CAK-How Big?

J

jamaljahda

Joined
Mar 4, 2009
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616
So I have decided on purchasing a CAK but cannot decide between the 12 and the 15
inch. Does anyone have a 12 inch CAK? How do you use it? Is it working for you as a utility tool? Is it big enough for self defense? Can it still chop being so short? Is it a good buy or do I really need the 15 inch? Uses limbing, making lean to, separating ribs and quartering game animals and playing with edc in mind in a mini Molle bag. Can the 12 perform SD duties if nessecary?
 
If you're going to do any type of chopping, I don't think you'd be happy with a 12". I didn't even know they were made that small.
 
I have two 12 inchers (1 AK, 1 CAK). I quite like them actually. If you're not doing a huge amount of chopping, and are smart about it, 12 inches should be fine. I prefer larger ones for clearing weeds and/or chopping branches any thicker than 3 inches in diameter (more or less, depends on energy levels too).

I wouldn't use it for self defence though. Think that's what a gun is for though, right? (yes, I know some can't access guns. I'm one of them:()
 
IMHO, there is nothing "small" about 12" CAK. I find it to be my most used kukhri, but then again I'm not doing a lot of tree chopping. As a camp knife or for SD it it a lot has advantages over much bigger Kukhri, namely weight and speed. I use it for kindling, brush clearing & gardening. I just finished taking up some old flooring with it. I also have a 15" AK that is very useful as well, but for me, anything much bigger & then I am thinking short sword applications or objects D'Art. I am a healthy 5' 10" 175 lbs & have swung a few blades in my time, so if my opinions sounds like heresy to the "Big Blade " crowd, so be it. As far as kukhri goes I think the sweet spot is somewhere between 12"-16.5 " with a wooden handled Chirawa blade, according to your need.
 
jamaljahda, I'd go with the 15" CAK (3" more and maybe 6 ounces more)maybe a WWII or one of the Baby Ganga Ram Specials or Bonecutters before I'd go with a 12" CAK. I have a 12" CAK (weighs about 20 ounces) and I occasionally carry it on a hike(few hours not multi-day) or yardwork.
Robin Shooter, it chops way above its size "bleeping pocket chainsaw". Its a case of "yes" it will chop but there are better Khukuri's for the job.
jamaljahda, it will limb and probably make a lean to. Its sweetspot is a bit small for quartering game but its is strong enough to separate ribs.
Its not what I'd call a self defense tool. If you want it to multitask into SD duty's look at the M43's. For SD I prefer to make .452" holes in things:p
Personally my M43(multi-day hikes) or my Bahadur knife are my go to's for most of what you are asking one to do. I'm looking for a 15" to 16.5" re-release Bonecutter for just the niche you are looking for.
For seasoned hardwood or heavy chopping my 20" Ang Khola at 38 ounces gets the nod.
 
The controversial 12" AK distruction video on YouTube by Noss4 proved that the 12" is a formidable chopper, IMO, but not for someone with large mitts. That said, the 15" AK or 16.5" CAK are in an entirely different league. I have a 10" GMUBAK too just for kicks, sweet toy, but too thick relative to a normal skinning knife.
 
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Although I own many HI khuks, the only one I've seriously used (to chop up big limbs after wind damage) is a 16.5-inch CAK. I own a couple of 12-inch khuks and believe they'd be handy for small tasks, but the 12-inch is OAL, not just the blade, so you're talking about a "bushcraft" sized khukri. They'll carry quite easily, and they'll probably do a lot, but I wouldn't plan on felling any trees with them.

I consider 15-inch to be a minimal chopper -- that's the size of a British Army Service khuk, so it's your standard "combat utility" khukri size. A 15-inch khuk will have enough weight to chop "OK", but you'll take a lot more swings with a 15-inch khuk to do the job of a 16.5-inch CAK.

For a CAK, 16.5-inch is the best size for most people -- it's heavy enough to chop hard wood, but light enough that (if you pace yourself), you can chop with it for a pretty long time. One of the worst things you can do is to push yourself too hard when chopping with a khuk; if you loose control of your blade, somebody is likely to wind up with a serious wound.

18-inch AKs push the limits of practicality for me. I'm a big guy, but live a fairly sedentary lifestyle, so swinging a 2-2.5 pound blade for an extended period of time would wear me out. a 20-inch AK will go 3-4 pounds, which may not sound like much until you start swinging it as a tool, but it's a lot harder in reality than most think in the abstract. I've swung a few heavy khuks, but one or two swings through the air is a lot different than chopping up thick maple limbs on a muggy afternoon.
 
Thanks everyone I appreciate your comments I have decided to order a 15-16.5 CAK from Yangdu as my do all blade for the smaller task I have a esee 3 and izula. Oh for self defense my G23 takes precedence but I was speaking of SD in the line of while I'm out fishing, camping and all I had on my person was a CAK because some of the parks I frequent it is a crime to dishcarge a firearm in them. So for snakes, boars, rabid coyotes, 2 legged varmints and gators I will use my CAK. Any other place they get a 180gr HP to the dome.
 
gga357 said:
For me 18" is perfect.
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The 18 is slightly to heavy for me. I mean the 18 inch I have is a chitlange but it moves sluggishly in my opinion. It chops very well but if I had to make quick movements to save my but I don't think it fits my need or rather ability. It is 27 oz. So I am thinking I need something in the range of 18- 24 oz to get that sweet spot I'm looking for. While I don't do loads and loads of chopping wood I would lime the versatility so that is why I am going to go with the 15-16.5 CAK. I will probably order next week when I get paid. I will give an update then.
 
Jamaljahda,

I'm a little late, but I love my 12.5 GRS/BC. I also love my 16.5 CAK. Two totally different animals. My "baby" is likely the one that will see the most use. Here's a photo for size.

16.5 CAK, 2 WWIIs, 12.5 GRS/BC, BDC, and Bilton.
Khuks10-9-2010002.jpg
 
What does GRS/BC and BDC stand for and how do you lime that bilton?However out of the pics you show above I like the appearance of the CAK the best followed by the GRS/BC
 
You can't go wrong with a 15-16" CAK. They may be in the top 3 most popular. That is just my guess.
 
BDC=Baby Dui Chirra or Bura Dui Chirra (Dui Chirra=2 fullers)


BGRS at about 16.75"
IMG_0289.jpg


BGRS/Bonecutter at about 16.25"
IMG_0287.jpg


CAK at 16.5"
IMG_0291.jpg


All three kuks are roughly 29-31oz which is on the high side of what I consider comfortable one-handed kuk for medium chopping or self-defense, easy to carry around one's belt for a long time. If I have serious chopping to do for an extended time, I would rather pick a much heavier 20" or longer CAK or Bonecutter (or my 23" Chiruwa Chitlangi) and hold it two-handed and with much caution.
 
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15" CAK will suit your weight requirements well, but those are rare and you might need to special-order one, thus taking longer to arive than a 16.5" CAK that weighs more than you'd like (28oz at least).

At around 24 oz, you might find a thin-spine 16.5" WW II or a 15" AK. They don't have the chiruwa handle, but I wouldn't give it a second thought as far as durability (unless you like the balance that would come from a heavy handle).


jamaljahda said:
The 18 is slightly to heavy for me. I mean the 18 inch I have is a chitlange but it moves sluggishly in my opinion. It chops very well but if I had to make quick movements to save my but I don't think it fits my need or rather ability. It is 27 oz. So I am thinking I need something in the range of 18- 24 oz to get that sweet spot I'm looking for. While I don't do loads and loads of chopping wood I would lime the versatility so that is why I am going to go with the 15-16.5 CAK. I will probably order next week when I get paid. I will give an update then.
Click to expand...
 
I've got no CAK for now but hopefully in another 2 weeks a grand daddy will be here.

Would like to share my experience with a 12 1/4" Salyan last week.
On the way down of hiking i saw a tree size of 7" in diameter blocking the trail. Could have used the other way but i realize it's a good use of Sal itself. Take note that the fallen tree blocked 3/4 of the trail and i had very limited space to work myself with the chopping. On top of me a few more thick branches that could have obstruct the range of chopping and i was glad a 12+" Salyan helped me to chop off the tree.


10.jpg
 
JamalJahda, The Bilton was bought for my 8yo son, so it's put up for Christmas:). Others really like thiers, though. It's a very stout little knife. The BDC, Baby Dui Chirra, is 10.5" and really too short in my limited opinion for any serious outdoor tasks. It's "kitchen" sized. I bought it because I really like the way it looks. The 12.5 Ganga Ram Special/Bone Cutter is a perfect portable khuk, IMHO. Good luck.
 
JayGoliath, please stop! :) Every time you post a picture of that Salyan I can't take my eyes off the screen... That blade calls to me, just love the shape.

I have a baby Bonecutter and agree with previous remarks you made about the +12" size. Perfect for hiking and like oldschool45 said, it's a "bleeping pocket chainsaw", it may not cut like 16" - 18" but for the size and weight they're amazing.

These +12" blades are highly underrated :thumbup:

Marc
 
oldschool45 said, it's a "bleeping pocket chainsaw"
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If i recalled it correctly, one of the hikers saw me chopping and told me i should have asked for a saw instead.
" The knife's too small.Don't spoil it, better get a saw, it's faster".
Sal must have felt annoyed hence it just rose up and dude just look at it for a sec and then left.
30 mins later he came back in disbelief how Sal finished chewing that log.

And we are talking about CAK...Heck...i really don't see any problem with a 12".

Now for those who are so lucky to own the Super Salyan ahem "Warty" ahem.....monstrous khuk.

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