help me pick a khukuri.

H

hannism

Joined
Jan 24, 2006
Messages
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With how things are, I'm probably only going to have one khukuri. I first became interested in getting a khukuri several years ago, but haven't done it.

I plan to change that this year.

I'm still looking at the daily specials, and hoping one will be the right price for me to jump on.

I've read the faq. I'm really down between one of three models.

The Ang Khola, the BAS and the World War II model. I want to attach it to my molle gear, and use it for hiking/camping.

For the meantime, I only plan on chopping down brush and branches in my way. That could change, so I want to pick the most versatile of the bunch.

Help me out. Which way should I go in choosing a khukuri?
 
I just sold a Cold Steel Carbon V Kukri that was supposed to be one of the best ever made with the highly sought after carbon v steel. If you look on knifetest.com, you will see noss try to destroy cold steels $20 kukri after MANY Tests. It did not fail until he bent it entirely in half and then straightened it out again before it cracked. Amazing for a knife of that price. After seeing that, you will jump on the $20 cold steel. I have 2 of them, but havent used them yet. On ebay, you will see them for $15
 
hannism said:
The Ang Khola, the BAS and the World War II model. I want to attach it to my molle gear, and use it for hiking/camping.

For the meantime, I only plan on chopping down brush and branches in my way. That could change, so I want to pick the most versatile of the bunch.

Help me out. Which way should I go in choosing a khukuri?
Click to expand...

According to "Uncle" Bill Martino, the WWII is the most versatile "all-rounder".
The BAS is often considered a good all-rounder as well, but I think is more oriented towards heavier duties.
The Ang Khola is the heavy chopper of the bunch.

My favorite is a 20" Chiruwa Ang Khola. Mine is sharp enough to cut soft vegetation and small branches well, and of course chop big wood like no one's business. However, if you are going to do small work, the weight of the AK will tire you faster.

I also have an 18" WWII, and would concur that it is a very good choice as an all-rounder.

Of the ones you narrowed it down to, and your stated uses, I'd go with the WWII, with the BAS being a close second.
 
The WWII model model is a great all around blade. Myself I would go with the M-43 it is a much more efficient chopper and better in acombative role as well. I have used mine to build a couple cabins as well as a myriad of survival duties.

Speaking from years of experience I can honestly attest to the Kukri as the best survival blade there is bar none. With H.I. you can't go wrong.

For a small blade you may want to pick up an R-10 as well.
 
My first HI Khukuri was a 20inch CAK and as Cpl Punishment says, if you are up to swinging 40ounces of blade, it is a great choice.

But the khuk I have cut the most with (and that's not much) is a 17inch Foxy Folly.

The one thing you will probably find is that it is impossible to stop at just one Khukuri. :D
 
I'm with wildmike on the M43 love. I don't know why, but I'm not that wild about my WWII these days, so I'd put my vote in for the BAS. I had a custom 16.5 inch villager one that I sold to my friend, but I found it considerably more lively in my hand than my equal sized WWII.
 
I'd say my favorite is the M43. However it's also my only khuk, so I'm not really qualified. Having said that, it's a wonderful knife. Large enough to be a good chopper but light enough for soft vegetation. I'm not a big guy by any means (5'10", 150lbs) but it's light enough that I don't get tired even after heavy chopping.
 
!!! Spoiler alert !!!

nyefmaker said:
i just sold a cold steel carbon v kukri that was supposed to be one of the best ever made with the highly sought after carbon v steel. If you look on knifetest.com, you will see noss try to destroy cold steels $20 kukri after many tests. It did not fail until he bent it entirely in half and then straightened it out again before it cracked. Amazing for a knife of that price. After seeing that, you will jump on the $20 cold steel. I have 2 of them, but havent used them yet. On ebay, you will see them for $15
Click to expand...

My 2 cents worth is this... If you want a lawnmower blade, get a Cold Steel carbon v. If you want a KHUKURI, get the one Cpl Punishment say you should get.

I have an M43 on the way (a long way!!!) and a 18" Sirupati that is going to a close friend.
Most people advise a BAS as the first one. but i suppose its all up to an individuals taste.

personally, I want one of everything at HI.
I would rather pay the few extra dollars (heck, not gonna break the bank right?) and get the Jeep Wrangler than settle for a vw beetle
 
Last edited:
titus010782 said:
!!! Spoiler alert !!!
Click to expand...
Nah no spoiler.....We're talking kukris here, not KLO's (kukri like objects)
IMHO, Cold Steel Kukri's are on the list with Tramontina Machete's, great if i want a beater that i could care less about.
 
Karda said:
Nah no spoiler.....We're talking kukris here, not KLO's (kukri like objects)
IMHO, Cold Steel Kukri's are on the list with Tramontina Machete's, great if i want a beater that i could care less about.
Click to expand...



Ha ha ha ha ha!!!

Agreed.

Leave that cold steel kukri idea behind, or it will come back and bit your ass!
 
If I were to have only ONE khukuri, it's going to be a Chitlangi.

HPIM0895.jpg
 
You've made a good choice, hannism!
I forsee many more H.I. khukuri in your future. :D
I dare you to stop at just one.
The BAS offers a great blend of the attributes of a WWII and ang khola with a little weight reduction. Its not as heavy as either but is plenty tough enough to last ten lifetimes.....ENJOY!!
BTW, what size did you get?


I hate quoting myself.....but.

Karda said:
Nah no spoiler.....We're talking kukris here, not KLO's (kukri like objects)
IMHO, Cold Steel Kukri's are on the list with Tramontina Machete's, great if i want a beater that i could care less about.
Click to expand...
 
Congrats:D

I've tried various flavors of khuk and KLO's over the years. My first was a butter soft cheapie from India. I had it as a teenager, so really, it being a POS was a blessing. Kids can be damned hard on things when they don't know how to use them properly:o

Once I had a little money saved, I moved up from the flea market variety to Cold Steel. I had several of their offerings. One of the last big ticket items I purchased from them (still buy some of their lower dollar stuff) was a Gurkha Lite khuk. I think I paid around $75 for it from an internet site. It was OK, really. Plenty tough, took an edge, made from Carbon V.

However, just a few months later I got the itch to try a new knife for a planned camping trip. I knew that HI khuks were the "real deal" but were much, much higher in dollar. Some cost well over one hundred and fifty bucks!:eek: (heh, amazing how your perspective of quality and value:cost changes as you gain a bit of wisdom:P:D). I was a poor college kid at the time. However, I knew that sometimes this mysterious "Uncle Bill" got in some rough around the edges Villager models. I thought I would email him as to what he might have in stock and what the price would be.

Karma has a funny way of shifting the flow of your life. It turns out that he had JUST put up a DOTD with some very desirable HI made "Villagers" for $75 shipped!:eek:

Long story short (ok, not short. I'm wordy, I can't help that:p), I gave the old cold steel KLO to a co-worker. I loved my 15" villager so much that I saved up and bought ANOTHER one just a month later. Then another. Then I graduated and was a bachelor flush with a little more cash and bought a few more. Then some of those must have gotten together while in heat, because before I knew it, I had over 50 of the things stuffed into every nook and cranny of my abode :confused::D

The "worst" thing about buying an HI khuk is that you can't stop with just one. Oh, if you only HAD one khuk it would serve you well and could easily outlive your grandchildren. Nope, if you pick up one, then the HIKV will set in and you will need more. While you scour the forum for a fix, you'll just have to make due with the playful banter and friendships that you'll form with all these other khuk knuts in the Cantina;)
 
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