I have Kukri Fever.....

[jdk1]

I personally like the guard, especially when being used as a weapon as the CS model was designed as.... But it's still a flat ground tool. Traditional convex ground kukris are much more functional for what they were designed to do.

Orion, while I share your enthusiasm for traditional khukuri, it's all a matter of perspective and intended use. For chopping wood, I agree a hammered blade works better as it doesn't get stuck and seems to throw bigger chunks of wood. In my area chopping wood is not as important when in the woods. A blade which can perform machete work and still chop quite well is much more useful than a dedicated chopping blade. The CS Gurkha is wonderful in this regard, as is the ESEE Junglas. Either would also be a superb weapon as well. That said, I have plenty of traditional khukuri and love them. They have a feel which cannot be matched by a machine made blade and can perform wonders in use.

Damonw45, Khukuri don't have guards, but there's nothing that says they can't. It's not needed for field use, but CS designed that khuk for fighting it seems. It looks a little funny to me, so I prefer the original version, but that's just me.

As for what makes khukuri special, there's a lot. The design and shapehas evolved over many hundreds of years, if not more. It's the most efficient big knife chopper I've seen. I'm not alone either. The shape lends itself to a lot of wood processing tasks. It's an incredible weapon. That's been proven time and again. It can also hurt you bad if you're not careful as it handles differently that most blades. The design builds a serious amount of momentum in use, much as an axe or hatchet. Just like those, the blade can easily find your leg as a convenient place to stop If you've never tried a khuk, you're missing out. I have some really good non-khuk blades, but they just don't feel as good in my hand as the forward curved leaf shape. Take care.

 

[Hadji Flip Me Over]

I'm lusting after a Zombie Tools Vakra. Pending funds....like always.

 

[Vonny]

CS make serviceable kuks I have a SK5, nothing to complain about and up to being worked hard but old style look better

 

[TotalDbag]

When you've talking about kukris, you have to remember:

They're for chopping.

In this capacity, the shape of the blade is what does the work: the concave shape (as viewed from the "wide side") makes sure the blade stays centered on whatever it hits. There is also some physics that happens at the moment of contact that makes a kukri easier to cut with, but it's complicated.

Kukris made in the tradition of the originals are also much thicker, with quarter inch spines on average, although bigger ones exist. They have about twice the weight of some of the "modern" kukris. Some "modern kukris" are more like kukri-shaped machetes.

The kukri's shape also concentrates a lot of that weight toward the point, further improving their chopping power.

As phenomenal as they are at hacking through wood and brush, kukris are not intended as precision tools. If you're doing food prep or fire making, the big blade is not your best option. It can do it, but that's mainly what the two small items are for. A traditional kukri comes with a Karda and a Chakmak. The Karda is sharpened for your precision cutting needs, and the Chakmak is not sharp, and serves a variety of functions, including as a sharpening steel for touching up the edges of the other two tools. It can also be used on a fire steel, and just about anything else you can think of.

Thank you

 

[damonw45]

Thanks bro!!! I think you just talked me out of getting one, cuz I want big bushcraft tool first, and use as a weapon second. Ya know what i mean... I dont count on going toe to toe with knife wielding ninjas anytime in my lifetime. Im looking for a tool

I personally like the guard, especially when being used as a weapon as the CS model was designed as.... But it's still a flat ground tool. Traditional convex ground kukris are much more functional for what they were designed to do.