Fw: a newbie's question on the BAS

Daniel Koster

Daniel Koster

www.kosterknives.com
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Oct 18, 2001
Messages
20,978
Uncle Bill and gang,

I am bringing in a question from the Blade Discussion Forum that was posted by: a_punker.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=201994

Hey, I'm new to posting in these forums, but i've been reading them for a while!

I wuz checking out the Himalayan Imports website - pity GH aren't shipping overseas at the mo (UK here)- and theres not that much info on it.

The HI 'Army khukuri' is supposed to be 'better' than the service number one - anyone know how this is?
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I feel that this is a legitimate question, that the asking party is genuinely interested and would truly profit from hearing from a few of you who have used the BAS (myself included) as well as from those that crafted the original comment.;)

For now, I am happily swinging from the trees with my BAS under my arm awaiting the arrival of a new baby boy - due Monday, May 6.:):D

Respectfully,

Dan
 
Dan, I forget just where I read the write-up on the Gurkha House military blade but it is not the same guality as the HI military blades. The BAS was in question. This blade is the same model issued to the British armies Gurkha regiments.
However the HI is of much better quality. I have on that came to me the same time as my 15" AK the first two. I worked that BAS pretty hard trimming limbs off of trees that I had taken down with the AK. I wish I had one of those magic stones that Uncle Bill talks about. I don't know what all you want to know. All I can tell you is what I know about the BAS in my possession. For a 15" knife that is a pretty one too, I don't know how you could ask it to do more than I have put the poor thing through. For the size and weight it is truely a work horse.
 
pendentive, I wonder if GH is still in khukuri business now.... In case you might find GH SN1 more desirable, or feel like to buy both, check out the GH forum also.
 
Get an HI BAS (British Army Special). Best there is for all around use you will love it and the price is very low. Guaranteed for life.
 
Thanks for help. Right now I don't have time to shake the bushes. If the guy wants a BAS he'll find us.
 
Opinion Please!
I am considering BAS's for my three son's for Christmas for their first Khuk. Any coments? A first for the oldest and the youngest. The Middle one has that India thing. So, I don't know whether to count it or not.:)
 
Originally posted by Pappy
Opinion Please!
I am considering BAS's for my three son's for Christmas for their first Khuk. Any coments? A first for the oldest and the youngest. The Middle one has that India thing. So, I don't know whether to count it or not.:)
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I think the BAS is a good choice. My first and still probably the most handy of my HIs.

--B.
 
Pappy,

Though my main interest in edged weapons is antique Chinese swords and armor I have a fascination with the HI Khuks. I do not know of another modern made edged weapon that has such presence and power.

I love HI Khuks! I have about one of each of the HI khuks including a Falcatta, YCS, WWII, Chitlangi, AKs, UBE, and hands down my all around favorite is the BAS.

Balance is superb, hangs great on your belt, it has a beautiful brass inlaid blade, solid and strong, anything it won't chop down you better get a chain saw --- it is also the cheapest HI Khuk, I think.

Uncle was selling them for $50-$65 each in the PGAs.

I bought three, gave one away (guy is my friend for life, he thinks it cost $500 and it looks it!), but the two BAS I kept will be the last HI Khuks that I would ever let go.

My next choice of best HI Khuk would have to be the YCS. That is a sweet knife also! That YVCS guy has a sweet design!

Is this a great world or what?!?!?!

Bill Marsh
 
Originally posted by Bill Marsh
My next choice of best HI Khuk would have to be the YCS. That is a sweet knife also! That YVCS guy has a sweet design!
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Bill,

I'm right there with you. I absolutely love the YCS. Makes me drool everytime I see it. :eek: :D
So well-designed and crafted.

(shhluurrp)

...ahem

Dan
 
I always come back to my BAS. No matter what other khuks I try, that one is the best all around performer for me. The WWII gives it a run for the money though.
 
The two younger brothers go a little wild on me out here away from town once in a while. So, I don't want to give them too much knife for the first Khuk. I still want an 18" WW11 for myself when I can and the middle boy Bryan will want one too I am sure. After the first one they can buy their own. After they learn to handle the lighter knife then they can go to something else when thay are ready.
 
Originally posted by Pappy
Opinion Please!
I am considering BAS's for my three son's for Christmas for their first Khuk. Any coments? A first for the oldest and the youngest. The Middle one has that India thing. So, I don't know whether to count it or not.:)
Click to expand...

My three boys want khuks too. I let them use mine and see what they gravitate to, then I will let the khuks find their own home, as Uncle Bill likes to say.

Tentatively:

Son #1 likes the lightweight Kesar Chiruwa AK with the wood handle.
Son #2 likes the heavyweight 15" Sanu AK with the horn handle.
Son #3 is into swordplay and prefers the 18 oz 21" GS by KNN. I'll probably have to buy him a Kobra because that GS and I are pretty tight these days.
 
I actually own a GH service issue khuk. Bought it before I thought I could ever afford an HI khuk. Have to say the quality difference is definitely there. The GH khuk has a somewhat softer blade, the fit and finish overall is lesser, and the scabbard is definitely not up to the HI sarki's quality. That being said it still is a great knife, but once you get spoiled on HI's its hard to look at any khuk like object in the same light.
 
Hey guys,

pendentive Thanks loads for doing the leg work for me mate <thumbs up>

So i'm the bent blade rookie who’s wondering the diff between HI and GH. (you'll have to forgive my lack of understanding of the acronyms flying around these forums).

When i was first really interested in buying a khuk i did a bit of searching o the net and found GH. From their webby i got the impression that they 'made' the khuk that is issued to the Ghurkha rifles - the SN1. Now i thought that this big blade has just got to be the mutt's nuts. What better recommendation can you get than genuine issue? The only reason i don't own a GH mini-jungle khuk (the 12" one) is because their website wouldn't accept my credit card!

Now I’m back into the ' this is what i could really do with' frame of mind i have discovered HI! The website, while full of interesting Khuk and Ghurkha history etc has little info attached with the actual products. Seeing the BAS carry the label 'considerably better quality' Made me wonder 'how and in what way?' and that the Ghurkha soldiers aren’t carrying very good khuks?

Since then I’ve been pointed in the direction of a whole bunch of articled and reviews, which I’m working my way through.

Whatever i buy its gotta be the best of its kind; If not that then the best value of its kind.
 
A further question though - Who does make the British Army Issue ones?
and - is a 12" Khuk not worth the money?

The story of why i want a khuk over any other big knife comes from when i was doing my basic training with the British Army (the Royal Welch Fusileers). We were digging shell scrapes at a harbour area with entrenching tools and bayonets. There was a really nasty tree root that if we my buddy and i could get rid of, would allow us to get into a really sheltered position - luxoury! This thing was indestructable nothing we were hacking it with was damaging it (a bit rubbery to boot you see) i thought 'i know - theres w wood saw on the bayonet sheath'. I opened it up and ran my hand down it. The f*king thing was more blunt than a butter knife! The section corpral came over to see how we were getting on. He saw us struggling and dissapeared for a second. Onhis return he made one or two small movements with this huge knife. the root and half the trunk were in peices on the floor and i was crouching, staring at this big bent blade. Hel left and there was all this hubbub and discussion - 'did you see what he had?''That was a ghurka knife, it was'....'i gotta get me one of them' was all i could think about.
 
Originally posted by a_punker
pendentive: Thanks loads for doing the leg work for me mate <thumbs up>
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You are indeed welcome.

Of course, you won't have me to thank after you've spilt your bank roll loading up on HI khukuris!:D

There's nothing like a field test to prove the worth of the Khukuri design. When exectued well (as done by HI) it is can be a multi-purpose tool/weapon that will outlast nearly anything else.

Stick around here a while... it'll pay off in the end.

Also, do a search in this forum under the word "test" - that ought to turn up a whole mess of threads where you can read people's experiences with their Khukuris.

The question on your mind will no longer be "How can I get that?" but will change to "Which one do I want now?":D

Welcome.

Dan
 
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