khukuri a poor chopper ?!

C

Cliff Stamp

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On Jeff Randall's forum there is a thread that contains some comments on khukuri performance (wood chopping). The argument is that even a small 3" faced hatchet or simple machete easily outperforms a khukuri, to the point of the khukuri being so frustrating to use it is usually abandoned. The hatchets/machetes are nothing fancy and even when quite dull they will still out chop a khukuri - even on large 12" logs.

http://server3.ezboard.com/frtaknivesgear.showMessage?topicID=5.topic

I thought it was amusing so I dropped Bill an email. I was going to suggest that he tell Kami to stop making khukuris and just hammer out a few straight machetes or hatchets. However I thought that might be pushing the joke a little
smile.gif


-Cliff


[This message has been edited by Cliff Stamp (edited 08 October 1999).]
 
GOOD work Cliff. I read the thread on Jeff's web. You did an excelent job defending and exlpaining "our" side. I'll admit the machete has its place and is a entirly different tool. Thats why so many different knives and axes exsit. I think that they just haven't had the time spent with the khuk to really understand and appricate its use and function as we have.
 
Cliff: I think they are comparing apples to oranges on Randall's forum.

A very lightweight khuk say 14 ounce by 17 to 18 inches overall would probably be highly revelatory to them. Julian has his Kumar, Howard his udhaipur villager, and I my chainpuri villager. we are all three quite happy with them.

On second thought, forget the idea. If they don't appreciate it, they don't deserve to get one, even for testing.
 
Rusty, for light leafy vegetation and such yes, however note some of comments are referring to heavy wood cutting on heavy logs (12") and such.

-Cliff
 
Cliff,

I got a GOOD chuckle of out the Randall's Adventure & training area. It sounds like they have never really used a Khukuri before
frown.gif
. Machetes work well for lush green NON-woody plants.

It sounds like a CHALLENGE to me
smile.gif
. I'll put my $ on the guy with the Khukuri chopping
a 12" log vs the 3" hatchet. I guess folks won't believe it until they see it
smile.gif
.

Ray 'md2020'
 
I have not yet seen the site, but I was wondering if it was possible that they had only seen the cheap Indian "Kukris"?

Just my 2 cents.

-Dave

------------------
"I'm not a complete idiot; some parts are missing."


 
They have used a CS khukuri as its reviewed on Jeff's page and Craig sent a Sirupati Jeff's way for his next trip down to Peru. In regards to junk khukuris, they will perform decently well even with crappy steel and low quality forging simply because of the geometry - if you keep the stress level low. If you raise the stress level - well, you learn why most people think they are junk.

-Cliff
 
At the risk of being branded a heretic, I have to agree with some of Jeff Randall's points.

The machete is also a time proven tool that has evolved over many years to be fitted to its task. In it's particular niche it will outperform most khukuris. A khukuri blade tends to bite into the material being chopped, pulling the material into the blade. This quality is often desirable, but not always. Where a straight sword will cut an opponent's limb on the battlefield, a khukuri will lop it off. When chopping masses of thick vegetation the machete will chop through some, then as the momentum of the blade is lost, easily slip out. The khukuri will also chop through some, but as the blade's momentum is lost it will remain in the vegetation, due to the blade curvature. A khukuri is generally heavier for a given blade length than a machete, although some of the styles Rusty noted are pretty lightweight. The blade profile is also usually thicker for a khukuri than for a machete, making the khukuri less efficient at slicing, but stronger and less likely to bind when chopping. These qualities can make the use of the khukuri more fatiguing for extended "mowing" of light vegetation.

As to cutting through 12" logs, a saw or an axe will be my first choice. If I have to choose between a light hatchet and a khukuri to do the job, I'll chose the khukuri. Jeff can use the hatchet.

If I find myself planning a trip to the jungles of South America, I will listen carefully to what Jeff has to say. I've played the fool too many times by discounting the voices of experienced people.


------------------
Howard Wallace
Khukuri FAQ

 
Howard, no one is saying a 22" AK is the best choice for trimming leafy vegetation, unless you are looking for a workout. What was being argued in the thread was not that, but that the wood chopping ability of khukuris is very poor in general and that it is much worse than hatchets and machetes.

Concerning machetes, features such as the straight spine (no drop) are not there because of performance issues, they are simply easier to make that way. I have a friend in Malaysia who forges blades for exactly that kind of cutting, as he grew up doing it, and he does not make straight spine/face machete style blades.

-Cliff
 
Well for pure wood chopping performance. I'd have to pick an axe. So let's say I get a job to split logs, I would get a big O axe. But would I carry that camping? Heck no.

The bigger AKs would come close, and you can cut with them too.

3" hatchet? Don't make me laugh.
 
I understand the incredulity that is evidenced when it is claimed that a khukuri is a poor wood chopping tool. Most of us use it for that purpose in preference to other readily available tools. Perhaps the opinions expressed on the other board were formed by the overall use of a khukuri in the conditions they encountered, and the opinion was expressed or remembered in terms of poor wood chopping.

I will be interested in hearing how the Sirupati that Craig Gottleib lent Jeff fares in the jungles. Although I think an even lighter khukuri like an udhaipur or chainpuri would do better.

I'm sure there is an element of truth to the idea of the machete's shape being due to economic constraints and ease of manufacture. But I put forward for your consideration this old machete from my woodshed.
Machete.jpg

This machete is a good chopper, due to the mass at the end of the blade. Note that the maker did not feel constrained to use a straight spine. The spine is curved in such a manner to allow materials to slide easily off of the tip of the machete.


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Howard Wallace
Khukuri FAQ

 
Has anyone suggested that sharp side down works better?
 
Rusty,
ROTFLMAO! I believe you have come up with the only plausible explanation for an otherwise incredible set of opinions completely at odds with the experience of so many people on this forum.
smile.gif

Berk
 
Bill, 1/8” steel, 21” tip to tip. Our kitchen scale says it's a hair over 1 lb.

Rusty, You mean I’ve been chopping with the wrong side!?! Doh!


------------------
Howard Wallace
Khukuri FAQ



[This message has been edited by Howard Wallace (edited 11 October 1999).]
 
I suppose that there are quite a few possible variations between khukuris. I have noticed that some possess a very thin edge bevel and grind. These khukuris chop wood quite well. Others possess a much thicker edge and secondary grind and chop wood less effectively.

On the other hand, the thick ones take less damage from nails and things like that.

It seems to me that there exist a number of subtleties in khukuri design, possibly a result from different intended uses?

Just my 2 cents.

-Dave

------------------
"I'm not a complete idiot; some parts are missing."


 
Howard.

The moment I saw that pix (machette), I know it is very good to cut thick grass & thick bushes! It works just OK for chopping BUT Khukuri works very much better!

Malaysia is a tropical country (just like South American countries) - everywhere are thick grass & thick bushes! As a teenagers I used to work as a grass cutter for quite a long time at my father's coconut plantation land - I used that type of machette (we called it PARANG in Malaysian Langguage) to cut grass & bushes till cleared - very effective! For chopping - please! don't do that if it is a lightweight one - go ahead if it is a heavyweight one. What I know is that the no of hectars of land which my team cleared during those days are more than the one cleared by Jeff's team!

Now, I'll always bring along one of my Khukuris to do any chopping business!
 
Nice machete. I like how you can use the back hook to pull things toward you. Wonder where I can find one here in the States.
 
Check this chopper out! I'm thinking about getting one of these.

Image from knifecenter.com

<img src = "http://www.knifecenter.com/knifecenter/woodman/images/c.jpg">
 
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