Cold Steel Gurkha Kukri Question

B

Brian6244

Joined
Aug 25, 2004
Messages
537
Is the Cold Steel Gurkha Kukri worth it? What I'm looking for is a Khukuri style knife for actual hard use in the field. Chopping, carving, wacking, hacking, more chopping and just about any other actual hard field uses you can imagine. I like traditional Khukuris except for the way they are ground and the traditional handle material. The Cold Steel Gurkha Kukri appels to me because it is close to traditional length and weight but is sharp throughout the entire length of the blade and uses a non-slip modern material for the handle. My question is: is this blade going to hold up to some seriously hard field useage? Also I realize that "Carbon V" is just a proprietary name Cold Steel uses for the the steel they use on a lot of their merchandise... does anyone have more info about the steel used on the Cold Steel Gurkha Kukri? Please note that I am referring to the Gurkha Kukri and NOT the LTC. Thanks in advance for all the info!
 
For actual hard use you'll never beat a khukuri from Himalayan Imports. If the natural handle materials really bother you that much they're pretty easy to replace. If grip is your only concern with the natural handle I wouldn't worry about it, the shape locks your hand right in I find. I doubt the cold steel "khukuris" could get much sharper than the ones from H.I., mine is as sharp as any other knife I own.
 
But is the entire length of the blade sharp? It was my understanding that certain part of the blade were left dull intentionally.
 
I have a cold steel Kukri you are talking about. I love it. I have used to to clear brush, whack limbs and so much more. I have had the blade hit a fence quite a few times and just put it on the sharpener and voila, back to original. If the HI kukri bothers you that bad, just sharpen it. I paid about 250 for my CS, and that was about 5 years ago. If i remember right the HI blades just have one side sharpened at a 30 degree angle. I must admit that type of angle is easier to sharpen and holds better in the field. Ask the guy at HI if you have any further questions. I dont think that you can go wrong with either one honestly, but I do believe the HI's are a little cheaper.

Lee
 
I bought a couple of the CS kukri machetes, currently on sale 2 for $25 with a cheap canvas sheath. You can get them hair shaving sharp real easy with a mill bastard file and they are great for chopping branches. I personally would not spend a lot of money on a knife that will be used as a machete, but that is just me. I also have their 2 hand machete and I abused the hell out of it and I couldn't break it. For $12, that is about the best hand tool bargain I have found.
 
A lot depends on what kind of environment you plan to use it in. Hard wood is a lot different than weeds or grasses. Machetes are fine for light materials but the Himalayan Imports blades can handle much tougher cutting jobs.

Carbon V is a high-carbon steel used in knives manufactured for CS supposedly by Camillus, and would be the same or similar steel used in the Becker line. Good stuff.
 
The Cold Steel khukuri is quite heavy - not for machette use....get a machette for that. :p

If it were lighter, I'd go ahead and endorse it as a machette-type.

If it were cheaper, I'd recommend it for newbie-choppers.

If the handle was comfy, I'd even recommend it for collectors.

If it was hand-forged & blessed by knifemakers in Nepal....well...it would be an H.I. khukuri, of course. :D


Seriously, though, the flat grind can be annoying in deep cuts....tends to stick. Get it if you like the black-tactical feel....and for some reason love Kraton.

Otherwise, you can't go wrong with an H.I. khukuri....less than half the price....rock solid guarantee...handmade.....

Anyway...if that doesn't float you boat, I understand.


It does float my boat, and that my final answer.
 
Brian6244 said:
But is the entire length of the blade sharp? It was my understanding that certain part of the blade were left dull intentionally.
Click to expand...

The few HI I've had have been fairly sharp along the entire length. I'd say the whole length will at least be close to being sharp, enough that you could very easily sharpen it to your liking. The parts of the blade that you are talking about have softer steel so they'll sharpen quicker, but for the same reason you don't expose those parts to heavy impacts. Thats why a lot of people just sharpen the sweet spot, its really the only part you should be using for chopping, but that doesn't mean you couldn't keep the whole length sharp if you wanted to. Some people do that too.

The customer service you get from HI will be top notch.

Your only real problem is the natural handle material which you might actually like if you tried it (I was used to micarta fixed blade handles but quickly started to like the horn a lot myself.) Maybe consider a chiruwa (full tang) khukuri and you can replace the scales fairly easily or wrap it if you don't like the natural material.

I suggest you search through the bladeforums treasure-trove of information on the subject before making a purchase.

If you're interested in the long history of the blade style, you'll find the HI to be a more traditional khukuri, something that I appreciate, but at the same time you're not sacraficing anything in performance.

Good luck with it either way. :cool:
 
Sure sounds like I need to take a closer look at the HI stuff. Ironically I'm on vacation very close to Reno right now but unfortunatly no time to stop by the HI shop :(. To answer a couple questions: I do intend to use it on everything from grass to very hard woods (oak, elm, etc) as well as a lot of soft woods (pine, cottonwood, willow). It will be used as a knife, a machette and an axe!!! It will be used in this way on a regular basis (probably twice a week)! The very reason I need it is because I am often in situation where I need a knife a machette and an axe but can not afford the weight of actually carrying all three. So I need the best 3-in-1 compromise and the Kuk seems to best fit the bill. I am also interested in the history or many swords and knives which is another reason why the Kuks appeal to me but that is secondary as this blade will be used extemely hard rather than hung on the wall.

What type of steel is used on these (Nepalese?) Kuks from HI? They are softer metals in some parts of the blade than others? I find this quite confusing and unusual. Guess I have a lot more research to do.
 
Brian6244 said:
What type of steel is used on these (Nepalese?) Kuks from HI? They are softer metals in some parts of the blade than others? I find this quite confusing and unusual. Guess I have a lot more research to do.
Click to expand...

The HI blades are made from 5160. They're differentially hardened to create that hard sweet spot and durable tip.
 
Brian6244 said:
...What type of steel is used on these (Nepalese?) Kuks from HI? They are softer metals in some parts of the blade than others? I find this quite confusing and unusual. Guess I have a lot more research to do.
Click to expand...

The Khukuri FAQ page says that Mercedes Benz leaf spring is the favored steel. The general consensus is that it would be 5160
The edge of the blade is differentially hardened with the sweet spot being the most hard. The are in front of the cho and tip (though not always) are softer.
You can see the hardened area on this one (from the tip back to below the characters on top of the blade):
zbfp4

Regards,
Greg

Edit: I see Raghorn beat me to it(good job!), but please take the link to the FAQ page. There is a lot of good info there and also some more here.
 
Come over to the H.I. forum and ask your question there......such 3-in-1 khukuris do exist, but opinions differ as to which that is....:D
 
More excellent information! Thanks guys! Im reviewing the FAQ and the other link carefully and will probably have some questions to post in the HI forums reguarding the best 3-in-1 Kuk. BTW: That pic really clears up my confusion reguarding the differencial hardening!
 
Come on over to the HI forum and ask some questions there. The HI khuk is the best investment in a khuk you could get. The steel is 5160, differentially hardended by some of the best people at it. These khuks are actually hand forged blades, which to my mind makes for a special blade, when done by talented kamis. I think if you look at the large selection of HI khuks you will find one that calls to you. Once you get it, you will be hooked on them. :D ;) I know that is how it has worked for me. :eek:
As far as the hardening goes, the Kamis harden the sweet spot (think mainly the area where the belly is the deepest) the hardest. Towards the tip it is softer and towards the handle it is softer, both places to prevent breakage under adverse conditiond. Like hitting a rock. I figure that these Kamis make khuks for people that use them every day for every imaginable home, field and lifesaving task. They know what works best. IMHO YMMV
 
Ask yourself this: "What would the people who invented the knife and have made and used it for centuries know about material for/design of /making that knife?" (WARNING: Bet you can't buy just one.)
 
If you want a khukuri then you gotta get a Himalayan Imports. Accept no substitutes.

Keep an eye on the daily specials posted on their forum. I practically stole a 12" Ang Khola from them.
 
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