Bushcraft khukri

Sometimes the ring in the middle of the handle that helps you get a grip can be a bit pointed and thus needs to be sanded down to a comfortable level. As long as you take care of the handle, which isnt that hard, it should last a very long time. If you look under the himalayan imports link library, HI FAQs, care and maintenance, should give you a good idea about the level of care necessary for these fine blades. They do require a bit more than your stainless steel models because these can rust.
 
If you can, get a wood handled model... IMO, they seem to offer a better grip and are less prone to crack/split. If you do end up with a horn handled model, just give it a good soak in mineral oil when you receive it and maybe a soak every couple of months. I think the main reason we see quite a few blem deals with cracked horn handles is because people fail to maintain them in this manner and the horn dries out (not that I'm complaining as I love snagging me some cheap khuk blems! :thumbup:)

Also, I saw your revision in your initial post (1/2" vs 1/4") and I would have to agree. I own an 18" Vojpure by Sher the Tiger that has a spine thicker than 1/2" (probably 17/32"). The thing weighs in at 37oz (2.3lbs!) with practically all the weight at the tip (due to the wide blade and non-chiruwa design). While I can swing it for a good hour or so with a couple of breaks here and there, my arm certainly ends up hating me for it the day after. My m43, by contrast, is much more neutrally balanced and I can use it for a good day's work without much trouble. Also, unless you're planning on felling several trees at a time, you might find a 15-16.5" a more friendly size - they still hit with a ton of bricks and bite chunks out of wood, but are much more packable. Sadly, the m43 isn't regularly offered in this size but the WWII and BAS certainly are.

Oh, and here's the Vojpure I'm talking about next to my m43 - you can see the large difference in size and the spine on the Vojpure has about 5/32" more steel on it than the m43.
P1030317-1.jpg
 
The aforementioned FAQ on the H.I. website is what influenced me to buy an M-43.

The M-43 is by far the best performer I have ever seen. As I have stated before mine has served me extensively over a several year long period of some really rough living. It has been used for every imaginable task of wilderness living and survival that I came accross, and performed them all easily and well. Because of it's design it hits like a much larger Kukri while being lighter and of easily carried size. Mine was always worn on my hip. When I needed to be more discrete I would take it out of the frog and place it in my pack, but that was seldom.
 
right.. pictures... I will see about doing this but today my back is ripping me up, tomorrow I see the doc...
I will see about doing some comparisons for you this weekend...
these aren't Khuks but do make fine blades for the bush
main.php

and here is one to compare my ASTK-V and ther Bonecutter (Keyboard Kutter)
main.php

and one of all the "knives" HI makes
main.php


I will post some m ore with proper scale included later for you
 
If you can get one, go for a 14" BDC. Out of my six khukuris, ranging in size from 18" M-43 down to 9" AK, the BDC is THE best all-around khuk I own. Not only does it chop as good or better than my WWII, but it is really nice in the kitchen as well. It handles and performs alot like a mini M-43.

BDC09.jpg

PICT0010.jpg
 
Here are my 16.5" WWII, and 15" BAS. They are both great multi-purpose tools that I would have no problem at all camping with.

Khukuris004.jpg


From the top:
18" CAK
18" Gelbu Special
16.5" WWII
15" BAS
14" (I think) BDC
12" CAK.

Khukuri013.jpg


The smaller CAK, and BDC are very deceptive in regards to it's abilities. While it obviously won't out chop the larger khuks, it makes a great bushcrafter.

The Gelbu is very nimble for it's size.

Here is the only comparison pic I have showing the thickness.
L to R
Gelbu
WWII
BAS

Khuks015.jpg
 
Serious bushcraft, or going out and cutting stuff 'cuz you can?

Twelve inch villager AK.

You're not building a cabin. AND, you gotta carry the sucker.


Be safe.
 
M43:
100_0123.jpg


WWII (which I don't care for so much):
100_0155.jpg


Or go bawls out with the 20" CAK, and play in the big boys' camp :p:
100_0187.jpg
 
Thank you Killa Concept, Warty, Billy 516, Gruntmedik, Cpl Punishment and all the others who posted ideas and pictures. The pictures were very useful for comparison!

Kismet: I guess that depends on what you call serious bushcraft. I teach survival classes on occasion and spend as much time outdoors playing as time allows (which of course is never enough). I like choppers and saws for shelter making, especially when racing against the sun. I tend to not chop stuff just to chop it, but I'll use these for splitting hearthboards, making traps, etc. I want something light enough to feel somewhat lively in hand to make finer work easier.

Cpl Punishment: what don't you like about your WWII?

I love the M43, but I think the British Army Service Model may be more practical at 15". Wish the BAS came with wooden handles.
 
kage said:
I love the M43, but I think the British Army Service Model may be more practical at 15". Wish the BAS came with wooden handles.
Click to expand...
You could probably special order just about any model in the size you prefer.
The WWII, BAS, ASTK, Tamang Etc... are great at about 15". The BAS does come with wooden handles.
 
kage said:
Cpl Punishment: what don't you like about your WWII?

I love the M43, but I think the British Army Service Model may be more practical at 15". Wish the BAS came with wooden handles.
Click to expand...

It's just not me.

I usually don't go for all the mystical stuff, but Uncle Bill (Yangdu's late husband) said that we don't pick kukris, kukris pick us. In this case, I think the mystical is true. It took me several years of looking at kukris, especially HI's offerings before ordering one. The one I kept coming back to in my thoughts was a 20" CAK, so I asked Yangdu to have one made for me. It's made by Bura, and is the one in the picture above. All I can say is that Bura hit the nail on the head. No other kukri has topped it in my hands, not even the M43 (although the M43 rushed up to second place in no time). Even other 20" CAKs I have don't match up. The one by Bura that I love so much seems to have more dip to it than my other CAKs, so i think it kind of split the difference between a standard CAK and an M43.

My advice? If an M43 is calling to you, but you want one in a nonstandard size, email Yangdu with what you want, and she'll fix you up. You might have to wait a bit, but you'll have a custom piece tailored to exactly what you want. That's the nice thing about HI: since everything is hand-made customs (especially if they are just a variant of a standard model) are really no more trouble than making the standard models.
 
In my case it was the 18" ASTK-V... I haven't found one that has felt better to me yet.
It just feels right and does the chopping and carving and all the other things I have asked of it.
Like the Cpl, I usually don't go for the mystical stuff but I have to admit, the ASTK-V chose me out of all the others I own.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top