Direct comparison of HI and KH

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Today my order arrived from the Khukuri House, Panawal Special, and also Mini-Panawal. Both have a full visible flat tang and Buffalo Horn scales (same as my HI CAK). (Next Khuk I get will have to be wood handled, any opinion on which is better?)

They are all very thick heavy well forged blades. Of the three the Mini-Panawal has the thickest spine at 0.410" at the thickest part (measured with a mituoyo caliper). I'm working alone today, so I took all three into the shop to test them out. I used all three to pry boards off of a workbench supporting all my weight (185 lbs) on each blade with no noticable movement. Each passed. Each chop well through oak with no damage to the blade. The point of each was stabbed into oak plank with no damage.

The larger Khukuri House blades have a satin finish whereas the HI and Mini are polished. (I plan to do a hand rubbed satin finish on the other two as soon as I can find out how to do it right. Help?) The KH blades are very sharp on arrival whereas the HI blade needs to be sharpened. No matter there since I plan to sharpen them all myself anyway. There are no makers marks on KH blades, and they don't introduce the Kamis to you like HI does, which makes them less collectable in my opinion.

The fit and finish of the handles on the KH blades is better, but my HI was a blem, and the blem is definitely the handle. I plan to rework it very soon thanks to the rehandling thread I read here. The KH handles are smaller and more oval shaped than round, and they seem to fit my hand better. (Havent done enough work with any of them to really judge.) The pommel and bolster on the KH knives are steel, and very nice, whereas, (and this is my only real complaint on it) the HI is very thin brass. Especially the pommel seems thin and cheap on the HI Khuk (I think they used 0.010" shim stock and I would have appreciated a thicker heavier pommel that could have taken some abuse) I wonder if there is a way for me to beef that up?

Chackma and carda are nice, but not as nice as the HI. Scabbards seem equal.

Anyway, I don't think I will order any more KH khuks because they aren't as collectable, they aren't offered here, and since I have two now I think I have all I need from them. The new routine of waiting daily for Yangdu's pics is too inviting for me.

Have any of you guys tried KH knives? What is your assessment? I didn't see any cracks near the blood dripper as stated in previous threads.

:-) Andy
 
I have had a Panawal and mini-panawal before (gone now) - felt the same as you.


I've also had quite a few H.I. khukuris pass through my hands to others....


I've kept the ones I liked the best - and all of those are H.I.

So, take it for what it is.
 
I think until the blades are used in the field much is left unknown. KH seems to be a legitimate business and I wish them well.
I believe HI is number one. But there are lots of good knives in this world of ours.

munk
 
Thanks guys

Daniel, I saw the hand rubbed satin finish on your site. How do you accomplishs this. And in your experience which handle material is better and why (wood/horn)? I appreciate your wisdom here.

Andy
 
munk said:
I think until the blades are used in the field much is left unknown.
munk
Click to expand...

Munk is really totally right in this. A blade has to be tested on a variety of wood and situations to really test the temper and the handle attachment.

I have never had a KH one but one thing that appeals to me about HI is the wide array of styles.

NKH, KH etc most seemingly just make the same stock styles. I like the fatbellies like the Ganga YCS and some others.
 
I definitely agree that the field testing will give more accurate results. AND as you all can imagine I am anxiously awaiting my chance to do just that. Unfortunately my father in law is visiting (3 wks) and I'm tied up in the evenings. He just loves to spend time in my woodshop, and who can argue that. Unfortunately he and I don't see eye to eye on knives. I once gave him a really nice Bulldog folder and he gave almost no response at all (still in the box in his nightstand drawyer). SO...I gotta wait to break out the new weaponry till he leaves or the wife gets all prickly. Aint marriage great?

Andy
 
Well as an amateur of the khukri.......I still think that the HI products have room to grow and improve as a package......at minimal production cost that people are willing to pay for.

For 1, the karda can be made a little longer (both handle and blade) which it can tackle a lot more tasks than it is subjected to now.

2nd.......the chakma can be made like a file on the face that whereas some heavy infield repair can be done to the khuk when needed and the blunt blade can do the finishing and polishing.

But then.......these are the words from an amateur. :o
 
Hi Andy,

Great report!!!

Your evaluation of the Khukuri House wares is right on target. I have two "Operation Iraqi Freedom Khukuris" (OIFK), and your analysis as to quality matched mine. They are a legitimate business, and their profits stay in Nepal, helping the people there...

My two are identical as to size and shape of the Chiruwa Ang Khola 16.5". If there are any differences, it is in the thickness of the spine, and the weight of the blades themselves... In this case, the KH offerings are more robust. Bolsters are steel, with a well made pommel. Your criticisms of H-I's wares in the same area are justified... As to scabbards, both are good, but I'd have to give the edge to the upscale H-I products...

Again, you're absolutely correct- no Kami markings on the KH wares...

Khukuri House does a good job on their Khukuris, offering a good product for the price. I've not seen any of their more "polished" wares yet, but would not hesitate to recommend their OIFKs to folks needing an AK that will last. For a survival piece, instead of a hatchet or machette, that could do most tasks, the KH will serve... My two are destined for two different Bug Out Bags (BOBs)...

As to H-I, my Chiruwa Ang Khola 16.5", 18" Chitlangi, Kumar Karda, and JKM-1 are't for sale or trade- unless H-I comes up with something IMMENSELY better... The quality of all four is better than production runs of most knives I've owned, and as good as the better American knife makers...

It's nice to have something that DOESN'T come out of an assembly line... And there's something mystical having something made by somebody that has put their sweat, and maybe blood, into something wrought by their hands... The blade has a spirit, imbued by its maker... That spirit is moulded and shaped by its owner... What is accomplished, is what will remembered, along with who made it, and who wielded it...

I choose to keep my H-I blades close by- they feel best, and I feel "best" with them... The KH blades? They're like weapons kept in an armory. There, until you need them, good quality, ready to root hog or die... Ready to be used, or issued to others in need...

As I said, the H-I blades I keep close to myself...

Carter
 
Well, I should have three in in a few days...
I ordered a Aitihasik

1109672158.jpg

because I always wanted a very OLD style...

And I ordered a Ganjuwal
sp103.jpg

which I cannot find on their website... I do find a Mini Ganjuwal Panawal though...But it is listed as half the weight.

I also ordered a Bahadur
Bahadur%20Large.jpg

to go with my Bark River Evolution One
php0qYl7i.jpg

I am also planning on getting a Valientco Camp Knife

Camp.JPG


Or a Damascus Camp Knife
CampD.JPG


to go with them...

You can tell that I REALLY like this blade shape!!!
 
Thanks for the support. With the exception of the pommel the construction seems to be of similar quality (pre field test asessment) so I'll probably go with HI regularly because of the personal connection with the kamis and the collectability. My point in getting into Khuks was as a survival tool, and the weak pommell on the HI product is bothering me, so as you have, I intend to put the KH knives in my kits.

Andy
 
Wow!!!! I wish I had plans to bulk up the collection like that. I guess I can't complain, having ordered three quality khuks, and two sub-par india copies. I've chopped the handles off of the india knives and rehandled them with oak and reshaped the metal. Peeled the leather off of the scabbards and checked them too. If you wanna practice repairing/rebuilding handles and scabbards I suggest using a crappie for a guinnea pig.

Very excited to filed test the new khuks!!!!!!


A
 
Astrodada said:
Well as an amateur of the khukri.......I still think that the HI products have room to grow and improve as a package......at minimal production cost that people are willing to pay for.

For 1, the karda can be made a little longer (both handle and blade) which it can tackle a lot more tasks than it is subjected to now.

2nd.......the chakma can be made like a file on the face that whereas some heavy infield repair can be done to the khuk when needed and the blunt blade can do the finishing and polishing.

But then.......these are the words from an amateur. :o
Click to expand...

I've always thought that about making the chakma like a file! That's a good idea! :thumbup:
 
I have always wanted one of those Ganjawal's. Besides the tools I like the scabbard. Wonder what the story is behind the flower on the sheath? I have an old villager I got off ebay that has that same design.
 
Some of the old chakmaks were made like files. With small cutting teeth like a file on one side, and sometimes small bumps to aid in fire starting on the other. (striking against flint). I'm not sure if they would carry two chakmaks though. One "worked" and one smooth.

mike
 
Thanks for the review!

What I like about HI is the attachment of a product to the maker (kami), and that puts some accountability on the kami and makes me feel more confident about the quality of the product.

Then, there's the history of successful field test conducted on HI by reliable 3rd party sources. That to me counts for a lot in differentiating the product.

Yeah, when you look at two products, they may seem the same, and maybe even perform the same with the first few random cuts. And if one is cheaper (the non-HI), it seems compelling to go with the other, as I've been tempted in the past. But for the reasons stated above, I'd go with HI.
 
I don't know how many thousands of blades HI has out there, but it's a lot. Offering a guarentee over time is what is hard. Having a product last over time is what is hard. HI has done these things.



munk
 
Most definitely correct Munk, but variety is the spice of life and these are thick hardy blades. I went into the back yard and cut hickory, oak, and also dogwood branches 1-3 inches. (i had two dogwoods die this year and they have been drying, beautiful wood and hard as a rock) No nicks or dings at all. Fit and finish on the handle is great too. Pommel is without a doubt better than the HI.

That said, I am dying to send the e-mail on the Ganga Ram offered today. I agree with the above opinions. The connection with the maker, and the guarantee go a long way toward collectability. I will probably collect the Hi knives, but these two KH knives add and don't detract from the beginnings of what will be a great collection.

THanks for your help guys!!!!

Still wondering how to hand rub a satin finish on a knife. Help!!!!!

Andy
 
Andy, Well, if you get the BGRS, then I'm sure you'll like it. For being a small, relatively light weight kukri, it hits hard. My BGRS 17.5" 23.5 oz weighs the same as my FF. And when holding both, you can tell that they're the same weight. But man what a difference when you swing them at a log. The folly makes logs laugh. The BGRS makes logs cry. It's a great chopper. :thumbup:

mike
 
Wow...that Bahadur is neat...would love to see how it tests out. Keep us posted, JRK...



Satin finish is obtained by rubbing the blade with various grits of sandpaper, starting with 220 and ending with 800.
 
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