Collecting Khukuris

J

JOE68

Joined
Jan 18, 2011
Messages
130
Hi everyone,

I have only just recently began my adventures in owning khukuris.
Since I wanted mostly khuks that were designed for wood chopping, I stuck with that style.
I grabbed a Gelbu Special as a DOTD and found it quite interesting in its lines.
To me it felt more "weapon" than tool.
I realize it can do a ton of work, it just felt "different" than my CAK, ASTK, AK,and WW2.
I have also gone for mostly village finish as I wanted "users".
The question is what constitutes a khukuri collection?
Should one get a representive piece from the various areas?
Should one get the same style khukuri in village,scale forged ( I hope that is the proper term for the black still on the blade) and polished?
Should one look to older models?
For right now I am strictly sticking with HI products---- there isn't enough cash to start looking at antiques.:D
I know someone will say "all of the above", but I am looking for opinions and how others got started.
I figure that there are plenty of forumites who could tell me what "bug" struck them, and that is why they have more "X" khukuris than "Y" khukuris.
This will also give me an idea of how rampant HIKV is.:D:eek::)
Thanks in advance for sharing your stories.
 
Hi, I'm Bill and I have HIKV.

I started with a purchase from IMA (International Military Antiques) of an antique 1941 MKII. My original thought was to get one of these and bring it back to life. When I took it out of the box an picked it up, that all changed fast. It was like some kind of movie where it just morphed into a part of my arm. There is no way I could do anything to it so my quest started to find one just like it. One that I could use.

I have tried many different manufacturers and while their versions were all nice, they fell far short of the original. Since then, I've tried big ones, little ones, shiney ones and village models. But my "collection" is not for the sake of numbers, it represents a search for the perfect one "for me." One good thing is that my search has brought me new friends that share my affliction and I have a few blades in my collection that are special and stand out from the rest. There really is a huge huge difference between a kukri made by average Joe and one made by a master. The ones by the masters come alive in the hand and radiate energy. By contrast, others just feel like a plain old hunk of metal.

I haven't purchased a kukri in more than 24 hours! I take it day by day!

Bill
Virginia
 
Well put Bill.

Joe, sometime you don't know which khuk is right for you until you hold it. When I started about 11 years ago, I wanted sleek and fast khuks. I ended up falling in love with an AK instead and it is my favorite user.

A collection happened to pop up around me while I was "trying out" different styles. Branch out, don't confine yourself to one type or genre of khuks. As long as the budget allows, try something that could surprise you.

Have fun doing it!

And don't worry about the HIKV thing, you already have it and it's terminal..........to your wallet.
 
I have more Chitlangis than any other style of khukri.

It started a few years back when I snagged a beautiful 21.5" horn handled Chitlangi by the old Kami Sher (the Tiger). When I got it out of the TriBox and held it, it felt like we knew each other long ago and had been reunited.

I know how hinky that sounds but...
HPIM0895.jpg


Anyway, I have since acquired an additional Chitlangi by Sher, much like the other, same length but a narrower blade and satisal handle.

As a pair I call them Wolf's Tooth and Wolf's Claw.

HPIM1050.jpg



Another one which is really special to me is Cleaver, the very first one and original Super Chiruwa Ang Khola by Sgt Khadka. It's a big khukri, 20" long with a wide blade, but remarkably lightweight and agile.

SuperCAK4.jpg
 
Joe, I can't say what makes a collection since, as long as my wife could see this, I do not have a collection. Instead, I have a group of absolutely needed khuks. At first, I planned on getting the Martial Trio: WWII, M-43 and BAS. I now have 2 WWII, M-43, B-43, CAK, GRS/BC, BDC and my son has a Bilton. I picked up what spoke to me. I still have no BAS, yet! Good luck.
 
IMO a collection is when you have more than two.

Whether you want a collection of "one of everything", "one of everything a certain Kami made" or a bunch of the same style, is up to you.
 
Cpl Punishment said:
IMO a collection is when you have more than two.

Whether you want a collection of "one of everything", "one of everything a certain Kami made" or a bunch of the same style, is up to you.
Click to expand...

I'm in big trouble then because I have a collection of damn near everything:D:eek:
I like the idea of branching out and going with what appeals to me.
There were several models that were recommended to me when I asked here on the forum, and I have been acquiring them as I can.
I guess I was just suprised at the way the Gelbu Special felt in hand, since it is a "skinny" bladed khukuri and my others are all choppers ( except for a Pacthar I picked up)
It was very comfortable and seemed to feel well balanced and lively.
My on-going problem is that I have 7 new khukuris from HI and there isn't one that doesn't "feel" right.
My other on-going problem is that my wallet isn't big enough:D
I've been "into" knives since I was a kid, but there is just something about these khukuris that makes me feel different when I unsheath them and go hack a chunk of wood. They just feel right. I can't really explain it in words exactly, it is just a feeling I get that says that I have chosen wisely.
 
JOE68 said:
I'm in big trouble then because I have a collection of damn near everything.:D :eek:
I like the idea of branching out and going with what appeals to me.

I've been "into" knives since I was a kid, but there is just something about these khukuris that makes me feel different when I unsheath them and go hack a chunk of wood.

They just feel right. I can't really explain it in words exactly, it is just a feeling I get that says that I have chosen wisely.
Click to expand...

Joe, I'm the same way in that, "because I have a collection of damn near everything," And absolutely love each and every one of 'em!!!:thumbup:
I've also been around long enough to have been able to pickup at least one extremely rare H.I. Model simply because there were only five or six of 'em made, damned "Old" Bad Memory!!! :mad: Uncle Bill had ordered 5 or 6 Hanuman blade's with WW II handles, which would've been one Helluva Khukuri, and got in 5 or 6 WW II blades with Hanuman handles instead, which were Still Damned Awesome H.I. Khukuri's!!!:thumbup: :eek: :D's... Another H.I. was gifted to me by a dear friend, it's name is, Beer Belly," and it's a one of a kind made especially for my friend on special order. Beer Belly has a black buffalo horn handle with silver furniture and the sarki that made its scabbard didn't make the scabbard quite wide enough and Beer Belly tried to cut its' way out of the SUPER Wide Scabbard making a slight cut at its mouth and another where its' "belly" rubs up against the inside of its' scabbard!!! :( Still yet it's so beautiful that all its' quirks are worth it!!! :cool: :D

`
​
 
I'll tell you my story, and while it's a little goofy, you might find it bears some similarities to yours.

I had been debating for weeks on buying a knife. Sure, I had a bunch of knives, but mostly $120 and under types made by benchmade, cold steel and the like. They were decent tools, don't get me wrong. But I might even go so far as to say they were nice disposeable tools. I used thme, but wasn;t truly "attached" to them, if that makes sense.

But I had decided that I wanted a knife that was useful, and also a serious heavy duty to-hell-and-back do-everything survival/camping knife. And, I wanted one that was unique and "me". After weeks of looking and thinking about it, I decided on a Kukri, and after another week or two of looking about I decided on HI.

I ordered the 15" ang khola. Wow, what a wonderful blade! I liked it so much that within two days of having it, I decided that I should get a HI knife that I could be a real daily use type piece. I quickly decided upon the Bilton. And before it has even arrived, I've ordered a M43 to have as an end-of-the-world knife - I think the "stronger blade" bit got me - as tough as my Ang Khola was I simply HAVE to see what Stronger is!!!

Well, a very near and dear friend of mine has seen my 15" ang Khola and I know he's dying to have it. Now, this is a guy that has saved my bacon more than once. He's too proud to ask, but I know him well enough to know that he wants it BAD, but can't afford to get one for himself right this minute. So I'm thinking I can't possibly refuse the man somethign he wants, not after all he's done for me - so I'm going to give him the Ang Khola - but then, I'll be without one!?!? Oh the humanity! So there's no other choice but to get a replacment. Now I'm looking at and talking with Ms. Yangdu about another Ang Khola, or perhaps a Chiruwa Ang Khola... or of course the Sirpatis are nice, and totally differant from what I have looked at so far... or maybe... and then it hit me... oh no... I have a collection.

So I really didn't end up collecting by any other "type" other than a desire for a serious tool for all occasions... and honestly, I couldn't be happier. I'm enjoying every minute of it!

Thanks guys!
 
+1, you get serious bonus points for gifting a kukri.

Besides, who's to say you didn't get it, just so it could be given to him? Strange things just happen sometimes, man.
 
Gifting khukuris is a wonderful gesture to those you believe should have one.
I have decided to use the "field use" warranty list as my collecting list.
As well as the DOTDs that just jump out at me for no apparent reason.:)
My fuzzy logic goes like this----- if a woman can accessorize when they go out with purses and shoes, I can accessorize with khukuris when I get to go out in the woods.:D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top