Gurkha Kukri...seeking nirvana

V

Venice Will

Joined
Jan 11, 2007
Messages
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I'm looking for that all-purpose Kukri, a hefty belly in 1/4" or better... 23-28 oz. of quality steel - the old Cold Steel ATC (all terrain chopper) would have fit the bill, but I can't find anything in current production that will take a pounding, cut and chop like a banshee and feel like an extension of the arm...



Are there ANY other Kukri sources....or am I stuck in the after-market void?



Thanks!
 
Check the Himalayan Imports subforum. Made-in-Nepal kukris. Watch for the Deal of the Day for good prices.
 
Raymond1000 said:
Check the Himalayan Imports subforum. Made-in-Nepal kukris. Watch for the Deal of the Day for good prices.
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What he said... you'll have no problem getting something in the "1/4" or better" thickness range, that's for sure! If you go there, just let us regulars know what you plan to do with your khukuri and you'll still probably get a plethora of recommendations.
 
Get a real Khukri, not a bent knife like CS sells. There is a great difference.

I also am aboard the Himalayan Imports bandwagon. Great family business making dependable knives.
 
I've have two main HI users. Expect 3/8" or thicker on anything but the lightest knives. Expect also obscene toughness. A former friend of mine almost swallowed his tongue when I stabbed my Sirupati through an old dryer. Repeatedly. Then he did. Repeatedly. Not only was the point in fine condition, it really hadn't dulled that much, either. Plus, you're getting a handmade knife that the maker almost seems to give a personality to.
And the customer service is far and away superior to Cold Steel. You'll speak directly with the proprietor, and I've never waited longer than 24 hours for a reply.
I hope I don't come off as knocking Cold Steel, it's just that Himalayan Imports is a great bunch of folks. We don't call her Auntie Yangu for nothing.
 
What the folks are alluding to (and correctly so) is that is it has no CHO it is just a KLO (Khukuri Like Object).

The Cho or Kauri is the notch forged into the blade at the handle blade juncture. It is a symbol steeped in mystery, some saying it has religious meaning, others stating that it is to keep blood from getting onto the weilders hand. Whatever the meaning of the notch, it is forged into real Nepalese khukuris and without it, it is just a KLO.
Attached is a picture of a CHO on a khukuri.
As others have stated check out the Himalayan Imports sub forum here.
Yangdu has a great selection of khuks and a better understanding of the khukuri than any of us will ever have. Good luck. Khuks are a fun addiction.
 
axtalan0 said:
Would you elaborate on what the difference is, please?
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The cho/kaura. At the base of a khukri is a semi-circular notch with a nub sticking out. This symbol is what makes a "real khukri" as opposed to a "khukri-like object."
No one knows what it means anymore. Not even the blacksmiths (whose forefathers have been blacksmiths probably since America was an arm of Britain) know the meaning of the cho. There's a half dozen theories, all legitimate, perhaps even all correct, but that's what makes a khukri a khukri, in the most traditional sense.

Edit: beaten to the punch; but this is another opportunity to recommend Himalayan Imports. Start with a 15" Ang Khola and go from there, unless another style tickles your fancy.
 
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Would you elaborate on what the difference is, please?
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Real khukri's are hand-forged and will differ in thickness from the heavy spine (3/8" is typical as already pointed-out, but I have one that is over 1/2") tapering down to a convexed edge that has been hand-sharpened, and differentially heat-treated. This wedge design will cut, split & will hold-up to whatever you will likely need to do with it. Good ones will have the bladesmith's name on it, the CHO and perhaps other decorations or family/tribal decorations on it. The smith is proud of his creation and happy to food on the table from his hard work. There is character and soul to the blade beyond simple cutting abilities.

A "bent knife" or KLO is stamped from a sheet of rolled steel and sharpened by someone making hourly wages.

The 2 do not perform the same.
 
Cold Steel's are the best. I don't just say this because I work for Cold Steel , but because I have cut with them all.
 
Thanks for clearing up the differences guys. I asked because I have a Cold Steel LTC Kukri, or as CWL said,
CWL said:
A "bent knife" or KLO is stamped from a sheet of rolled steel and sharpened by someone making hourly wages.
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It still performs pretty well, but is too thin to be a real log chopper.

I am aware of the 'cho' but i never knew it was called that.
 
Venice Will said:
I'm looking for that all-purpose Kukri, a hefty belly in 1/4" or better... 23-28 oz. of quality steel - the old Cold Steel ATC (all terrain chopper) would have fit the bill, but I can't find anything in current production that will take a pounding, cut and chop like a banshee and feel like an extension of the arm...



Are there ANY other Kukri sources....or am I stuck in the after-market void?


Thanks!
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Here is a link to a shop in the UK .... www.framarknives.com

Frank who runs the shop had in stock some of the old Carbon V Cold Steel Khukri's when I was last in and may well still have some. Worth an e-mail anyway...

The ones he had are the same shape as the San Mai Khukri... I have one and it works well once the edge is thinned down and convexed... the old really deep belly ATC model which was marketed as a hybrid design and not the traditional shape....I don't think he has but you can check... they finished a long time ago...but the traditional shape one I have works fine...I took a dremmel to the checkering on the grip and took this down for more comfort... it is a fair bit lighter than my Busse KZ but that out performs it once I thinned down the fully convexed edge... and the Busse is more comfortable. They are expensive but there are some cheap prices on the exchange compared to other similar sized knives in Infi....

For what it is worth my thinned down fully convexed NMFBM also out performed the CS Khukri...but not by much...really for heavy chopping on the tree trunk it was a tie but I found the NMFBM easier to use on limbing....

I have had a few MOD issue Khukri's which I believe are similar to the HI models...the steel is better quality on the CS Khukri in terms of edge holding...but the Issue Khukri is easier to sharpen in the field being a softer steel. Personally I prefer the CS model over the MOD Issue one.
 
DemkoKnives said:
I have, but recommend me one that you think is the best match for the Cold Steel Gurkha Kukri. Maybe I'll buy one for my personal collection.
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Most any of the H.I. line is more than a match for the CS KLO, but if i were to have to recommend one to you for this comparison it would be a 12"-15" regular Ang Khola. I'm sure you will find that it outchops the CS hands down, as past comparisons have shown.
 
Were these comparisons against the CS Machete Khukri...or the Carbon V model ?

Also...and I suppose this is the crucial thing....were they both optimally sharpened?

I would be interested to know if the HI Khukri's are from the same supplier who does our MOD Contract....is'nt it the case that the HI khukri's are each seperately done by different makers and that you can have a fairly fluctuating standard on the heat treatment/edge holding on the steel?

I would love to find a traditional Khukri which had a harder tempering than the Issue ones...they seem designed like our Golok's....quite soft to enable easy sharpening...but often too soft for larger/longer tasks. I don't mind sharpening at the end of the day....but stopping to have to do so because of edge loss is no good....
 
PeterPHWS said:
Were these comparisons against the CS Machete Khukri...or the Carbon V model ?

Also...and I suppose this is the crucial thing....were they both optimally sharpened?

I would be interested to know if the HI Khukri's are from the same supplier who does our MOD Contract....is'nt it the case that the HI khukri's are each seperately done by different makers and that you can have a fairly fluctuating standard on the heat treatment/edge holding on the steel?

I would love to find a traditional Khukri which had a harder tempering than the Issue ones...they seem designed like our Golok's....quite soft to enable easy sharpening...but often too soft for larger/longer tasks. I don't mind sharpening at the end of the day....but stopping to have to do so because of edge loss is no good....
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It's been awhile, but i know there have been several comparison tests between H.I. and CS, I can't remember which CS model was compared, But IIRC i think i've seen comparisons between the LTC and San Mai versions. one of them was done long ago by cliff stamp. If i can find them again i'll post them.

Himalayan Imports manufactures its own khukuri ,in its own arun in nepal by their own kamis. This insures that the quality is high and consistant and that their workers are paid a vastly above average wage for their efforts. They employ some of the best kamis in nepal, most notably the shop foreman who used to be the Royal Kami and made all of the king of nepal's blades. They do not make khukuri for anyone else, nor do they supply any other vendor. Most other suppliers of khukuri are supplied their wares by the same arun that supplies KH, among others.

Any of the H.I. line is better than an issue khukuri in fit, finish and overall construction. I think you will find that the differential HT on the H.I. blades is more that adequate and well done, these blades are made for hard work.
 
Stories abound of using a khukri all day clearing brush or chopping wood, periodically steeling the blade, and still having a shaving sharp edge at the end of the day.

DemkoKnives said:
I have, but recommend me one that you think is the best match for the Cold Steel Gurkha Kukri. Maybe I'll buy one for my personal collection.
Click to expand...

I'd second the Ang Khola. I tend to think of the 15" Ang Khola as Himalayan Imports' signature model. You'll discover a knife with a sense of distinct personality and soul.

On a slight de-rail, is the San Mai model forged or stock removal?
 
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