I'm torn.

B

bennyjenkins

Joined
Dec 18, 2006
Messages
210
It's either a 16.5" WWII or a 15" AK. Yeah, if I could afford it I'd get both, but I can't. So which one do I choose? I've never held either one so I've really nothing to go on besides the photos. Whatever I get is going to be primarily a wood chopper. I'm not into martial arts or blade fighting, so that leans me more toward the AK. Then again, I've seen some amazing photos of what the WWII can do. Are they close enough in chopping ability that it's not an issue? Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.
 
I have a 15 inch AK, it's a nice chopper, but it seems to me that the 16.5 inch WWII would make the better chopper comparatively. It would be a bigger, heavier blade after all.
 
I have the 16.5 WWII and its a great wood chopper. I was out and about with some others and we cut up some rounds using a chainsaw and then started to split them using different tools.

GB Forest Axe was great
GB hunters axe was great too
GB French Hawk was OK but did get stuck quite a few times. The rounds were too big for it really.
HI BAS 15" wasn't that great as it felt too light - felt more of a fighter in the hand.
HI WWII 16.5" was as good as the axes.

I also used the WWII to clear the garden of trees and bushes in my new house. I find it is enough of a machete to clear bush well and a good enough chopper to fill the small axe role.

All IMHO.
 
I think the 16.5" WWII is better all around.

I believe that khuks really are most impressive in the 17-20" category though, so I'm a little biased. I don't have much evidence of that, other than the fact that my 12-16.5" khuks work fine, while my 17-20" khuks work much much better. That could be in part that the longer ones fit my hand better and the shorter ones tend to have very thick edges and I haven't thinned mine out.

Don't worry, you will eventually have both!
 
I really like the WWII models. While the 15" AK would be way, way up there regarding a "there can be only one" situation, I would go with the 16.5" WWII if you are looking for a chopper with a good amount of umph.

Don't get me wrong, the 15" AK is perfect as far as an all around hiker/chopper/camp knife/pry bar/hip rider. However, if all you want to do is cut wood and size and weight is not a option (yet you aren't looking to go full on 22" GRS;)), the WWII model out chops the AK...IMHO, of course.
 
Or to confuse the issue - I still drool over the M43's when they come up for sale.
 
I would go for a WWII my friend Chris got one, and while i haven't seen it, he is downright abusive (in a good way) to his tools. He has been talking about it ever since he found out i bought a M43 (which i love).


~Kenny
 
The 15" AK is a good chopper, but the 16.5" WWII does make a better all around knife. It's my Go to blade. :) I got a 1/2" thick 15" AK and it is my limbing blade. Though I take the 16.5" WWII in to the woods a lot more.

Heber
 
16.5" is better than 15" unless you have pretty small hands. Go with the WWII, or a 16.5" chiruwa AK. AK is a slightly better chopper, WWII is slightly better all-rounder, but minor variations from blade to blade could skew the performance greatly, i.e. you could get a WWII that out-chops an AK. Honestly, this isn't a bad problem to have. You'll do well with whatever shows up.
 
Steely_Gunz said:
Is that the same one that almost de-limbed you?;)
Click to expand...

Jake, it sure is! LOL. It's so thick for it's size it doesn't handle the small stuff well. Thats why I use my WWII lots more. Might have to get a normal 15" AK some day just to compare the two. LOL!!

Heber
 
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