Khukuris, Goloks and Parangs

Drdan

Drdan

Joined
Dec 24, 2003
Messages
1,390
We all know the effectiveness of the khukuri when it comes to its chopping prowess. How does a khukuri compare to a much lighter golok or parang as far as slicing is concerned? If I were to clean grass and weeds, I might opt for a machete or golok... Would a 21" or 25" long kobra, sirupati or chitlangi give a comparitively long golok or parang a serious challenge? I've only seen much shorter (and heavier bladed) khukuris compared to these Asian blades, which really doesn't give me much to go on. Thanks for your input.
 
I don't have any experience with the lighter blades, but Golok and Redvenom are from that part of the world and may be able to shed some light on the subject.
And IIRC there are a couple of regulars here with experience with the Golok and Parang.
 
Thank you for the references, Hibuke.

One of the references given (and listed immediately below), rates the golok against other goloks and a Borneo parang, without any comparisons to the khukuri. The parang comes out as the winner as far as penetration when cutting into banana trees... It's difficult to come to any meaningful and/or scientific conclusions, since I don't see any comparisons as to the length and mass of the various blades used in the testing.

http://outdoors-magazine.com/s_article.php?id_article=5

The other reference, http://outdoors-magazine.com/s_article.php?id_article=2 is hardly a valid comparison, since the goloks are longer than the 16.5" HI Chiruwa AK khukuri. The Chiruwa AK was not rated very favorably in regard to edge holding characteristics, and a tendency for its softer edge near the tip and handle to roll, among others.

The testing should have included 19--21" lighter and slimmer blade profile khukuris such as the kobra and sirupati... Being that it didn't, and many specifics related to the actual testing are omitted,
and valid conclusions can hardly be made. Were all the blades tested sharpened to optimal testing conditions. What materials were chopped and/or slices, and how many strokes were performed with each specific blade? Pretty nebulous stuff here, and again, not giving the khukuris a fair comparison... Moreover, what are the weights of the various blades used, total lengths, etc.?

If you want to check out the chopping and slicing power of 10--12" Bowie style knives, would it be a valid test to throw in a few 7" drop point blades, and evaluate all of them on an equal basis? :rolleyes:

Thanks.
 
Originally posted by Drdan
We all know the effectiveness of the khukuri when it comes to its chopping prowess. How does a khukuri compare to a much lighter golok or parang as far as slicing is concerned? If I were to clean grass and weeds, I might opt for a machete or golok... Would a 21" or 25" long kobra, sirupati or chitlangi give a comparitively long golok or parang a serious challenge? I've only seen much shorter (and heavier bladed) khukuris compared to these Asian blades, which really doesn't give me much to go on. Thanks for your input.
Click to expand...

These would be my choices for light work such as grass,weeds,all soft stuff like vines,and sprouts up to 1 " in diameter


http://www.valiantco.com/indexA.html
The Survival Golok XXL


http://www.cutsforthknives.com/index.cfm
My Favorites:
1-w702-560-01 22


2-358_460_01



Once you've used one of the Martindales with their distal taper you will be spoiled and all other machetes won't measure up.The Martindales sharpen very easily with a file as the metal cuts with minimum effort. I personally like the soft RC for machete work.
 
The khukuri used in the "outdoors-magazine" test linked above was a "kukri-shaped object" from Cold Steel.
 
I realize that a golok is probably a good choice over a standard machete, especially if one is willing to pay $40--$50 and even a lot more for a high quality golok...

I'd love to see comparisons with a 20"--24" overall length golok or parang with a similiar overall length lighter weight khukuri. Let's assume that the tester is not biased, and has experience chopping and slicing with axes, khukuris, machetes and goloks (and related blades). I've heard that a khukuri has a tendency to glance off targets if one is not accustomed to using it. I'm sure a machete or golok would have its foibles too, if the tester only had previous experience with axes. With any blade, it is asumed that the tester has experimented and become familiar with the blade before valid comparisons are made...!

It would be interesting to see how each blade fares with 4" banana trees, chopping small diameter green and dry wood, 1" and 2" diameter vines, and even more vigorous chopping tests.

Knowing that the khukuris "sweet spot" is traditionally hardened, it would be fair for someone well versed in the use of a khukuri to chop in that area, not near the tip or the handle. Conversely, it would be only fair to chop or slice with the golok or other non khukuri blade using said blade's sweet spot. It's obvious that the golok would not fare well if its tip were used for chopping; indeed using its tip in this application would REALLY test the strength of both its handle and partial tang!

None of the testing I've reviewed is really in depth; although those 3 tests conducted by Cliff Stamp, and linked in the HI website, seem to be the most unbiased and thorough. Maybe it's just me, but the golok vs khukuri testing is not very clear at all, and does not give the khukuri a fair chance.
 
Originally posted by Thomas Linton
The khukuri used in the "outdoors-magazine" test linked above was a "kukri-shaped object" from Cold Steel.
Click to expand...

The CS Gurkha Light, the H.I. 16.5" Chiruwa AK khukuri, and an 18" HI Gelbu Special khukuri are either mentioned, or shown in the article. Why show the GS if it wasn't tested?
 
Drdan,
I would not be the best to offer much more info on the subject as I am both inexperienced when it comes to working with Kuks and Goloks but reasonably experienced and Very,Very,Very biased towards the Martindale Machete particularily when it comes to clearing land of brush and tropical growth,cutting trails through thick undergrowth,and delimbing felled trees.

I have watched Jamaicans take the long slim Martindales and go through grass like a demon. From what I can tell about the steel, the Goloks are much harder than the Martindales and to me,resemble a high quality sword as they are polished like the HI Kuks.

I would be intrigued to watch an experienced Indonesian work with his Golok. I have watched Haitians and Jamaicans
make their cane knives sing. I've marveled at Jamaicans,Hawaiians, and Cubans slicing green coconuts with machetes. Down in the Mexican
tropics I've often seen the farmers carrying their machetes along the roadside in the mornings outbound to their fields. The Mexican machetes that I bothered to check were usually made in South America
and had no distal taper.

If you ebay search "machete" you'll find a plethora of various brands.
 
I've seen Haitan immigrants in the Puerto Plata area of the Dominican Republic work in the cane fields with them, and they are very skilled with them. I've seen many cheap Tramontina machetes seriously abused by Dominicans, with the handle taped to keep it together with electrical tape, and at least 3/4" of its original width filed down over the years. They still work with them, and keep them nice and sharp. Even night watchmen typically have one of these machetes at hand. I've even seen the results of both Haitians and Dominicans fighting with machetes in E.R. rooms in the D.R. The Haitans usually don't survive the fighting, while the Dominicans do...
 
Hmm. Well comparing apples and oranges is never really fair, is it? I spend a good deal of my time in the field (I'm an ecologist) clearing trails in blackberry infested areas. I have a number of HI and other khuk's, and have bought several of the lighter, longer ones (20" kobra, 20" siru, 18" cheetlangi) to use at work. A few minutes (literally) will show you that a khukuri is not the tool for this job. You need a light, fairly long blade to do this type of clearing. Light for the repetitive work, long to keep tyour hand away from the thorns. the forward curve makes the khuk particularly dangerous for clearing.

I've never put my khuks head to head with a Tramontina or a golok in this work (meaning how many chops at what force for how long). Why? Would it prove that the khukuri is better? Better for what? A khukuri is good for chopping, it's not a light clearing tool.

The concept strikes me as another of the "perfect knife" questions. The fact is there are no perfect knives. Or perhaps more accurately, they are all perfect - for what they were designed for. So get a khuk for chopping and a golok for clearing, don't try to make a heavy golok for chopping, or a light khukuri for clearing. Let you apples be apples, and enjoy the oranges for what they are. Viva la difference! :D

Pat
 
I am still intigued however, on how a longer and lighter khukuri would fare when used in cutting banana trees, compared with a golok or machete. :D
 
I bought two Goloks a couple of months ago.

Quality, but too "wispy" in feeling for me. (Haven't cared much for the sirupatis I've handled, either, but the goloks almost float in comparison.)

I've used my just-sub-18" Chitlangi for clearing a lot of brush this year, and to take trees up to 5" diameter down.
 
Originally posted by Outdoors
The concept strikes me as another of the "perfect knife" questions. The fact is there are no perfect knives. Or perhaps more accurately, they are all perfect - for what they were designed for. So get a khuk for chopping and a golok for clearing, don't try to make a heavy golok for chopping, or a light khukuri for clearing. Let you apples be apples, and enjoy the oranges for what they are. Viva la difference! :D

Pat
Click to expand...

From the land of parangs and goloks:

For chopping, there isnt much better than a khukuri (except maybe an axe) but I prefer a light, straight blade for clearing stuff like vines, weeds and shrubs. Maybe it is just a force of habit - I have been using khukuris for 2+ years but have known local blades like the parang and golok for most of my life. I have a three or four parangs of varying blade lengths and I guess my hand has mutated to fit their grips over the years :) I would expect that Nepalis who have grown up using khukuris for everything would probably prefer the khukuri.

For comparsion, I have a HI 15" Sirupati and a 18" WWII Khukuri - my WWII is great fun on banana trees and you can cut right through the trunks with one stroke with hardly any effort. The banana tree sap stains the blades a dirty black color though.

Andrew Lim
 
I do like the 18" Chiruwa WW II; I'll make it a point to get one, and bring it with me next time I go to the Dominican Republic, or another place where there are lots of interesting testing flora. :)
 
I dunno, but I beg to differ there, as I know some others would...

Originally posted by Outdoors
Hmm. Well comparing apples and oranges is never really fair, is it? I spend a good deal of my time in the field (I'm an ecologist) clearing trails in blackberry infested areas. I have a number of HI and other khuk's, and have bought several of the lighter, longer ones (20" kobra, 20" siru, 18" cheetlangi) to use at work. A few minutes (literally) will show you that a khukuri is not the tool for this job. You need a light, fairly long blade to do this type of clearing. Light for the repetitive work, long to keep tyour hand away from the thorns. the forward curve makes the khuk particularly dangerous for clearing.

I've never put my khuks head to head with a Tramontina or a golok in this work (meaning how many chops at what force for how long). Why? Would it prove that the khukuri is better? Better for what? A khukuri is good for chopping, it's not a light clearing tool.

The concept strikes me as another of the "perfect knife" questions. The fact is there are no perfect knives. Or perhaps more accurately, they are all perfect - for what they were designed for. So get a khuk for chopping and a golok for clearing, don't try to make a heavy golok for chopping, or a light khukuri for clearing. Let you apples be apples, and enjoy the oranges for what they are. Viva la difference! :D

Pat
Click to expand...

I know Tom Holt is probably *THE* Kobra Advocate, favouring the 25"-er. He finds it to be *THE* trail clearer. He's found nothing better... His reasonably comprehensive field report showed that a 25" Kobra is not just a people-scaring, flesh-cutting sword, but a very useful and worthwhile tool. Anyone heard from him as of late?

I know Howard Wallace has done blackberry picking/trail clearing with an 18" GS-prototype Villager...

Even I have had experience w/ a few Khuks and one of Valiant Co.'s Goloks, this time, against a large tenacious patch of ivy infesting the fence of my ex-girlfriend's mom's place...

I've found with practice proper training, a Khuk is an incredibly useful and powerful trail-clearer, provided you hit with the "sweet-spot", something that takes practice to do consistently. Tom Holt told me once that the 25" Kobra is very intuitive to use in this regard (hitting with the sweet spot)...

I'm not sure why, but my guess is that the long length and the general profile allow for a longer sweet-spot and a greater margin for error...

Here's a link to Howard's blackberry/trail-clearing adventure. It's near the bottom of the page...

http://www.himalayan-imports.com/faq/Styles2.htm
 
Originally posted by Drdan
I realize that a golok is probably a good choice over a standard machete, especially if one is willing to pay $40--$50 and even a lot more for a high quality golok...

I'd love to see comparisons with a 20"--24" overall length golok or parang with a similiar overall length lighter weight khukuri. Let's assume that the tester is not biased, and has experience chopping and slicing with axes, khukuris, machetes and goloks (and related blades). I've heard that a khukuri has a tendency to glance off targets if one is not accustomed to using it. I'm sure a machete or golok would have its foibles too, if the tester only had previous experience with axes. With any blade, it is asumed that the tester has experimented and become familiar with the blade before valid comparisons are made...!

It would be interesting to see how each blade fares with 4" banana trees, chopping small diameter green and dry wood, 1" and 2" diameter vines, and even more vigorous chopping tests.

Knowing that the khukuris "sweet spot" is traditionally hardened, it would be fair for someone well versed in the use of a khukuri to chop in that area, not near the tip or the handle. Conversely, it would be only fair to chop or slice with the golok or other non khukuri blade using said blade's sweet spot. It's obvious that the golok would not fare well if its tip were used for chopping; indeed using its tip in this application would REALLY test the strength of both its handle and partial tang!

None of the testing I've reviewed is really in depth; although those 3 tests conducted by Cliff Stamp, and linked in the HI website, seem to be the most unbiased and thorough. Maybe it's just me, but the golok vs khukuri testing is not very clear at all, and does not give the khukuri a fair chance.
Click to expand...

Again, alot probably has to do with cost and general awareness of khuk potential. Quite a few outdoorsmen have no idea how useful a proper khuk is, let alone a good HI! :D:D:D

Many see khuks as just a hatchet or axe replacement an treat is as such. I've heard some foolish misguided fellows simply dismiss khuks as choppers and nothing else, not knowing 'bout the light, slim, sword-like and very useful trail-clearing Chits, GS, Kobras, Sirus, etc.

Another factor could be cost. A good Golok, say from Valiant Trading Co., say the Survival Golok L, retails for US$55.50 w/o shipping. That may b in the blem range of things, but such outdoor-sy guys have no idea what the Cantina is all about and wouldn't give a flying crap about snagging a blem.

A full-priced HI khuk which possesses those capabilities would run over US$100, more than 2wice the cost. So, for their intents and purposes, the HI trail-clearering khuks are found to be too expensive and have a harder learning curve. Granted, a 20" Siru has many uses other than limbing and trail clearing, it could also do some medium chopping and splitting, but that is what their fully-sized axes and hatchets are for.
 
First of all, not all goloks perform the same in the cutting category. Some golok makers, if you ask them, will readily say that this golok is not meant for heavy duty chopping and that one can be used for big branches.

The answer lies in the type of steel they use. Factory-type goloks can basically do the minor chores like chopping firewood. Since most goloks on sale in Malaysia are mass-produced, the quality is somewhat dubious.

However, those collectors who want quality goloks would normally find a maker to make a few for them according to their specs.

Some goloks which use steel labelled loosely as "A-1" can out-cut the ordinary golok on any given day.

Banana plants are easy to cut in two because of their soft core. Any golok or kukri can perform the task with a hitch.

Machetes are best used for cutting vines or other softer woods because of their flat, flexible and relatively thin blades. Used properly, a machete will be of immense help to those who venture a bit further into the forest/jungle.

A machete is preferred by some people because it is less strenuous on the hands and arms through prolonged use. A heavy duty kukri or thick-blade golok can tire an untrained hand rather easily.

So different blades for different purposes. Golok or kukri, both are useful. If you are a collector or a knife knut, you probably have both, like I do. :)
 
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