First khukri

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firesalamander

Joined
Jan 23, 2010
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I want a design that will be the best balance of woodchopping and combat effectiveness. I was looking at either the AK or the chitlangi. Which of these would be more balanced and which length would be most versatile?
 
An AK doesn't really make a great weapon IMO - it's very much a tool design and is generally weighty for it's size. I would consider a chitlangi if you want a martial arts weapon capable of doing light chopping tasks, or an M43 if you want a chopper capable of being a martial arts weapon :p

There's also the WWII or BAS, which are both equal tool/weapon (as is made apparent by their usage in the military ;))

I would suggest a 15-18" as anything above that gets weighty.
 
The standard AK or CAK is too heavy and slow to be a good weapon. The Chitlangi on the other hand is excellent. The Chitlangi is the halfway point between an AK and a Sirupati.

While it's not your best choice for chopping logs, a chitlangi can handle small to moderate sized (diameter of your wrist or smaller) tree limbs with ease. It's chops better than a Sirupati and is much faster and more agile than an AK.

Here's the pic I like to use to demonstrate:
HPIM0934.jpg

top to bottom:
Ang Khola
Chitlangi
Sirupati

Another good choice which is weapon and tool equally is the M43.

I can also suggest my favorite, the Super CAK, but so far it's the only one of its kind.
 
Unless it's listed as a villager (unfinishd, but with the forge scale taken off), or "true villager" (black forge scale still on) then it'll come with a polish.

I'm a little strange in that I see an 18" as the smallest of the "truly useful" range. Remember, that's 18" overall (yielding 11-12" of blade).
 
firesalamander said:
But wouldnt the 21 inch be a little large for woods carry?
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All my khukuris are 20"+ and I carry them out in the woods all the time. I live in the woods. If I plan on doing some heavy duty chopping (full size logs) I carry one of my 20" AK's or my 20" M43. If I don't plan on doing any chopping or I'm only carrying a khukuri for self defense or for nothing worse than briers, I carry my 20" Sirupati. For anything in between or a little of both I carry one of my 21.5" Chitlangis.
 
Another for consideration would be the Gelbu Special. Pala (HI owner and ex-Gorkha) considered this to be the best combination of tool and weapon. Mine chops pretty well. Available in 18 or 21".

Just start with the one that draws you the most and you'll be fine.

Welcome to the madness.

Rick
 
But wouldnt the 21 inch be a little large for woods carry?
Click to expand...

You'll just have to try various sizes and see for yourself. 18" is a fairly "safe" starter size, and you'll probably know within a week if you'd rather go larger or smaller.

Also, how big you are probably has very little to do with it. I'm only about 5'8", and I still prefer the larger 20-21" ones.
 
Ryan M said:
You'll just have to try various sizes and see for yourself. 18" is a fairly "safe" starter size, and you'll probably know within a week if you'd rather go larger or smaller.

Also, how big you are probably has very little to do with it. I'm only about 5'8", and I still prefer the larger 20-21" ones.
Click to expand...

That's right.

I'm 6'5" and a khukuri shorter than 20" feels too small for me.
 
Ok so besides the cosmetics what are the differences between the gelbu special and the chitlangi? Also i only see the gelbu available in 18 inches
 
Without having a Chilangi in my hands yet, differences appear to be two fullers for the Chilangi to the GS's one and the bell shape at the end of the handle. My 18" GS weighs 23 oz., which is right about what a 18" Chitlangi should weigh. The Chitlangi is listed at $25 less than the GS for both sizes. The HI online store is still showing 18 & 21" GS available.

Rick
 
The first difference to be observed in the Gelbu vs the Chitlangi is the shape of the handle. The GS has the 'standard' type handle you see on most H.I. khukuris while the Chitlangi has the distinctive bell shaped pommel. I prefer the Chitlangi handle shape but other users don't like it and complain that it tends to bite into the wrist during use.

The second difference is the blade itself. While both have the enclosed heart-shaped Cho, the standard Chitlangi has two narrow and relatively shallow fullers on each side of the blade. The GS has one one deep fuller on each side of the blade. I don't own a GS yet but the blade width of them both seem to be about the same.

I think in reality they'd perform about the same for use as either tool or weapon. It depends on which style appeals more to you. I really like the Chitlangi myself. IMO its the most beautiful khukuri and an excellent jack-of-all-trades khukuri.

The closest khukuri I have to a GS is a 20.25" Sirupati made by Bura. The old master forged the fullers DEEP on that Sirupati and it is wickedly fast.

Which ever calls to you most is the right choice.

Then buy the other one later LOL.
 
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