Originally posted by Cave
I am looking for advice on which Khukuri to buy and which manufacturer to buy it from.
I will use it for trail work in Florida and the Yucatan Jungle to get in to cave diving sites.
Then for general camp work and chopping. It must be strong and not a decoration.
A lot depends upon it.
Is there an advantage to wood handles vs. horn handles or vice versa? How about a length recommendation...15" vs. 18"?
Are there any synthetic sheaths that won't rot?
What is a Baby GRS with wood handles and where do you buy one?
This is my first post. I look forward to your replys.
Thanks, Steve cave@alltel.net
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Well first of all let me welcome you to the Cantina Steve. I can see it won't do me any good to add my brag's to the rest of the guys so lets talk H.I.Khukuri's.
And remember that a lot of what khukuri you need depends mostly upon its intended use and your preferences.
Steve the wood handles work better than the horn as they have better retention when you're working with the knife, especially under conditions where your hands may be wet from sweat or whatever.
However the horn is probably more durable in the long run and can be sanded down to a rougher finish to increase their retention ability.
The length recommendation will depend on just how much your willing to carry. Of course an 18" khukuri will be more effective except in areas where there's no room to swing a longer blade.
And if you're cutting your way into a destination it's your choice as to how wide a path you want or need.
I like things easy and another 3 inches means a lot when one is trying to carry gear through a dense area and I prefer bigger and longer knives anyway to a point.
I wouldn't want to pack a 3 pound GRS into the Florida Swamp or Yucatan Jungles for any goodly distance.
The Baby GRS is a smaller rendition of the GRS which is the Ganga Ram Special. The GRS is probably the absolute best felling khukuri that H.I. sells!!!!
The BGRS works a little better on depth of cut than the AK's because of its thinner blade profile which makes it the better felling khuk.
The AK's are better choppers and spliting khuks.
It's still a hell bent for leather tough knife as all of the H.I.Khukuri's are.
And you can buy one by sending Uncle Bill an e-mail with what khukuri you want and your snail mail address. If it's in stock and you get the order in early enough it will probably fly out that day.
Oops, almost forgot the rot proof scabbards..........
Bubba Blades another fairly new H.I.Forumite has covered his scabbard in fiberglass. Bubba also made a "cardboard" scabbard that he covered with fiberglass. I know, it sounds funky, but you would have to see it to realize what and how Bubba did it.
It looks pretty good and definitely won't rot or come undone easily.
It would take a pretty good fall or bump to crack the glass filled cloth. And if done over the existing leather and wood scabbard would be good for years of hard use and gentle abuse!!!!
Bubba's pretty busy, but he might consent to do one for a fellow.
Edit.
And an 18" BGRS is a very good all around choice for what you have described its potential uses for.
The Chitlangi is a very nice lighter weight khuk that cuts like a much heavier khuk, but in your case I feel a BGRS would be about your best choice.
I haven't really had enough experience with the Chitlangi to recommend it for the uses you have in mind.
(However if you ever get to wanting a really first class fighter....
)
No noteworthy damage to the blade at all! I've personally used them for years to chop wood and do general camp work. They're tough.
