Comparison Pics - the older M43 and the M43

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Wolf_1989

Joined
Mar 30, 2007
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Got my brother to bring his M43 over today so I could take a picture of both our M43's to compare the older model with the newer one.

M43-M43.jpg


Top - my M43, the new longer model by Young Sher

Specs - 20" overall length - 14.25" blade

~~~~~~~

Bottom - my brother's M43, the older model made by Old Sher

Specs: 17.5" overall length - 12.75" blade

The older M43 is significantly lighter weight, and thus more agile. If the kami's could keep the new longer M43's size but get the weight down to about 35oz, it would certainly be a contender for the title of Ultimate Khukuri.

Speaking of which, here they are again with the Super CAK:

SCAK-M43-M43.jpg
 
Thanks for the purty pichers and the comparisons, Wolf. Definitely a difference in handle length there. I can see how the larger handed might have trouble with the earlier/shorter handle. Also, thanks for the performance update on your other thread. In both that thread and this I think I can hear you cheering on the M43 as the Ultimate Chopper, with the referenced weight modifications. At least you have both the SCAK and M43. It must be rough.

I like my M43, too. Am in the process of roughing up the handle a little. It wants to slide off the ball of my hand too much.

Keep the good posts coming Wolf_1989.
 
stickfred said:
Definitely a difference in handle length there. I can see how the larger handed might have trouble with the earlier/shorter handle.
Click to expand...

And visa vera ... now those with smaller hands need to be very conscious of these changes on the new models.

I find it is not so much the length that is the problem but the girth of the grip, with a circumference of more than 4inches being too big for a secure hold.:(

stickfred said:
Keep the good posts coming Wolf_1989.
Click to expand...

+1 ...very informative and thoughtful posts.:thumbup:
 
Part of what makes the new M43 such a powerful chopper is that extra weight of 41 oz. It wouldn't be so if it had a lighter weight, but the lighter weight would make it much better in a self defense role. It's definitely a heavy duty worker though and I for sure wouldn't want to be hit by it :eek:
 
b.c.molin said:
And visa vera ... now those with smaller hands need to be very conscious of these changes on the new models.

I find it is not so much the length that is the problem but the girth of the grip, with a circumference of more than 4inches being too big for a secure hold.:(



+1 ...very informative and thoughtful posts.:thumbup:
Click to expand...

Yes the new handle (at least on my M43) is a bit on the fat side. Those with smaller hands probably won't be comfortable with that. On the other hand, the older handle's girth is ok but it's only about 2/3 the handle length I'm used to on a khukuri. I'd rather have the handle a little chubby but be amply long than thin but too short. Other people might prefer just the opposite.
 
It sounds like we need to classify these as M43a and M43b: almost 2 different items, entirely.
 
Nicholas said:
It sounds like we need to classify these as M43a and M43b: almost 2 different items, entirely.
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Indeed they are.

Pick the old model if you want something lighter and faster.

Pick the new model if you want something with some serious chopping power.

Both fill a niche.
 
Are the shorter handle M43's still availible? I usually like my knives as light as possible and it seems an older M43 would be for me.
 
We've talked about this before but for me 17" and about 23 to 27 oz is about right.

The heavier a khuk is generally the better it chops but the shorter period of time I can use it w/o fatigue.
 
more cho creep on the new one, but the blade profile looks like it's capable of much more inertia delivered to the sweet spot. Handle looks more ergonomic as well. Nice pic.
 
A khukuri shorter than 19" just feels too small to me. I like them about 20" - 23".

The Super CAK changed how I look at them. I consider it perfection at 20.5" and 34.45oz.

Me using a 20" khukuri is about proportionately the same as a Nepalese person using a 16" khukuri.
 
That's an interesting little "converter" idea to try out! But it begs the questions: how tall ARE you, incidentally (I'm 6'1"), and how tall are we presuming the average Nepali to be?
 
Nicholas said:
That's an interesting little "converter" idea to try out! But it begs the questions: how tall ARE you, incidentally (I'm 6'1"), and how tall are we presuming the average Nepali to be?
Click to expand...

I'm 6'5" and about 235 lbs.

The Nepalese are small people. You can see that by looking at their pics on H.I.'s main site. That's not a good or bad thing, it's just the way they're made. They'd probably think I was part Yeti!
 
Nicholas said:
. . .and how tall are we presuming the average Nepali to be?
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A quick search isn't giving anything definite, but most results say 5'7" for men and 5'2" for women...

BTW Nicholas, how much does your M43 weigh in at? It's the newer m43b version correct? Mine is 18-18.5", the newer version, and Aunt Yangdu said it weighed in at 34oz. I thought this was pretty hefty, but perhaps it's because I was comparing it to what people said their m43a's weighed?
 
killa_concept said:
A quick search isn't giving anything definite, but most results say 5'7" for men and 5'2" for women...
Click to expand...

That's what I found, too, almost immediately. That means that my 18-incher is like a 17" khuk for a Nepali man, and a 15.8" for a nepali woman.


BTW Nicholas, how much does your M43 weigh in at? It's the newer m43b version correct? Mine is 18-18.5", the newer version, and Aunt Yangdu said it weighed in at 34oz. I thought this was pretty hefty, but perhaps it's because I was comparing it to what people said their m43a's weighed?
Click to expand...

I haven't had the means or opportunity to weigh it yet: I don't own a scale. All I have to go on is my father's comment when he handled it: "It weighs a ton!":eek:

I'd guess that Auntie's figure is fairly accurate, just over 2 lbs, but I need to find a way to measure it. Suggestions, anyone?:confused:
 
Wolf_1989 said:
Me using a 20" khukuri is about proportionately the same as a Nepalese person using a 16" khukuri.
Click to expand...

Nicholas said:
That's what I found, too, almost immediately. That means that my 18-incher is like a 17" khuk for a Nepali man, and a 15.8" for a nepali woman.
Click to expand...

I still find optimal kukri length to be based a lot on personal preference and strength/stamina. Take me for example: I'm tiny at 5'5ish and 110lbs yet find that swinging around a 15" AK doesn't tire me out one bit. I decided to try out a 18"er and actually prefer them. They hit harder, give me more blade length for batoning wood, and although they eventually tire me out, that doesn't doesn't happen until after falling three or four 7" thick, dead frozen pines in -15C. I figure I would never have to realistically do that much work in a single session so the added fatigue is a fair trade off for the aforementioned benefits.

The same probably holds just as true for Nepalese villagers - from pictures I've seen, they use khuks ranging anywhere from 12-20"

Nicholas said:
I haven't had the means or opportunity to weigh it yet: I don't own a scale. All I have to go on is my father's comment when he handled it: "It weighs a ton!":eek:
Click to expand...

Haha - my father said something very similar about my 18" Vojpure that I brought up here to BC with me for Xmas break. It's 37oz and very forward weighted. I find that while my M43 weighs only 3oz less, the chiruwa handle makes it much more evenly balanced making it feel lighter.

Nicholas said:
I'd guess that Auntie's figure is fairly accurate, just over 2 lbs, but I need to find a way to measure it. Suggestions, anyone?:confused:
Click to expand...
I was actually considering purchasing a small digital scale for these sort of things - one can be had for $15-20 and I figure I could use it in the kitchen as well :)
 
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Yeah, I eventually coughed up $20 for a small digital scale at WM for weighing my khuks. I started trying to use a non-digital at about half that price, but I felt I couldn't rely on what it was telling me. I'd take the khuk off and it wouldn't land back on zero.

I've been trying to stay in the 18" size for the sake of comparing the different styles. I've got a couple that are smaller and a 20" Sirupati (that is soon to have comparably sized company) that I got for the kami or the cause involved, or for the price-break. 15-18" is a comfortable fit for my 6'1" frame and my M43 and Hanuman appear to be adequate to any chopping chores.

Rick
 
Wolf_1989 said:
I'm 6'5" and about 235 lbs.

The Nepalese are small people. You can see that by looking at their pics on H.I.'s main site. That's not a good or bad thing, it's just the way they're made. They'd probably think I was part Yeti!
Click to expand...

You have my sympathies, believe it or not. What with the hair between my eyes, and various other traits, time was when I'd've been burned as a werewolf!:eek::mad:

Anyway, after running the "calculator" again, it appears that proportionately, your preferences only seem to be a half and inch off mine, so I think I see your point.
 
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I may ask Dad if he as a scale of some kind, but I won't bet the rent. Meanwhile, i have to ask: are these 34-37 oz. weights for the knife alone, or for the whole rig (khuk, karda, chakmak, and scabbard)? The latter would seem more likely, because some very subjective, rough estimates (weighing in my hand just now with some items of know weight) suggest that the khuk, alone, is only about 3/4 of a pound!
 
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