Greetings and a Question

Most people agree that between 16" and 18" is optimal for general purpose use. I'm inclined to agree. However, there's much to recommend the 15" models as well. One would think that an inch or two wouldn't make much of a difference but it does.

20" and over tend to be somewhat specialized and aren't as pleasant to carry for extended periods of time.

Despite my size (6'2", 225 lbs.) my favorite is a relatively tiny 15" BGRS villager, with the FF in a very close second. Portability and compactness rate highly in my book. Not that the monsters aren't a lot of fun, though...
 
the best knife is the one you have at the moment, if you have to pack it for any distance, smaller and lighter is better. this must be balanced against what you really are going to do with it, (as opposed to what you THINK you'd like to do with it) if you are only furring sticks and chopping kindling for fires and doing kitchen chores, a lighter one will do, if you really are going to be building a log cabin or dressing a moose i'd go for a biggie. only you can decide.

but then,


aw, hell, just buy one of each, you know you want to.

you know you will in the end anyway.

HIKV is incureable.
 
SASSAS said:
Have you thought about one of the 18" or 21" Chitlangis? I wouldn't do a 12" as a first personally (though they're really nice) but an 18" or 21" would be a great first if you're not looking to do heavy chopping. Price is great at 125 or 145...Or, a 21" Gelbu Special? But it's pricier at 195. You could always grab a chit to get that first really cool one and get a blem or village WWII or other worker/chopper model down the road or vice versa. Or, grab the Gelbu and have both pretty much covered if you don't mind working something that nice. Just some thoughts... I'm thinking of one or the other at some point... I think they both look great.
Click to expand...

:eek: SASSAS you read my mind............... :)

the Chitlangis are the ones that I am considering now........and the Gelbu special of course......... :D

And I just think that the Chits are lighter and easier to handle........Plus I really like the double fullers :D
 
Well, since I've already ordered my first Khuk (18" AK...Thanks Yangdu!), We're now looking at my next one...the adventure begins.

I've got a big chopper coming, now I"m thinking of something lighter to be used for more delicate applications, like the vines and shrubs that are taking over my back yard. I'm looking at the Gelbu Special or the Chitlangi. Would it be a good idea to keep the length consistant? IE get them all 18" to help keep the techinique standard?

And yes, I really want a Cherokee Special. It's a North Carolina thing...
 
I think for clearing shrubs the 21 incher shall do very nicely...........get your fingers away from the shrubs......and you are big enough to swing it :)

but who am I to recommend..........? yet to order my 1st kuk :p
 
An 18" Chitlangi would be a great brush knife. I spent many hours clearing brush with one in East Georgia. Keeping the same length won't really matter, since the balance will feel very different anyway, but the 18(ish) Chitlangi is a great knife. You may believe it to be more "martial", too, when you hold it. It's fast and light, but felt better to me than similarly sized Sirupatis.

Just remember to use the AK for the bigger trees. I've used the Chit for trees up to 6" in diameter, and it's hard going. (Saplings, on the other hand, go down quickly.)

John
 
Cymro I have a 21"+ Chitlangi with the double fullers that is just absolutely marvelous, IIRC some of the Chitlangis came in with a single fuller like a Gelbu Special, Like the 15"-17" BGRS it cuts like a much heavier khukuri.
John is right about each model having a different balance. There are several factors that enter in the "feel" of each and every khukuri. The weight, handle size, minor differences in blade shape, point of balance, etc.
Khukuris of the same size and model can often and usually do have minor differences in "feel" because of these minor differences.

I think that when we do get one where all of these factors are perfect for us as an individual is when we really connect and know that it *belongs* to us.
 
Hmmmm. So now I've seem to have limited it down to the Chitlangi and the Gelbu Special.

Does anyone own both? How do they compare?

This is an expensive hobby.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top