Bark River Evo VS Khukuri

H

hollowdweller

Joined
Sep 22, 2003
Messages
13,182
Anybody got one of the Evo's? How does it compare to a khukuri? I like the convex edge but it's more $$ than a khuk and I wonder if it chops that much $$ more.
 
When you get right down to it, IMO nothing really chops better than a khukuri! I like the Becker Brute as a chopper / knife combo, and the Evolution (aka old Blackjack Mamba) falls into that category. It is strong as hell, and can also be used as a camp knife / fighting knife if need be. It comes with a nice kydex sheath and two sets of scales. Great convex edge. I got one just because after this batch is gone that's it, and it's a fearsome, very well balanced knife with an excellent guard. I had a thread about one here somewhere; I'll see if I can find it and post it here.

Regards,

Norm

AG Russell link:

http://www.agrussell.com/knives/by_maker/a_through_d/bark_river/bark_river_evolution_i_black.html

Outdoors Magazine.com knife review link:

http://www.outdoors-magazine.com/s_article.php?id_article=153

Here's what I wrote about it at the time:

"Wanted to share with you this new blade I have been waiting for. Just got one of the last of these with the green micarta scales. I used to consider this a huge knife (at 9.5" blade), but after handling all of these HI blades it doesn't seem so big anymore! Overall length is 15", but weight is right at about one pound so it handles really nicely. Has a very well done convex grind, and only required a touch up on the leather to get very sharp. Very khukuri-like as far as the grind and blade shape are concerned, at least to my eye. It came with extra black zytel scales and some exotic wood ones as well, plus a good kydex sheath with tie downs. I always wanted one of these back when Blackjack was making them (the Mamba), but never got the chance. This is one of those that like a well-made Khukuri just seems to say "weapon!" even when just laying there.

Of course, a 15" Sirupati would probably do as well or even better for 35-40% of the cost (!), but this shape was just appealing to me. Hard to explain..."
 
I used to have an Evo...would cut corners like a banshee. I now ride an '01 Twin Cam Wide Glide...also cuts corners well, but a bit more securely than the Evo.
 
Svashtar said:
Of course, a 15" Sirupati would probably do as well or even better for 35-40% of the cost (!), but this shape was just appealing to me. Hard to explain..."
Click to expand...

THAT's the part I was wondering about. When you consider price vs utility I think a khukuri is hard to beat.

Right now I want to do a test and I may do it today. Now they are fairly even in price, but I want to compare my Pen Knife to the GB mini. Both are close to the same price. Both near the same weight, but the Pen Knife slightly heavier.

When I really was needing to go light last year on that dry trip where I had to carry 2 gallons of water I took the GB mini. But pulling my Pen Knife out I really think it comes real close to the chopping power of the mini, plus has a little more all around utility. But I think it's gonna be so close I think I need to have my wife time each cut and me count each chop to really know.
 
Trevor Gent said:
How about this Jensen blades, seems like a similar design;

http://www.jenseneliteblades.com/elite.htm
http://www.jenseneliteblades.com/sas.htm
http://community.webshots.com/photo/24565331/24782827bLWGEEvvBB
Click to expand...


Those are beautiful knives! But I daresay the Bark River Evolution 1 is a fraction of the cost and has a 9" as opposed to 7" blade. Both are convex grinds.

These _are_ very nice knives though. I really like the micarta handles. Look like the ones on the Reeve Yarborough.

Thanks,

Norm
 
a khukuri is kind of like an ax in that its form is made for chopping, and not to much else. you can use it for knife tasks, but they put a knife in with it (and a chakma) so you dont have to because it would be both extremely akward and ineficient.

in that regard, the khukuri will almost always outchop a normal knife, but a normal knife will almost always do normal knife things better, like cutting cloth and such. just more versatile in movement and weight.


however, i found that my basic 9 chopped better then my 15" siru. the siru, while it was more weight forward, wasn't as keenly ground. the handle of the basic 9 also allowed me to put much more force in my swing, because it was less likely to fly out of my hand. khukuri handles are great in that you normally dont have to put that much momentum into the blade to get it to do what you want, but with the smaller ones, if you chopping fast, you may have to start putting baseball bat style swings into it, at wich point the smooth wood/horn finish gets a little slippery. even with a 400 grit finish its still slick by nature compared to the more form fitting knife handle of basic 9.

that being said - 20" siru vs. basic 9, no comparison. none, 20 siru does pretty anything chopping i want it to, be it lighter vegetation to full on 8" thick logs, basic 9 gets left waaaay behind.



so... having said that i kind afeel like i just contradicted myself :confused:


lol... i guess what im aying is that your not likely to find a knife thats built as heavy as a khukuri, so the khukuri will normally out perform it as a chopper, but the knife will almost always be more versatile.

you just never find 1/2" thick knives these days.... (but you will once i get set up for it :eek: :D :D *shantz makes some as well*)
 
actually, the 15" siru did chop better then the basic 9, but the basic 9 felt so much better in the hand when you were doing it that it really made it seem like the basic 9 was pulling ahead. so to that degree id say that the basic 9 was a better knife for chopping, but the siru was more purpose built for it...
 
SethMurdoc said:
however, i found that my basic 9 chopped better then my 15" siru. the siru, while it was more weight forward, wasn't as keenly ground.
Click to expand...

I think you mention an important point. How fine the edge is. I have some khuks that you can shave with, but the edge angle is fairly steep and harder to cut with. Others have that fine edge, like Bura's stuff that I percieve as being easier to cut with cause it penetrates further and it seems like it's easier to cut with when you are down in the notch with it. On the other hand although I don't do it, I'd bet the fatter edge would SPLIT wood better.
 
honestly, with the way a khukuri is built, with its double angled flat grinds (the entire blade is at a v angle, but there is more then one angle involved), i'm pretty sure you can make it extremely keen and still have it split well.


comically, the keenest khukuri i have ever handled is my 30" ang khola :rolleyes:... of all the khukuries id like to have slightly thick (for safety purposes) it would be that one... but im not complaining :D
 
I've never used a Bark River EVO before, so I can't give an opinion from experience. It looks like a good knife. The thing that stands out is that although it has a forward weight, It doesn't have the same forward curve of a khukuri. I think that the combination of curvature and weight make the khukuri a chopper that's hard to beat.
 
The EVO's were a one-time run of (IIRC) 140 pieces. They are lighter in the hand than the original Mamba. Given the geometry and keen convex edge, the EVO probably cuts well for its length and weight (Many tests over at the other place say it does.), but I'll never know unless I somehow find a "user." Mine is a safe queen. The Mamba is a superior cutter as compared to the Becker Brute, which I found disappointing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top