Khuk vs small hatchet: Surprsing findings

SpookyPistolero

SpookyPistolero

Joined
Dec 13, 2005
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I had some 'cleaning up' to do this afternoon in the backyard. There are a few ~4" branches and such that are dead or unsightly that needed to come down. I reached first for my little Wetterlings mini to get down the first one, and it did a fine job. Pretty much what you'd expect. But then for kicks I went and grabbed my fairly neglected 15.5" HI AK khuk.

I was a bit surprised to find that the khuk worked better for me in most every regard. Firstly, it was less fatiguing to use (not what I'd have expected). It was also more controllable than the hatchet when I really wanted to hit a specific spot. It bit deeper than the hatchet, but without biting. It simply took fewer strokes to get through the same amount of wood as well.

The Wet. mini is just a bit more compact overall, but I don't feel the weight difference is drastic between them.

It's still a 'to each his own' issue, but these were pretty surprising to me just in how one-sided things were. Obviously there is the added benefit of being able to use the khuk as a draw knife or brush knife, etc. too, but that's outside of the scope of my afternoon.

I do believe I'll have to give a 13" or 14" pen knife a try in the near future! :thumbup:
 
I'm not surprised by your findings. A well made and properly sharpened khukuri from H.I. will zip through very thick wood like a razor of steroids. I prefer a khukuri over a hatchet not only because it is more efficient but also because it is easier to accurately place a hit with it. The downside is that a khukuri looks more intimidating to the eyes of the sheeple.
 
I can see the hatchet beeing out classed by that, did you try with a 19" wetterlings?

You would see the difference go the other way then.:thumbup:
 
Spooky,

I'm not surprised either... My first khuks were those $20 models sold by Atlanta Cutlery, I bought 2 of them before a camping trip in the Adirondacks years ago with my buddy. We spent the first night around the campfire with files trying to put an edge on them.. Day 2 and 3 we chopped so much dead wood that I came back blisters. They weren't great quality and they were chopping beasts! The only downside on khuks for me is that they are a pain to carry...
 
small/light khuks definatly have there place. easy to manage and can be used for clearing brush. larger khuks though, for there weight dont seem to chop as well as a larger hatchet or an axe. just my opinion though. however, i dont see the khuk as being as versatile , I, personally, can get alot more things done with a hatchet than i can a khuk.
 
Neat and thanks for the report. A khuk just doesn't fit in with my sensibilities at the moement, though I do appreciate the visuals of resident evil 4. Some day I will go with one of these. For now it will be a real forest axe in the 22" range.
 
I stopped using my small hatchet after getting my first few HI Khukuris. They work great for me. It's definantly a "To each There own" thing and for me it's a 15" to 16.5" Khukuri.

Heber
 
I haven't used a Khukri very much, but when I have, I much preferred it to a hatchet. In my opionion, a Khuk can do what a hatchet can do, but not the other way around. Besides, the Khuk is the better Zombie killer :D
 
I have to agree...but then I am a very staunch advocate of the Kukri. They are IMHO THE best bushtool around.
 
I have been seriously considering getting an HI khuk as well for quite some time.
One guy on the HI site talks about how he built log cabins using one, said it out chopped and out performed an axe, plus the extra uses of the khuk came in handy.
Only problem seems to be the size and weight, I was looking at a 15 inch or smaller khuk, but have slowly been pushed up the scale with reading various posts and am now looking at an OAL on 18 inch, this will also be a machete for me but I assume it will be stapped to my pack rather than carried on a belt and double as a tool, axe and machete, with a small fixed blade being carried all the time.
 
iBlade said:
I have been seriously considering getting an HI khuk as well for quite some time.
One guy on the HI site talks about how he built log cabins using one, said it out chopped and out performed an axe, plus the extra uses of the khuk came in handy.
Only problem seems to be the size and weight, I was looking at a 15 inch or smaller khuk, but have slowly been pushed up the scale with reading various posts and am now looking at an OAL on 18 inch, this will also be a machete for me but I assume it will be stapped to my pack rather than carried on a belt and double as a tool, axe and machete, with a small fixed blade being carried all the time.
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I would agree that this is all personal preference, but to build a cabin with one, and say that a Kukri out performed an Axe is simply just plain flat out wrong..unless it was a 6 foot kukri swung by the hulk. I am the first to agree, that the Kukri is one of the best bush tools out there, I own 3. I believe that they can out perform most small hatchets and also have more uses, but a full size Axe that is properly sharpened, can out cut anything but a chainsaw.......and thats a fact that can NOT be argued.
I will say that my idea of a sharp Axe and most would differ....not here ofcourse, but if you look at the Axes available in most stores..they are bad! Now those couldnt beat a wet noodle in a chopping contest...but a REAL AXE...thats what I am going on about.
 
My 16.5" WWII model Khukuri from HI will out chop any of my Hatchets or hawks. But a Full sized Axe will out chop it. Used to have a 25" Long 5 pound Ang Khola Khukuri. It's an awesome chopper. Wish I still had one and could compare it to a large Axe. Bet it would be interesting.

Heber
 
Thanks guys! I've not got any pics of them together, just individual pics of each. But I'll try to snap one tomorrow (just cuz all threads need pics). I used the khuk again this evening to section some of the branches and split a few larger logs. Really worked quite well. If I can find one that I don't mind the weight on so much I think I'll be quite happy with a camp chopper. The Wet mini isn't bad, mind you.

Next to a 'real' axe, it's all obviously a moot point. A full size axe is purpose built for exactly that. It's just that I'm not likely to carry a full axe when bouncing around the woods.
 
For limbing and general camp chores, I prefer a 12" to 18" khukuri over a hatchet. My 16.5" chiruwa WWII khuk from HI is much faster and more precise than any axe in its weight class. For big time splitting and chopping, obviously a 3/4 or full size axe wins. But even the 12" khuks do tons of work for their size and weight. A 12" Pen Knife is my go-to hiking chopper.
 
tychoseven said:
For limbing and general camp chores, I prefer a 12" to 18" khukuri over a hatchet. My 16.5" chiruwa WWII khuk from HI is much faster and more precise than any axe in its weight class. For big time splitting and chopping, obviously a 3/4 or full size axe wins. But even the 12" khuks do tons of work for their size and weight. A 12" Pen Knife is my go-to hiking chopper.
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Would love to hear about your Pen knife (and see some pics!)! How's it differ from the AK in terms of weight and feel? Does it chop as well? I'm looking for a khuk that will still outchop my wetterlings mini but be a little lighter and more compact than my current AK.
 
mneedham said:
Spooky,

I'm not surprised either... My first khuks were those $20 models sold by Atlanta Cutlery, I bought 2 of them before a camping trip in the Adirondacks years ago with my buddy. We spent the first night around the campfire with files trying to put an edge on them.. Day 2 and 3 we chopped so much dead wood that I came back blisters. They weren't great quality and they were chopping beasts! The only downside on khuks for me is that they are a pain to carry...
Click to expand...

Hey Mike, how does the Machax compare to a similar sized Khuk?

Doc

Anybody know what the quality is like on Khukuri House Khuks?

Doc (again :rolleyes: )
 
DOC-CANADA said:
Hey Mike, how does the Machax compare to a similar sized Khuk?

Doc

Anybody know what the quality is like on Khukuri House Khuks?

Doc (again :rolleyes: )
Click to expand...

Doc,

The khuks that I have are all much bigger than the Machax, so I can't really compare. I was just sharpening my Machax a minute ago, that knife keeps finding its way into my hand. If you were asking me to pick which I would rather wear and use, it's easy, the Machax (just more comfortable).
 
Not wanting to start a flame war or anything gunknifenut but this is what i was told
Now down to brass tacks. I have used the m-43 to build two log cabins. Folks who have seen me using the blade have commented several times that the chips removed by the M-43 are larger than they have seen removed with an axe. It does indeed chop far better than axes of comparable size and weight as well as many much larger. It was used in drawknife mode to peel the logs and performed this with great ease. When I was chopping notches on the logs I had to split out large sections at times, several times I had the blade of the kukri flexed well past 40 degrees and it returned to true every time without any damage at all.
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You may want to review your statement - of course i have no first hand experiance, and am just passing on what i was told.
 
mneedham said:
Doc,

The khuks that I have are all much bigger than the Machax, so I can't really compare. I was just sharpening my Machax a minute ago, that knife keeps finding its way into my hand. If you were asking me to pick which I would rather wear and use, it's easy, the Machax (just more comfortable).
Click to expand...

Well, you know Mike, you don't have to convince me. :D

Doc
 
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