I bought my first Khukuri from Atlanta Cutlery in 1985. My dad had to order it and sign for it because I wasn't old enough.
When it arrived, I noticed that it was unattractive, dull, and rather crude.
I sharpened it and have beat the hell out of it since, doing all manner of chopping. I haven't been able to break it in nearly 27 years.
A few years ago, one of the handle scales cracked. I've been planning on making a new handle and doing some turd polishing on order to make it nicer.
Haven't gotten around to it yet. I fixed the cracked wood with super glue gel and it's held since 2001. If it ever cracks again, I'll make a new handle, maybe, and go ahead and refine the knife some, but for now, it chops just as well as it did in the '80s.
I cut my RH index knuckle with it in '86 or '87. Was splitting wood with it and displayed some typical teenage stupidity. Barely touched the knuckle, and cut the hell out of it. Nice and deep.
Is it pretty? No.
Is it ANYWHERE NEAR as nice as my HI Khuks? No way.
Is it a tough knife that takes a good edge and holds it? Yes.
Does it take as good an edge as an HI knife? No.
Does it take as good an edge, or better, as you need for chopping/splitting wood? Most definitely, yes.
It won't replace my Sgt Khadka Bonecutter, but I've done things with it that I'd NEVER do with a $200.00 knife of any pedigree.
It's been my "rough use" chopper since I was 15. And it only cost $25.00 in February of 1985.
My best friend got a Marto Brewer, which was the flavor-of-the-month survival knife back then. Nice knife, I have nothing against it. He also had a Buckmaster.
I couldn't afford one, and my parents weren't going to buy a $120.00 knife for a $15 yr old.
His Brewer had all kinds of neat gadgets. What it didn't have, that my AC Khuk DOES have, is the strength and durability to perform the functions you would expect of a knife you're going to trust with your life in the wild. He was convinced it was the be-all end-all of survival knives. I can't recall him ever using it for anything other than a belt ornament. He thought my cheap Khuk was cheap junk, but it was always the one that had to do any serious cutting or chopping.
His dad had a sweet Puma White Hunter that I'd have given my left 'nad for. Ungodly sharp, and I loved the way it looked and handled.
I'd still love to have a Brewer, but it wouldn't replace my 1983 KaBar Marine Hunter, Buck Nighthawk, USMC KaBar, AC Brazilian Armed Forces Knife repro, USAF survival knife, or ANY of my Khuks.
I have tried repeatedly to break it , I have beat logs and junk wood to splinters and the edge is still workable.
