A little help on a Khukri purchase.

mapper66

mapper66

Joined
Nov 11, 2007
Messages
1,169
Hi, my first post here in the HI forum. Right off the bat, I know NOTHING about a khukri, but I have been intrigued and really want to try one out.

I'm looking at the first one listed in the 'Deals for 7/25' thread. Seems like a nice looking blade, what are the pro's and cons of the of the raised area in the handle vs. the handle profile of the 2nd blade shown there? Would the first type handle get in the way when you are chopping?

I'll admit I haven't done much reseach on khukri's. Should I slow down and take my time before purchasing, or is the one I'm thinking about a good one to jump in for some on-the-job training with?

Thanks for your help!
 
Mapper,

I would suggest a Ganga Ram 17"

I have a beater loaner and can send it to you to try if you'd like?
 
hollowdweller said:
Mapper,

I would suggest a Ganga Ram 17"

I have a beater loaner and can send it to you to try if you'd like?
Click to expand...

Sure HD, that would be much appreciated! Can you tell me a little about what you like about the Ganga Ram? Honestly, before I started this thread, I was going to PM you to ask your opinion. and we can work out the details on the loaner.
 
Last edited:
It has one of the better combos of weight vs chopping power.

I sent you an email but I'm leaving work soon. I'll try to remember to box it up this wknd.
 
The raised portion of the handle is supposed to serve the purpose of keeping your hand from sliding forward on the blade. Some people don't like it. I do like it. My style of chopping has my ring an dpinky fingers behind the raised part, gripping securely. My other fingers have a loose grip in front of the ridge. When I chop, at the last second, I give the blade a little wrist snap. This seems to greatly increase the chopping power of the blade.

My advice it to read the stickies on this forum, and go to the Himalayan Imports website, and read the history, use, etc articles there. They really do answer a lot of questions.

Kudos to Hollowdweller for his offer. I think you'll have a hard time not enjoying a Ganga Ram.
 
Cpl Punishment said:
The raised portion of the handle is supposed to serve the purpose of keeping your hand from sliding forward on the blade. Some people don't like it. I do like it. My style of chopping has my ring an dpinky fingers behind the raised part, gripping securely. My other fingers have a loose grip in front of the ridge. When I chop, at the last second, I give the blade a little wrist snap. This seems to greatly increase the chopping power of the blade.

My advice it to read the stickies on this forum, and go to the Himalayan Imports website, and read the history, use, etc articles there. They really do answer a lot of questions.

Kudos to Hollowdweller for his offer. I think you'll have a hard time not enjoying a Ganga Ram.
Click to expand...

Thanks! Is there room behind the raised part to fit your entire hand if you want to choke way back on the handle, or is that not really necessary with a khuk? I'm sure handling HD's loaner will tell me much. I'll check out the HI site.
 
I have Lg/XLg hands & each of my Khuks has a different size handle & the ring doesn't bother me on any of them. Yangdu picked out an AK15 with a larger than average handle for my first real khukri & it's still my favorite.
Uplander.
 
mapper66 said:
Thanks! Is there room behind the raised part to fit your entire hand if you want to choke way back on the handle, or is that not really necessary with a khuk?
Click to expand...

Maybe if you have little girls hands you could. :D

I find the ring to be a bit of a nuisance and I usually end up sanding them down on my khuks. I don't get rid of them entirely but I make them nice and rounded.
 
I have large but slender piano playing hands. :P Pinky and ring finger (or even just the pinky) behind the ring was what I found felt the most "right." Good to find confirmation from someone more experienced. I still might sand it down sometime, though.
 
Welcome Mapper. If you ever get as far east as Kernersville, I have a bunch you can try out.
Steve
 
The folks on this forum are continually amazing !!!

Or rather, I'm amazed that I'm NOT amazed at how gracious and supportive they are.





Kis
enjoy every sandwich
 
Thanks hollowdweller, looking forward to it. Man, I probably could have used a khukri this weekend. Was out 4 wheeling on a friends property on some established trails that had gotten overgrown. 1 minute fighting our way through blackberry brambles, the next needing to chop some saplings. On the plus side, the blackberries were really good.
 
mapper66 said:
Thanks hollowdweller, looking forward to it. Man, I probably could have used a khukri this weekend. Was out 4 wheeling on a friends property on some established trails that had gotten overgrown. 1 minute fighting our way through blackberry brambles, the next needing to chop some saplings. On the plus side, the blackberries were really good.
Click to expand...

You live in NC so it's similar to WV. IMO khuk is a great woods tool in the deciduous forest.
 
That is the BGRS "Baby Ganga Ram Special"

Every now and then it's 18 but most of the BGRS's I've seen are 17" I hadn't weighed it lately but it was 23oz. A few years ago I chopped a stuck chainsaw out with it and really tore the edge up and took it back a good 1/8" so it may be LESS than that now I don't know.

notice the cracks in the horn handle. I put poly on it and finally got them stopped but the handle is solid. Don't worry about cracking it off.

Also remember in chopping you don't wail away with it. Best way is to hold it with your back fingers and swing and sort of snap it right at it impacts. If you hold it tight it's harder on your shoulder and arm.

In chopping something thick stand on the side opposite you are cutting and come in at 45's on either side of your center line. be sure to make your notch wide enough to where you aren't boxed in when you get down in it. If you lean over a bit you can even use the curve to cut slightly under a suspended limb/log.

Anyway after you've cut a good bit on one side back off a little and come down at 45's on the top part.

Then if possible change sides and open up your notch on the other side and by that point you should probably wind up with 1" or less you can either chop the bottom of the log thru or straight down thru it.:thumbup:

The thing is with a khuk you really want to be payng attention to your aim and angle to remove the greatest possible amount with one swing versus just chopping like hell as hard as you can. You are using the khuk blade to take it off all around the log the way a beaver gnaws a tree down. You want precision and efficiency in your cuts:thumbup::cool:
 
hollowdweller said:
That is the BGRS "Baby Ganga Ram Special"

Every now and then it's 18 but most of the BGRS's I've seen are 17" I hadn't weighed it lately but it was 23oz. A few years ago I chopped a stuck chainsaw out with it and really tore the edge up and took it back a good 1/8" so it may be LESS than that now I don't know.

notice the cracks in the horn handle. I put poly on it and finally got them stopped but the handle is solid. Don't worry about cracking it off.

Also remember in chopping you don't wail away with it. Best way is to hold it with your back fingers and swing and sort of snap it right at it impacts. If you hold it tight it's harder on your shoulder and arm.

In chopping something thick stand on the side opposite you are cutting and come in at 45's on either side of your center line. be sure to make your notch wide enough to where you aren't boxed in when you get down in it. If you lean over a bit you can even use the curve to cut slightly under a suspended limb/log.

Anyway after you've cut a good bit on one side back off a little and come down at 45's on the top part.

Then if possible change sides and open up your notch on the other side and by that point you should probably wind up with 1" or less you can either chop the bottom of the log thru or straight down thru it.:thumbup:

The thing is with a khuk you really want to be payng attention to your aim and angle to remove the greatest possible amount with one swing versus just chopping like hell as hard as you can. You are using the khuk blade to take it off all around the log the way a beaver gnaws a tree down. You want precision and efficiency in your cuts:thumbup::cool:
Click to expand...

HD thats a great Khukuri Chopping tutorial. :) Nice of you to help out Mapper with testing. :thumbup:

BTW I got to handle one of HD's Bone cutters a few years ago (when the other company was still around) he had modified the handle a little. It was really nice. HD does good work.

Heber
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top