which is largest? I need one with an 18" blade.
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Sounds like you're basing that off a machete length. You do not need a kukri that long to outcut a machete. If you really want one that long, get nothing heavier than a Kobra or Sirupate.

I have a 25" CAK, and it's over 4 pounds, I also have a 24+" Giant Chitlangi Bowie, and it's 4 pounds. They are brutal choppers, but not something you'll swing for long.

You might want to seriously consider the Kobra from this DOTD: Inventory Clearance Sales for 11/19

At 20 inches, it'll have 15-16" of blade, and at just under two pounds, it won't wear you out in 3 swings.
 
M-43! I used mine in just that duty over an extended period. It is the best combination of weight , length, and unbelievable chopping ability that I have ever seen.

As to being hard to carry. I never had a problem with it on my hip 10-16 hours per day every day. Carry of any new piece of equipment is something that one must adapt and get used to. It is much easier to carry than an equaly sized axe. Chops far better than an equaly sized machete. It also works very well as a chef's knife and is a bangup drawknife.
 
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