Ahhh! More Indecision

R

Radrunner

Joined
Mar 6, 2006
Messages
234
So, i still can't decide on a kukri. Suppose that's the problem with there being so many good ones huh? Now i know some of you will say "just buy them all!", and while i'd love to do so, my student wallet dosn't agree. So, after much deliberation and otherwise forum trolling, it's come down to the following...


15" Siru - 1.0 Ibs
BAS - 15" 1.25Ibs
18" Siru - 1.25-1.5Ibs.
15" AK - 1.5Ibs
WWII - 16.5" 1.5Ibs.

(CAK - 16.5" 1.75Ibs)

There are the specs to avoid people having to look them up, or heaven forbid recite from memory. They've been arranged by weight.

Decided to go with a horn handle. I like the look a little more than wood, and forum trolling didn't present that much of a difference in preformance or maitenance.

So now for the questions....

How big of a Siru do you need for it to be field effective (i.e. Trekking and backpacking in the back-of-beyond)
I doubt i'll go with the CAK because of the weight, unless someone can seriously sway me to their line of thinking. takers?
I guess my biggest question is BAS vs 15" AK vs. WWII. How do they compare? aside from the 15"AK being heavier, and the WWII being longer. What does the added weight and length get you? How noticable is the extra 1/4Ib, and how defining is the extra 1.5"?

Thanks for the help one again everyone, hopefully i'll finally manage to decide on a kuk.
 
The most useful and practical would be a 15" AK. It can do everything you need in the field.

The weight and length don't tell the whole story. I'm repeating but I'll try to put it another way. The shape or angle of a khukuri is more significant when swinging. Of course a 20" 2 1/2 lb is harder to swing than a 22oz Sirupati but take the same length or close to the same length, the geometry of the blade comes into play.

I like my 16.5 inch WW2 because it is light but the sharp"angle" makes it swing with more OOmph! [like my new terminolgy?].:D

It is in my backpack and goes with me into the woods. My 15" AK and BAS is in the fishing bucket and in the garage. I live in Florida and always need to do some "hacking". Because of the variety of vegitation, a heavy khukuri is not always needed and would be dangerous when tired or an over swing, do to a miss or light vines. That is why the BAS or 15" AK is a great compromise.

So, to your question, the AK and BAS carry easy, balance "neutral" in the hand, just a weight difference in the two. I like the AK for moderate wood chopping, & BAS for fishing, bait cutting, and "lopping off" fishes heads.

The WW 2 16.5 inch is just as good, just more weight foward, probably a good compromise in length and weight. I don't like the 18" WW2 near as much. It is the only khuk that ever slipped from my hand when chopping. Too much weight forward.

I hope I didn't muddy the water too much.:)
 
I have the BAS and like it very much, feels real good in my hand and packs up nicely. I don't have the chance to do alot of chopping with it (not many trees in the desert) but it works great clearing out the brush along my favorite fishing holes. But it also has to compete with my 20" siru for brush clearing, but the siru is mostly truck bound because of it's length (kinda scares the sheeple)
 
I first bought a 16 1/2" WWII, on the recommendations of folks here. It's a delight for all the wood-related work I do that requires me to carry my khuk any distance. I've thrashed it for a few years now, and it has taken everything in stride.

I recently got an 18" AK, for more "choppy" stuff, where I don't have to hump the extra weight around. I'm once again in love, but truly wouldn't want to carry the extra weight and bulk on a long hike. Power to spare, though; a more "advanced" khuk, for when your technique's already got solid.

I don't know the BASs or sirus ... though I will purchase a BAS for each of my two sons, for a coming-of-age present. A good length to start with, and not so much weight/length to swiftly get them out of their depths. To me, a siru hasn't looked like it would be as effectvie for the kind of wood use I'd give it - somewhat more weapon oriented, though often very pretty.

My $0.02
 
Well, Bill wouldn't sell me a 15" Siru for trekking in the beyond. Then again, I think I specified that I wanted to cut up firewood with it, and maybe our definitions of firewood were a bit different.

Given your specs, I'd go with a BAS, particularly if your hands are smaller (though I have fairly large hands and like my BAS). It's just lighter and more compact for backpacking. Price is right, too.

16" AK vs WWII are about the same - variations may depend more on the particular blade than the model. I'd try and get a thin version of either. It will still be plenty strong enough and heavy enough to chop. If you can only afford one khuk, make it this one.

18" siru if you have large hands, or want to cut more thin, brushy type stuff. Chopping performance is about the same as a 16" AK, in my experience, though the longer blade takes a bit more practice to use well.

go with the smaller siru if you like light weight backpacking, or plan on hiking more than 10 miles per day on multi day trips. This is the only one on your list I don't have direct experience using.

You could always wait for the right one to show up in Yangdu's deal pile. The right khuk will usually find you.
 
I've heard that the present 18" Sirupatis have the same feel as the original 18" WWIIs. If you like the looks of the Sirupatis, the 18 incher should serve you well.

Bob
 
I love my WWII 16.5" I have put it to very good use all around the backyard, cutting up limbs and such. I'am like a kid in a candy store when I'am swinging that thing. It can also handle some more delicate work if neeed. I've used the recurve area to strip bark off of poles, using it as a draw knife.

The BAS is just as nice, but is just a little less blade. Still, it can handle a lot of work for it's size. It feels a little more compact but very, very solid.

Between the two, the WWII just nudges ahead by a VERY slight margin, for what I have used them for, so far. That could, and very probably will change when I take them out camping next month. Taking the kids, (Wifes working) and heading out for a few days. They will both get used hard, in the field.
 
18" Sher WWII is THE ONE. My go-to khuk for all circumstances. I wouldn't necessarily consider the 18" WWII for your purposes, and I often carry a BAS or smaller AK while hiking. But sometimes a particular blade just fits.
 
12" ang khola small,light,fast in the hand great hacker wacker best of all it's VERY easy on your wallet.
 
After much deliberation, I think i'm going with the BAS. same length asthe 15"AK, but 1/4 Ib lighter, which at the end of a long days hiking will most definetly be noticable. that said, i'm going to wait on some YBB's, so if an AK pops up first, might very well get one of those. Just have to see what happens now :)
 
Well I decide to work my way in to getting them all. Then I can give a newbie some advice based on first hand experience. CAK coming in the mail soon.

JUST NEED A WW II AND BAS TO COMPLETE THE COLLECTION.
 
19"? don't even want to think how much that would weight. Either way, going to be a little too big and a little too heavy for the amount of hiking and backpacking i'm goign to be doing with it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top