Bushcraft khukri

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kage

Joined
Oct 25, 2006
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Greetings everyone! I've never posted here before but contribute regularly on Wilderness & Survival Skills subforum. I'm looking to get a new khukri and you guys are obviously the ones to consult.

I've owned a Cold Steel (ATC I think), but didn't care for the handle at all, so gave it to one of my buddies in the Army with me. I also picked up a khukri while in Nepal years ago, but never really used it due to weight and size (I have no idea who made it or what it was designed for, but it was probably in the 18-20" range, and at least 1/4" thick (correction, I meant 1/2" thick at the spine), which made it too unwieldy for backpacking for me), so I ended up giving it to a friend who was fascinated by it. I got it at an antique shop in Katmandu.

Now I have the bug for one again and feel it would make a nice addition to my tools (I use an axe, hatchet, saw, fixed blade, machete, folder, SAK and multi-tool in different combinations for different situations, but usually in a trio consisting of a chopper or saw, a fixed blade and a folder, SAK or multi-tool). I'm been reading through the threads the last couple of weeks to try to figure out which one might be best (and now I really want a Tamang for SD use and training!), but then decided to ask you guys directly.

What I'm looking for is something for bushcraft use. Limbing trees, cutting wood, possibly some finer wood work, etc. What I'm looking for is something that is a compromise between performance, weight and packability. I'm thinking something in the 15-18" range maybe?

So what do you recommend?
 
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I was going to suggest a Tamang but you already want one.
What exactly do you mean by "finer woodwork" and what weight range are you wanting?
 
kage said:
I also picked up a khukri while in Nepal years ago, but never really used it due to weight and size (I have no idea who made it or what it was designed for, but it was probably in the 18-20" range, and at least 1/4" thick, which made it too unwieldy for backpacking for me), so I ended up giving it to a friend who was fascinated by it.
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Well, there's a killer right there. 1.4" would be a super thin kukri. Most HI kukris start at 3/8".

Just about any kukri will do for what you are asking it to do (and coem with a karda for the finer work).

If you really want a light(er) multi-purpose blade, I really like the Chitlangi.

I tend to prefer the large, heavy kukris, so I'm sure you'll get more advise from other guys.
 
Chitlangi is good idea.

Could also go with a 15" BAS or 16.5 WWI. Both are great, though that's only from hearsay, which includes most people probably =P.
 
Don't over look the British Army Service, its only fault is being common. It has a very manageable blade size/weight and has evolved over the years to be exactly the tool you are looking for. Big enough to handle just about anything you can throw at it and yet small enough to carry on a belt or in a small pack.

If you want a bit bigger, the WWII is excellent. Same combo tool/weapon quality as the British Army Service with a bit more bulk to the blade.

Neither of these have cool acronyms or catchy names but, they are workhorses.

Bill
Virginia
 
Or, if he's really willing to go up in the weight department, the M43 is a better choice, IMO than the WWII in the same size.

I don't have, and never held a BAS, so i can't say one way or the other.
 
Kage

Go with an M-43. I have used mine very extensively in the wilderness and it is a super performer. It is lighter than the Ang Kholas and has a thinner edge but its design makes it incredibly capable in the field. If you run a search on here you can find my story on it.

Mine has done everything for me from cutting trap parts, to building many expedient shelters, prepparing firelays and fuel, even used it to build a couple trappers cabins.

I do generaly carry a 5" bladed knife as well.
 
Agreed on the m43 - it's thinner and comes with a steeper bevel than most while still hitting above it's weight class due to the design.

However, if you found a 1/4" thick, 18" long khukri to be unwieldy, you're going to have a heck of a time finding something that will work for you in the HI lineup... as mentioned before, even the thinnest HI kukris have a 3/8" spine (the m43 being amongst these).

You might be better off with something in the 15-16.5" range if you want something more packable - but sadly, the m43 isn't made in that size. Perhaps a WWII or BAS would suit your needs - they're also ~3/8" and make great tools.
 
Well, since the Tamang is already on your list... I will second or is it third? an M43 and also put forth the ASTK as another one I have a great fondness for for the sort of activities you have in mind. Should you want something compact though, one of the shorter CAKs or AKs (known here as Pocket Battleships) can really chop and carve with the best of them while keeping the OAL down.
 
For a lighter weight yet still capable knife the Tamang would be a good choice. However it will not perform anywhere near the capabilities of an M-43 for chopping.
 
If chopping is lower on your list but you still want some heft (compared to other knives), maybe a 15" Siru would be more to your liking. It's very nimble, yet should baton well and should be fairly thin at the spine.
 
Sorry everyone, I meant 1/2" on my original post (I've corrected it above). It was large and unwieldy at the time, although the biggest knife I carried then was a Gerber BMF, and even then I usually carried a Kabar or Gerber MkII instead, plus a multi-tool and pocket folder.

I still prefer lightweight to ultra-lightweight when backpacking, but when base camping weight doesn't matter much, so I'm more open now to other ideas. I do sometimes carry a full sized axe in the back country, if the area warrants it, but rarely. More often than not I'm carrying a Fiskars sliding saw, a Mora and a SAK Farmer or for heavier use a Kershaw Outcast (10" bolo in D2), a Spyderco Bushcrafter, a Spydie Military and a SAK Farmer.

The M-43 is what I was leaning towards first, but was concerned about weight and length. The WWII and the British Army Service are also what I was looking long and hard at. It looks like those 3 models may be popular choices for what I'm shooting for.

How does the Tamang do for outdoors use? That's just a dead sexy blade and seems like it would be quite the fighter (that is if I didn't have such girly wrists to fight with something that blade heavy). Does it do double duty as a good compromise for a bushcraft type blade?
 
I like my Tamangs a lot but haven't really done a lot of camping lately.
It is a very lightweight blade so it isn't really a chopper, it will baton and you can strip smaller branches with it but it isn't like one of the beefier blades that can almost double as an axe and surely can double for a hatchet or hawk. The tamang is the closest khukuri HI makes to what most folks would think of as a "knife" rather than your Khukuri. The shape is there but the over all performance is more like a very short machete I suppose would be a good way to describe it. It would be wicked in a fight though, no doubts on that there, at least from me.

tomorrow when the sun comes back up, I will take some pix comparing the tamang to some of the other ones mentioned here (at least those I have)
 
I received my Tamang a couple of days ago. I can tell you that it is undoubtedly my favourite khukuri, and possibly my "the One". I think mine is 16 inches OAL, with around a 15 ounce weight. I can most certainly empathise with you on the girly wrist issue, and the light weight of the Tamang combined with the blade-heavy characteristics is almost perfect for me, compared with my other khuks, an Ang Khola (similar weight but at 12") and an ASTK (similar size but 32 ounces!). Came with a great edge, great sheath. Absolutely love it.

I guess the only downside is that it's not indestructible, but it doesn't sound like you're after something like that.

Edit: here's a review by rpn which shows off a little of the Tamang's wood chopping skills. Sounds like he's pretty impressed: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=716356&highlight=tamang
 
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M43 or Chitlangi? They've been mentioned by others and I really like both of them myself.

I'd give a nod to the M43 for the durability factor.


The difference between the two is:

The Chitlangi is halfway between a weapon and a tool.

The M43 is equally a weapon and a tool.
 
7rip13a said:
I received my Tamang a couple of days ago. I can tell you that it is undoubtedly my favourite khukuri, and possibly my "the One". I think mine is 16 inches OAL, with around a 15 ounce weight. I can most certainly empathise with you on the girly wrist issue, and the light weight of the Tamang combined with the blade-heavy characteristics is almost perfect for me, compared with my other khuks, an Ang Khola (similar weight but at 12") and an ASTK (similar size but 32 ounces!). Came with a great edge, great sheath. Absolutely love it.

I guess the only downside is that it's not indestructible, but it doesn't sound like you're after something like that.

Edit: here's a review by rpn which shows off a little of the Tamang's wood chopping skills. Sounds like he's pretty impressed: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=716356&highlight=tamang
Click to expand...

Yep- out chopping my Battle Rat impressed me! The tamang carries nice and light for what it to me is a big knife.
 
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Hey Kage,
Lots of good info so far. My choice for all around, well balanced user would be a WWII, Chirua(full tang), at 17" or 18".
I've cut up a lot of camp food, done camp chores and split and chopped with this size the most:)
I don't have an M43 nor a BAS, though I have always like the looks of these.
Best of luck on your quest and glad to see ya here.

Mark
 
rpn: I read that review before and it was a major reason I wanted to get a Tamang! Thanks for doing that.

I'm still tossed up between the WWII, M43 and British Army Service, although I haven't read anything yet on the BAS. I need to make a chart (I'm a visual learning guy) comparing weights, shapes, lengths, etc. That may help me to narrow it down more.

Thanks for everyone's suggestions so far. Keep them coming if you have them!
 
One other question: Are the handles really users from the get go? I tend to be a user only kinda guy and prefer tough materials that are low maintenance (G10 is my favorite handle material, but micartas are great too). Will these handles last and are they comfortable?

If they need to be replaced eventually, does anybody do custom work on khukri handles? A synthetic handle on these would be amazing I think!
 
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