Input needed on Khukuri choice

[mrostov]

My old, hand me down Khukuri that I've had for 20 years probably needs to have a higher quality replacement. It's a 16.5" WWII pattern of unknown age and manufacturer.

I carry the Khukuri with me a lot in my wanderings into the woods and bush. So, if I'm going to replace it, I need a good one.

I'm looking at either a 15" Ang Khola or a 15" British Army Service Model.

But it's hard to tell the difference in the pictures. The British Army Service is .25 pounds lighter but they both seem about the same shape. I've seen reviews of the Ang Khola but none of their 2nd best selling model, the British Army Service.

There is a $25 difference in cost but that's not that big of a deal if you are chosing a weapon for daily use that will last for years.

Which has the more flatter, finer cutting edge? Which can do double duty better as a weapon? Just what are the differences between the two besides 1/4 pound of weight?

Any input would be gladly appreciated.

 

[Bobwhite]

The AK is fullered and the BAS is not. Other than that it will probably all come down to which kami made it. Some make them thicker than others, and even the same kami will have variances. Best bet is to call Uncle Bill Martino and tell him exactly what you want and trust him to pick it for you. Or you can get like most of here and get one of each, and then another, and another, all on that quest for YOUR perfect one. Welcome to the Cantina.

 

[BruiseLeee]

The weights on both tend to vary. I've seen both the 15" AK and BAS weigh in at 21 oz. to 24 oz. The general difference for two of equal weight is the AK will probably have a wider and flatter blade.

Then there's the choice between horn or wood handles. With the AK, sometimes there is a choice. I've only seen the BAS in horn.

 

[Daniel Koster]

Here is a drawing showing the different sizes next to each other with a 1" x 1" grid overlay:

I would think that for weapon purposes, ease of carry and light chopping - the 15" Sirupati might be best. But that wasn't one of your choices...

Can't go wrong with the 15" Ang Khola - it's the best seller.

The BAS is the 2nd best seller.


Dan

 

[Sylvrfalcn]

I've not heard a 16 1/2" Chiruwa AK owner have anything but high praise for them. Might want to consider throwing one into the mix before you make up your mind. The 15" Sirupati carries easy on the belt, and would handle most anything except heavy chopping very well. Ah, decisions, decisions. Between the 15" AK and the BAS, the AK would be my definite choice.

Sarge

 

[Kismet]

As the others have said, talk with Uncle Bill. He may know of a reconditioned 15 in BAS that will be available. Not sure. But if you only trust one person in your life, make it Bill Martino.

 

[Rusty]

Originally posted by Kismet
As the others have said, talk with Uncle Bill. He may know of a reconditioned 15 in BAS that will be available. Not sure. But if you only trust one person in your life, make it Bill Martino.

How heavy is your 16.5 inch WW2? I'm wondering if it is in the same weight range as the HI 16.5 WW2. The HI WW2 has a tendency to make the more knowledgeable khukaholics swear to it's perfection as an all around. ( not the 18" WW2 )

You might also check oy the M43, another khuk issued to troops in China/Burma/India theatre of WW2.

 

[mrostov]

Lots of good input, I really appreciate it. and anymore anyone else wants to bestow.

That chart is kind of neat. If the Kamis hold to that chart well, that means that the bulk of the 16.5" Chiruwa's extra length is in the handle. That's actually a nice feature.

You know, I've never weighted my WWII. It is a very cool design though. For primitive skills/wilderness survival a large Khukuri is hard to beat. I can see why some people love their WWII's. I was trying to get something just a wee bit shorter. If I gave into my more primal instincts I might loose control and get some 20" Khukuri sword.

Any of you guys tried the Cold Steel 'Kurkis'?

 

[etp777]

In my experience the CS kukri's don't hold a candle to a good HI khuk. Just got my first HI this past week, and would be ordering more righ tnow if I hadn't just ordered a new handgun. The HI(I got the classic 15" AK) is head and shoulders above the CS offerings.

 

[ed tank]

Like Dan mentioned in his post, the 15" AK is the best seller. The BAS is the second best seller. I have one of each, like a lot of othrs who post here. My best guess, you'll wind up with one of each too. Welcome to the cantina.

 

[Rusty]

Just checked the stats. on weight. BAS is supposed to weigh 1&1/4 lbs. AK 15" is supposed to weigh 1&1/2 lbs, but some BAS's come out heavier and some AK's come out lighter. 16.5WW2 is also meant to come out about 1&1/2 lbs. The main difference is the balance and the extra speed the blade moves with over the 15 inch models. The all around utility gained by the extra length more than makes up for the inconvenience in carry to me. If it's bigger than the 12" khuks, I ignore the 15" and go straight to the 16.5"ers.

I lose khuks by giving them away now and them. AK's and BAS's come and go. The 2 16.5" WW2's I've given away went to extra special people. The gifts made me much happier and left a much bigger hole to fill.

Oh, yes. 15 AK is best seller in the line. BAS is 2nd best seller in line. 16.5 WW2 is 3rd bestseller in line. ( May have been passed now by sales of the 18" WW2. )

 

[Daniel Koster]

From coldsteel.com

The curve of their LTC Kukri's blade is very important because no matter what part of the blade makes contact with a target, the edge is always presented at an angle. This creates a shearing motion, so that the edge slices through the target as the weight of the blade drives it deeper.

Specifications
Blade: 12"
Overall: 17 1/8"
Thickness: 1/8"
Weight: 17 oz.
Steel: Carbon V
Kraton Handle


$154.99

GURKHA KUKRI (w/ Standard Leather Sheath)


Specifications:
Weight: 22 oz.
Blade Thickness: 5/16".
Blade Length: 12".
Handle: 5" long. Kraton .
Steel: Carbon V.
Overall Length: 17" .
Black Epoxy Powder Coat.
Sheath: Black Leather

$179.99


Gurkha Kukri
The Gurkha Kukri will out-chop any factory or handmade knives, including swords twice its size - even expensive, hand forged Japanese Katanas. Taking advantage of its downward curving blade and long, "V" shaped cross section, the Gurkha Kukri places its edge at an angle to a target, creating a powerful shearing effect. The heaviest Kukri on the market, the blade is almost an inch wider near the tip than it is at the handle, which shifts the knife’s balance point forward. This allows a substantial blow to be struck with minimal effort, using inertia alone to complete the cut.

Mini Gurkha Light Kukri
Perhaps the most versatile of our Kukri series, the Mini Gurkha Light is an incredible combination of strength and utility. Its distinctively curved blade of Carbon V® steel gives it the chopping power of its larger siblings, but at only 13.9 ounces, it’s a pleasure to carry. The Mini Gurkha Light’s Kraton® handle can be cradled in the palm for maximum control in dispensing camp chores or hacking your way through thick brush. The blade is black epoxy powder coated and fits snugly into its black leather sheath.







From himalayan-imports.com

Comparable sizes to choose from:

18" AK
$145

18" Chitlangi
$125

18" Ganga Ram Special
$150

18" Kobra
$100

M43
$145

18" WWII
$145

Just to name a few...

 

[BruiseLeee]

If you get a HI khukuri and don't like it I'll gladly trade you one of the CS kukris that I have for it.

The CS factory seconds are fairly inexpensive.

 

[mrostov]

The Wholesale Hunter has the full size CS Kukri for $103, so for me they are all in the same price range.
www.wholesalehunter.com

I have a CS SRK (short straight knife with a 6" blade). The SRK holds an edge extremely well. It gets razor sharp and the CS Kurki has the same steel, Carbon V. I'm kind of curious why so many here are so down on it? Is it just the overall design? Never used a CS out in the field and it does look a bit differently shaped than my WWII.

 

[etp777]

It just isn't up to same level as the HI's, though I am a fan of CS.

Also, if you grab one of the blemish specials you can get an even better deal. My 15" AK was sold as a "blemish", but neither Uncle Bill nor I can figure out why it was in blemish box. So in essence, I just got it for half price.

 

[Kismet]

as much as "preferential."

It may be the difference between industrial production and hand-made. I can't speak for others, but I have a connection to the men in Nepal who made my khuks...a connection that goes far beyond any I might have with someone cranking out a knife on the line.

 

[etp777]

Yeah, sorry if I came off wrong on that too. I am a big fan of CS products, and even of their khuks, I just think for the cost, an HI is a superior product. If you happen on a good blemish deal like I did, then the HI is a FAR superior product for the money.

 

[t1mpani]

Not so much that we're down on Cold Steel's khuks, it's just that we know which is better. O-1 (which is what Carbon V is right now, I think) is in about the same league as 5160, perhaps an even better edge holder when heat treated perfectly, but CS makes them too hard for thru-tempering. Great for a skinning knife, bad for a chopper. Before the wonderful world of HI, I had two CS khuks, an LTC and the Ghurka, and both of them suffered chips in the edge if you put them through anything much thicker than you'd normally go after with a machete. Accidentally hitting the trunk of a tree I was limbing once, I broke the front 3/4 inch off of the Ghurka's tip, and that's their "heavy" model. The HI stuff is differentially treated, and of so much hardier stock that there's no toughness comparison.

Also, the flat grind of the CS models gets stuck in wood, and you'll spend as much time prying it out as chopping. Oh, and be sure you don't twist it in the stuff it's stuck in--yet more edge breaking.

Add to that that the CS Kraton handles will pull all the hide off your hand after an hour of swinging, and there's just no comparison, at least not if you plan to really get anything done. The CS models would make decent fighters, being so light, but they're not in the same league as HI.

Oh, and HI has four times as many models, so you can tailor to your needs And just so you know I'm not a CS hater, I also have an SRK and Master Hunter and they DO make great users!
Warren

 

[mrostov]

Ok, I see, of the few reviews I've been able to find concerning CS, no one has put it quite like that. I can see where too hard over all could be very bad. I can also see where I would be more than likely to be breaking a CS 'Ghurka Kukri'. Now THAT right there rules out the large Cold Steel knife.

 

[clearblue]

I have all three and I prefer the Kabar Kukri Model # 1249 over the CS. Cost of Kabar was 31.99 from Sawyers Cutlery-Phone-781-749-2007 new in the box.I like the handle and blade construction much better than the CS.Also the Kabar scabbard is a much higher quality and better constructed than the CS.

I got the CS on a bid at Auction Arms for $50.00.It looked new and is razor sharp but not nearly an well constructed as the Kabar (in my opinion.)
I'm not that knowledgable about the steel so I really can't opine on the steel.

I was tempted to order a couple more of the Kabar's for trunk knives
until I found out about Himilayan Imports,Nepalese Khukuri House,and Atlanta Cutlery.

Rating the knives by Dealer

1-HI and Nepalese Khukuri House ---neck and neck with HI being here in the states and managed by the best of the best in Uncle Bill. Tilak Sunar at NKH, located in Nepal,seems to be a first rate gentleman also but if you were dissatisfied with the purchase I suspect it would be a nightmare getting it all untangled.Here you can work out everything with Bill via phone,letter,or email.The cost of shipping UPS from Nepal is often more than the cost of the entire knife order; but they do have some unique and beautiful knives.Made in Nepal.

2-Kabar-Check out "gunbroker.com" they might still have them available with pics.Made in Taiwan.1085 carbon steel.17" overall.

3-Cold Steel-Made in South Africa I think.Carbon V steel

4-Atlanta Cutlery-Made in India. Shipped with dull edges and the steel felt very soft when I worked on it.The standard Knife was acceptable but the Assam Rifle blade had a pronounced bend (approx.3 to 5 degree) about an inch back from point.