Help picking a new khuk

SpookyPistolero

SpookyPistolero

Joined
Dec 13, 2005
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Howdy folks! I was hoping you all could give me some advice/thoughts. Right now, I've got a ~15" AK with which I have kind of a love/hate relationship. I like its versatility as a woods tool, but it's not got an awesome edge for general cutting. A bit too hatchet like. It's also just a little more long that I'd like.

I'm considering looking for something that's more like 12" or 13" oal, and preferably a bit thinner and with a thinner edge. The majority of the work I want out of a khuk is brute chopping and splitting, limbing, etc., but I still want it to carve alright (planing and using as a draw knife, some fuzz sticks, etc). I also want to keep the same 'blade style', similar curves and such.

I'm not really up on all the HI models, so does that sound like a model you guys know of? And if so, is it a type that is commonly amongst the 'deal of the day' stuff?

Thanks much for any help!
 
Just FYI: I found that by using a straight zero edge bevel on my CAK, rather than a convex edge, it does fine slicing surprisingly well. I sacrifice some edge retention in hard chopping, but not enough to really bother me.
 
Thanks a lot guys! And I'll continue to play around with edge/sharpening styles on the AK.

The pen knife looks very good (per the HI website). Just curious, do those pop up terribly often in the DOTD? And are those thinner than the AK models?
 
I used to see the smaller Pens pretty frequently. A large (15") one just popped up recently. They are thinner than the AK. Now that you've expressed an interest, Yangdu might decide to make one appear. She tends to read these things and post the DOTD accordingly, so keep your eyes open.
 
And I guess, for yet another question, how do you guys feel the pen knives chop versus an AK counterpart?
 
I have a 12" Ang Khola and a 15" AK as well. both have thiker edges than my M-43's both of which work excellent a drqwknifing etc. You may find it better to go bigger rather than smaller. Either that or go to a sirupate or a BAS and request a thin one from Yangdu.
 
Carolina River Rat said:
I used to see the smaller Pens pretty frequently. A large (15") one just popped up recently. They are thinner than the AK. Now that you've expressed an interest, Yangdu might decide to make one appear. She tends to read these things and post the DOTD accordingly, so keep your eyes open.
Click to expand...

A 14 or 15" one would be very cool.
 
SpookyPistolero said:
A 14 or 15" one would be very cool.
Click to expand...

Shoot Yangdu an email regarding the one from the 5/1 DOTD. Bura-made 15" Villager Pen Knife. Very nice and apparently still available. If that one isn't around anymore, she might have a similar creature laying about in Reno looking for a good home.
 
I just got a BAS that I'm putting through its paces. It balances really well, chops with little effort & I can use it to great effect for shaving the outer husk on sugarcane. The blade is about 3/8" thick but I was still able to sharpen & strop it to a razor edge. It weighs about 22oz & balances around 2" forward of the bolster.
All in all, I find it VERY versatile while at the same time not being ungainly for more detailed work.
I did a sort of review when I got it. The thread is called " First HI Khukuri".
 
SpookyPistolero said:
And I guess, for yet another question, how do you guys feel the pen knives chop versus an AK counterpart?
Click to expand...

I actually prefer the Pen to the AK models. The Pens are a bit straighter, and usually somewhat thinner. I have had several 18" Pens and found them to be excellent choppers, but light enough to swing for extended periods.

Since they are generally thinner than other khuks of similar size, you may find them more to your liking as a general use knife.

But, khuks are meant for chopping, so if you want something with a thinner blade for, say, making fuzz sticks, it will be difficult to find one that will satisfy you.

The bigger kardas can be quite nice, especially the Kumar kardas, and they can be thinned for better cutting. Some of the bowie style HI knives are also thinner, but then you are getting away from being able to chop.

You'll just have to have multiple knives. :)

Andy
 
The 14" BDC is also an excellent small-er khukuri.

(14 BDC in antler at center; Foxy Folly left, 10" BDC right )

fullers6zl.jpg



Mike
 
15" BGRS is really nice. The main problem with the shorter models is they usually make the handles a little shorter.

The 16" Bonecutter or 15" BGRS are nice.

Most of mine made by Bura have thinner edges that chop better.
 
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