Khukri for unskilled lady.

philthygeezer

philthygeezer

Joined
Aug 6, 2002
Messages
746
Hello again! :D

I am thinking about presenting a khukuri to a lady who is slight of stature and unskilled and of merely average athletic ability. I would like it to be a useful present so that she could trim shrubs around the house, perhaps doing in the occasional small tree.

I am thinking that a 15" sirupati might be the easiest for her to swing and control safely and still get good chopping power. I don't want to get her anything too heavy or inertia might bite her in the leg, and I don't want my present to cause any nastiness.

Any suggestions out there, or would this be best?

Thanks,
Phil
 
Phil, I would never dispute that a 15" Sirupati is a great khuk, I clean and oil mine every night before I lay down to sleep.

Still, my personal choice of a khuk to give a lady would be the Ghopte Balance, hands down. It's the right size, the right weight, and beautifully styled. Guarantee you she'll love it, or I'll buy it off you and you can get her something else. Bug Uncle Bill when he gets back, he might just have one lying around in the "shed".:D

By the way, if you've forgotten what a Ghopte Balance is, here's a pic Raghorn posted a while back. Top knife pictured is a 15" Siru, bottom one is the Ghopte Balance (note the unique heart shaped cho).

attachment.php


Now you tell me, is that or ain't it a khuk fit for a special lady?

Sarge
 
What about one of those 10" New Models? I put myself on the list for two. One of those is for my lady. It is short enough for a woman to carry without seeming too big. The belly is deep enough to help with light chopping and slicing. At least that was my thought when I ordered them.:)
 
The balance is a good recommendation. I think a Pen-knife or a 12" AK would also be suitable.
 
Originally posted by philthygeezer
Hello again! :D

I am thinking about presenting a khukuri to a lady ... so that she could trim shrubs around the house...
Click to expand...

I bought my wife a tool for doing that very job. It's made by Black & Decker and is called a "shrub trimmer".

No hacking and hewing required. You just plug it in, press the trigger, and wave it around near the shrub. If I bought her anything that required any more work than that, I'd be the one who would end up having to use it.
 
You know, Phil, as much as I hate to say it, it doesn't sound like a khuk is the perfect match in this situation. Unless the lady really likes knives, clippers are easier and more precise for trimming bushes. Or, as Ben suggested, something powered.

It DOES pain me to write this, thereby somehow implying that khuks are not the solution to everything. Oh, well.
 
You know Phil, I agree with Ard. The khuk may not be the cat's meow in this stituation. The small Sirupatis that I've got tend to have farily thick edge bevels and I don't think they would be great at trimming bushes and trees. A little work can of course remedy this but I find that a sirupati of about 25" works better on trimming bushes. The smaller Sirupatis do work good in the kitchen though.
 
Hi Phil,
Aardvark is right I think - but not every khuk needs a purpose to be a nice present - it will find a suitable job in your household with time - just make sure it does not disappear into some drawer. My wife has a balance model (a khukuri-house-model I bought during the ignorant time before I got to know HI) with some brass inlay and she likes it very much.
I link the pic of the balance-model (ok, I`m a heretic to post a khuk-house model on the HI-Forum...). I do not have a DC so I tried to scan it - I like the shape very much but the grip is too small for me.

my wife`s different balance-model

Bye from Bavaria
Andreas

edited due to bad English...
 
Now you guys have got me thinking this one over. Perhaps something nice but more kitchen-y, like a carved Kumar karda or something of that ilk... Pen knife looks like a good option too; it could do kitchen and tree hacking duty.

I never even thought of the balance: that model looks beeeautiful.

Or maybe a pair of hedge clippers. :confused:

I was thinking something from HI because every one is unique in it's own respect. She seemed to really appreciate the craftsmanship in the ones that I showed her, so I thought that one of her own would make a nice gift. The functional aspect of my question is that I would like to give her something useful as well as beautiful, but I guess not specific to hedge trimming and arboricide. If she could use it around the kitchen, that would be just as well.

I have awhile to decide, and many thanks for all the good advice.

Phil
 
From a ladies point of view;), I really like the carved Kumar Karda I first purchased.I use it for everything in the kitchen (except tomatoes). My 12" ak will get use as soon as I get out of this apartment and have a garden.:rolleyes: :D
Just a thought :D
 
Phil sounds like you answered your own question, a Kumar karda would be pretty and functional. Though, Ill always say a 12" AK is one of the most versitile khuks out there for city folk, and anyone else who dont need to chop a chord of wood.
 
I would say that no matter what you choose to get her, just make sure she knows how to use it safely. Good luck

David
 
at the risk of proposing something ridiculous for a man to consider, why don't you ask HER?



(sorry if I'm breaking ranks here, guys.)


edited to add: uh, and Phil? don't tell her you referred to her as "an unskilled woman" ok?
 
Ask her? Good point I never thought of that... Stupid, silly man.:D

I guess it's like asking for directions. We think we are SUPPOSED to know. In a way, buying a thoughtful gift that is just what she wanted is tricky, but awesome if she loves it. However if you get it wrong then she might think that you just don't get it or don't really care enough. It's a way of finding out how well you really know her, and discovering more about her if you realize you don't know as much as you want to.

Me, I tend to get athlete's mouth:footinmou , but most of my gifts are very much thoughtful ones. Was "average athletic ability" OK?

Phil
 
I am partial to the Ghopte Balance as a gift/presentation khuk. I find it to be a very attractive design, light and manageable.
A bit of practice would get her used to the sharper angle of this blade in no time.

The "unskilled" part would lead me to err on the side of caution with smaller/lighter, so she can have some fun. Then in time to say "I need me a BIGGER Khuk!" Rather than it be unwieldy(scary) in any way.

That said.
I have my suspicions of a grander design at work in the gifting.
I also gave (not so altruistic-more like gave up) a khuk to a non-knife person, my husband. Who has always cared as much for knives as he would about refilling the toilet paper holder.
Can now be seen walking around with his khuk anytime, sometimes just to sit and relax/bond with it.
A non-knife person - who sure does like his khuk!

If you feel the calling to give a khuk; I think that is the important part. And any choice within your best judgement will be a good one.


Shirley

Ghopte not recommended for kitchen.
Or lack of skill on my part, had a good laugh at myself when I tried to do dinner with it.
 
Originally posted by youngwood
IThat said.
I have my suspicions of a grander design at work in the gifting.
I also gave (not so altruistic-more like gave up) a khuk to a non-knife person, my husband. Who has always cared as much for knives as he would about refilling the toilet paper holder.
Can now be seen walking around with his khuk anytime, sometimes just to sit and relax/bond with it.

A non-knife person - who sure does like his khuk!


Shirley
Click to expand...

Shirley it may be, in addition to really likeing the khuk, just the fact that you gave your husband, a non-knife person, a tool/weapon of such beauty and usefullness.
It's strange how the ladies we love can affect us men by doing something totally unexpected yet really wonderful for us.

If I gave away a "man secret" it is at least a good one and that perhaps will the ladies in our life something to think about.;)
 
"Shirley...sure does like his khuk!"

I asked my wife how she liked my khuk. She said it wasn't much to look at these days, but she admitted that she used to like it a lot when I was younger and could actually use it.
 
On second thought, never miss a good chance to keep your mouth shut.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top