Khukuri outchopped!

Triquetra

Triquetra

Joined
Mar 7, 2002
Messages
759
Not really but I knew it would get everyone's attention. I'm a Khuk nut like everyone else here and have no doubt that my AK can out chop any regular knife around. When I'm hiking though, I really prefer to carry something lighter like my 12" AK or 15" Bura Siru,. These are also better when you have a lot of "sheeple" around. I am looking for opinions or actually experience though on how these smaller Khuks would actually compare in chopping ability to large knives like a BK9, Busse, Cold Steel Trailmaster, Ontario Marine Raider, etc. Is the chopping ability of the smaller Khuks great enough to maybe give up some of the veristility that the straight blades might offer.
 
I can tell you right now that my Pen Knife can outchop my cold steel trailmaster any day of the week, I would imagine that a propperly weighted 12" AK could do the same. I just really like my PK for hinking duty. It's light and packs flatter as it is thinner, but the geometry on this sucker makes it fly through the wood. Most people aren't too scared of it. It looks like some sort of specialized camping tool with its wide blade and snubby point. If i HAD to pick something besides an HI, then my favorite camp/survival knife is the cold steel SRK. I take mine along when i know that someone who will beat the hell out of my knives (and not in a good way) is coming along, OR if i'm going to be in a situation where I might lose the knife. When I go canoeing, then the khuk stays at camp and the SRK comes with me. THe SRK will serve in a pinch, but if i lose it to the water...meh, it was 45 bucks and stamped out in mass.
Of course, if 15" is not too big for ya, then you might look at the AK bowie. That sucker will not only outchop the trailmaster, but will probably chop right through it. It's a design that most people can identify with. So it doesn't look "alien" like a khuk. Plus it's tough as nails. Nice thing about that knife is if you HAVE to take just one knife and might lose it, it already has a lanyard hole right through the tang. Put a little clippy thing on it and snap it to your belt;)
 
In my opinion the 15" sirupati is very similar in size, weight and balance to many high end straight bladed knives, and I believe the handle of the sirupati is actually more comfortable than many straight knives. I think it compares favorably in chopping ability and portability to many straight blade knives. I don't really care for the 12" kuks because the handles seem too small, especially with the pointed butt cap ending up inside the palm.

The main difference to me is in the forward bend of the kukri blade, which works better with a slightly different chopping technique than one might use with a straight blade. Also, if the kukri blade strikes a glancing blow on hard wood, the angled blade can be more prone to twisting in the hand than a straight blade. So with these two factors in mind, the preference of a forward angled blade vs a straight blade would depend on the user's preference and chopping technique.

I believe I saw an HI golok in one of the daily specials not long ago, a straight blade like that with the rest of it being kukri style, would be very interesting. If Bir Gorkha makes a few more of those, I'm sure they'd get snapped up real quick-like!

Straight blades do seem to offer more versatility for slicing and fine work, part of the difference is not only in the blade shape but in the edge profile and steel thickness. Obviously a heavier thicker blade can chop better with less binding and risk of edge damage. A thinner blade can do non-chopping tasks better. So your choice of blade requires a compromise between the two, depending on how much chopping and non-chopping tasks you require to be done in camp.
 
I don't know what you mean by smaller. But the BAS and 15" AK are what I personally consider the end of the fat part of the Bell curve in chopping ability. There are a few exceptions which seem to skate just a little around the laws of physics. You will get some chopping out of a 12" AK or Pen knife.
The new Yangdu Special is also small but able to work. It narrows considerably at the bend of the blade towards the bolster. The bend on the knife is 'early' = closer to the bolster than on other models, and this puts more of it's modest weight forward. It is a slender but robust blade, of over a 1/4" at spine. The design and weight is intentional and makes for chopping ability. Though an all around knife, a fighting knife, it will chop light duty, and I'd imagine outchop a conventional blade of the same weight and length.

But the law of physics isn't called a law for nothing. Khuks hit their stride above 15" in length.

This is just my opinion.


munk
 
munk said:
But the law of physics isn't called a law for nothing. Khuks hit their stride above 15" in length.

This is just my opinion.


munk
Click to expand...

I agree, at least in principle with munk. But as usual, have to quibble a bit. Yes, a khukri longer than 15" is the chopper of choice. But, if the real-world choice is between a big blade back in the truck parked at the trail-head, or a smaller one in your day pack on the trail, it's obvious. I'd prefer to chop with a GRS, but I'd much rather hike with a sirupati. Same goes for the Ruger .45 L.C. and the Walther P-22. Where are those gun-bearers when you need them?
;)
 
Where are those gun-bearers when you need them?>>>>>> Bri in Chi

I've thought about that so many times. The British had those huge 'Express' big bore double barreled rifles. Yeah, they have knock down power- especially if you don't have to carry one so you're well rested when the shooting begins. And Pith helmets? Let me tell you something. The Pith helmet is wonderful. I've tried every head gear imaginable to help me in the desert. The Pith collects your sweat, cools it above your head, and circulates it like a swamp cooler. It keeps the Sun out of your eyes too. But you know what? You can't hear a blasted thing while wearing one because the wind whips around that hard dome right next to your ears. No problem if you've got gun bearers and scouts in front of you while you hunt Tiger, but iif you were alone the Tiger could walk up behind you on a sidewalk full of corn flakes and you'd never hear it until your jugular was punctured.


munk
 
I agree with Munk as well. It's not just that I have big hands and the nice 12"ers are too small, but other than the BAS and AK and Hanshee, most of the 15 inch knives feel too small for me. I haven't got a 15" chainpuri yet, and have seen a bunch of them, but I do have a great 18" villager chainpuri. It does not seem too big, but any lighter and I can't imagine it would have the mass to be an all around knife. However because of the great handle on that model that may be an exception. I definitely need to try and snag one down the road.

I know what you mean about better to have the smaller khuk with you rather than the bigger one at home, but an 18" OAL is still only about a 12.5" blade and in the lighter models the weight is not bad at all.

I have been thinking about this because I am planning on selling some older stuff off, and I have a nice pair of matched Amtrak 15" sirupatis, and as much as I like them I am thinking of parting with them as they are not really the "all around" knives to me. But this would leave me nothing in slender blades in that length range so I may keep them for a while longer.

Norm
 
For lightweight but chopping you can't beat the 15" Ganga. Also like somebody above said the Pen Knife chops great, but nothign like the 15" ganga.
 
Hi Guys,

It's not in the H-I current offerings, only the 18" and 21"... Is it possible to order a 15" BGRS? If so, what's the cost? AND, how does it compare, overall, to the Chainpuri, the Chitlangi, the Sirupati, or the Gelbu Special?

Thanks,

Carter
 
I have an Amtrak 15" horn Sirupati, and it is a keeper. I have other "15" knives, but they are really 15 1/2 (my BAS) or even 16" (Bura Villager).

This one is light and small enough to fit places where a larger knife would be a squeeze.

The Amtrak blades are really nice - I just wish that the handle lined up perfectly...the but cap appears turned a slight amount. Even so, I wouldn't part with it.
 
Carter Leffen said:
Hi Guys,

It's not in the H-I current offerings, only the 18" and 21"... Is it possible to order a 15" BGRS? If so, what's the cost? AND, how does it compare, overall, to the Chainpuri, the Chitlangi, the Sirupati, or the Gelbu Special?

Thanks,

Carter
Click to expand...

Carter Miss Yangdu is the one to ask about ordering one, she will give you a yea or nay generally pretty quickly.

As to comparing the BGRS with any of the other khuks you mentioned it is impossible, like comparing apples to oranges.
The BGRS in an 18" size anyway cuts like a much heavier khukuri!:thumbup: :D
 
My limited and sure to be unpopular experience with such comparisons...

I spent about a day doing a side by side comparison with a Pen Knife and my similarly sized BK-5. Started out cutting a couple of 2x4s, then cut some into several miscellaneous bits of willow,whittled a couple spoons, skinned two rabbits., and dug a couple holes. I unfortunately did not record the results so the numbers are not at hand, but the Becker was significantly faster on the 2x4s, a little bit faster on the willow, much better with cleaning it's rabbit. The only area the Pen Knife was better was the digging part. Both edges came out about the same, perhaps the PK was a tiny bit sharper, but still couldn't cut as well due to its thicker edge.

Not so say I now believe my PK is a bad thing. It still does its job alright, and still has a place in my collection. (Actually my wife stole it) I just think of it the same way as I've thought of many of my favorite pickup trucks. They were never the prettiest, fastest, most powerful, or best driving, but...they could always be trusted to consistently deliver when needed. Many a cold days I drove by in my rusted out Chevy and snickered at the neighbors brand new 40 something thousand dollar diesel pick upi sitting in it's driveway plugged in, hood up and going nowhere. Hopefully my analogy somewhat follows a path of logic. I could compared it to my slow witted favorite dog, my favorite single action pistol, or any other number of favorite things that I love, biggest, baddest and fastest or not.
 
Correction - this one Bura from 9/20 is really 15", but about 17 oz.

I just checked how it chopped - I did not sharpen it, since it seemed sharp as it came. It should do better when sharpened properly.

It did somewhat better than my Sher 21 oz BAS, and much better than the 15" Amtrak Sirupati.

The thin edge and weight forward design of the blade seemed to help. It hits with more authority than any 12" kuhkuri.

The hill walnut handle is really porous. I lost track of how many coats of Formby tung oil finish I put on. It usually takes about 3-4 coats to get a nice shine, but this one soaked the stuff up. The final effect is really nice, but I should have used a sealer.
 
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