Gelbu special vs. Sirupate

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wildmike

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Nov 17, 2007
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From all you folks with experience with the lighter kukri's

What is the difference in performance and design of the Gelbu Special as opposed to the Sirupate.

I have a Chitlangi which I like a lot. It's just such alovely blade that itr doesn't get much carry.

I;m thinking of picking up one of the above blades but can't decide which one.
 
My 2 cents: chit > gelbu > siru. Though a lot of that is based on looks and not just performance.
 
In order to compare, we need to put it a certain situation. For sure we wont talk about chopping here as chopping is the job of the chopper beasts like AKs, M43, ASTK,... The GBS and the Siru are more of hacking than chopping.

I havent tried the Siru. In the view of a jungle trecking knife, which is also my primary usage, I choose the GBS over the Chit of same size. The main thing is the big and heavy pomel of the Chit has increased unnecessary weight for me. It also create uneasy feeling for my palm. Another thing is that Chit is always beautiful and I dont want to put ruin that beauty with chopping.

Cheers
 
Hung

Thats my problem with the Chit. My M-43 is my favorite chopper and I know that none of these others can beat it in that respect.

Just wondering about the difference between the Gelbu Special and the Sirupate.

I like my Chit a lot...but it is a lovely blade by Sher the tiger and i'd like to keep it in good shape.

Just trying to decide between the Sirupate or the Gelbu for a light fast maneuverable active piece.
 
Having both 18" Gelbu and ASTK, i do see SIRU in them.

Gelbu is somehow a Siru with additional fuller (chirra), hence making it lighter but not as pointy as Siru.

Chitty-chitty-bang-bang is dui chirra Siru, large pommel and purty purty knife.

But then again i might be wrong.

ASTK?

Siru gone steroids. Some called it sharpened prybar, i call it my Apocalypse Hunter.:D
 
I have an 18 inch 19 ounce Gelbu special by Sher, and it is deceptively nimble. I don't have a Siru or Chit to compare it to, though.
 
It's hard to compare. They are similar but the individual models vary to the point one individual specimen may be difft than the other.
 
My suggestion would be for the Gelbu Special wildmike. I don't have an 18" Sirupati to compare my 18" GS to. I do have a 21" Siru that needed a bit of work and I use it for ugly, in the dirt work. At 33 oz it doesn't feel right in my hand. The GS weighs in at 23-24 oz and feels like it is part of my arm. Although it is lightweight and nimble, it is still a decent chopper. I was pleasantly surprised at how well it did chop. My 2c.
 
Thanks for the feedback Stickfred.

That is what I was wondering about the cutting ability of the Gelbu vs. the Siru.
 
The Siru would probably chop, too. Mine wouldn't without much edge refinement. and even after that, as I said it just didn't feel right. Who knows an 18" may be different. Or it may fit your hand better. The Gelbu is just right for me though. The only khukuri that got a name the first time I held it.
 
Bura made my 20" Sirupati more like a Sirupati-Gelbu hybrid. It's light and quick with unusually deep fullers for a Sirupati.

I'd imagine a true Gelbu would still have that effect, but with a little more width to the blade for better cutting.
 
stickfred said:
That must be an interesting khukuri Wolf. I didn't think that the Sirupati came with fullers.
Click to expand...

The one I have which was made by Vim doesn't have fullers.

The one by Bura does; much like Gelbu Special fullers. Broad and DEEP.

HPIM0930.jpg
 
I have an 18" sirupate that was forged by Bura before he became ill. The blade is amazing and it was probably one of the last ones he made. I have tested it on green maple branches up to 3/4" thick and it goes through them like they aren't even there. The handle is long and gives you plenty of room to choke up on or hold it back toward the pommel. A really comfortable knife and not too heavy to swing.

I would highly recommend it for a combat blade if you change the sheath harness for attachment to a pack, instead of a belt.

I can honestly say this is one of the sharpest knives I own. It is scary-sharp and didn't take much right out of the box to get it this way. 1500-grit sandpaper on a rubber eraser is all it took. Another great feature is the "arm of shiva" on the spine. It is very high quality brass inlay and forged stamping that really adds a nice touch that is lacking on some of the others like the ang khola.

I can provide pictures if you like.
 
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Here are five pics. A thunderstorm was about to roll through so I couldn't get any shots in good sunlight.
Sadly, the handle has an imperfection that was filled in with buffing rouge. I lightly sanded it out and then used simichrome to polish the horn. It's still a pretty large divot.

handle-zorch.jpg

pommel.jpg

bura-engraving.jpg

full-blade.jpg

handle-length.jpg


The pommel's also a little rough, but the blade is magnificent. The fullers and the forgework on the edge bevels are perfect.
 
Hey wildmike, i've been watching the same Gelbu on the sale forum that you have -- did you end up buying it? I offered to take it if it was still left on the thread but haven't gotten a response.
 
Wildmike, I've handled and chopped with both, and the Gelbu is the one I kept. To me, a Gelbu is something like a slender Ang Khola. It's fast, yet hits suprisingly heavy. The Chit did a fair job as well, but the Gelbu just fit me better. I'd recommend getting both to try them side by side. You can always sell one.
 
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