Best fitting grip for Martini.

[Yvsa]

This is a great thread. It really does put things into perspective. My hands are just a bit smaller than yours, Yvsa. The main difference is width. That brings a great question to mind: which khukuri has the best-feeling grip in your opinion? It stands to reason that I would it similarly comfortable.

My numbers:

2 3/8
3 1/4
3 3/16
4 1/8
1 9/16

Martini I thought it best to make a new thread rather than getting Dan's thread off topic.

To answer your question most anything from 15" to 18" fits me pretty good.
Sometimes I have to file or sand a bit off a handle to make the fit perfect but not terribly often. And it is a common thing to modify any khukuri you buy as it personalizes it and makes it yours so to speak.

And for me personally the 17" Foxy Folly is the perfect khukuri but a 17"-18" BGRS, Baby Ganga Ram Special is also a really nice khuk that chops like a much heavier khuk.
But it depends on what style of khuk you like, some folks like me like the broad leaf blades and other folks like the thin leaf blades like the Sirupati. Any or all will do the job.:thumbup:

 

[Phil Brown]

Martini I thought it best to make a new thread rather than getting Dan's thread off topic.

A wise decision. I was a bit surprised to log in and see my name in a thread topic, though.

I was debating between an 18" and 20" Sirupati as a machete replacement for brush work (trailblazing). I guess I'll go with the 18". Now I get to debate wood vs horn some more, since I've already blown this month's knife budget!

 

[Yvsa]

A wise decision. I was a bit surprised to log in and see my name in a thread topic, though.

We're a friendly bunch around here Martini, hope you didn't mind. It was the best way of getting your attention though hunh?

I was debating between an 18" and 20" Sirupati as a machete replacement for brush work (trailblazing). I guess I'll go with the 18". Now I get to debate wood vs horn some more, since I've already blown this month's knife budget!

Well in this case I would say go for an 18" Chitlangi with a wood handle. There seems to be less problems with wood over horn and I personally think it is more comfortable.
The Chitlangi are generally but not always lighter than a comparable Siruptai and IMO also cut like a much heavier khukuri. I have a 21"+ that I'm quite fond of for a narrow leaf blade.
And besides the Chitlangi is fullered and I love fullers. IMO they serve a couple of benefits, a fullered blade is a lighter blade, and stronger because the fullers act sorta like an I beam.
But of course everyone has their own opinion as to what and how and some of the guys do have valid points for both.:thumbup:
A Sirupati will have the ability to cut heavier stuff on the rare occasion you may have too, it's mostly a matter of what kind of brush and the terrain you will be moving in that should determine which one you choose.
Anyone else reading this with experience with the Chitlangi and Sirupati feel free to jump in!:thumbup:

 

[Wolf_1989]

Today I tested the cutting power of my 25" sirupati against my 20" Ang Khola.

It was close, but I think the AK cuts better. Mainly it's because of the difference in edge geometry. Kumar put a very fine and slightly concave edge bevel on that AK. The edge bevel on the sirupati is more or less flat and if anything just slightly convex.

By testing different types of cutting, I'd say the AK definately made cleaner, slice-type cuts but the sirupati was the winner when it came to chopping. The AK can cut cleaner, but the sirupati hits harder. In both cases, it was due to the edge geometry I think and also the difference in balance because of the difference in blade length.

In a combat situation, I sure wouldn't want to be hit by either of them.

As brush clearing tools, both are excellent.

 

[Ad Astra]

Oh. For Martini, not "a martini."

Someone has to say it...


Mike

 

[Nasty]

I always try to hold my martini by the stem...it bruises the gin if it gets too warm.

 

[Phil Brown]

We're a friendly bunch around here Martini, hope you didn't mind. It was the best way of getting your attention though hunh?

I don't mind in the least; I'm glad it's such a friendly group here. Sometimes I can be a little oblivious, so grabbing my attention is a good thing.

So, are the fullers really the only difference between the Sirupati and the Chitlangi? I suppose I'll take the Chit if that's the case. I can see how the fuller would strengthen the blade, as well as stiffen it laterally. So what about the Baby Ganga Ram? I haven't read much about it so far.

 

[Yvsa]

Martini the other difference and one I really like is that the Chitlangi has a large bulbous end on the handle that besides being very comfortable helps keep the khukuri from flying out of your hand when doing heavy swings.

The BGRS is a wider bladed khukuri that also cuts like a heavier khuk to me and some others here.
It would be helpful to know what you mean to use a khuk for as they have overlapping tasks that each one is better at than another.
For stuff like blackberry, small grape, and other vines I would prefer the Chitlangi. For heavier wood chopping the Foxy Folly or BGRS would be better but remember these are my preferences and the other guys will have differing opinions.
I wish Dave Rishar would chime in as he has a lot of experience with blackberry vines and the like.

 

[Phil Brown]

It would be helpful to know what you mean to use a khuk for as they have overlapping tasks that each one is better at than another.

It's going to be mostly vines and very small branches - new growth - and occasionally some soft wood. Basically, everything my old machetes would do, but with the ability to chop up to 2" trees. I'm not going to be felling any large timbers with this (yet), just cutting a few new hiking trails and maintaining others. I'll get a heavier chopper for the tough stuff later.

 

[xinel]

I always try to hold my martini by the stem...it bruises the gin if it gets too warm.

They never last that long here

 

[Yvsa]

It's going to be mostly vines and very small branches - new growth - and occasionally some soft wood. Basically, everything my old machetes would do, but with the ability to chop up to 2" trees. I'm not going to be felling any large timbers with this (yet), just cutting a few new hiking trails and maintaining others. I'll get a heavier chopper for the tough stuff later.

The 18" Chitlangi would do such a job really well with a 20" + even better because of the extra reach, but with the two inches the handle gets a bit bigger and the weight goes up.
The 17" Foxy Folly would also do well if you could get a really light one, 25 ounces or less. Actually I would try to find one with that weight or less and certainly not more no matter which it is.
The heavier it is the more tiresome to carry over longer distances. Personally I would have a hard time choosing between these two if it were me seeking such a knife. One thing about it, whichever one you decide to get will do a much better job than any machete you have ever swung, IMO anyway and I'm pretty certain everyone here would agree with me on that account.