Explanation of different khuks

S

Shann

Joined
Sep 2, 2004
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Is there a place that identifies all the different HI khuks and says what its mainly designed for (i.e. the Ang Khola is a heavy chopper, the kobra is for x, the WWII is for y). I've looked through some of the faqs and have found some information, but I know there has to be something out there.

I guess the reason is that I'm interested in these variants, but I can't buy every one! I'd like to be able to add to my collection by getting the extreme ends of the spectrum and work my way in. Kind of like, get the heaviest chopper and the lightest and fastest khuk.
 
18" WWII is probably the most well rounded. Start from there, than you can move on to lighter or heavier stuff.

;)

and yes, you will want to collect them all. it's inevitable, it is your destiny.
 
Shann said:
Is there a place that identifies all the different HI khuks and says what its mainly designed for (i.e. the Ang Khola is a heavy chopper, the kobra is for x, the WWII is for y). I've looked through some of the faqs and have found some information, but I know there has to be something out there.
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Hey Shann,
Go to H-I's home page. There's a lot of good info there. This link is particularly good, with basic info about the different styles:
http://www.himalayan-imports.com/khuk1.html

Parry
 
"Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated."
 
Yeah...hit the website and FAQ....then do the Dynamics page.

...that'll keep ya busy for a while. ;)
 
What Dan said. Thy dynamics page will load you up with a lot of good info. Here's a brief synops. of the styles I have handled.
AK: no-brains-about-it. it's a chopper. You can smash 'em through just about anything, especially if you get one with a really thick convex edge. The timex of the HI line.

WWII: Dave is right on about the 18" WWII IMHO. Not as much chopping power as a good AK, but lighter and a little more neutral in the hand. Makes a great limbing khuk.

GRS: I've only handled the 22", but it is my favorite khuk to take apart a whole tree. It has a nice thin felling edge that will bite deep, but has 3;bs of weight to really bust through the wood. To me with my limited skills, it works faster than an axe on stuff up to 10" thick.

Sirus: Slim but generally beefier than kobras. They work well on springy stuff, but not the lightest stuff. Thick enough to use them to do real work, but kinda underpowered so that you really don't want to use them on the heavy stuff. The small one makes a great camp knife if you aren't going to do a lot of chopping. Think bent Ka-Bar.

Kobra: The lightest khuks (generally). Not great at chopping and can be damaged on thick stuff if you don't use your head. better suited for taking apart a man or beast than a tree. However, the kobra is my go to brush thrasher. The 20"er feels just right to me. it can be called a "weaker" khuk, but keep in mind this is in the HI universe where the "weakest" full sized khuk is about 5/16" thick;)

I'm not an expert, and i'm still pretty dumb to khuks (and everything else for that matter;)) but i hope this helps a little bit.

Jake
 
Shann said:
..Is there a place that identifies all the different HI khuks and says what its mainly designed for...
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I was going by the Knife Guy's booth at the flea market and saw a guy looking at several decorative kukhris made in Pakistan. His wife asked him about them and he said "They're Indian Jerker knives, you see one you've seen them all. They're all the same except some have fancier handles."

He was obviously an expert, so his wife smiled and nodded, proud to be with such a knowledgeable man. The Knife Guy smiled and said "$35.00 for any one, two for $60.00, except for the one with the diamonds in the handle. That one is $75.00."

But who am I to criticize? When Ronald Reagan was giving the California Redwoods away to his timber corporation friends he said "We don't need them. You see one Redwood tree, you've seen them all".

Millions of Americans believed him, and millions of Americans can't be wrong.

Or can they?
 
I think that the lighter thinner bladed khuks are for more machete stuff.

I think the heavier bladed ones are for more heavy chopping.

For me, I think that there's like kind of a line between how heavy something is, what kind of edge something has, and the overall shape of the blade and the handle that make it a good all around khukuri for me.

I think you can buy the model that looks like it might work for you, but you really can't tell if it will till you get it.

For instance some khuk handles seem to really swell right behind the bolster. This type of handle really gives my hand cramps.

Some khukuris are too heavy. You'd think a heavier khuk would be a better chopper but for me not always. I find I can chop thru an 8" tree better with a khuk that is pound and a half or less a lot quicker than with a 2 pounder cause the heavier khuk wears you out quicker.

Another thing is the edge angle. A khukuri with a fat steep edge more like an axe will not penetrate as far into the wood, and will require more chops to get the same amount of wood out. It also jars your hand more cause there is more resistance. The edge may be more durable, some say, but I like the thinner sharper edge. It's like the difference between a Boy Scout Axe and a Granfors Bruks. Also the steeper angle is more difficult to machete with.

A lot of people like the really long khuks but these don't really work for me. I think something 16 to 18" is better for me. Much longer and the blade kind of gets in the way. 16 and 17 is ideal.

Another of the things I like a khuk for is with the curve of the blade you can come up to a log blocking the trail, kind of lean over and actually cut underneath the log as long as you have maybe 6 or 8" of space. This is harder to do with the longer blades, and impossible with an axe. With the khuk you can kind of be like a beaver and remove wood all way round what you are cutting with out having to change position over and over. This is one of the great beauties of them for me. :D

So the ideal one for me is something around a pound and a half, with a thinner handle, and a thinner edge with a fine edge. You can carry it in the woods without tightening your belt a notch, you can chop most stuff with it without much fatigue, you can swing it like a machete too.

That is the beauty of them. They chop as well as most hatchets and are suitable for machete work. You can use them like a draw knife. Just a fantastic all around thing.
 
Shann said:
Kind of like, get the heaviest chopper and the lightest and fastest khuk.
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Try to snag a full size Foxy Folly if/when you can for the heaviest and then sign up for the new run of 17" Foxy Follys after New years and you will have all you will ever need.:p ;) :D :D :D :D :D
 
HI.jpg
 
I've been in and out of this forum for about 5 years, and I can honestly say that almost everyone of us has tried, at one time or another, to own every HI Khukuri ever made. However, economics and reality soon rear up, and even the richest of us bow to what can be accomplished in one man's lifetime.

But it sure is fun trying, initially!

However, I too have two questions on models: what is a BDC and what is a Penn Knife? I've seen them up for deals, but I don't really know what they are or what they are made for?

(Up the Rebels!)
 
BDC stands for Bura Daily Carry - twin fullered blades either 14 or 10 inches overall.
 
The Pen Knife was designed by Daniel Koster, aka Pendentive. It was designed as a camp knife, I think. I hope to get one myself someday and find out. :)

Jeremy
 
The Pen Knife is the best all around camp knife that i've ever had the pleasure of owning. It kind of reminds me of an HI version of the Tracker knife without all the bells and whistles (and hype and price). I don't get to do nearly as much camping as I would like to, but if i were in one of the ever-so-popular-lost-in-the-woods-with-one-knife-and-one-folder situations just give me my Pen Knife and a SAK. The PK will chop, split, dig, pry, and slice a lot longer than I'll survive out in the woods, and it won't pull my pants down. It'll build a fire. It'll make a lean to. It'll help you feel safe at night when the critters start to stir in the blackness of shadow world beyond the trees. Pack light. Pack smart. Pack a Pen Knife;)

Jake
 
Hadn't thought of it that way, Rusty...but it could be that too.

Originally, Bill called the BDC the "Bura New Model".....and with a little persistance and persuasion, it's now taken on the name "BDC", which at the time stood for "Bura Dui Chirra"....a two-fullered blade.


Jake - I'm starting to wonder if you like the Pen knife more than I do....!

I had a chance to handle a Beck (Tracker) last weekend. Though the pictures are great...I was not impressed with how it felt in the hand. Even though it was handmade, and the quality was great....it just felt awful and awkward....I could not imagine having to use it to chop....you would have to hit farther down on the swing stroke to avoid chopping on the point. A weak position. I'm sure the sawblade works well...but since it's the same thickness as blade...eventually it will bind. The best part is the inside curve - wonderful as a draw knife. The handle isn't all that great either. the first-finger groove is too thick...makes for an awkward holding position.

Anyway....I went away disappointed....I had my hopes up, I guess....
 
Yes....it's that too. thanks for the reminder.
 
Any way you slice (or chop) it, that

"14 inch 20 ounce BDC by Bura. Beautiful white antler handle US supplied. Perfect rig."

from yesterday was an absolute beauty...

AA :p
 
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