Field Report: 18 inch Chitlangi

C

Coonskinner

Joined
Mar 28, 2001
Messages
2,491
To my surprise and delight, the Chitlangi I ordered on Tuesday arrived today. I wasted no time hitting the brush with it.

But I'm getting a little ahead of myself. First, I worked on the edge until it was shaving sharp, and then I hit the brush.

I started on green limbs, lopping off small ones and working my way up to some pretty good sized ones until I chopped through about a three -incher. The edge was virtually unaffected.

Then I went to the real test. I found a seasoned Elm log and chopped away. Seasoned Elm is very hard, and a good test of a blade's chopping abilities. Again, after extended chopping, no edge damage whatsoever. The knife was slightly dulled, but would still scrape shave.

The Chitlangi feels as good in the hand as everyone said it would. I think this model hits the sweet spot between big enough to do some serious chopping and light enough to be quick and easy handling. I would not feel at all undergeared on a backwoods camping trip with this blade as my firewood producer.

Thanks, Uncle Bill for a sweet blade at a great price.
 
Mine is speeding towards me as I write- who knows, it is theorectically possible for it to arrive tomorow. I sure hope I get out of it what you did with yours. By the Khukuri's design and weight, what you wrote is what I'd hoped for.

munk
 
Munk,

I do believe the Chitlangi is a good "Compromise Khuk." It is such a beautiful piece that a lot of people seem hesitant to use it, but as beautiful as it looks, the true beauty is in its usability.

I was actually pleasntly surprised at its chopping performance, given the blade profile. An AK looks like a chopper, but the Chit looks more like a weapon. That doesn't keep it from doing a real job in the brush.

I'm already planning my next purchase, and I think I'll try to get one of the heavier designs. I have a 15 inch AK, but I think I'll try to get something like a Model 43 or a Ganga Ram Special.
 
CS, what is a model 43? I've seen a few pics I guess, but I couldn't find it on the shopping site nor have read anything about it.

munk
 
It isn't on the shopping site because they haven't built enough inventory to offer it there.

If you will do a search, you should find a picture or two.
 
Originally posted by munk
CS, what is a model 43? I've seen a few pics I guess, but I couldn't find it on the shopping site nor have read anything about it.

munk
Click to expand...

Munk, I used to have an HI M43 made by Kesar:D and I can say that they are great. IIRC the M43 was used durring WWII and is an updated version of an older design, But I don't know what Exactly. Ask JP, he knows. No matter what it's origins are, it's a Fighter! And feels good in the hand:D. Jim has a number of them and can probably give you a good idea as to how awesome they are. Some day when I'm better off (money wise) I'll get me another one. The HI M43 is so popular that Uncle Bill can not build any stock. That's why it's not on the shopping site. Hope this helps.
 
My Chitlangi did come today. I have a tree picked out for chopping, but wasn't quite ready to do that. I keep returning to the scabbard and pulling the blade out, shyly, looking it over, taking the planes and valleys in, swinging once or twice and snugging the chit smoothly back inside. It is overwhelming. To my crude naive mind, this looks the original of various props seen on an Indiana Jones movie.

I rubbed the blade with a soft cloth tonight and whether it was an illusion or real there was a blue tint. Someone called the shallow grooves, fullers? Is that right? Is there a blade done by hand that does not have slight iregularities in the form? I know nothing of metal smithing.

I do believe there is some magic in this blade. ARe you ready for a phrase? The parts coming together, a trembling presence. There, I've gone round the bend.


munk
 
...is the natural direction for HIKV sufferers - in addition to lightening and strengthening the blade, the fullers are there to keep you from flying off, like the bank on a racetrack.
 
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