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

G'day Gorog,

Everyone else has given excellent advice (as friendly as it may or may not seem). All I can suggest is that you make like a sponge and absorb as much info as you can. If you're after a survival knife that isn't a behemoth, you really can't go wrong with a 15 inch villager Ang Khola.

I strongly recommend that you read the safety thread HERE if you haven't already, and just wait for the DOTDs for a 15 inch AK to show up. Perhaps another vital bit of info to read up on is sharpening. Sharpening will ensure that your AK will be able to serve you for the rest of your life.

Feel free to ask any more questions if required, we won't bite.:)
 
Gorog said:
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.
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Welcome aboard, David:)

In regards to your axe, I guess it's possible, but heads and hafts fitting up have been an issue in the past. The kamis, while incredibly talented and eager to try new things, sometimes struggle with very alien designs the first go around. In other words, it's a process.

Personally, I really dig the WWII models as a general survival khuk. For me, and of course survival tools are 90% personal choice, I like a knife that multi-tasks quite a bit. A 16.5" WWII would give you a lot of chopping power, but gives you a LOONG handle to choke up or down on to improve your chopping or your fine work needs. I tend to gravitate toward the 18" WWII for bigger chores. I'm 5'10 180# and in decent physical shape.

If you are considering REALLY using it as a pry-bar, you might consider getting the Chiruwa style AK. However, in my personal experience, the exposed tang kinda bites my hands due to the rings cut into the metal.

I'd look around the site, ask a few questions, and we'll see what we can do to help you out:)
 
One more thing. Thank you Cpl Punishment for the awesome step by step picture guide. I have coveted the battle mistress, but I will never get it, (or any busse knife, for that matter) unless I score a high paying job in the future, and, like I said, I might be shifting my interest to a great, high quality axe if possible. Thanks for the help, and bye.
 
Thanks, (I say 'thanks' A LOT, as well as 'I'm sorry', so don't persecute me for it, please? That was a joke.) Leo, and I will try my best to be more friendly from now on. Can't undo past blunders, after all. Can an axe be used as a prybar, or would it RUIN it? Thanks, and bye.
 
Gorog said:
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.
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OK, so you're a good sized guy.

Reference the 20" CAK I posted above. That was my first kukri, and it was a custom order I put in for it. I specifically wanted something that could chop as well as my 18" axe or better. The CAK delivers, just at the cost of weight.

I think the standard size for the CAK is 16.5", which would still make it a good all round knife, with an emphasis on chopping and heavy duty. Steely makes a good point that with the Chiruwa style handles, as the wood or horn adjusts to your humidity level where you live, it may shrink, and you'll need to file down the metal to be flush with it again.

Another good all-rounder that "punches above its weight", so to speak, is the 18" M43. IMO, it's the most balanced kukri out there, for some, it's "the one" even if it's not the perfect one for you, it will give you a good indication of where to go from there. Here's a pic of one I used to own:

100_0204.jpg


If you are interested in a hatchet/tomahawk, I suggest you look in the Axe, Hatchet, and Tomahawk forum -- there's people there just as passionate about them as we are about kukri here. But, you'll also find that they recommend you pair a long knife with a hawk (for reasons explained there). In which case, you might want to look at the Tamang knife, or the new Tirtha Bowie as the knife companion.
 
Guess what, everyone? I just got an ANNIHILATOR, a tool from Dead On that is about as mean as they come. About 4 pounds of solid steel. Anyway, thanks again, Punishment, I'll look into it. I should probably stop talking about this though, it just makes my urge for a kukri or axe (with HI, they seem to be almost one and the same, save for the kukri is so much more awesome) more painful *sniff sniffle, poor David, while the third world countries starve, you bemoan not having a good knife for your sedentary life, paradox anyone?* Not to rag on anyone buying knives, I am just extra cognizant of what I should be doing with my life, instead of what I am doing with it. Oh, I had a brainflash just recently. What if, and tell me if this impossible ie. HI and Busse don't like each other, and so on, but what if...wait for it...Busse Combat and Himalayan Imports had a marvelous conjunction and gave birth to a series INFI-Mercedes Benz steel hybrid kukris with incredible toughness, rust resistance, tensile strength, durability, edge retention, and whatnot? Is that a cool idea, or is it fanciful imagination on my part? I know it would be exceptionally difficult to do, in fact it might just be impossible, but if it were possible, just imagine what their brainchilds would be...that would be the stuff of legends, no joke. Thank you everyone for the good advice I will take gladly, and peace out.
 
The ANNIHILATOR, looks like an interesting wrecking bar.

BTW, Busse made a KLO (Kukri Like Object) they called the Killa Zilla, you can find them on the exchange. It's made of their INFI steel, which is proprietary, and Jerry Busse does not let anyone else buy it from him. It also requires a complicated heat treat that you can't get in a hut with a kettle of boiling water. The Kamis are at the top of their game, and the 5160 or other spring steels they use, when differentially hardened they way they do, provides a very tough blade that takes an edge easily and holds it well.

Oh, and the Killa Zilla II usually starts at $700, and the TT KZ (their prototype version) can push $1000 depending on condition. If you want a Busse kukri, they are out there, but you will pay serious $$ for it.
 
Cpl Punishment said:
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:
100_0085.jpg


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:
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Now that's funny!

I received my cgfbm in the mail today (black w/ green linen). Ha ha.
What a great comparison photo, thanks for posting it.

pete
 
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I'm a little late to the party but glad to have you with us David. If you're wanting some shock absorption from the handle, you'd probably want to stay away from the chiruwa style handles...unless you might consider putting a tennis/baseball type wrap on the handle. The way the HI khuks are made, any model you pick is probably going to outlast you. In the past HI took a swing at making a hatchet-like tool called the Bancharo. Haven't seen one made available in the little over a year that I've been here so my guess is that its out of production. Whatever you choose from HI, I'm sure that you'll be happy with it. This Forum is a good one and I hope you enjoy your time here.

Peace

Rick
 
Kismet said:
15inch AK villager.

Use the heck out of it.

Go from there should you find something lacking.
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What Kis said! :) And welcome to the forum! :thumbup: If you can, search the archives and the HI site for different models and I'm sure you'll get very close to what you are looking for, but what Kismet suggested here is about as solid and bulletproof as you can get, and will serve you exceptionally well without being overly heavy.

For a first kukri I think 15" is perfect, and that size in a non-CAK version will run right at 20-23 oz., which is easily packable.

Besides, you know you're going to end up getting more than 1, right? :confused: :D

Regards,

Norm
 
I stand by the ASTK as one of the absolute best khukuris for all-around utility. It has a slimmer profile so it's a bit more agile than the wider choppers, but has a beefy spine and full chiruwa tang that gives users confidence in its indestructibility.
 
Thanks everyone, I will take your advice to heart. Unfortunately, despite my less than eloquent pleas, my mother will not have an edged weapon that belongs to me in the house, so unless I move out and somehow conjure up money to spare, this looks like something far in the future for me. I have what might, and this a big might, be lunar meteorites in the house, according to a meteoricist friend of mine, so if I can authenticate and sell those, I'll be SET. I'll have my own house, and a monster of a kukri to call my own, and I will be happy for once in my gosh darn life. And then, I'll use my newfound wealth to go a country in need and do my part for the human specie by volunteering until my hands are raw. Thanks again, everyone, but for now, I need to focus on getting my potential meteorites authenticated. Once I do that, I'll have something BIG to talk about, like real estate and kukris. I cannot wait. Seriously.
 
Be careful that those meteorites don't have any bugs in them. You wouldn't want to be responsible for unleashing lunar ticks into the environment.
 
Gorog, you sound like a young man. I certainly mean no offense by that, being a young man is a wonderful thing! Parents, mothers in particular, have a love which seems suffocating at times, but is like no other love you will encounter. Until, that is, you have a child yourself. Then it's much easier to understand. Be patient and, if it seems she's becoming more willing, focus on the woodland tool aspect of khuks. Weapons scare many folks, tools don't, even though they're often one in the same. Television tells us that if your child wants a weapon, he's planning a Columbine style attack. Total BS, but that's what people see. Again, be patient and show her you are trustworthy and have only honest intentions. When you can make a purchase, I would recommend trying a smaller khuk like a 16.5" WWII. They're really great and much more knife than most companies sell. It's funny, I find myself messing with the 10.5" BDC which sets on my desk at work. It seems tiny. Then I realize it's a chiruwa tang knife with a 3/8" spine! Only on this forum is that small. It could handle many survival type tasks if needed. If I step up to my 12.5" Ganga Ram Special/Bone Cutter, I'd be pretty well armed for just about any situation I could encounter in my neck of the woods. Remember small is a relative term, especially around here. Take care and stay safe.
 
Thanks jdk1 and stickfred. I am, in fact, only nineteen years old, fresh out of Newark High School (a terrible school by the way, the worst I've gone to, though certainly not the worst in the world, seeing as I only got my behind slapped by this creepy dude while climbing the stairs, while an old friend of mine got jumped and beaten half to death.) Anyway, the reason my mom won't trust me with knives is that I purposefully cut myself with scissors multiple times in the past. (Yeah, Pete, you are right, my life is probably chock full of unnecessary drama.) She gets really worried all the time, even though its been over a year since I last lost my head. What she does not understand is that I never intended to hurt her, and that I never, ever will again. I have little respect for myself, but just enough to not party randomly, drink and carouse my life away like a lot of teenagers I was exposed to did and still do. I love life too much to kill myself or anyone else, not to mention it is morally wrong to take someones life unless that person is a maniac planning on killing for pleasure. But I did not mean to make this respectable knife forum into a discussion about my life, forgive me. Just know that I am not a maniac, I am not deranged, and I did not carve myself for no reason. I plan on never, ever relapsing into that particular habit, and I plan on being both self-reliant and reliable, a person that I would be proud to be. Anyone got similar problems? I suggest to give it time. Time heals all wounds til death erase them evermore. Peace on Earth.
 
Gorog said:
... I did not mean to make this respectable knife forum into a discussion about ...
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No worries.

I'm going to move this thread over to the Cantina. That's our section for off-topic discussions. Anything (within the bounds of civility) goes there. So feel free to continue discussions whever they may lead.
 
Gorog, this may not be what you want to hear, but with the past cutting you described, you're going to have to earn your mother's trust, and it's going to take a long time.

You're going to have to do responsible things, and let her see them.

And then, I'll use my newfound wealth to go a country in need and do my part for the human specie by volunteering until my hands are raw.
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That's a noble purpose. Why wait? There's plenty of volunteering to do in the States, Why not volunteer here for a while, learn what it means. That will show some responsibility.
Maybe see local Boy Scout troops and ask if you can come along on outings and assist and learn. They usually do some knife and axe work and develop skills. Skills you can show your mom. They are also skills that can help you if you go to volunteer in more primitive countries -- especially skills for the Pioneering merit badge. Might help if you take some EMT courses and such, too. Medically trained personnel are always sought after for missionary trips (for lack of a better term).

Don't do like I did and dream of the future and then miss it when the future becomes the past, go after it now, while you're young.
 
Thanks, Punishment. I will, at the very least, seriously consider it, if not take it and go with it right now. I still need to get my meteorites authenticated, but I...just don't feel like a person unless I am doing what I can for humanity. That's nineteen of years of not feeling like a person. I don't know what the heck to do, but I know that, whatever I do, its going to be a struggle. I know I will do something though. Thanks everyone, this just might be my last post on this thread, because I know what's bad for me, and reliving the darkest times of my life is not good. I'd still be willing to endeavor for anyone who wants to be distracted from their problems though, so I would just like to extend that offer, although I know that there can't be THAT many depressed blade enthusiasts out there. Just thought I would offer, because I really like to help people. Thanks everyone for the support, and goodbye.
 
"Grab your coat and get your hat
Leave your worries on the doorstep
Just direct your feet
On the sunny side of the street"
 
Gorog said:
because I know what's bad for me, and reliving the darkest times of my life is not good.
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the painful past holds the key to a better future - to shut the door on the past is refusal to learn from the gifts it bears.

I hope it gets better for you --

Sincerely - Eric
 
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