I've Read Til I'm Blind

Wolf_1989 said:
This might help. I've been compiling data based on the stats of various styles of khukri rating them as tools vs. weapons.

It's a 1 - 5 scale with a purely weapon at to a purely chopping tool at 5. Keep in mind weapons can be used as lightweight tools and the power choppers can still be used as weapons.

1 - Kobra, Dharaine Chitlangi, Movie Model, Bura Snake, Chainpuri

2 - Panchthar Chitlangi, Sirupati

3 - Standard Chitlangi, Gelbu Special, Amar Singh Thapa, Malla, Tamang

4 - UBE, BAS, WW2, Ultimate Fighter, Yeti Hunter, Dui Chirra

5 - Ang Khola, Bonecutter, Ganga Ram Special, YCS, Foxy Folly



*Special Category*
(these khukris are equally both tool and weapon without being a compromise between the two. They are in a class of their own):

M43, Super CAK
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info Wolf I haven't seen that info anywhere. I appreciate it. Thanks for the welcome stickfred! :D
 
Welcome aboard Liveitloud. Good to have a newcomer going through some of the same choices and experiences we have all had since we first developed a pathological (:D) interest in khuks . You've had a lot of excellent advise already so I'll just describe my own experiences.

I started out with small to moderate size Ang Kholas (12" to 16.5" length). Like Kismet I found the 15" very useful and easy to handle, but I also liked the 16.5" wood-handled Chiruwa AK that provides a little more handle strength (IMHO). At this time I probably have about a dozen HI Khuks, and my favorite is an M43 made by royal kami Bura, which, oddly enough, I never use. The Bura M43 is now available, if at all, only on the secondary market (ebay). Currently I am watching for one of the new M43s so I will have one of my favorite geometries in a blade I'm actually willing to hit something with.

Glad to make your acquaintance LL, and please remember the number one rule of Khuk collecting and use: "Enjoy" :thumbup:
 
Thanks for the welcome. I can guarantee you I am not looking for a safe queen. Definitely want something to use. Another question if I might. If I order one from HI can they add a lanyard hole? Thinking that dropping one on my foot might not be the start of a good relationship.
 
In my opinion, a lanyard on a khuk is a safety hazard, not a safety feature.
 
Welcome to the disease Liveitloud.:D I agree with Kismet's advice for getting a villager AK first and getting used to khukuris in general first to figure out what you're after. My first was a 12" AK, and it's not perfect by any means, but I still use it more than my other 3 khuks. A bit sad really. Gotta be careful of enjoying the sharking more than enjoying the blade. Nothing wrong with sharking, but it makes your wallet cry after a while.

Some khukuri models do come with a lanyard hole e.g. ASTK. However, I've never used it, and never felt a need for it either. Kis, can you elaborate on why it's a safety hazard?
 
Properly used, a khukri is an impact tool/weapon which you swing at the target and snap it in to complete the blow.

Should you employ a lanyard to secure it to your wrist, and miss, and should the khukri slip out of your grip, you now have a flail with a large heavy razor sharp blade flying free combined with a good degree of centrifugal force. And it's very likely to fly right into your leg. If that happens, you will have a very bad day.
 
With a large chopper, should you lose control, you don't want it connected to you, as you're likely to lose whatever it hits while swinging about.

The bell bottom is there so that even a loose grip won't leave you dropping the blade. If you're swinging it hard enough that you lose your grip, it's doubtful that the thing will simply drop on your foot -- more likely (if you follow the advise in the safety thread), it will be slung away from you, which is what you want it to do.

Guess I'm gettin' slow on the draw around here ;)
 
Thanks fellas, feeling kinda stupid now; the answer seems so obvious. Guess I've always seen lanyards as being more decorative than utilitarian.
 
From my very limited perspective I would recommend the 15" Ang Khola.

That length seems to be the handiest to carry while still providing lots of cutting power. I typically use a 16.5" AK (an awesome knife) , but that's because I only have to lug it out of the truck. If I were carrying something on my belt on a regular basis, I believe the shorter knife would be welcome.

I would also recommend something on the lighter side (closer to 20 than 30 ounces) as these things are built like tanks anyway, and the less weight on your belt the better.

I love my bonecutters but I find the flared points on the handle cause me to change my natural grip in order to avoid being poked in the wrist with the impact of striking.

I agree with wood as preferable, although I have covered the horn handle of my AK with hockey tape and find it provides an excellent gripping surface ... that was my main concern with the horn handle, its tendency to be slippery.

That's my view fwiw, but bear I am less experienced than many here.
 
If you find that the horn handle on your khukuri is too slick, a little sanding to roughen it up and give it a villager finish works well.
 
Thanks for the feedback. Won't worry about the lanyard hole. Sent an email yesterday about knives. Hopefully will get a response today. This is a 15 inch would be perfect!

18inchM43.jpg
 
I have khukuris in both horn and wood, but I prefer wood handles for a couple of reasons. First, horn has a much greater tendency to shrink. After you've dealt with it a few times you get tired of it. Two, horn gets gnawed on by little bugs. It's not really a big deal if you have one or two khukuris, but I have a dozen or so HIs. I keep three around and ready to go, but the rest I keep stored. When I went to fondle them I notice that a couple of my horn knives had what appeared to be small chips on the handle. I'm still really irritated about it as one of the knives is the very first HI I bought, a Shop 1 BAS with a beautifully streaked handle. Now I just don't bother with horn. If the khukuri doesn't have wood, I'm not interested.
 
Well got an email from Yangdu and found out that there are no M-43's in stock at this time. There are Bonecutters though. She said she would post the sales thread over here. Guess I just need to keep checking back.
 
Another of many questions to come. Sorry guys. Is the Villager the name of a Khukuri or a style? The more I look the less decisive I get.
 
A Villager originally referred to a khuk that was bought from a village kami or one that a village kami sold to BirGorkha. Nowdays a Villager usually refers to the finish of a khukuri made by one of the shop kami. This is normally a satin finish to the blade and possibly an unbuffed handle.
 
Yeah, the fit and finish on a villager aren't as good as a standard model -- metal and handle are not buffed, handle (if wood) won't be oiled, brass/white metal fittings may not be exactly flush. They do tend to come sharp, however. Great for user blades or blades you don't mind putting some work into in return for lower cost.

"True villager" models are villager models with the forge scale still on.
 
Cpl Punishment said:
Yeah, the fit and finish on a villager aren't as good as a standard model -- metal and handle are not buffed, handle (if wood) won't be oiled, brass/white metal fittings may not be exactly flush. They do tend to come sharp, however. Great for user blades or blades you don't mind putting some work into in return for lower cost.

"True villager" models are villager models with the forge scale still on.
Click to expand...



and, at least in the 12in size, villagers generally have a slightly longer handle. Heat treat is as good as any other HI khuk.
 
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