Different AKs

A

Alex B.

Joined
Sep 2, 2002
Messages
12
What're the differences between the Chiruwa Ang Khola and the normal one? How do they perform differently? What is each one good at?
 
chopping, chopping wood. The chir is heavier than the 15" AK and a an inch and a half or so longer. It weighs more. Fans say it cuts as well as the longer 18" AK making up in weight what it lacks in length. I don't know about that. They might weight the same or the 18 might be heavier, depending upon the kami and times. I do know if you had one knife and were of the paranoid survival school mentality the chir is a satisfying choice. I am a member of that school but like all the AK's...all the khukuris... The best thing about the chiruwa AK is the potential power in a shorter package..much easier on the thigh and in thick terrain.
Go to the HI web page and to the shopping site for a rundown on different models. What do I know? Nothing. I just read the opinions here.

munk
 
From what other forumites have said the chiruwa with the full tang also transmits more shock to your hands. The rat tail tang absorbs more because of the construction.

I don't know anything either. I read the opinions and I make stuff up.
 
I second these expertly qualified opinions, but since I only own models with the usual tang construction I too am totally ignorant.:)
 
Note that I am getting my first ever Khukuri in the mail this week (YAYYY!!!). However, I too have read opinions, and am going to offer the following stuff I just made up:

The Chiruwa looks just as nice as the AK but it might have two metal thingies bolted to another longer metal thingy in the handle. It is curved like an AK but has a different name. Sometimes the AKs have wood handles, though the Chiruwas might too.

Hope this helps!

:D :D
 
I just got a Chiruwa AK from Uncle Bill a week or so ago. I have only been able to get out & work with it 2 days so far. So far, I have been taking it to the area I'm working along with a HI AK I got somewhere along in the fall of '91. It is a little over 15"; closer to 16" with horn handle & etc. This knife has been used a lot. The steel is not quite as hard as the Chiruwa, but it sharpens well & holds an edge well. I tested it against the Chiruwa in some dry, seasoned, dead dogwood that was 4"-5" across. The Chiruwa will hold an edge a little longer in an all day work situation & it takes a big bit. I could not tell any difference in the shock transferrence. It balances different than the old AK; doesn't 'snap' as fast, but seems to be more tip heavy. I like the length & diameter of the Chiruwa slab handles; they are bigger & fit my hand better, but the feel of the horn itself is better, I think. Bill says that horn will stick to your hand like glue & I agree. I don't wear a glove on the right hand(knife hand). I am impressed with the quality of the Chiruwa steel; the hardness, the uniformity of angles & bevel & the overall craftsmanship..this is a helluva knife at any price. Unless I set it up with a shoulder strap, however, it will not go on the trails, & back in the lower 40 with me when I am on foot because of the weight. In those situations, I will probably carry either the old AK or a military simply because they are lighter. Will I purchase another Chiruwa? I don't know. I won't give this one up, but frankly, I am extremely partial to the standard AK HI sells with the horn handle. In a situation where I may need to call on the blade for survival, my old AK is faster for me & it still delivers the 'awesome chop.' The steel in it is tough & it does break, bend, turn or chip in the dogwood either. Touch-up in the field has never been a problem with it. Taking down a 6" tree is a couple of strokes faster with the Chiruwa, maybe - early in the morning. By coldbeer time, my right arm was asking me to pull the old AK out.
 
I actually have cut down many pines around my place, from 3" diameter to nearly 9". I've tried the WW11, BAS, Chiruwa AK, 15 "AK, 19.5" AK extra light, about 30oz, m43 hanshee style, small ganga ram special at 17" and 31oz, 19" chitlangi.

Length is good. Weight is good. Length and weight seem best.

There is no one miracle khukuri.

How much do you intend to carry your khukuri??!!


munk
 
I got spooked about the post below dealing with the broken chiruwa, so I went out yesterday and beat the hell out of my horn handled 16.5" chiruwa AK. It worked great. The bite it took out of the tree was incredible. In fact, I think it bites better than the 18" AK I tried out a while back. Just the gravity of teh blade alone takes a bite. And the horn does stick to your hand like glue. When I throw this thing around, I can feel the centuries of tradition and history behind it. It is the ONE blade that would be with me in the wilds if the SHTF. I've bounced around these forums for a while now, and tried several different blades. This chiruwa stands out as the premier blade for outdoors survival.
 
AD, HI has never had a total blade failure till now. I wouldn't allow that to discourage me. Something is wrong with the metal the Kamis are getting or? Anyway, it'll get fixed.

You're the second person I've heard compare the chir to the 18"Ak and say it bites deeper.

munk
 
Yea, I'm not concerned. I took the blade out and beat it upside down and sideways. It worked to perfection. This thing really bites deeply. I plan to get several more chiruwa AKs.
 
Main difference between the Chiruwas and regular AK's is the tang. The Chiruwa has a "full" tang - the tang is a slab of metal, somewhat thinner than the knife, and follows the profile of the handle. Chicago Cutlery and other kitchen knives are put together the same way. The regular AK has a tang that is completely surrounded by the handle. The blades are the same.

One thing I'm not sure of - to make a Chiruwa AK, do the kamis just take a regular AK, and beat out the tang until it's flat, or is there actually more metal in a Chiruwa tang. Yvsa commented on the tang styles a while back, and I got the impression that there was the same amount of metal in each, just in a different shape.

As far as handle shock, I thought my C. AK had less shock than a regular handle, but I was comparing with a 20", wood handled sirupati.
 
oOPS..i shoulda addressed that to Alex more than yourself, Ad. Please to meet you.


munk
 
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