Khukuri vs. Hatchet

Originally posted by Cobalt:
Hoodoo, you take things personally and that is your problem, not mine. As for unbias, if you looked at the other thread, you should have noticed how many people were saying that hatchets are better without ever having tried a khukuri. Seems a little Biased to me. Hence my jest, "fanatics". I have used both once to chop wood, a lot of wood. It took me 3 weeks to chop it all.

Also, Hoodoo, were not talking about axes. Of course a large axe will win, simply because of size. The hatchets they are talking about are comparable to khukuri's dimensionally.
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Good points.
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Notice, though, in the other thread, I was never the one who said a hatchet was better than a khuk. But I did ask you for more data, which you then provided.

I'm not siding with "hatchet" people. But I would really like to see some fair comparisons, not just anecdotal stuff and not just one group of guys shouting louder than others. I really didn't pick up on the fact that khuks were being put down without good data but as I reflect back on some of the posts, you were probably right. Both "sides" really need to have more information to make comparisons more fair.



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Hoodoo

The low, hoarse purr of the whirling stone—the light-press’d blade,
Diffusing, dropping, sideways-darting, in tiny showers of gold,
Sparkles from the wheel.

Walt Whitman
 
I hope that few of us find ourselves in a true do or die situation. In that case I'd hope that each or us had a machete, an axe, and your choice of khuk or hatchet, whichever you prefer. Better yet, all three stashed at home, at work, in your car, and your truck.
 
:
This is gonna be an ongoing debate that will last forever due to influx of the junk India made khukuris that we are all so familiar with.
The argument is almost like politics and religion.
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Even the next step up in kukri styled knives which are those supposedly made by a Government supply house are little more than bent machetes.

I don't care for knives that I can sharpen with a file.
Hell even my CS LTC is better than that.
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Ramblin part......
I prefer my CS LTC to the kukris that come from Atlanta Cutlery. I bought one of their pana buta styles long ago and it was to much work to try and file an edge on it.
It's a good thing I had access to a belt sander at the time so I could work it down properly.
The dayumed edge? was at least 0.050" thick!!!
The reason given was that they were made to sharpen with a file by troops in the field.
Somehow I feel that the real khukuris have always been better than that, but I don't know never having the opportunity to check out an older one that was real.

I gave the "pana buta government issue kukri" too my bro who didn't have a knife similar. He likes it but covets the H.I. khukuris I have.
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On the plus side of the Atlanta Cutlery models I think their Assam Rifles model with the stick tang may be close to the way some of the older models of khukuris were made with the thinner blades of that time. It is about 18" oal and _only weighs_ 20 ounces!!

I have considered getting one of those and if it wasn't hard enough, trying to reharden it. I may do that one of these days since I have learned a litte about how to work on them after all they only cost$27.95.
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At least this time I will know what am getting and won't bitch about it.
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Perhaps Bladeforums.com will help to improve the khukuri's image given enough time.

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>>>>---¥vsa---->®

"Know your own bone, gnaw at it, bury it, unearth it again."

'Thoreau'

Khukuri FAQ
 
Yvsa,

I hope Bladeforums will change peoples ideas about Khukuris. Its a shame that junk khuks have spoiled alot of people's opinion of all khuks. It says alot about Uncle Bill and this forum that in general we don't tear down other people's beliefs or products. I think the only reason that I and others took offense to the comments made in the hatchet post, was that the comments made left no room for discussion, and only caused hard feelings. Anyway, I agree with what you said that this topic could go on forever like discussions about religion/politics.
I think that the reason that the debate even came up is this: some khuks and some hatchets ARE closely matched in their chopping performance, and whenever there is a close race, arguments result... I agree with others who said that the all around utility/survival applications of a khukuri make it an unparralled multipurpose tool. And in my limited experience, given the types of khukuris that I have used (several), verses the types of hatchets I have used (2 or 3), I think the khukuris win. But again, not much of a sample size to work with! I think Hoodoo made some valid points in later posts, especially suggesting that someone do some quality tests of an agreed on representative khuk.,(if we could all agree on the best chopping khuk--yeah right! talk about a huge debate
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), and the hatchet folks could agree on the hatchet chopping champ..... I and I'm sure others would vote for Cliff--he's proven his impartiality time and time again. At any rate, it would be cool test to hear about! What does everybody think. At the very least, we might dispel some bad misconceptions about khukuris.
 
Yvsa,
Cheapo knife? Think: Hard surfacing rod. I've even made useable cutters with coldrolled. These knives were of the most expendable sort and needed to be.

Use a "00" tip in your Smith torch. Rather than using the standard sweatting technique with the HS rod, let it melt into the steel.
Grind carefully.
Dan
 
:
I posted the previous before I had read the thread over in the other forum.
It was much as I expected.
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I really do wish people had an opportunity to try a really nice khukuri before they make such rash comments.

I have several Tomahawks that I used to use before I found H.I. and really wonderfully made khukuris.
Some of the 'hawks I have in my opinion blow most hatchets away due to the usually longer handle on the 'hawks.
Most of he favorite 'hawks I have were made by my very talented cuz who doesn't make them for sale.
He has been known to trade for different things though.
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One of the favorite production 'hawks I have is the "Blackhawk." It has a reinforced area just below the blade that extends down the handle a bit. This helps to keep handles from breaking when thrown and hitting the target wrong.

The downside of these 'hawks is the very heavy bevel that makes up the edge. I am gonna work on mine now that I have a decent means to do so.
Trying to grind something like that on a 6" bench grinder is more than I wanted to do.

If I ever get the time and a good day I still plan on doing some field trials with a couple of 'hawks and the H.I. Bird and Trout along with a standard khukuri for a control.

I used to like hatchets, but only because I couldn't get a decent 'hawk for a reasonable amount of money.
I have broke many a handle in hatchets useing them for throwing.
I had a couple of good ones over the years with one of them being an Estwing. I feel they have their place, but even with the really good 'hawks I now have I still prefer a khukuri.
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Even the CS LTC makes a nice little bent machete for cutting willow up to 2" thick.
It usually takes them downwith one whack. I think the khkuris are easier to use with the long edge presented to the work. Even if you miss the sweet spot you are still generally gonna take what you are cuttng down wih one stroke.
Hatchets and willos don't work well together in my experience.
Perhaps an axe with a nice thin profile might be aright, but I would still prefer a khukuri.

Dan I know what you mean.
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The cheapo khukuris I was talking about do have some metal in them. The "goverment specs." that are issued with them say the knives are to be sof enough to be sharpened with a file so the troops issued them can sharpen them easily in the field.
I will bet thatthey could easily be rehardened to a respectable edge holding hardness. I may do that as an experiment later on.
I am thnking that a fellow could ake a pretty good rendition of an antique khukuri with one of them. I have put it on my list.
At the rate I am going I will have to live to at least 150 to get everything done I would like to do. And ya know there would be other things come along to be added to the "List." (VBESG)

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>>>>---¥vsa---->®

"Know your own bone, gnaw at it, bury it, unearth it again."

'Thoreau'

Khukuri FAQ
 
If we were to compare the hatchet to a kukri would it be a fair comparison? After all, both can chop. But each one has it's own strenghts and weaknesses.If you were to look at them as a specialized tool, both would be superior to each other's weekness. If you want the ultimate in cutting superiority, i would have to choose the chainsaw.
 
Amen, big jim. When a fella wants an apple, only an apple will do -- and when a fella wants an orange, nothing will taste better than an orange. So, when it comes to comparing apples to oranges, it just depends on what you have a hankerin' for at the moment.
 
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