i just recieved a 15" HI boomerang from hollowdweller, and decided to compare it to the cold steel kukri style blade that i have been loving and talking up every chance i get.
to start with, they aren't too far apart in weight, in sheaths there is a 3/4 pound difference, but when comparing the actual bladers there is only 6 oz (1/2 pound) difference. i found it interesting that the longer length of the CS moved the balance point out far enough so that they feel about the same weight when held at the handle.
when looking at them, one would expect the HI to feel like a prybar and the CS to feel like a mora, but i was rather surprised that they feel rather similar in heft.
the CS has an 1/8" thick spine and the HI measures at about 3/8" thick at the handle. both are slightly hollow ground, but i gave them shaving sharp conved edges.
the sheath on the HI is much nicer, and also carries the accessory knife and the polishing steel, neither of which i use often, but i have used the accesory knife before. i think in the future i might make a pair of small knives to fit in there instead, because the knife isn't too high in quality, it almost looks like it was just kinda slapped together as an afterthought, not like the kukri itself. and i don't use the steel at all, i prefer a strop.
when chopping, i noticed that the CS stuck a bit more in small diameter branches, but that they chopped with similar effort and efficiency;
then i took these to some larger wood, maybe around 4" in diameter;
40 chops with each of them, and they both cut about the same size notch. the HI was a bit easier to use in this regard, becuase it didn't stick as badly (at all really) and it popped out chips a bit easier. the CS stuck on almost every strike, taking more effort and time to pull it out after each whack. not a huge difference, but noticeable.
i didn't baton any wood in this review, but i know from experience that both work fine. the nod goes to the HI because of the very thick blade that wedges wood apart better with less force (though slightly more initial force).
shaving fuzzies both worked fine, though they were a bit akward. i felt a tad better with the HI because of the Cho (is that right?) to tell me where the edge started, but both worked fine. i just had to be a bit more careful with the CS.
so all in all, someone would be fine with either knife. people are always saying that a real khukri is vastly better than an KLO, but in my opinion, they are only a little bit better, and for the beginner, perhaps not enough better to warrant the high price tag. at any rate, a KLO is a good place for someone to start to see if they like the blade style, from there they can retire it, give it away, or keep it for a beater if they move on.
another feature i really like about the HI is that it is alot of blade in a fairly small package, making it easy to pack in a bag without anything poking out anywhere. good to carry it somewhere when you don't want to draw any attention (sheeple country or travelling through town on foot or bike as i often do)
to start with, they aren't too far apart in weight, in sheaths there is a 3/4 pound difference, but when comparing the actual bladers there is only 6 oz (1/2 pound) difference. i found it interesting that the longer length of the CS moved the balance point out far enough so that they feel about the same weight when held at the handle.
when looking at them, one would expect the HI to feel like a prybar and the CS to feel like a mora, but i was rather surprised that they feel rather similar in heft.
the CS has an 1/8" thick spine and the HI measures at about 3/8" thick at the handle. both are slightly hollow ground, but i gave them shaving sharp conved edges.
the sheath on the HI is much nicer, and also carries the accessory knife and the polishing steel, neither of which i use often, but i have used the accesory knife before. i think in the future i might make a pair of small knives to fit in there instead, because the knife isn't too high in quality, it almost looks like it was just kinda slapped together as an afterthought, not like the kukri itself. and i don't use the steel at all, i prefer a strop.
when chopping, i noticed that the CS stuck a bit more in small diameter branches, but that they chopped with similar effort and efficiency;
then i took these to some larger wood, maybe around 4" in diameter;
40 chops with each of them, and they both cut about the same size notch. the HI was a bit easier to use in this regard, becuase it didn't stick as badly (at all really) and it popped out chips a bit easier. the CS stuck on almost every strike, taking more effort and time to pull it out after each whack. not a huge difference, but noticeable.
i didn't baton any wood in this review, but i know from experience that both work fine. the nod goes to the HI because of the very thick blade that wedges wood apart better with less force (though slightly more initial force).
shaving fuzzies both worked fine, though they were a bit akward. i felt a tad better with the HI because of the Cho (is that right?) to tell me where the edge started, but both worked fine. i just had to be a bit more careful with the CS.
so all in all, someone would be fine with either knife. people are always saying that a real khukri is vastly better than an KLO, but in my opinion, they are only a little bit better, and for the beginner, perhaps not enough better to warrant the high price tag. at any rate, a KLO is a good place for someone to start to see if they like the blade style, from there they can retire it, give it away, or keep it for a beater if they move on.
another feature i really like about the HI is that it is alot of blade in a fairly small package, making it easy to pack in a bag without anything poking out anywhere. good to carry it somewhere when you don't want to draw any attention (sheeple country or travelling through town on foot or bike as i often do)
