Best all around blade

A

Anttheknee

Joined
Feb 19, 2012
Messages
384
Ok, this is my first time posting in any forum anywhere, so please bear with me. I am trying (that is the key word), through hours and hours of research, to figure out what the best possible multi purpose camping/hunting/survival blade would be. I only believe in buying the best (because I'm a little O.C.D) so I have narrowed my search down to two types and two manufacturers. Can't decide which so.... I have decided, against my better judgement, that I am going to carry a Khukri and a machete. They will be respectively from H.I. and Condor knife and Tool because they are the best at what they do. The machete will be an 18 inch Eco-light for light brush etc, and the Khukri will be a Chiruwa ____________..............?????

I don't know.... I have been known to be indecisive in the past, but this decision goes a little deeper due to the fact that I will be buying two of them. One will be mounted in all its glory on my wall as it comes and eventually handed down to my offspring, and the other will be rehandled in micarta and used throughly. Any suggestions on the penultimate Khuk that will outlast armageddon?
 
From my researches, I've made a list that I will be getting over the year(s) that I plan on using heavily:

CAK
Foxy Folly
Tirtha Bowie (still haven't given up on this one)
AK Bowie
Pretty much anything with a Chiruwa handle.
 
cak

depending on your size get a 20" and the standard 16.5", 1 would be a good carry, the other for heavier usage

the ak bowie is another good carry knife for a big guy. since i got i have been carrying around and its not too bad.
 
Hmmm.... all great suggestions and unfortunately the root of my dilemma. I can't decide. Lol. Foxy Folly does not appear to be Chiruwa. At least not it the pics I have seen. The CAK seems to be growing on me, but which blade width or length I cannot say. How does 3/8" thick 18" overall chiruwa sound? Blades in that lenght seem to have the 1/2" spine mostly.
 
Simply due to weight and versatility I'd opt away from a khuk and go with a shorter more versatile blade......7-10" seems about perfect for all-round survival. I love the huge blades but find a smaller blade is lighter and better able to perform all camp/survival tasks. My preference is either anything from Fehrman(I own one)....and I mean anything, a lighter BWM(probably the LE that I own) from Busse, a Nexus Caio(stronger stainless steel for better performance in harsh conditions....which I own) or the Ozark Traditions Knife(OTK) company's one-off chopper/bowie by David(on order) in CPM4. Best pf luck.....all the above blades are at the top of the market regarding quality and craftsmanship......and, unfortunately, price!!
 
Agreed, they are all top quality brands, but IMHO I believe that a Khukri is a more versatile blade. I like the differential Temper and the fact that it can take enormous amounts of abuse, and the very reasonable price tag. If I chip a blade on a $450 dollar knife I will flip out lol. A well made khukri will probably bend first and be easy enough to fix. Also, there is the fact that they have an impressive history and owning a real one made by the men who have made them for hundreds years is appealing to me. call me old school I guess.

I figure the machete will be my Light brush/tall grass chopper, The Khuk my heavy chopper and Karda for the really fine work.
 
Yeah, I've been told they're strong knives. I already asked for both but haven't heard from Auntie yet. :(
 
Anttheknee,

You are up against a dilema, you are trying compare two products that are not really in the same category. The Condor kukri machete is not a kukri, it is a machete that is made with the shape of a kukri. The word kukri in the title is only describing the shape but is in no way comparable to a kukri, especially when used in comparison to a heavy chopping model like an Ang Khola.

A machete is made to cut thin flexible "vegetation" usin a thin flat sharp blade. While this blade [can] cut woodt will chip, break and even shatter when used in this role.

The kukri is made as a tool, as a weapon and sometimes a combination of both. The kukri blade is normally fatter, wedge shaped and not as sharp as a machete. The blades convex edge resembles an ax rather than a knife or machete. This gives it the power and durability to chop wood without suffering damage. If you can narrow down the tasks you will do with the kukri people on this list can hep you with model recommendations.

Good luck.
 
I love the ASTK Also..... That one in particular is not calling to me though. The ASTK seems like a good compromise between weight, speed, and strength. Maybe I will go for one of them. If I am carrying a machete and a khuk I guess the ASTK is my best bet. The CAK has my full attention though, but I fear it will be a burden. Ok, so I'm getting there, narrowed it down to CAK or ASTK in 18 inch. Anyone Have both?
 
Shortwinger,

I never mentioned the Condor "Khukri like object", Just there 18 inch Eco-light which I have purchased for light vegetation. Though it may have a purpose, it isn't something I am interested in.
 
Ant,

If you are already gonna carry a good machete, get a shorter lighter khuk, like a WWII. Or just the WWII with a SAK. Bill, the guy that set up and used to run the American part of the HI business, used to say that if you are gonna have ONE khuk a WWII would the everything Khuk, from a decent fighter, to ok brushclearer, to good wood chopper. I have heavier and lighter khuks, bigger and shorter ones and this WWII seems to be the everything knife Bill spoke about. That WWII, and the karda and chamka, coupled with a Swiss champ SAK and I don't think there is anything you couldn't handle. Nothing. Really how important is it to clear brush or heavy grass. I'm from Brazil. Long before the euros came with their machetes, the indigenous folk did just fine without machetes. This idea of hacking a path, instead of picking a better one, is abit silly unless you are clearing a permanent set up, and for camp that is unwise and unnecessary and for survival unwise if on the move- good way to hurt yoruself. Machetes are superb everything blades and solid made machete in at least 1085 (preferably in 1095) would be my second choice to a WWII. Third would be a BK9 or swamprat battlerat, for an EVERYTHING blade (clearing, chopping, fighting, digging, cleaning etc). I think the EVERYTHING one blade theory is abit silly as a machete is not too good in cleaning a small fish or squirrel, but coupled even with a small folding knife one really could do everything, and this is what most brush people do: a machete and a small very sharp sheath knife. Thats why a Khuk with a karda is such a superb set up. So, check out the WWII or the British army khuk- u will actually carry them unlike these other enormous 1/2 inch thick 20 inch long battleships.
 
Willy, Thank you very much for that. Very insightful. You seem to know your stuff. I Have, however, decided that I am going to buy more then one :0) and when iI I have several at my disposal I will pick my favorite. Its nice to hear that you also hold a quality machete in high regards. A truely great tool. As for the machete steel I prefer a softer 1075 only because it will be more likely to fold then chip. Purely a matter of prefernce though. Thanks again.
 
JayGoliath said:
Get a Gelbu special......hm why do i spoil you right away?
Click to expand...

Yeah, Jay, whatta you tryin' to do? Keep him from trying all of the other HI khuks by recommending him the best first? Let him try all those heavier, clunkier khuks and then realize its all right there in a slim, trim Gelbu Special.
 
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