CS vs. Khukri

J

Johan

Joined
Oct 12, 1999
Messages
631
Hello all! I've been thinking about getting the Gurkha Light Kukri from Cold Steel, but my father owns a real khukri he was given when he was in the British military posted in Malaya. As I see it, the CS has a disticnt weight advantage-easier on the arms if you're doing a lot of brush clearing. The con is that you lose some chopping power. The "real" khukris are heavier and thicker-a little more robust? I also wonder about the steel in used, I know carbon V, but what are the others made of? The CS has a kraton handle, I've heard it can raise a few blisters and I'm not sure how it holds up to DEET. I want the best khukri for what I need-brush clearing, light chopping (branches), occasional heavy choppy (felling a small tree or splitting some logs for a fire). The only reason I'm thinking of the CS is the steel and the weight, but would I be better off with one from Nepal? Opinions please. Thanks in advance.

------------------
"Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heav'n"
John Milton
There are only two types of people; those who understand this, and those who think they do.
 
Johan,

Get the real thing!!! Both Gurkha House and Himalayan Imports sell top quality khukuris. I own mostly HI khukuris and I love them. They come with an unlimited lifetime guarentee. If, under any circumstances the knife breaks, it will be replaced free of charge. It is very difficult (if not damn near impossible!) to break one of these knives. They are made from differentially tempered 5160 carbon steel. (recycled Mercedes leaf springs) There are many, many variations offered in a full range of weights to suite whatever purpose you desire.
Both companies have forums here in the Makers/Manufacturers section. I suggest going to the HI forum and catch one of the links to the khukuri FAQ page. You will be abe to learn everything you need to know about khuks. there. Both Bill Martino at HI and Craig Gottlieb at GH are a pleasure to deal with.
 
I don't have any experience with the other Kukris but I do own the CS Light Kukri and love it. I am truly impressed with its chopping power. It breezes through limbs and felling a small tree has been no problem. The kraton handle has never given me blisters. The leather sheath isnt much but CS does now offer a kydex sheath made by BladeTech.

Hope this helps.

Decado
 
Oh....it really depends on whether you want a practical tool (one you expect to break) or a collector item. I am an owner of the CS Light Kukri. I like it...as a fancy piece.


It is much lighter than a 18" machete, something you will feel happy to carry about (though you won't!).
It is VERY Sharp straight out of the box.
The Kraton handle WILL blister your hand if you decide to chop down a tree with a CS Light Kukri without your hand gloved (however, in another point of view, the knife will never slip out of your hand and cause some much worse damage!).
The blade is Carbon V, not stainless, but does not require too much attention as soon as it is played around regularly.
The blade is "eye pleasing",very neat (well, it's from a bland name!), no handmade Khukri can compare with that.
The leather sheath is a bit too modern (personally I prefer the sheath of a "real" khukri).
It has been said the CS Khukri has "vibration problem" when taken for heavy chops... though I am not strong enough to perform such heavy chop and experience the problem.
It costs some $$. If you own it, you may not feel like doing too much heavy task with it!


I used to have a "real" Nepal Khukri, brought from a Gurkha open day. That was very long ago...before I start collecting knives. The Nepal Kukri nearly changed my view over bladed tools....it was ugly! The blade is thick but "irregular" (Terrible workmanship). It showed signs of rust, yet it has already been very heavily greased (another thing that put me off...you will not touch its blade with your finger!) it has "chopping power" indeed, so does an Axe, or a machete, which comes around more easily, and cheaper. One thing is good about a real Khukri....its sharp too, as soon as it is straight out of a Ghukha camp, not out from a pawn shop!


There is still one alternative option: CS "heavy" Kukri, weights something like 3lb, some "chopping power" there!
 
Of the Kukris that I have...

Cold Steel LTC (x2)
Cold Steel Gurkha Kukri (x2)
Cold Steel Gurkha Light
Ontario Military Survival Kukri
Junglee Military Bolo
Numerous GH Kukris

My favorite is the LTC. It is the best all around outdoor tool. It has the front end heaviness of a bolo with the more pronounced "sweep" of a kukri. The width of the blade (1/8 th in.) tends to get stuck when doing heavy chopping of thick limbs (6-10") as opposed to the thicker bladed kukris. To me, that is the only drawback. I actually like the Ontario, also. You can't go wrong with any of the CS kukris.
If you do not like the roughness of the handle, wrap it with Wilson tennis racquet grip. I have started wrapping all my choppers with it and it works great.
If you can find one, get a Cold Steel ATC (LTC but with a 1/4 inch thick blade) they are now out of production but a few guys here have one they may be willing to sell and they pop up on ebay every onece in a while.

Orion
 
The thinner CS khukuris from what I have heard are great all around knives. Thin enough for smaller work and brush clearing,etc., but still thick enough for light chopping. One shouldn't have a whole lot of vibration problems with one so long as they are not used for heavy chopping which they are not designed for anyways. The handle will probably give you blisters but one can get used to those.

If one wants a heavy chopper by all means stay away from the heavy CS khukuri. Vibration on it is awful. Please go with an HImilayan imports blade. The are bull tough pieces of steel. Nothing can break one pretty much but if you do break one, no matter how, Uncle Bill (the owner) will replace it no questions asked. As for what Fox said, he must have gotten an army issue Khukuri from the Indian army which are pieces of junk. Uncle Bill's are made in Nepal, have clean lines, razor edges, beatiful mirror finishes, excellent handles, etc. Please go over to there forum and look at any of the pics of them. They are stunningly beatuiful and perform almost like nothing else out there.
As well, they offer many advantages over an axe like there ability to do knife work. Not to mention, it comes with a steel and smaller knife for which carry on the sheath.

thanks and take care
collin

P.S. you think 3 pounds is alot my 20 inch AK weighs in at around 5 pounds
smile.gif
.
 
Almost forgot, I would reccomend an 18inch sirupati for your uses.

thanks and take care
collin
 
:
I have a CS LTC and it is a Really Nice little curved Machette.
It will take down a 1 1/2" Willow tree with one swing!
It ain't worth a flip for heavy chopping!

I have about a dozen of the H.I. Khukuri's and I love everyone of them!!!!
I have a 17" oal Village Sirupati that I got for a very cheap price considering what I paid for my CS.
This 'little' knife performs better than the CS in chopping and about the same on the willows!!

The lightest one I have is a Special Order CBC Khukuri that weighs less than a pound.
The heaviest one is a Salyan that weighs in about 3.5 to 4 Lbs and is a tad over 5/8" thick!!
Now That's a Chopper!!

I also have the Millenium Special and a Royal Banspati that are incredibely engraved,especially the Banspati.
A curio khuk I have that's also a good fighter is a 13" balance khuk that will balance on it's _edge_ on my thumbnail!!

I agree with Rudy about the cheap khukuris that are made.I had one of those too and I gave it to a friend of mine that didn't have a khuk,but he has seen and tried my others and knows that what he has is very inferior.


------------------
>>>>---¥vsa---->®

If you mix milk of magnesia with vodka and orange juice do you get a phillips screwdriver?

Khukuri FAQ


 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top