First Khukuri recommendation?

K

kpmoloney

Joined
Jun 24, 2009
Messages
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I'm looking to take the plunge and pick up a khukuri for woods use. Everyone I talk to says that HI is the best around. I'm hoping some folks on here might be able to steer me in the right direction with some good advice.

I'm looking for a chopping tool, I have no need for a fighting weapon. right now I'm thinking of the Ang khola series, the M43 or the Ganga Ram model.

As for size and weight I'm not sure, I'd like a good chopper, but not too noticeable on my belt. Somewhere around 2 pounds without the sheath seems like a good number. Open to suggestions on everything though.

My knives usually have full tang designs, I noticed the Chiruwa Ang Khola and am intrigued. Does the full tang in a khukuri affect the chopping ability? Having so much more weight balanced back towards the handle I mean. And would you feel more vibration?

Finally I have a question about the company itself, how does this work? Is there a company in the US that does the actual selling, or is it shipped directly from Nepal?

This got long winded quickly, I hope someone actual takes the time to read it, I'd certainly greatly appreciate it!

-Kevin
 
Hopefully someone will jump in and answer all your questions fully, but my brain is super fried after a loooooong day of work and school. I just wanted to throw in another contender for all-around woods khuk: the Amar Singh Thapa Knife, also called the ASTK.
 
I'm going to take these out of order.

kpmoloney said:
Finally I have a question about the company itself, how does this work? Is there a company in the US that does the actual selling, or is it shipped directly from Nepal?
Click to expand...
They are made in Nepal, then they are shipped to Yangdu in Reno, NV, she sells them and ships them from there. Best way to do it is to email her HIMIMP@AOL.COM

kpmoloney said:
My knives usually have full tang designs, I noticed the Chiruwa Ang Khola and am intrigued. Does the full tang in a khukuri affect the chopping ability? Having so much more weight balanced back towards the handle I mean. And would you feel more vibration?
Click to expand...
The Chiruwa style handle balances the larger kukri out better. It really doesn't affect chopping, IMO. Chopping, you'll find, is as much a matter of techniques as it is anything else.
I don't notice anymore vibration from a Chiruwa handle than a standard handle.

kpmoloney said:
I'm looking for a chopping tool, I have no need for a fighting weapon. right now I'm thinking of the Ang khola series, the M43 or the Ganga Ram model.

As for size and weight I'm not sure, I'd like a good chopper, but not too noticeable on my belt. Somewhere around 2 pounds without the sheath seems like a good number. Open to suggestions on everything though.
Click to expand...
All of those are good choices for choppers.

IMO if you are looking for a chopper like you say, then 18" is where I think the kukri really starts to take off.

For my top pick? (Everyone knows what's coming) -- I'd go with a Chiruwa Ang Khola, preferably 18-20" (have to email Yangdu and ask if she''s got one in stock). Not only for its performance, but for the fact it's the only one warrantied as a prybar. The CAK is Armageddon-Ready. :D

Second choice would be a standard 18" M43.
 
For a great chopper, something around 2 pounds out of the sheath, check out these photos of my Bonecutter by Murali, 16.25 inches and 33 ounces. Note the nice taper on the full tang, for better balance for chopping with not too much metal weight back in the hand.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=775762

This steers the thead to my previous thread about helping the Kamis, of course. ;) (My daughter says I shouldn't post when I'm drinking beer :D)

Himalayan Imports owns a khukuri factory or two in Nepal, produces high-quality khukuris, treats their workers right, keeps their inventory in the USA ready to ship quickly and is able to deal promptly with customer service issues that might arise.

What am I forgetting, guys?
 
kpmoloney said:
I'm looking to take the plunge and pick up a khukuri for woods use. Everyone I talk to says that HI is the best around. I'm hoping some folks on here might be able to steer me in the right direction with some good advice.

I'm looking for a chopping tool, I have no need for a fighting weapon. right now I'm thinking of the Ang khola series, the M43 or the Ganga Ram model.

As for size and weight I'm not sure, I'd like a good chopper, but not too noticeable on my belt. Somewhere around 2 pounds without the sheath seems like a good number. Open to suggestions on everything though.

My knives usually have full tang designs, I noticed the Chiruwa Ang Khola and am intrigued. Does the full tang in a khukuri affect the chopping ability? Having so much more weight balanced back towards the handle I mean. And would you feel more vibration?

Finally I have a question about the company itself, how does this work? Is there a company in the US that does the actual selling, or is it shipped directly from Nepal?

This got long winded quickly, I hope someone actual takes the time to read it, I'd certainly greatly appreciate it!

-Kevin
Click to expand...

There are many good choices in the HI lineup. I have several, and it is difficult to go completely wrong with any of them.

For a camp/trail khuk, I tend towards the medium sized offerings, between 15-18" over all length. Khuks in this size range offer good chopping ability in a more packable size.

I *personally* prefer non-chiruwa handles for a couple of reasons. First, IMO, especially in the medium sized knives, it moves the weight of the khuk into the blade, which aids chopping. Second, I haven't ever found that the traditional handles lacked anything in strength when used for reasonable purposes. They are plenty strong. Also, I have found (in the knives I own) that the traditional handles are more comfortable, meaning that the chiruwa style knives sometimes have handles which are too thick for my hands. Lastly, I do find the chiruwa handles to be more tiring when chopping, for all of the above reasons.

Again, just my observations, but I have used several models of khuk extensively on my property for everything from light brush clearing to heavy chopping.

My personal favorites in the medium size range are the Bonecutter/Ganga Ram, the Pen knives, the WWII and the traditional Ang Khola. These are good, proven models which are versatile and tough.

Have fun with your own testing! :)

Andy
 
I'm quite fond of my 15" Ganga Ram. It will chop well and it's easier to carry and less tiring to use than a larger khuk. It won't chop as well as larger models of course. It's a compromise. But if you were to ask on the general forum for a chopping knife you'd get recommendations for 10" bladed bowies that weigh less with less of a forward balance than the Ganga. So it's all relative.
 
I'm pretty happy with my M43 - although contrary to popular opinion, I need a longer/larger grip, so mine doesn't see as much use as it deserves.
Hoping to amend that some this week, thoguh.
 
M-43 gives unbelievable chopping performance while being very lively in the hand. Mine served me exceptionaly well over a several year long period of bush living and survival use. I can't reccomend it highly enough. It is as good of a chopper as the much heavier Ang Kholas and yet has a thin enough edge to function as a very good drawknife.
Whilke still being light enough to work as a sickle for cutting bedding materials.
 
kpmoloney said:
Finally I have a question about the company itself, how does this work? Is there a company in the US that does the actual selling, or is it shipped directly from Nepal?
Click to expand...

Guys, I'm just drinking my coffee and not even seeing straight yet, so excuse me if someone answered this and I didn't notice.

Himalayan Imports has a web site here:

http://www.himalayan-imports.com/

Lots of good information and photos on khukuris and how they are made, and the history of Himalayan Imports. The HI forum is a great place to get questions answered fast, and if you can run a search there is much information archived, but the Himalayan Imports web site is unique and indispensable.
 
After reading a bit and getting word back from the owner herself, I am leaning more and more towards the M-43. It looks like a great blade.

I notice that it's full tang just like the Chiruwa. Does that mean that it comes with the same no nonsense warranty?
 
kpmoloney said:
After reading a bit and getting word back from the owner herself, I am leaning more and more towards the M-43. It looks like a great blade.

I notice that it's full tang just like the Chiruwa. Does that mean that it comes with the same no nonsense warranty?
Click to expand...

It isn't warranted for use as a prybar like the CAK, but if it breaks under normal use (chopping and splitting wood, brush clearing, etc.), Yangdu will replace it. Someone correct me if I'm wrong in this. Having said that, I can't imagine anyone breaking my M-43 unless they're trying to pry open the hatch cover on an Abrams tank or something equally outlandish.
 
kpmoloney said:
After reading a bit and getting word back from the owner herself, I am leaning more and more towards the M-43. It looks like a great blade.

I notice that it's full tang just like the Chiruwa. Does that mean that it comes with the same no nonsense warranty?
Click to expand...

from what I have been reading, the warranty from HI is perhaps the best around with all blades covered under realistic uses. however the CAK is the ONLY one of the line that is covered as a prybar.
 
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