Hanuman info and pix please?

Gator97

Gator97

Joined
Apr 10, 2000
Messages
3,794
Hi All,

I did, or tried to do research on hanumans, since I got interested in them. Strange thing, almost no info on the forum. And very few pix.
I was wondering if anyone is actually using his/her Hanuman kukri, and if someone coudl post for me few pix (whether you use it or not).
How does it compare to AK/WWII, somethign else? I figure it should be close to similar sized AK, correct? Any info highly appreciated.
 
My Hanuman is a big Dui-Chirra style blade, similar to the Berk Special. I don't think it belongs in the AK category at all, it's much faster and better balanced for the weight. I can't post a pic right now, but I'll try to get one up for you tonight.
 
Ah, the trouble with posting messages early in the morning -

what I posted a link & pic of is the Garuda Khukuri, not the Hanuman! :o mea culpa

yes, I got your emails - just behind on all my email replies as usual

--B. :o
 
Sigh. Mea culpa too. Didn't read the title, just looked at the pic. Thanks anyways ;)
 
Two cool things about the Hanuman -

First, they come with a full family of 6 tools - karda, chamka, tweezers, buttonhook, awl and (I think saw, but I can't remember)

and the sheath has the traditional tinder pouch. One thing about that, though, is that it sortof displaces the frog. So the standard sheath is designed for sash-wear. Slip it into your belt or sash, rather than having a frog.
 
One thing about that, though, is that it sortof displaces the frog. So the standard sheath is designed for sash-wear. Slip it into your belt or sash, rather than having a frog.


I don't want a frog in my belt, I'd be doing a jig!:)
 
I really like my Hanuman. It is by "user" for hiking/camping along with a 21 inch GS (used when there's lots of bush/jungle to cut through). But I have to admit that it's not for everyone. Here are some pros and cons from one point of view.

PROS

- Double fuller makes it light but hefty enough for wood chopping. Seems strong enough for the chop + pry approach to firewood splitting - but I haven't tried it yet. Balance is just forward enough to feel light in the hand but give power during a stroke.

- Handle (nicely carved!) is unusually thick. This suits my fat hands perfectly. I found the grip/handles/length on 15 inch khuks like the BAS/AK's too be just too small. Also it's one of the few (only?) largish khuks to have a pinned tang with no butt cap. So there's no problem with the flared butt cap jabbing into your palm on a stroke (this was getting to be a real pain for me with smaller handled ones). (See cons below)

- Tool set is VERY unique (Berk special being the only other HI standard product with one). Check with John Powell, but I believe the tool set was a traditional part of old Khuks. So it kinda feels good using tools which were developed and used by people who really needed them in daily life. I've used the karda, chakma, and awl. Haven't used the chisel or tweezers, but could certainly see the day when I will. Haven't used the tinder pouch, but I plan on experimenting with trying to carry some tinder (to see if it can be kept dry) or even seeing if I can shove in one of the Air Force pilot magnesium/flint fire starters. (See cons below)

CONS

- The handle is so thick that I understand many people cannot use it (a handle that is too thin can still be used, but a handle that's too fat may give you hand cramps). I believe some forumites have actually sanded the Hanuman handles down (there goes some carving!) to fit.

- The tool kit / tinder pouch makes the scabbard very fat (around three and a quarter inches). It doesn't bother me. But most people seem to find it too fat to carry on a belt. Terry Sisco even makes shoulder baldrics for it. So I gather that many people end up carrying the thing in their backpacks (tape up the chape so it doesn't make a hole in your pack).

- Uncle Bill maintains that it's better to carry a Swiss Army knife than the Hanuman's tools. He's got a point. Modern portable "tool sets" are more convenient. And I still haven't figured out how the button hook works (I even asked UB to make a small saw/file to replace the hook for me). So yes, the tools are impractical compared to a Swiss Army or Leatheman tool. But hey, there is always a certain allowance for the "cool" factor, right?

- Lastly, the Hanuman blade, carved handle, and tools set look so good sitting on a wall that you almost cry when it starts getting dinged up in use. You'll be tempted to polish it up, cover the scrapes and leave it on the wall as a tribute to the Nepalese and their culture. Very stressful.

Hope this helps.
 
The "new" Hanuman I saw at Reno during the first khuk konvention was a huge khukuri with an extra large handle on it, kinda like the UBE handles!!!! The kamis redesigned the Hanuman so as to have an unbreakable khuk. AFAIC the Hanuman was already unbreakable and the old model was much more user friendly IMO.
I liked the old model a lot, but I think the "new" model is just too dayumed big!!!!:rolleyes: :(
 
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Here's mine. The pic does not do it justice. This one is a steel-mounted one by Sher. It feels light as a feather, not forward-weighted. This tool set includes (clockwise from top left): awl, chakma, chisel, karda, tinder pouch, tweezers and button-hook. It's 18-1/2 inches and about 28 oz. Incidentally it fits perfectly inside the scabbard for my 18" AK.
 
That's a lot of gadgets for one knife :) Thanks for the info and pix.

So, it's little bit lighter compared to 18" AK? How aout chopping power, again, compared to 18&quot AK.
 
"So, it's little bit lighter compared to 18" AK? How aout chopping power, again, compared to 18" AK."

I've never used an AK. But from the stats alone and with the Hanuman's double fuller, I would guess that the Hanuman is much lighter than the AK and probably has a center of balance closer to the handle (unless the AK is a chiruwa in which case the AK may be much heavier weight wise). With that balance, the Hanuman should feel much lighteer in the hand.

I understand that the AK is "the" HI chopper (not surprising given its weight and toughness in the stats). But I find that there are different kinds of chopping. For fire wood splitting where one does the same up and down stroke over and over again (the stuff a khuk-less person would use an axe on) and uses the khuk as a pry bar, the AK would probably do a much better job.

But for clearing stuff like chopping brush or taking off limbs (more machete like work) where one might chop from all angles (including horizontal; sometimes even reverse the grip so the blade faces up for an "under" chop), the accuracy of a chop can be bad, and often one wants the stroke to be soft (otherwise a blade might go into a thigh or a shin if it strikes poorly or if the khuk goes right through the target - watch out! you would be amazed at how much power the thing has!), it helps to have a much lighter blade with a more central point of balance. It's easier to control and the muscles don't tire as fast.

I find that the Hanuman has one more plus point for the later use. I use the "machete" style of chopping where most of the effort is in raising the khuk. At the top of the stroke, my grip lightens so that only the thumb and index + middle finger are holding the grip (this makes the khuk blade tilt so that on a very high stroke the blade actually points down over my back). On the down stroke, only the weight of the blade is used (so my hopefully relaxed arm and grip is used mainly to guide the khuk to the right spot). Just before the khuk strikes, you tighten your grip so the blade swivels into the target at a fast speed. Much less tiring. The Hanuman's handle has some very broad (and nice) carving rings just where I put my thumb and index + middle fingers. So it feels very secure and comfortable on the top part of the stroke compared to my other khuks.

Hope this is helpful.
 
The hanuman gave birth to the 18" WW2.

Bill ordered the Dui Chirra Hanuman blade to be combined with the regular handle of the 16.5" WW2. Everyone agreed they understood: double fullered blade ( from the Hanuman ) on standard horn handle.

So then the batch got finished and shipped. Bill opened up the box and found the wooden Hamuman handle on the blade of the 16.5" WW2. The complete reverse of what he'd ordered.

What made it worse, was that the combination ended up 18" long and had what seemed like wonderful balance. We begged Uncle Bill to have them make an 18" WW2 made.

He obliged. The 18" WW2 apparently meets with approval from the six footers on the forum, but some of the smaller of us
believe it doesn't have the sweet handling qualities of the 16.5".

By then, other forumites began deluging him with requests for 18" Ak's, and the M43 and other inbetween ( 16.5" to 18" ) also suggested the sirupatis would be just the right size between the fifteen and twenty inchers. Now it seems like 18"ers are the Mama Bear. The 20" Pappa Bear is just too heavy and the 15"ers like Teen Bear are just not big enough.

( Leave out Baby Bear - At 12" OAL with an 8 inch blade it's just too cute to pass up. ) And that's pretty much how it happened as I understand it.

PS: the 18" Sirupati is reasonaably light, but is also sturdy enough to be substantial,( as is the 20" Sirupati ), but fast enough to fight with. The 12" and 15"ers seem too light for normal khukuri type chores.

Now go make up your own mind. My advise and knowledge are maybe worth tuppence, cutpence or a farthing ( tuppence = two pennys/ cut pence or hapenny is 1/2 cent/ and farthing equals a penny cut into 4 pieces or a "fourth thing". Say it fast a few times. See, stick around and you learn something ( usually the oddest things ) practically every day.
 
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