Khukri weight

G

gcs

Joined
Mar 3, 2007
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57
Since it's a little quiet around here, here's a question I've been mulling over.

With all the different styles, weights, and lengths, I've noticed that the Army issue khuks, current and WW style, are about the same in weight and blade length. In other words, not real long and not real heavy.
These are issued to guys that use them for everything, including the heat of battle, so.... If these relatively lighter and shorter khuks are good enough for what the pro's put them through, why are there so many large, heavy models sold?

Yes I know heavier equals better chopping ability, at the expense of tennis elbow, lol , but how much "heavy" chopping is really going to be done when a good ax or chainsaw is readily available? :) (at least in this country).

I have nothing against collecting examples of great workmanship, but is there an "optimum" size that the pro's and villagers use?

Thanks for the discussion, and for being part of a great bunch of folks.
 
I would think that a modern soldier, with a modern military firearm, does not use his khukuri as much as a pre-modern Nepali (or other) warrior did. I imagine even villagers and tribesmen used theirs a lot more than modern soldiers.
The war khukuris in museum displays are much bigger than the WW2 model.
Also, I think there is more variation in sizes and weights than it appears.
Hand made weapons will vary, as you well know.

Aunt Yangdu would be the expert when it comes to what villagers use today.
Spiral is probably the person to ask about what the soldiers are using and why. (We don't get along very well, but I recognize his scholarship on the subject.)
 
A larger khukuri can be more versatile than an ax or chainsaw. The khuk isn't as cumbersome or nearly as noisy as the chainsaw (also doesn't need fuel to run). Though a similarly sized ax may have an advantage in raw chopping on larger trees, the khuk is more forgiving in accuracy (less chance of missing the area you're wanting to chop) and is easier to use in limbing trees.

Bob
 
I seem to remember hearing somewhere that most people in Nepal use khuks on what we would call the smaller side. I know the khuk I use the most is my 12" AK.
 
With the weight and size of some of the modern kukris (including big choppers from HI), why is it that a fully two-handed length of handle seems to be so unusual?
 
at the expense of tennis elbow, lol
Click to expand...
Too true! :( And readily obtainable with medium weights as well....
but how much "heavy" chopping is really going to be done when a good ax or chainsaw is readily available?
Click to expand...
Axe or chainsaw/polesaw are not all that good at dealing with tangles of branches that are thick enough to need a good and fast wallop to slice through, but also flexible enough to defy such cutters.... a brushcutter light enough to hold at head level and fitted with Oregon's Jet-head & Flexiblade or similar is more effective in these circumstances, but rather clumsy to use, added to which you really do need to use a (hot and stuffy) full-face visor since chunks of wood or bramble come flying back at you.
So a kukri - more of the the sirupate than the chopping sort - actually proves to be ideal for such tasks.* :)

* plus safety glasses/goggles
 
Most of my bush needs are pretty well handled by a 12" machete, so in my thinking the Sirupate with about a 10" blade, which is still a pretty big and heavy knife, would be about perfect for almost anything I'll need.
Granted, a heavy chopper would probably come in handy once in a while, but at the expense of having to haul it around.

I thought I read somewhere that most "using" khuks of the villagers were more like the Sirupate's, give or take local variations.

It's a slow day here, so I'm kinda thinking out loud, and pondering what would best serve my needs next, lol Thanks.
 
Well, when it comes to felling trees, I'd much rather have a full sized axe than even a large kukri.
However, the large kukri si a very usefult ool for me on several levels.
First off, realize that Nepalis (even today), on average, are quite a bit smaller than most westerners, so, nauturally, what is normal for them will be smallish for us.
Second, when I was looking at kukris, having what amounts to a big knife wasn't enough, I have big knives. I wanted something that could replace carrying a big knife, a machete and a hatchet. Now with most of the heavier kukris (I fell in love with the Ang Khola from the beginning), you have something optimized for chopping, but with enough length, you can get a good tip speed and use it like a machete. It also had to chop as well or better than my hatchet, which is 18 inches long with a 1.75 pound head, a tough act to beat. This all pointed to a large Ang Khola, of at least the same, if not larger length than my hatchet.

It really comes down to what you want it for. I noticed that guys that want them as a big knife that can chop, too, like the lighter and/or smaller kukris. Guy that want a hatchet replacement that can be used as a knife, too, seem to prefer the large, heavy ones.

Most members seem to live in areas where a hatchet is a very useful tool, and are trying to replace that functionality, and thus the trend towards the larger kukris.

I got lucky, after I special ordered my 20" CAK, I found this forum. THe DOTDs were running a lot of larger, Chiruwa-style kukris in the 18'+ range of WWII or Ang Khola design, so I got good deals on allt he models I was really "Jonesing" for (plus a double dragon Tarwar that went on sale). Honestly, looking at the job I wanted a kukri to do, anything smaller than the 18" WWII I picked up would have been a disappointment.


The guys who want big knives seem to love their 12" Ang Kholas and Sirupates and such.
 
First this is just my opinion and I may be wrong.

I believe that pound for pound an axe or a hatchet will outchop the average khukuri of the same weight, with less wear and tear to your tendons.

However between a khukuri and a hatchet the khuk by far excels at cutting saplings and machete type activities.

But if a khukuri is too heavy it REALLY hurts your arm to swing it and then try to stop it cutting thru light stuff and you double the damage.

If I want to cut a small tree down maybe a large khukuri, coming up on 2 lbs makes sense. But an axe or hatchte might make more.

However to really make full use of the khukuris ability to machete it has to not weigh so much.

I think most khuks are so heavy as to make them impractical for their best use:thumbdn:

However I have a 15" 20 oz one that is great for trail clearing and chopping stuff probably up to 6"

I also have a couple of 17" 23 oz ones that are light and well balanced enough to swing but chop well:thumbup:

However when you are pretty much going over 25 to 27 oz's and above to me those are more for show, or to chop some specific thing rather than general purpose.
 
Easiest on arm and wrist of the kukris I've got is more than 50 years old, it's a 19" x 20oz hollow forged all-rounder with excellent balance. Not quite as good a slicer as either of my sirupates, one of which is a light and fast 21" and the other a heavier 20".... but almost.
Be interesting to see how a smaller, old sirupate type I've bought recently compares for branch-trimming use once I've finished repairing its handle; only 16.5" overall x 15oz but noticeably weight-forward.
 
Good question,
My opinion only,
Often personal blades are regulated.
If that isn't the particular case then: weight may be a factor, terrain where it might be used-bamboo,vines,salt water,hi altitude, sub-zero, anti-magnetic...,
Many of the types of blades stem from regions they are used within,( I guess that's redundant)-lowland,grassland,agricultural,herding,farming,,arctic,potatoe peeling,goat processing,root scrubbing,flapjack flipping...rum keg tapping...
I know a Ranger that served in Bos/Herz for a few years that never needed anything but a Cammilus Airforce survival knife, and aircraft refuelers that carry BattleMistresses.
In the village they use a different blade to behead the animal than stir the pot, so I see the great good choices we have from HI as to what blades we use, are our good fortune . I love the WW2 my wife gifted me with, it has something of Bura, Uncle and Healing in it. Our girls have enjoyed their kagan katne's for so many small projects and WILL be pleasantly surprised when they open their Grand Baby Chit and Kobra,Grandma with her surprise Bilton.

Just a few holiday thoughts from a grateful forumite,

Be Well All And To All A Good Night...
mark
 
I believe that pound for pound an axe or a hatchet will outchop the average khukuri of the same weight, with less wear and tear to your tendons.
Click to expand...

Me too, I do not really use my Khuks for chopping and prefer the grunfors bruks hatchet for the job. Occasionaly I will use my Siru or Kobra as a grass beater and light machete, just for fun. I have a golok style machete that does the job for the rest of the time. and I'm not worried about chucking it around or banging it on a nail. That said, my next Khuk will be a chopper. !!!!
 
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