khukuri testing

I am still interested in just where in between the performance of the 15AK and 20AK the 18 will fall. It weighs only two pounds so I am betting the performance will lie closer to the 15 than 20 -- but the extra three inches will make some difference, too.

We may as well face it, the 18 and 20 inch AKs are in a class of their own in both performance and toughness. Testing any knife against them is unfair competition so maybe just compare them to each other.

Uncle Bill
 
Cliff, feel free to keep the Raider as long as you need it. It's a good baseline or standard for comparison of the big bowie genre.

Just out of curiousity, maybe someone could dig up a "kabar" USMC knife to use as another standard. I mean the plain old military issue model that everyone knows, not the new fancied up "improved" ones. I don't think it would matter who made it as long as it was milspec.

 
Cliff,

Since you mentioned you sometimes compare quite different knives, perhaps you could throw one of the Cold Steel shovels into the chopping tests. OK, it’s not a knife, but it can chop in an emergency. I wouldn’t be surprised to see it beat some of the knives in chopping, although I think Bill’s khukuris would still be safe.
 
Good job, Cliff, and thanks for your time and effort. I guess I am going to have to quit thinking of the little Sirupatis as little but as little and tough. They don't seem to want to bend, either. I didn't think they would. Spring steel, properly heat treated that's 3/8 inch thick is very hard to bend with your bare hands.

Uncle Bill
 
Thanks Rusty, hopefully I will have the Trailmaster in a week or so. It should be interesting to see if there is a significant difference in performance between a low and high end factory bowie. What did bother me about the Ontarios was not their cutting performance but the rather low QC. Two out of three knives (Bolo and Survival) showed either a materials or heat treat problem. So you are taking your chances with them. You could end out with a knife like the Raider which is an excellent performer for its price, or you could end up with one too soft and the handle bends like the Bolo, or one too hard like the Survival and it cracks in half. I have not heard these kind of complaints about Cold Steel so maybe they are higher in QC.

Bill, I am very interested in mid size khukuris as well. About the only problem anyone has had with my HI khukuris is the size of the handles on the smaller ones. The 18" class khukuris should cure this problem without making the khukuris too heavy which is often a complaint about the 20" (but not from me). I am looking forward to the 18" Salyan.

Howard, that's a good idea. Nemo and Fred have had good things to say about the CS shovel. I will probably also get one of the wire saws and see how fast they are compared to a decent chopper and which one requires more effort.

-Cliff


[This message has been edited by Cliff Stamp (edited 11 May 1999).]
 
When you think about it a shovel that chops is not a bad idea.

Many thanks again, Cliff, for continued great effort and contribution.

Uncle Bill
 
Sorry to ask but what's a Salayan. Is it a utility or fighting kukri or is it both.

thanks very much and take care
collin
 
Hi Collin:

The Salyan is generally a fairly broad bladed khukuri and usually has a "different" cho. It will work as tool or weapon as do most khukuris.

We have a few 18 inch Salyans on order which I hope we will be seeing in a month or so.

Uncle Bill
 
Cliff: Okay, I got my latest shipment in, and I'll be sending a Bhojpure along for the test (if I'm not too late). And readers: look out for an apology letter from me in the near future. It seems I have suffered from a little diareah of the mouth, and some of you have been rightly offended by it. Here's the short version: sorry!
 
Send away Craig, the broader base of knives I have to refer to, the more meaningful any results will be.

-Cliff
 
Thanks for your information on the Salayan. I guess I need to get a catalogue from you guys.

thanks and take care
collin
 
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