And so seeks a brash youth a first khuk

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MagenDavid

Want some Kosher Salami?
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Nov 2, 2008
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I imagine the title is rather explanatory.
I'm not new to the khuk as a concept; the only martial art I've ever really formally trained in is Bando, so I already own a couple. But they're more or less trainers that I went so far as to file the edge off of for safety's sake.
But I digress. I'd heard Himalayan Imports makes the best kukris around, and owning one seems like a glorious notion. What would be a good blade to start with? The World War II, BAS, and M43 are certainly the most familiar looking, but do they perform well for chopping wood and clearing brush? Is there any particularly good "all around" blade style?
 
First of all, welcome:)

The Ang Khola is HI's best selling khuk. For a chopper, you can't be it. Also, the BAS sells rather well from what I understand. Light enough to use as a weapon, but tough enough to chop with. Uncle Bill used to say that the WWII was the best compromise between weapon and tool. I happen to agree. The WWII was my second khuk (of 40+), and i still find use for it.

I will say that I tend to enjoy the M-43 very much. I just think the WWII outshines it in the work regard.

Once again, welcome:D
 
Is the WWII model the best of that group, or the best of them all? The Sirupati looked interesting, but certainly subordinate to the Ang Khola for chopping. But does the AK perform well for tasks like brush clearing or food preparation, which would seem to favor a design like the Sirupati or Kobra?
 
My favorite is the M-43, it moves in my hand like music, and chops better than anyone would ever believe. I've used mine to build a couple cabins and as my primary survival tool for a long period of time.

Welcome to the forum.
 
I would have to agree with Wildmike so far. I've only had my M43 for a few days, but it's taken everything I've thrown at it so far. More than strong enough unless you're felling some serious trees, in which case get a good axe. It's also light enough that your arm doesn't feel like a wet noodle after prolonged use. I also like the slightly curved handle on mine. I'm not sure if all M43's are that way but it fits my hand like a glove. Having said that, I doubt any of the previously mentioned khuks would disappoint you.
 
Bear in mind also that I'm a mere novice when it comes to HI khuks, so the opinions of other forumites should certainly carry more weight with you.
 
I'm guessing that, within reason, there's no "best" for a first, then? I assume a 20 inch Ang Khola would likely be in poor judgment, but it seems any blade in the 15"-18" range will more than suffice for whatever task to which I put it?
Also, is there a preference between horn and wood for a handle?
 
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Welcome!

Ordinarily, folks who come around here looking for first Khuk recommendations are in the market for 'a good bush tool that could also whack a head or two if the need arose'. Given your bando background, I would ask if you are looking for 'a good head whacker that could also chew some boonie if the need arose'?

If you are looking for a user that is "familiar" to your trainers, go ahead and order whatever most closely resembles the profile of what you've got. Odds are good it will be heavier, and better suited to doing more than just MA stuff with.

I never studied bando myself, but there used to be a BIG bando tournament where I went to school every year in Athens, Ohio. (That was before the local hippie population decided it glorified violence and asked the organizers to move on.) It was too long ago for me to accurately recall patterns, but I'm guessing a BAS or (my favorite) a Malla might work pretty well for you.

Don't fret over your choice too much, though- any HI khuk will do a variety of tasks well, and whichever one you pick will most assuredly not be your last. ;)

Again, welcome! -and let us know what you pick and how you like it. :thumbup:
 
MacHete said:
I'm guessing a BAS or (my favorite) a Malla might work pretty well for you.
Click to expand...

Even though I'm also a n00b, I already have several khuks. Beautiful khuks, powerful khuks.... I just sit around sharpening them, polishing them, admiring them. But there's one that just feels right for using on just about any task. The one that, for me, is the best crossover between chopping & kitchen & digging & defense tasks.... the Villager BAS. If I could only take one on a survival mission - thats the one I'd take.

This thing is made hella strong.... feels like it could stand up to anything you could ask of a knife. Almost half an inch thick at the spine with the spine tapering down to 1/4" at the butt of the handle. Differentially hardened, sharp, balanced & just all around tough. I've got some plans to mod the handle a bit. It is one mean piece of pointy metal:

villagerprofile.jpg

villagertaperedtang.jpg

villagertang.jpg
 
Wow. You know, this forum is like Cheers. Except knives replace the beer mugs.
I'm not so much in the market for a weapon of war. I mean, I guess it'd be nice to imagine that I could deal with a threat if I had to. But, truth be told, I shoot competitively, and would be far more at home using my Glock 19 to deal with bellicose threats.
It seems to me, though, that the fearsome renown established unto the Gurkhas with their strange, boomerang-shaped knives is more a result of their day-to-day use of those knives. In that vein, I'd like my first khuk to be something I could use every day to feel and make friends with. Maybe down the line I'd buy one as more a weapon of war, but the idea of using my khuk for lopping a head or two is little more than a thought expiriment. For this reason, a familiar shape isn't so important to me, since I don't plan on doing many salutations or meditations with the khuk.
So I resort to a method as sophisticated as what looks good and fun. It seems to be somewhere between a sirupati, an AK, and an M43.
Does horn or wood make a difference with any of these? For that matter, does length?

EDIT: That BAS is a few kinds of familiar and beautiful.
EDIT 2: What is a villager BAS? Are there other "villager" models?
 
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Villagers are less finely finished versions of the regular H.I. models. Sometimes, they are khuks made by kamis other than those of H.I., but of such quality that Yangdu feels they can be covered by H.I.'s reputation. For the smaller (well, 12 in long, 9 inch blade) sizes, they frequently have slightly longer handles. Many Westerners find this fits their hand sizes.

BAS means "British Army Service" I believe.

Horn/Wood...eh.

Tastes differ. Never had a failure with either.
 
It sounds like a 15" BAS or 15" AK would suit you nicely:) The differences between the two models are subtle. The AK will come in a little heavier or at least FEEL a little heavier. It'll probably split and chop just slightly better than the BAS. The BAS is going to feel a little more jack-of-all-trades. You're going to give up a little choppiness (maybe), but you'll generally have a knife that will handle everything you can throw at it yet balance nicely in the hand.

I have lusted after those villager BAS' for some time now. They are like a pretty girl without any makeup on. Elegant in their simplicity. I just never had the extra cash to drop on one when they came up on the deal of the day.
 
MagenDavid said:
So I resort to a method as sophisticated as what looks good and fun. It seems to be somewhere between a sirupati, an AK, and an M43.
Does horn or wood make a difference with any of these? For that matter, does length?
Click to expand...

Of those three the M43 is the middle of the road. The Siru is the lightweight, fighter-type blade, and the AK is the heavy chopper.

A Dui Chirra is also a nice (and nice looking) middle-of-the-road kukri):
DuiChirra01.jpg


Size does matter. A short kukri will not chop as well as a large one, and a large one won't be as easy to cart around. I tend to prefer 20+ inch ones, but that's because I see them as primarily choppers, and length and weight help this. My lightest and smallest is an 18" WWII, and for the chopping I do, I'd be disappointed in anything smaller. Also realize that they tend to make the kukris proportional. I.E. a smaller kukri will generally have a smaller handle.

As for handle choice, I asked Yangdu when I ordered my first (custom 20" CAK -- still my favorite) which would be better for hard use, she said wood. IMO polished horn looks better, rough horn is grippy enough, but for all around use and looks, I think wood is tops. I think it's going to come down more to which do you like the look of best?
 
Go to H.I.'s website: http://www.himalayan-imports.com/
There is a wealth of excellent information on khukuris in general, besides what H.I. offers. There are also a lot of pictures of the kamis and Uncle Bill.

Once you learn about all the various types, you'll be able to figure out which one is right for you. Or just get one of each. ;)
 
I feel like the girl dressed in bumblebee colors from the video for No Rain by Blind Melon. Always out of place until I happen upon some field filled with people like me. Again, though, instead of tap shoes it's sweet steel Nepalese perfection.
It seems that my first khuk is destined to be a BAS.
Would a villager khukri lose anything to a regular one in terms of performance? How to they tend to compare pricewise?
While I'm pondering this all, does polishing the blade serve a function beyond aesthetics?
 
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I imagine the villager would perform just as well, but, as I've stated before, I'm a FNG here. As for polished steel, it seems to resist rust a bit better than unpolished. It also shows scratches a lot more than unpolished, so if you're planning on using the thing and scratches bother you, get the villager.
 
"Villagers" are the same as the regular kukris, except they aren't polished, and they'll be less expensive and generally sharper.

"True Villagers" are kukris with an as-forged blade, sharpened, the ones so far have come with a guard. They kinda look like hell, but work fine.
 
So here I sit, awaiting the arrival of my first khuk. My second khuk got here first, an 8.5" baby AK. I can't believe the attention to detail in such a tiny knife.
And for those wondering why the second one came first, the first one was a villager BAS that needed to be ordered, so I'm waiting for it to arrive from Nepal. I like the design and it comes recommended, and I wanted a villager finish so I wouldn't be afraid to really use it.
And, if the first khuk is anything like the second, I'm going to have to figure out how to support my habit, because I can already think of at least 4 more that I want.
Which leads to another question. Does anyone here have a hanshee-style khuk? If so, what's it like?
 
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