AK vs BAS

H

HoosierQ

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Feb 9, 2010
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Am I correct that the Ang Khola is a chopper? That the weight is more forward than the BAS? I know the AK has a more complex blade profile and looks to be a little more curved forward than the BAS. Chopping IS NOT the purpose formost in my needs and in fact will be limited to small stuff.

I ask because th BAS and the 15" AK seem to be very similar, if not almost identical in specs.

Thanks.
 
HoosierQ said:
I ask because the BAS and the 15" AK seem to be very similar, if not almost identical in specs.
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Unlikely.
AK has fuller and BAS doesn't.
The former also has a more acute tip than its distant cousin, CAK.
You could have a 1/2" thick BAS and 1/4" thick on AK and they probably fair the same chopping power.

BAS is one of the proven all-rounders (being that staple of British Army/Gurkha)
 
I've handled both, and both seem to perform about the same, actually. It comes down to who made the knife and how he was feeling that day. I've seen BAS' heavier than a normal AK. I've seen AK's that were only AKs in the sense that they had the fuller near the spine.

A khuk first and foremost is a chopping knife. It's going to come down to weight distribution, edge geometry, and technique to squeeze out the most "all 'round" utility. Personally, I would find a nice 15" AK that isn't a total bruiser in the weight department and has a really fine edge on it for a dedicated camp knife. It would give you a nice chopping blade for kindling and medium starter-logs yet would retain enough of a fine edge toward the cho for sharpening a stick for your hotdogs:D

However, a BAS of similar build would work just as well. I'd just go with what speaks to you:)
 
Steely

Well the BAS is the one speaking to me right now. When I say "not chop" it is in the sense that I am not going to use it as my primary chopping tool around camp. I'm a little too old for walking anywhere very far so I've got an axe in the vehicle for the serious stuff. But if I needed to craft a shelter or whatnot, I'd want a knife that could do it. I had an ESEE Junglas which is really quite a knife but as you say, it did not speak to me.

The tradition of the BAS is what draws me to it. WWII and M43 and AKs all seem to speak to me a little as well but I don't want my first one to be too heavy.
 
Sounds like a fine plan:) The BAS is a great jack-of-all-trades. I'd ask Yangdu what she has in stock or coming via Nepal. I've been a khuk knut for so long, I often forget that other knives CAN work if we press them into service. A BAS would be a great do-it-all knife. It'll chop kindling, make easy work of 2-3" trees for shelter poles, you can pound tent stakes with the spine, and since the tip is not really the sweetest spot on the knife, you can open MREs or force open a can if you leave your opener at home.

Let us know what you pick out and give us a review if you feel obliged to do so:) I love hearing the tales of a first time khukaholic:)
 
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