Ang Khola Ready for Chopping

Horn Dog · Jun 22, 2009

I will be doing a little comparison beween some Khukuris soon, the 16" HI Chiruwa Ang Khola, Windlass Gurkha, and the new Busse Killa Zilla. I can't post the chopping results until after the end of November, but I was amazed at just how sharp I got the HI today. This thing is a beast!

Yeah, it's sharp. Cut my finger just trying to put some oil on it.

With the convex grind and all that weight (27 oz) and a nearly 11" blade, it should do well.

Wolf_1989 · Jun 22, 2009

Appears to be a very handsome CAK by Kami Vim.

:thumbup:

Jetblack · Jun 22, 2009

Very nice!!!! What method did you use to sharpen and polish your knife?

Horn Dog · Jun 22, 2009

Wolf_1989 said:
Appears to be a very handsome CAK by Kami Vim.

:thumbup:

Thanks, I could not remember the Kami's name. I modified the handle some, and gave it a convex grind. It's a good chopper, for sure. I am very impressed with all my HIs. I have two khuks and two large kardas.

Horn Dog · Jun 22, 2009

Jetblack said:
Very nice!!!! What method did you use to sharpen and polish your knife?

I used a belt sander.

C.S. Graves · Jun 22, 2009

Read the safety thread!

Luckily, we don't have major arteries running through our fingertips.

Nice villager CAK, HD! :thumbup: I will be interested to see the results of your chop-off-a-thon. It's a broad range of prices for the blades involved, and their manufacture involving everything from Kamis hammering away at truck leaf springs to super-steels being precision machined.

Horn Dog · Jun 22, 2009

C.S. Graves said:
Read the safety thread!

Luckily, we don't have major arteries running through our fingertips.

Nice villager CAK, HD! :thumbup: I will be interested to see the results of your chop-off-a-thon. It's a broad range of prices for the blades involved, and their manufacture involving everything from Kamis hammering away at truck leaf springs to super-steels being precision machined.

I know, there is a wide range of costs, materials, and production methods there. This KZ is Jerry's first khukuri, and he wants some test team feedback before he goes into full production. Making such a curved blade with with expensive steel using stock removal is a challenge.

C.S. Graves · Jun 22, 2009

Horn Dog said:
I know, there is a wide range of costs, materials, and production methods there. This KZ is Jerry's first khukuri, and he wants some test team feedback before he goes into full production. Making such a curved blade with with expensive steel using stock removal is a challenge.

I'm going to go lurk on the appropriate forum to see what more I can learn.

I'd imagine that, regardless of the end results, all the tools involved will offer some value for their respective prices. As an HI fan, I will endeavour not to get too fired up!

Horn Dog · Jun 22, 2009

C.S. Graves said:
I'm going to go lurk on the appropriate forum to see what more I can learn.

I'd imagine that, regardless of the end results, all the tools involved will offer some value for their respective prices. As an HI fan, I will endeavour not to get too fired up!

You won't learn much. All the test team (that's what they called us who ponied up the big bucks at Blade) are sworn to secrecy for six months. We report all results and send all test pics to Jerry only. But I figured the fine folks at HI would want to know that a HI Khuk is pretty much the standard to judge by. After all, a hand made Khukuri from Nepal IS a Khukuri! I will be comparing comfort, handling, balance, ease of sharpening, edge holding, and of course chopping performance. I figure that using two other full tang khuks for comparison will help me on any suggestions I may make to Jerry.

Here is the pic Jerry released of the Test Team Killa Zilla. Yep, it's a khukuri.

CallsThunder · Jun 22, 2009

Looking forward to your results.

MustardMan · Jun 22, 2009

I've been eying some H.I. Khuhks for exactly the same reason - I've got the Cold Steel knockoff version, but I feel like I need the REAL DEAL to do a fair comparison against my Killa Z...

I need to sharpen that sucker up, but it's taking a LOT of effort to work up the nerve to put a close to a thousand dollar knife to the belt sander.

Cpl Punishment · Jun 22, 2009

I understand you can't post the results and pics due to Jerry's restrictions.

But. . .how did the CAK vs Windlass go?

Wolf_1989 · Jun 22, 2009

Horn Dog said:
You won't learn much. All the test team (that's what they called us who ponied up the big bucks at Blade) are sworn to secrecy for six months. We report all results and send all test pics to Jerry only. But I figured the fine folks at HI would want to know that a HI Khuk is pretty much the standard to judge by. After all, a hand made Khukuri from Nepal IS a Khukuri! I will be comparing comfort, handling, balance, ease of sharpening, edge holding, and of course chopping performance. I figure that using two other full tang khuks for comparison will help me on any suggestions I may make to Jerry.

Here is the pic Jerry released of the Test Team Killa Zilla. Yep, it's a khukuri.

From the overall form of that, and I do dig it, it looks to me to be more of a modern Kopis than a Khukuri.

Horn Dog · Jun 22, 2009

Cpl Punishment said:
I understand you can't post the results and pics due to Jerry's restrictions.

But. . .how did the CAK vs Windlass go?

I just sharpened them up today. The Windlass has a 12" blade but is lighter at 22 oz. If it cools down into the lower 90s tomorrow, I should be able to do some chopping.

Horn Dog · Jun 22, 2009

MustardMan said:
I've been eying some H.I. Khuhks for exactly the same reason - I've got the Cold Steel knockoff version, but I feel like I need the REAL DEAL to do a fair comparison against my Killa Z...

I need to sharpen that sucker up, but it's taking a LOT of effort to work up the nerve to put a close to a thousand dollar knife to the belt sander.

It's no harder than your NMSFNO was, MM.

b.c.molin · Jun 22, 2009

Wolf_1989 said:
From the overall form of that, and I do dig it, it looks to me to be more of a modern Kopis than a Khukuri.

+ 1 on the comments of Wolf_1989.

Horn Dog · Jun 22, 2009

b.c.molin said:
+ 1 on the comments of Wolf_1989.

The curve is not that radical. It is similar to a kopis. That is one of the problems of making a non-forged khukuri. It takes very wide stock to use the stock removal method to make a Khuk.

b.c.molin · Jun 22, 2009

Horn Dog said:
It is similar to a kopis. That is one of the problems of making a non-forged khukuri. It takes very wide stock to use the stock removal method to make a Khuk.

Whatever it is I'm sure the results of your review will be informative.:thumbup:

Just a note, please add "Chiruwa" in front of the 'Ang Khola' to denote the full tang style of blade you will be reviewing.

MustardMan · Jun 22, 2009

Horn Dog said:
It's no harder than your NMSFNO was, MM.

Twice as expensive is twice as hard, at least mentally

I agree about the shape of the killa zilla not being a traditional khuk shape so much, but it's also got more curve to it than a kopis, too. It's in a weird in-between place, but definitely an impressive knife to hold in the hand. I would say it's pretty fair to compare it against other khuks, as there's not much else in anywhere near the same class as these monster curved blades.

Wolf_1989 · Jun 22, 2009

Horn Dog said:
The curve is not that radical. It is similar to a kopis. That is one of the problems of making a non-forged khukuri. It takes very wide stock to use the stock removal method to make a Khuk.

The Kopis/Falcata swords of ancient europe had many forms of blades. Some were very curved... and some were only barely curved. What makes your knife resemble more of a kopis (IMO) are two things: the shape of the handle, and the wider cutting bevels of the blade.

I'm not knocking that design at all. In fact I love it! It's visually stunning and the overall execution of the design looks impressive to me.

But then, I'm biased in favor of those groovy forward-curved choppers, no matter what one wants to call them.

:thumbup: