What is considered the best all around kuk for outdoor camping, hiking, and survival? I am a pretty good size guy not to concerned with wieght of knife looking for a kuk around 17 to 18". Have heard praises on WWII, Ganga ram, and M43. Definetly got some trees in mind that need to fall. Just looking for the best all around I am sure that is not an easy answer it just depends on personal preference. Main use will be occasional camping trip, chopping and splitting wood. Also would like a nice point if a forward thrust is needed. Just want a Knife that will show how great this design is and will make me a collector and addict. Appreciate all ideas.
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Best all around khukris?
- Thread starter BADDLEGG
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What is considered the best all around kuk for outdoor camping, hiking, and survival? I am a pretty good size guy not to concerned with wieght of knife looking for a kuk around 17 to 18". Have heard praises on WWII, Ganga ram, and M43. Definetly got some trees in mind that need to fall. Just looking for the best all around I am sure that is not an easy answer it just depends on personal preference. Main use will be occasional camping trip, chopping and splitting wood. Also would like a nice point if a forward thrust is needed. Just want a Knife that will show how great this design is and will make me a collector and addict. Appreciate all ideas.
I have been told by someone, whose opinion I respect, that the 15 inch SGT. Khadka CAK is "...a superb example of a general purpose kukri." I've also read that the WW II Mk III makes an ideal all purpose kuk. However, as has been said, different strokes for different folks. By the way, according to the HI site, the 15 inch AK is their best selling kuk. There must be a reason for that.
I've been using my CAK for some light chopping lately and it seems fine. I expect it's also light enough at 25 oz. to carry around.
I guess you have to start somewhere so, jump in and test the water.
Good luck,
Bill
I've been using my CAK for some light chopping lately and it seems fine. I expect it's also light enough at 25 oz. to carry around.
I guess you have to start somewhere so, jump in and test the water.
Good luck,
Bill
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I like the WWII, but most Ang Kholas are a bit pointier. 16"-18" AK or chiruwa AK should get the job done for you.
Ganga Ram is a heck of a chopper, but again, not so pointy. M43 is balanced more for chopping/slashing than stabbing. It would probably get the job done if needed.
Ganga Ram is a heck of a chopper, but again, not so pointy. M43 is balanced more for chopping/slashing than stabbing. It would probably get the job done if needed.
Yeah, I love Dark Chocolate too.
Welcome to the eternal debate. I asked this question as well and got a variety of answers.... Here's a summary of what i got out of earlier posts:
-weight and length - the optimal will vary person to person, i decided i wanted something around 15" so i wouldn't get my pants dragged down and that wasn't too heavy for multi-day treks
-The knife design itself... BAS, AK, CAK (though this weights slightly more), and the WWII were all recommended.
-Siru's, Kobras, and other thin, light knives were discouraged because you need alot more length to get the same chopping potential as the earlier mentioned knives.
-I decided an 18" was too big for what i had in mind, so i was/a, looking for something between 15" (BAS, AK) and 16.5" (CAK, WWII, maybe an AK)
-Similar idea with weight... i wanted something around 1.5ibs, so that eliminated alot of stuff.... like AK's over 16.5", most CAK's...
My two cents would be figure out what length and weight you want in a kuk, then see what knives are left in the equation. Really helps eliminate alot of the deliberation.
That said, a final point.
All HI Kuk's are wonderful. Whether you get a WWII, BAS, or AK, all have people who swear by each of them for the tasks and roles you have in mind. Any will serve you well, any will work well. You can't make a bad decision in choosing a kuk from HI
-weight and length - the optimal will vary person to person, i decided i wanted something around 15" so i wouldn't get my pants dragged down and that wasn't too heavy for multi-day treks
-The knife design itself... BAS, AK, CAK (though this weights slightly more), and the WWII were all recommended.
-Siru's, Kobras, and other thin, light knives were discouraged because you need alot more length to get the same chopping potential as the earlier mentioned knives.
-I decided an 18" was too big for what i had in mind, so i was/a, looking for something between 15" (BAS, AK) and 16.5" (CAK, WWII, maybe an AK)
-Similar idea with weight... i wanted something around 1.5ibs, so that eliminated alot of stuff.... like AK's over 16.5", most CAK's...
My two cents would be figure out what length and weight you want in a kuk, then see what knives are left in the equation. Really helps eliminate alot of the deliberation.
That said, a final point.
All HI Kuk's are wonderful. Whether you get a WWII, BAS, or AK, all have people who swear by each of them for the tasks and roles you have in mind. Any will serve you well, any will work well. You can't make a bad decision in choosing a kuk from HI
Munk posted 18 inch and 30 oz was the most bang for the buck in chopper. The next step up, to gain noticeable chopping power was a big jump.
Many of the long time members agreed, 18/30 was a choice chopper.
Most seem to think 15-16.5 are the best to carry. The least in weight and size that still chop well. Thats belt carry.
The WWII and BAS both have a strong following with very good reviews.
The M-43 has a love/hate following, some say best. Others don't like it.
There is also a small group that think the UBE and Pen knife are the best camp knifes that HI make.
It really is a Chevy/ford/dodge/ Toyota thing. What is 'BEST' will be what is best for you.
Many of the long time members agreed, 18/30 was a choice chopper.
Most seem to think 15-16.5 are the best to carry. The least in weight and size that still chop well. Thats belt carry.
The WWII and BAS both have a strong following with very good reviews.
The M-43 has a love/hate following, some say best. Others don't like it.
There is also a small group that think the UBE and Pen knife are the best camp knifes that HI make.
It really is a Chevy/ford/dodge/ Toyota thing. What is 'BEST' will be what is best for you.
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Personally I'd go with an 18" BGRS otherwise known as a Baby Ganga Ram Special. If I had to have only one it would be the 17" Foxy Folly at 26-28 ounces
and if I got too keep two then the 2nd one would be the BGRS and the rest on down from there.
But the 17" Foxy Folly was my baby and I was instrumental in getting it made.:thumbup:
and if I got too keep two then the 2nd one would be the BGRS and the rest on down from there.
But the 17" Foxy Folly was my baby and I was instrumental in getting it made.:thumbup:
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Is there any reason not to get the chiruwa over the non chiruwa AK? I am thinking about getting a 15" AK but will the handle not last as long as a chiruwa AK?
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The handle on ANY H.I. khuk will outlast you, in most cases.
Think of an alligator tail....thick, and with a very gradual taper, not a thin tail like a rat. The tip of the gator's tail is peened over on the keeper in the butt cap. It is not going to break.
There's a whole discussion (that will probably never end) about CAKs having a bit more vibration or impact shock than the conventionally handled.
The adhesive within the handle, called "laha" is a mixture of pine pitch, ashes, and er..other stuff. It may or may not absorb some of the impact shock. At worst, if after thousands of years of use, it loosens, it can be heated and it will flow within the handle and then cool and tighten up. (Ok... I may have exaggerated a bit...but you get the idea.)
Finally, reports are that in Nepal, the handles are the disposable commodity, whereas the blade and tang are the family resource. So, if a handle there has a problem, they simply make a new one.
Relax. Aside from styling differences, the major distinction is probably that with the weight of metal in a CAK, you have more balance, but less striking impact than with the unbalanced, blade-heavy conventional handle.
(end of sermonette.)
Think of an alligator tail....thick, and with a very gradual taper, not a thin tail like a rat. The tip of the gator's tail is peened over on the keeper in the butt cap. It is not going to break.
There's a whole discussion (that will probably never end) about CAKs having a bit more vibration or impact shock than the conventionally handled.
The adhesive within the handle, called "laha" is a mixture of pine pitch, ashes, and er..other stuff. It may or may not absorb some of the impact shock. At worst, if after thousands of years of use, it loosens, it can be heated and it will flow within the handle and then cool and tighten up. (Ok... I may have exaggerated a bit...but you get the idea.)
Finally, reports are that in Nepal, the handles are the disposable commodity, whereas the blade and tang are the family resource. So, if a handle there has a problem, they simply make a new one.
Relax. Aside from styling differences, the major distinction is probably that with the weight of metal in a CAK, you have more balance, but less striking impact than with the unbalanced, blade-heavy conventional handle.
(end of sermonette.)
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- Oct 3, 2006
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Well thanks that makes me feel much better. Once I get my 15" AK i'll be sure to post a picture and my thoughts on it.
In the back of my truck I have a nice AK with a 12 inch blade. My buddy attempted to break the thing, but had no such luck. The knife has survived everything. The blade is about 3/8 thick and somewhat less hard than usual. The company that produced it was N.K.H. and I can honestly tell you, this thing is bullet proof. It sharpens up in a jiffy and can cut hard wood with the best of them. I am impressed. While not as hard as a Busse, this blade is truly amazing. It is tougher than I am without a doubt. N.K.H makes a knife that will last until the cows come home.
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Repeat of what Kismet said. There's probably about the same amount of metal in each style tang, but shapes are different. Chiruwa may have a bit more metal, but not by much.
If you wanted to get adventureous, the slab Chiruwa handle might be a bit easier to replace if you broke a scale or wanted to try something different. Plenty of people have modified their khuks to suit, if you're interested in that sort of thing.
If you wanted to get adventureous, the slab Chiruwa handle might be a bit easier to replace if you broke a scale or wanted to try something different. Plenty of people have modified their khuks to suit, if you're interested in that sort of thing.
Not sure if one exisits...there always seems to be "a compromise" when looking for the ONE ALL BEST anything. I have a 15"/27oz CAK and a 16.25/29oz CAK. Note that the weights were comfirmed on a postal scale. Both feed good in the hand but the 15 seems to carry on the belt better but 16 chops much better...is it worth the 2oz more to carry so I can can chop easier? Long backpacking trip maybe I can work harder chopping so I can have less weight. Having both...the choice is mine!! Which one is best...I still want WWII??
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To go along with what Kismet said, I just happen to be in the middle of a rehandling project with a UBE. Here's what the tang looks like:
This is fairly typical. I've seen handles break but not tangs.
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Too many good ones to choose but one. I always chime in for the 18" WWII. Generally speaking, I like my khuks in the 17-18 inch range (including as noted by Yvsa, the FF). They are great choppers while not being over heavy or too long. The BAS is probably the smallest I would recommend to somebody wanting a khukri.
By the time you get to the 15" and smaller, I prefer a heavy, non khukri knife because I think you lose a lot of the chopping ability anyway. I don't have a Pen Knife but I'd like one of them and I think that would be a great 12-15 incher.
By the time you get to the 15" and smaller, I prefer a heavy, non khukri knife because I think you lose a lot of the chopping ability anyway. I don't have a Pen Knife but I'd like one of them and I think that would be a great 12-15 incher.