Decisions, decisions

F

fearn

Joined
Apr 12, 2005
Messages
124
Dammit, lurking on this site is getting really addictive. What's that virus again, HIKV?

Anyway, I've got a question similar to wildmanh. Here's the situation: I've got a 20" sirupati that I love. But it's a little long to carry around. So the question: 16" AK, BAS or WWII? Which one do I get next?

The environment I need it for: chaparral and forest. The work: camping, clearing brush of all weights and chopping wood, up to and including oak. Oh, and something weaponish enough to scare off of anyone who bugs me would be nice. Personally, I'm lazy, so I want to get something that cuts everything and isn't heavy. Yes, I know that getting all this is an impossibility.

Hence the question: AK, BAS, or WWII?

What's your advice?

F
 
Ang Khola, WWII, BAS in that order... I got the last BAS in stock tonight. You'll be waiting until the next shipment arrives if you want a BAS.
 
WWII is your best choice, I think. Light enough to swing all day, enough heft to chop anything reasonable.

Any of the models you mention will make someone with bad intents back off a step or 2.

There's a good reason why Uncle Bill said they're HI's best seller.
 
think the website says the AK is the best seller, but I could be mistaken

I originally was going to say WWII, my first was... but I figured a lot of chopping the AK might be better. Can't go wrong with either.
 
Thanks for the advice. However, the first chopping done tonight was to a random limb to pay the tax guys. Once that limb regrows, I'll be able to afford another knife. At this rate, there may be another batch of kuks in the shop.

Speaking of which, how do the handles of the three compare? I have a fairly broad hand (a bit over 3.5" across), and I've found the "real" BAS in shops to have too small a handle. What's your take? I can't tell from the Khukuri FAQ whether they would all fit or not.

F
 
fearn said:
Thanks for the advice. However, the first chopping done tonight was to a random limb to pay the tax guys. Once that limb regrows, I'll be able to afford another knife. At this rate, there may be another batch of kuks in the shop.

Speaking of which, how do the handles of the three compare? I have a fairly broad hand (a bit over 3.5" across), and I've found the "real" BAS in shops to have too small a handle. What's your take? I can't tell from the Khukuri FAQ whether they would all fit or not.

F
Click to expand...

Go WWII than, they have slightly longer overall lengths and the handles are a little longer than a BAS. AKs come in various lengths. The longer the AK, the longer the handle.
 
Aardvark said:
WWII is your best choice, I think. Light enough to swing all day, enough heft to chop anything reasonable.

Any of the models you mention will make someone with bad intents back off a step or 2.

There's a good reason why Uncle Bill said they're HI's best seller.
Click to expand...

I agree! Look for a 16.5 - 17" WWII. You'll get a great knife that will come in about 24-25 oz or so, plenty of power and a comfortable handle that will average a bit longer than the others.

And you'll end up getting them all anyway in time! :D But the WWII will serve you best. From what you said the 18" might be a bit too long for you, but is still a fantastic knife.

Norm
 
out of more than 20 khuks my 16.5 ww11 is still the first one i grab for using..
 
Remember every HI khuk is a custom so there's a little variation between individual ones. If a blade shape turns you on, Yangdu can select one with a little larger or smaller handle for you. Also the kamis have a sense of proportion in making longer handles to balance longer blades.
Uplander
 
Another vote for the WWII. It gives you plenty of handle for several different grips, it has enough mass to power through most chopping jobs that aren't felling trees (get a full sized GRS for that;)), and the weight is spread out across it enough that it should pack pretty easily.

If you are going for hip carry, I would go with the 16.5"-17" version. If you can lash it to a pack, then 18+ is pretty nice to have.
 
Looks unanimous. Thanks for your input! BTW, I think the proper tool for cutting up scrub oak is a saw, but that's just my biased and ignorant opinion. :)

Hi Yangdu,

If you're reading this, and if you have a 16.5" WWII that has a slightly longer-than-average handle, could you set it aside? I'll be buying it once the tax trauma has worn off.

Khukuri collection here I come!:D

F
 
fearn said:
BTW, I think the proper tool for cutting up scrub oak is a saw, but that's just my biased and ignorant opinion. :)
Click to expand...

I like to tell myself that the kerf might compress and trap the saw in the wood, and that it MUST be chopped with a khukuri. :D

Well okay, I didn't say I believed it all of the time. Last summer I'd use my Samsher to fell trees, take off medium sized limbs, and a bow saw to scetion up the trunk.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top