Hello, I am new, and my real name is David

[Gorog]

And I have a question. I recently contacted Yangdu Martino, who is a very nice person, by the way, and while she technically answered my questions, there was still something to be desired. I asked about specifications for a possible khukuri, and she said basically that she would like to arrange its forging for me as soon as I can shell out the cash for it, (and as soon as my mother stops regarding me with such suspicion that she fears for everyone's lives whenever I pick up a knife. As for why she won't trust me, well that's a whole different story.) But, anyway, since Miss Yangdu Martino did not have the answers, or something like that, I am turning to this forum for them, if that is okay? If it is, great, I'll get started, if not, then I must be unwelcome, and should probably leave.... ANYWAY, so, my dream kukri would have a thicker spine than an industrial sledgehammer, and a severe bend in the blade for maximal chopping power. I would not want to lug around a behemoth, so I would limit its size to, at most, twenty inches. I would want the belly edge to be razor sharp for survivaling purposes until about the crook in the blade, and from then on a slightly blunt edge for more serious stuff, like chopping, splitting, batoning, and so on. I think something is gorgeous if it is supremely functional, so as long as it is made of incredibly strong steel that will outlast me, I am good with any configuration of finishes and handle types, though I would like a shock absorbing handle, so wood would probably be best right? Unfortunately, however, I am a novice when it comes to the intricacies of bladeware. I can't tell my tsuba from my hilt, and such like, so . So, that is where the good people of Bladeforums come into play, knives flashing. I ask that the experts of Himalayan Imports forum come to my rescue, and help me imagine the perfect survival knife for me, and in return, I will eventually buy this prototype off your hands. That's all. Thank you all for your time, for reading this rather long-winded thread of mine. Thanks again, and peace out.
-Gorog-

 

[Maniacal Pete]

And I have a question. I recently contacted Yangdu Martino, who is a very nice person, by the way, and while she technically answered my questions, there was still something to be desired. I asked about specifications for a possible khukuri, and she said basically that she would like to arrange its forging for me as soon as I can shell out the cash for it, (and as soon as my mother stops regarding me with such suspicion that she fears for everyone's lives whenever I pick up a knife. As for why she won't trust me, well that's a whole different story.) But, anyway, since Miss Yangdu Martino did not have the answers, or something like that, I am turning to this forum for them, if that is okay? If it is, great, I'll get started, if not, then I must be unwelcome, and should probably leave.... ANYWAY, so, my dream kukri would have a thicker spine than an industrial sledgehammer, and a severe bend in the blade for maximal chopping power. I would not want to lug around a behemoth, so I would limit its size to, at most, twenty inches. I would want the belly edge to be razor sharp for survivaling purposes until about the crook in the blade, and from then on a slightly blunt edge for more serious stuff, like chopping, splitting, batoning, and so on. I think something is gorgeous if it is supremely functional, so as long as it is made of incredibly strong steel that will outlast me, I am good with any configuration of finishes and handle types, though I would like a shock absorbing handle, so wood would probably be best right? Unfortunately, however, I am a novice when it comes to the intricacies of bladeware. I can't tell my tsuba from my hilt, and such like, so . So, that is where the good people of Bladeforums come into play, knives flashing. I ask that the experts of Himalayan Imports forum come to my rescue, and help me imagine the perfect survival knife for me, and in return, I will eventually buy this prototype off your hands. That's all. Thank you all for your time, for reading this rather long-winded thread of mine. Thanks again, and peace out.
-Gorog-

Wow.

First post...

Welcome to the forum.

pete

 

[Gorog]

Thank you for the welcome. Your quote is cool, by the by.

 

[Steely_Gunz]

Welcome, David

We love having new folks around here. If you haven't already, I would scour the archives and the HI web pages. There is a lot of good stuff in there.

What particular model that you've seen is CLOSEST to what you are looking for? A lot of things that we think will be the best for our application sometimes turn out to be a non-issue.

Once again, welcome to the forum.:thumbup:

 

[MrMike]

there's something to be said about wearing your emotions on your sleeve....

 

[Maniacal Pete]

Welcome, David

We love having new folks around here. If you haven't already, I would scour the archives and the HI web pages. There is a lot of good stuff in there.

What particular model that you've seen is CLOSEST to what you are looking for? A lot of things that we think will be the best for our application sometimes turn out to be a non-issue.

Once again, welcome to the forum.:thumbup:

I would add that a lot of the bugs have been worked out with khukuris over the centuries and IMHO there's no real reason to try and "reinvent the wheel."
For example, the blades on khuks are differentially heat treated to make the chopping part hard and the rest of the khuk strong.
To try to have the kamis do it different would be difficult to translate in the first place and I doubt even then if you could get them to figure out what you really want.
Find a khuk in a design that you like in your size range, and let the masters work their magic.
You can sharpen or blunt different sections of the blade as you see fit.
That's my advice,

pete

 

[shortwinger]

David,

Welcome. You can spend hundreds of hours learning about the kukri and come to the realization that you still have a hundred questions. Things are not as they appear. Here are some considerations for you to ponder.

Bigger is not always better. This is especially true in a kukri.
A thick spine, does not a kukri make!
More curve does not equal more chopping power.
A 20" kukri "is" a behemoth.
For a survival kukri, an 18 incher is a BIG kukri.

The traditional Nepalese kukri was designed "by the work" not for beauty. Every inch of it has been tried and tested seven ways from Sunday and the final product passed or failed on its merits. It is shaped, sized and weighted to accomplish a specific purpose. Some models are jacks of all traits while other are specialists.

You wll not see many 20" Ganga Rams in a martial arts class and you will not see many 25" Sirupates batoning logs for a camp fire. Forget about things like "big" and "thick spines," even small kukris are much bigger than the average knife so put that aside for a moment.

It is better to concentrate on things like the tasks you intend to do, how you plan on carrying it and how big you are. In some ways a kukri is like a set of golf clubs, just because you want a specific model, doesn't mean it fits you.

So let the work dictate the models that are appropriate and then possibly the forum can help you narrow them down from there. Also, Yandu, (otherwise known as the owner of HI and a moderator on this forum) will be a great help to you in the final stages. She probably knows more about the kukri than the entire forum combined.

I was lucky to be steared toward a BAS as my first kukri. Although it suffers from being labeled as common, it is a very good kukri and by comparison, is still much bigger than most knives. There is a substancial learning curve for the kukri and the BAS is a very good kukri to learn on. Other popular first kukris are some of the other military models like the WWII or the M43. A 15 inch Ang Khola is also a good first model.

Good luck in your search.
Bill
Virginia

 

[JOE68]

Welcome to the forum.
Being one of the new members I will give my perspective on choosing your khuk.
First view the different khuks that are made and write down the models that look "right " to you.
Second go to the Cantina library and look at all the info provided and see if your picks match up to what you think.
Third bring your choices to the forum and see if what you think jives with the more experienced users.
Look at the warranty section and see if your choice(s) fit in where you think they do. (ie it is warranteed for chopping wood etc).
Pick the finish that you want (ie villager, scale forged etc)
Then order your khukuri after you have narrowed down your choice(s).
Once in hand, you may opt for a different khukuri for different jobs/ and or carry options.
This was my process and I am extremely happy with all the HI products I have
gotten.
All the advice the forumites gave to me was spot on, and has helped me considerably.
I constantly read through the forum and have learned quite a bit, but if you get stuck just ask and these guys will give you great info.
Hope this helps you out in your khukuri hunt.

 

[Gorog]

Thanks, everyone, for the wonderful advice. I plan to go survivaling and doing everything imaginable with my future knife, so that was why I was so gung-ho about a thick spine. I don't really know much about blades other than that I like them quite a bit. I was thinking that a thicker blade would mean more chopping power, more weight and such like, but I submit to your superior knife knowledge. I understand what you mean, Pete, and I am for real about this. Like I said, I am a novice, that is all I can say in my defense. And, not to sound belligerent, but what on earth are you implying by saying 'wearing your emotions on your sleeve'? Is that supposed to mean I am weak minded or something? Because I am not weak. I did not come to this forum so one person can bully me around, I get enough of that every day. This may be wearing my heart on my sleeve, but that is how I do, and no one is going to put me down for long. Just to clear the air and make my intentions crystal clear. Yeah, that was a rant, when I promised it would not be, I apologize to everyone who read it, but I sure as heck don't take it back. Thank you to all the good people on this forum and your warm welcomes, I appreciate them immensely. As for the lukewarm welcomes, they are nonetheless appreciated.

 

[Gorog]

Thank you, JOE68, that was very kind of you.

 

[Steely_Gunz]

It's cool, David. Just relax dude Pete's a friend. We're all friends at the Cantina. Pull up a seat, ask some questions, let us get to know you.

This forum isn't a wild and woolly part of the internet. We make sure of it. We welcome new folks. If you're really looking for a survival khuk, you really can't beat a 15" And Khola (or AKs as we call them round these parts). Sounds boring, right? A plain ol' "regular" khuk. However, there are scores of real-deal survivalists that would recommend a similar blade. Heck, I'd feel warm and fuzzy with just a 12" AK.

What's your size? What do you weigh? How far from base camp are you going? How long are you gonna be out in the bush? The awesome thing about khuks, there are 100 different choice. The other awesome thing, with a little guidance, you can't pick a "wrong" one

 

[JOE68]

Thank you, JOE68, that was very kind of you.

I'm not sure how kind I was---- I've ended up with several khukuris. They are just so different from what is considered an "outdoor" knife.
Conventional knife wisdom almost doesn't count when dealing with these products as they are built like tanks.
I read through the khukuri dynamics in the cantina library and it helped me out when I chose my first Khuk.
What cemented my choice though, was when I asked the forum members and their input reinforced what I had envisioned.
Choosing the first khuk is hard. Once it is in your hand though you'll want to get more.
Bring your choices to the forumites, give them what job you want them to perform, and you will gain the insight of a wealth of knowledge.
They say a khukuri chooses you---- well I've been chosen seven times and have no regrets in providing them a home.

 

[Kismet]

15inch AK villager.

Use the heck out of it.

Go from there should you find something lacking.

 

[Maniacal Pete]

I understand what you mean, Pete, and I am for real about this. Like I said, I am a novice, that is all I can say in my defense. And, not to sound belligerent, but what on earth are you implying by saying 'wearing your emotions on your sleeve'? Is that supposed to mean I am weak minded or something? Because I am not weak. I did not come to this forum so one person can bully me around, I get enough of that every day. This may be wearing my heart on my sleeve, but that is how I do, and no one is going to put me down for long. Just to clear the air and make my intentions crystal clear. Yeah, that was a rant, when I promised it would not be, I apologize to everyone who read it, but I sure as heck don't take it back.

That was Mr. Mike, not me:

there's something to be said about wearing your emotions on your sleeve....

I suggest that you settle down David, and take it slow at first.
No-one is going to bully you around here, they would get tossed out on their ear.
And don't worry about spine thickness on the HI Khuks, it is a non-issue.
Wow, lots of excitement around here tonight.

pete

 

[Cpl Punishment]

Alright dude you better settle in for a bit, because there's a lot to research on kukri.

First, may I suggest you go to the picture links in my signature line to see a good portion of what's available? There's other models that come up, so you'll really want to look around.

OK, can I ask what knives you are familiar with? Do you know what a Busse Battle Mistress is? It's a 1/4" thick knife with 10" of blade. Why do I bring it up? Because here's a pic of a few kukri (and one really big knife) next to one:

At the bottom is the Battle Mistress, often called a "boat anchor" by those who prefer small blades. See the kukri directly above it? That's what a 20" Chiruwa Ang Khola looks like. Here's a better pic:

That particular one has a spine a little over 1/2" thick, and is a little over 3 pounds. Like said above, a 20" kukri is a behemoth. Most people consider a 1/4" thick blade to be a battlecruiser of a knife. Most HI kukri start at 3/8 (.375").

Now, I don't know how big you are, but I find it hard to beat the 15" Ang Khola for what you are describing. If you are fairly big and/or tall, an 18" Ang Khola or M43 would be a good choice. Most people who use their kukri sharpen the sweet spot (READ the stickies, seriously, there's been some extensive treatises written on kukri mechanics and usage) with a shallow convex, for very good strength and edge-holding in chopping, and the recurve part near the cho with almost a zero edge scandi grind (bevel completely flat all the way to the edge) for finer work, use as a drawknife, etc, much as you described.

Also be aware that HI makes some very nice knives as well as kukri. A good choice for what you're after is the Ang Khola Bowie:

Anyway, the models that are warrantied for hard use are as follows (from the Himalayan Imports Limited Lifetime Warranty thread):

1) Chiruwa Ang Khola (the only khukuri warranted for use as prybar)
2) Ang Khola
3) British Army Sevice
4) World War II
5) M-43
6) Ganga Ram Special
7) Bonecutter
8) Pen Knife
9) Ang Khola Bowie
10) Amar Singh Thapa Khukuri

So you may want to look at those models specifically.

Finally, let me leave you with this:
Uncle Bill (Yangdu's late husband) used to say that you do not choose a kukri, a kukri chooses you.

So think hard, look at all the pictures, and one or two models will probably stick out to you. Think hard on the uses you want and what size you want (maybe hold a ruler in your hand to gauge how long a blade will be -- remember HI lists them as overall length, from butt to tip), and see about ordering that.

 

[JayGoliath]

David,

Welcome to the forum and the point of no return. I'm sorry to tell you that despite your endless effort to confess that you will need that invincible khuk for everything, sadly you will only plunge deeper each day ONCE you get your 1st.HIKV is waiting for you.

May i ask if you have use any khuk in the past? When i got my hands dirty over this historic chopper i thought spine thickness and weight were everything; 0.5" or thicker, > 30ounces.

The more i use my khuks and actually whacked the hella them then i realize the voices of the older folks here mentioned:
The khuk choose you, not the other way round. I even got my finger blood-blessed by Pala Gelbu Special.

15inch AK villager.

Use the heck out of it.

Go from there should you find something lacking.

Truth hurts. All you need is just perfect timing for the frenzy feeding, patience and endless supply of space (ask Svashtar) and $$$$.

Jay

 

[KRBurke]

Hi David, pleasure to meet you. You'll find some of the best khuks in the world around here, also some of the best folks.

I read your "about me" in your profile. I see you have Asberger's. You're quite honest about that and I appreciate it. Many folks won't understand why you're brutally honest, but I'm sure you've experienced that already.

Glad to have you here, and just so you know, nobody's trying to bully you.

IF some one actually did, all the rest would jump on them! You came to a good place.

 

[Gorog]

Sorry, guys, I'll control my digital temper better this time. Thank you, again, for the good advice, I will take it to heart. Right now, however, I am, in my mother's eyes, (yes, I live at my parents house), a homicidal and suicidal maniac. Fortunately, I can assure everyone on Bladeforums that that is not the case at all. I'm actually, in my mind, deviating from my original desire for a kukri, and wondering if HI can make me an awesome, Mineral Mountain style axe with all the weight forward on the head? That would be the stuff of legends, right there. I must apologize, once again, to everyone for my outburst. It is foolish, and childish, and I regret it.

 

[Gorog]

KHBurke, thank you for the welcome, you are cool, to say the least.

 

[Gorog]

Oh, and Steely Gunz, I am around 5 foot nine 185 pounds, and fairly in shape, I can do around 30 pushups before I cave in. Thanks for the advice, too, this does seem like a nice forum now that I have a clear head.