Chukuri?

A

alexs

Joined
Nov 26, 2009
Messages
516
Hi guys,

First time poster here, but a big fan. I have the Chiruwa AK and loooove it. Also have a few of the competitor kuks both traditional and modern (cold steel).

I noticed some competitors offer something called Ckukuri, a mix between a kukri and a knife (churi). The only difference I can see between a tradional kukri and this is that there is a shaprened swedge on the top front of the blade and the shape of that second blade is convex instead of concave (somewhat similar to a bowie knife). Some examples are here (these look to be the same but for the handle):

http://www.khukuriblades.com/products/details.php?id=313931fc812

http://www.khukuripalace.com/Conten...php?PID=9778d5d219c5080b9a6a17bef029331c|535a

They appear to be marketing them for tactical (fighting) applications as usual for knives with a sharp swedge since batoning wood won't go so well.

Do you have any thoughts on these modern kuks and does HI offer anything similar? I believe that it wouldn't be difficult for the pros to convert a standard Bonecutter kuk into one of those Chukuri with an overall length of 12 to 14 in.

Thanks,
Alex

P.S. By the way, this is off-topic, but what do you guys think of these other modern kuks:

(a) Cold Steel Rajah I or II. I have it and love it for EDC. The only other folding kuk I have seen is the pen-kukri: http://www.khukuriblades.com/products/details.php?id=313930fc98

(b) the "Gurkha" made by the Fitzen knife shop in Utah by a guy called Chopper (easy to find on YouTube, try Fitzen's channel or Nutnfancy)
 
H.I. "Movie Model" is, in my opinion, the finest example of this style of khukri. I think H.I. makes about 2 of these a year, and they come up for sale secondhand every now and then.
 
Thanks, I googled the HI Ultimate Fighter and found only one link on another forum. Yes, that is exactly the look I was talking about, though the blade length of 12 1/4 in. seems huge for a tactical knife and probably so is the weight (which explains the popularity of the lighter sirupate). A smaller version must be faster to slice with unless one is built like Conan; are there other sizes made?
I couldn't find the Ulitmate Fighter anywhere on the HI website or shopping site. Is the only way to get it on sale at this forum?

P.S. The HI Movie Model seems more like a sword given its size. But, yes, it is very similar in spirit and very beautiful.
 
The Movie Model is based on the yataghan swords seen in one of the Mummy films. It's really more of a modern mesopotamian sappara.

Both it and the Ultimate Fighter are special runs. You'd neither need to wait around here for one to appear or contact Yangdu about one.
 
I really like the Uncle Bill Especiale aka UBE. Its a fast blade and seems to be a slightly better thruster than the Ultimate fighter while being a better chopper than the Movie model. Just my 2 cents.
 
Thank you everybody for your input. This Ultimate Fighter is a gorgeous piece of steel. That said, it appears that the usual size for it is over 17 in. and the weight runs anywhere from 38 oz to as much as 44 oz which is more than I can see myself comfortably handling (and I am not exactly tiny at over 205 lbs and 6'4"). Some of my other swords are over 7 lbs but those are entirely collectibles and memorabilia, and for some reason I think that a kukri should never just gather dust on display--though undoubtedly a unique piece of art. A kukri without battle scars and signs of wear is betraying its great history, but if I tried to toss around a 40 lbs double-bladed, one-handed knife, I would be the one with the battle scars. The only use I see for a heavy kukri (with dull edges!) is practicing my moves with extreme precision so that I become faster and stronger when using a light fighting blade like the sirupati or kobra.

Perhaps one of these days HI will offer an Ultimate Fighter in size and weight similar to a Bonecutter: 12-13in and 15-17 oz? (Hint-hint) Now that would be a movie knife instead of just a movie prop!

By the way, did you see the kukri in the SyFy horror movie "Children of the Corn" based on Stephen King's book? Not exactly the exposure of Resident Evil 3, but still, it's good to see the kukri becoming more popular. They should have used a kukri for the last Rambo movie in Burma, but I guess they thought it was gory enough.

P.S. As for the Uncle Bill Especiale, it doesn't have a full tang which for me is a pet peeve on big blades. I know that the HI quality is so great that it doesn't matter much unless you do a full out destruction test ("noss4" on YouTube killed an innocient 12in. AK like that :), but for me it is a psychological thing really and I can't get over it. It has gotten so bad that even the number of rivets on the full tang matter: 2 is good, but 3 is better, and even better 4 like on the Ultimate Fighter. But it does make you wonder why the Ultimate fighter is soooo much heavier than the UBE; is it mostly the tang difference or does the deep belly cause it, because then the center of gravity can be in the wrong place altogether.
 
At 6'04" you probably have some massive meat claws... I can see that Ultimate Fighter being perfectly fine for you. Mine (listed above in the first link of Karda's post) is hefty for sure. But even at 5'10" it's do-able. Not much of a Martial Arts knife, but it is a fighting knife.

You need only ask Yangdu if she can custom you up a slimmed down version to fit you. Mine was a Deal of the Day so it's as is. But you can always ask for something different (smaller, lighter, etc).

Don't give up on it yet... it's a great fighting knife.
 
I'm 6'5" and about 240 lbs and I'm quite comfortable with khukuris in the 20" - 25" range. In fact I find 21"-23" just about perfect for me. Proportionately, that's probably about the same as a Nepalese person using a 16" khukuri.

If you want something with some good reach and power combined with lighter weight, what you are looking for is either a Chitlangi or M43. Don't fret over the 'full tang' aspect (though the M43 is full tang). I've been using a 20" standard ang khola for years to chop up fallen trees and it has held up beautifully, and it has the usual internal tang.

IMO the perfect khukuri is this, the Super Chiruwa Ang Khola, BIG, beautiful, and powerful, yet still light, quick, and agile:

SuperCAK4.jpg


Unfortunately it is the only one of its kind (so far) and it's really more of a Chiruwa Dui Chirra Bhojpure than an Ang Khola variant.
 
Thank you Wolf_1989.

I am aware of the SCAK and have something quite similar to it (a 19" full-tang ang khola from a competitor), though at nearly 50 oz. I would only use it for hatchet-size jobs to complement a saw. It's not that I am not comfortable with the weight, but given the energy required to slow it down, I would only use it against enemies that don't move or swing back. Even just one miss and loss of balance is too much in a knife fight.

My initial question was more for a blade for concealed tactical carry and therefore medium-length and low-weight combination. That is what I am currently lacking in my collection but I am sure something will come up. The great thing about the forward curve of a kukri blade is that weight is not necessary to get momentum and indeed is probably a liability when both sides of the blade are sharpened. Sure, it isn't scary if one only plays with it in bed every so often while oiling it--convex grind is rarely razor-sharp unless re-profiled--but if one trains often with it, accidents are bound to happen sooner or later.
 
Hmm... you're looking for something smaller for self defense and/or tactical purposes?

IMO a smaller Sirupati might be what you are looking for. I have two sirupati's. One is a 25" by kami Vim and it is pretty much a broadsword. The other one is a 20.25" masterpiece by kami Bura and it is amazingly fast and agile. I'd imagine one of about 15" to 17" would be ideal for the purpose you stated.

Don't underestimate it. The Sirupati is one of the lighter and leaner khukuris but it can cut much better than one might expect. My 20.25" can thrust fairly well too.
 
Yes, a 15" sirupati under 1lb would be ideal for that. It is next on my wish list and, for a blade that short and light, I won't even complain that sirupaties are not offered with full tang :)
 
alexs said:
Yes, a 15" sirupati under 1lb would be ideal for that. It is next on my wish list and, for a blade that short and light, I won't even complain that sirupaties are not offered with full tang :)
Click to expand...

I've seen them appear on Deal-Of-The-Day threads before.

Not often, but they do exist.
 
Well, the best thing to do is email Yangdu, HI does do customs, and they turn out well if based on an existing design, that way you can get exactly what you want.

alexs said:
They should have used a kukri for the last Rambo movie in Burma, but I guess they thought it was gory enough.
Click to expand...

No, the style of knife he made is perfect for Burma. They don't use kukri in Burma, and the style of knife he makes is to the Burmese what the kukri is to the Nepali.

I've mixed reviews on kukri in movies. On the one hand I'd love to see more of them as they are a fantastic and little known blade. But I have a feeling they'd quickly become a farce by the way hollyweird uses them, much like the katana.


Since you are looking for a concealable tactical knife, might I suggest a Kerambit?
100_0138.jpg


You could either special order it, or do some grinder time and sharpen the swedge on it.
 
Kerambits are really nice for concealable weapons......they are great for hooking around a body part. I know from experience(i accidentally caught my own arm)
 
I got a 11" chukuri from EGKH and it is awesome... it has the american eagle handle and the both edges are razor sharp.... its nice because when working with it, you can back swing on things when you get lazy..... the only downside to the chukuri is that its point is a little on the thin side so it may bend a little.... But I will say this.... I wouldnt want to be in front of the business end of this monster knife....
 
RAjah II is the best folder i have ever owned.... i like it more than my 710.... a pocket knife that can cut a tree down..... I used it throughout the jungles of south america and its super easy to sharpen...
 
I have the HI Kerambit, and all I had to do to sharpen the swedge was sharpen it on my fine diamond hone. It didn't take long at all, about as long as sharpening any of my knives.
 
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