Kobra vs. Sirupati???

hmm, may I ask how heavy yours is? Lighter than average is certainly a good idea, also as I said above, a full tang would tend to move the balance a bit backward. The idea is of a cleaver with some reach, something that will do damage even if swung sub optimally. Like landing with the spine or flat of the blade, it would still have the impact of a crowbar like object, while also being able to stab and slash. Just a little exercise, not really a necessity :)

Your specs are evolving, or becoming more clear, as the discussion continues. Many of the HI model khukuris of any reasonable length will do what you want. However:

I agree with those who have said that length is not the main factor, that 18" or more is sufficient if other conditions are met. When you speak of "a cleaver with some reach" and "the impact of a crowbar like object, while also being able to stab and slash," what comes to mind is my 18" 37 oz ASTK knife, the older style with the enormously thick chiruwa-type full tang. For a review and excellent photos, try this URL:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/742330-My-New-18-quot-ASTK-V

On the question of length, here's a little calculation:

Remember, we're talking about home defense, not dueling against a skilled swordsman.

Suppose your arm is about 24" long, like mine. Add 18" for a khukuri, and subtract about 4" of overlap for your grip. That gives you an effective reach of 38" with arm extended. If your khukuri is 24", the same calculation gives you a reach of 44". The difference between 38" reach and 44" reach is much less important than your skill level and ability to move quickly. And that applies whether you are dealing with one intruder, or two, or a whole trainload of bandits as in last year's story out of India where a retired ghurka soldier drove off a gang of robbers with his khukuri.

Anyway, take a look at the abovementioned photos and ask yourself how much more khukuri help a person would really need -- especially with one in each hand. :D

-- Dave
 
Shinook:

I believe the "V" in ASTK-V means "Villager fit and finish." In other words, the blade is satin finish rather than highly polished, and some of the details might be a bit rough (but not blemished). Some people prefer the villager look. If you are going to use a khukuri for camping or chopping wood, villager probably makes more sense unless you want to spend a lot of time polishing the blade after each use.

Helmut:

I should clarify that I still would recommend an 18-21" Chitlangi for self-defense, rather than anything longer or heavier. The relatively light weight is a definite advantage. I only brought up the ASTK because you mentioned "cleaver" and "crowbar like object."

You really can't go wrong with any of the models and sizes that various people in this thread have recommended. And I doubt very much that you will end up with only one, at least over time.

-- Dave
 
Thanks Dave.
While the mirror finish is beautiful, I think the vilager look calls to me more.
 
Your specs are evolving, or becoming more clear, as the discussion continues. Many of the HI model khukuris of any reasonable length will do what you want. However:

I agree with those who have said that length is not the main factor, that 18" or more is sufficient if other conditions are met. When you speak of "a cleaver with some reach" and "the impact of a crowbar like object, while also being able to stab and slash," what comes to mind is my 18" 37 oz ASTK knife, the older style with the enormously thick chiruwa-type full tang. For a review and excellent photos, try this URL:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/742330-My-New-18-quot-ASTK-V

On the question of length, here's a little calculation:

Remember, we're talking about home defense, not dueling against a skilled swordsman.

Suppose your arm is about 24" long, like mine. Add 18" for a khukuri, and subtract about 4" of overlap for your grip. That gives you an effective reach of 38" with arm extended. If your khukuri is 24", the same calculation gives you a reach of 44". The difference between 38" reach and 44" reach is much less important than your skill level and ability to move quickly. And that applies whether you are dealing with one intruder, or two, or a whole trainload of bandits as in last year's story out of India where a retired ghurka soldier drove off a gang of robbers with his khukuri.

Anyway, take a look at the abovementioned photos and ask yourself how much more khukuri help a person would really need -- especially with one in each hand. :D

-- Dave

Two points:
1) A lot of action occurs at the wrist, even with a heavy weapon, so the length from hand to target IS fairly significant. I am specifically thinking of 2-3 opponents, as more would only crowd each other in a typical living space, and fewer (i.e. one) would be a completely different scenario, in which I agree that blade length becomes much less of a factor.
2) Unless one is REALLY skilled, fighting with two weapons, especially sharp ones, is more likely to cause injury to self than to others :)
Two sticks would be okay, maybe a large and a small blade. I could see that. But two Khukuris? nah…

BTW, the ASTK is certainly a beautiful piece. I am not saying I really NEED this 25"+/- blade, it's just that I want to see if this is a feasible concept. Else I could always use the trusty Remington :D
 
Helmut:

I am beginning to suspect that you live in quite a dangerous neighborhood.

Not to get off-topic here, but might I suggest a pit bull? If nothing else, it could wake you up in time to get to your weaponry.

-- Dave :D
 
Maybe a moat with alligators, and a nightingale floor... I think a Khukuri is great for zombies and trees, but for people in my house my dogs / firearms will be what I depend on. :)
 
nah, the neighborhood is full of pussies :D
using the guns is always an option, but it so takes the fun out of fighting off the home invasion!
 
I personally wouldn't recommend an ATSK. If it's anything like mine, it's REALLY thick. You have to be able to find a good balance between speed and reach, and I don't think the ATSK is a viable option for that. The others are plenty thick and hefty for the relevant purposes, but far faster.

Helmut, if you're sold on the 25" length, feel free to get one. I'd expect once you heft one though, you'll immediately understand why everyone is recommending a shorter blade.

You might also look into the Tarwar, as long as you're "having fun fighting off home invasions." Whatever that's supposed to mean.
 
Helmut_S said:
nah, the neighborhood is full of pussies
using the guns is always an option, but it so takes the fun out of fighting off the home invasion!

along those lines, how about a remote controller trap door to a chute into the mouth of a hi-powered wood chipper. :) you won't even need to work up a sweat. also useful for mother-in-laws and persistant door-to-door salesmen and jehovah's witnesses.
 
Helmut,

My 25" Kobra comes in at almost 2 pounds. If that thing hits you with its spine, you'll feel it. It would be like being slammed with a crowbar. The spine is almost 1/2 inch thick.
 
nah, the neighborhood is full of pussies :D
using the guns is always an option, but it so takes the fun out of fighting off the home invasion!
Tonight I shall sleep and dream sweet dreams of fighting off armies of inept gunmen with a brass shield and a short, forward swept sword.

But in the meantime there will be firearms near, and a few blades seemingly harmlessly distributed amongst cultural displays and my books. Because having myself or others threatened physically is never truly fun and I want the nearest, deadliest tool.


I hear you topgun. I used to keep a length of steel pipe on the worktable in case someone snuck up on me while using powertools in the garage. I'd be more afraid of a khukri left buried in mud for many decades though, they're just absurdly well-designed chopping blades.
 
Stepping outside the choices a bit, for what you're looking for, I would suggest an Uddha Sword.
 
Good points all, so today I did a bit of informal testing: I have an antique WW1 bayonet, which is 20" long. It swings easily in a standard American height room, but does not particularly extend reach so as to keep more than one attacker at bay.
Those long bayonets are fast and deadly. In 1960 a right-wing student in Japan skewered to death Inejiro Asanuma, Socialist Party Chairman possibly with one or a kodachi during a speech.
Assassination of Inejiro Asanuma 1960.jpg
Above: Pulitzer Prize winning photo of the assassination by Yasushi Nagao.
 
Those long bayonets are fast and deadly. In 1960 a right-wing student in Japan skewered to death Inejiro Asanuma, Socialist Party Chairman possibly with one or a kodachi during a speech.
View attachment 273642
Above: Pulitzer Prize winning photo of the assassination by Yasushi Nagao.

There's youtube videos of that. The ones I've seen have the camera close-up on Asanuma and it's rather startling seeing this kid slam into his side.
 
For self defense, nothing beats pepper spray. Studies of bear attacks have shown that pepper spray stops them every time, while bullets don't. I'm not sure why, but it's probably because bullets are too fast, and the bear doesn't feel it. UDAP pepper spray is the best available, and most of their products produce an inhalable fog. It hurts a lot more a lot faster in your lungs than it does in your nose and eyes. For self defense, I keep a small UDAP canister ready for instant action. I'm most likely to need to use it on somebody's loose dog, and as a dog lover, I'd much rather give them an itchy nose than a bloody mess. As far as I know, high-quality UDAP pepper spray has never failed to stop an attack, ever. I researched it for about a month (safety is a serious subject!), and I couldn't find any cases where UDAP didn't instantly stop the attack. The videos on YouTube show every attacker quickly changing its/his/her mind after getting it in the face.

The best thing about pepper spray is the effects wear off completely 45 minutes to 1 hour. So, even though it is painful and choking, if you accidentally get it on yourself or innocent bystanders (family members?), you don't have to worry much about long term consequences. Swinging around a big blade could easily hurt yourself or someone cowering behind you, especially in a confined area.

I'm all for self defense, but hurting even "bad people" should be a last resort. The only time I would consider full force is if the "bad person" was armed with a weapon that they might go berserk with - like shooting randomly at you or a crowd - after getting the pepper spray. In that kind of case, a quick surprise head-lop is what kukris do best, and I would wager that it would be more effective than a gun at instantly stopping whoever, with less risk of accidentally hurting neighbors or bystanders (like with stray bullets or ricochets).

A fairly minor flesh wound from a bladed instrument can sever tendons to disable even a drugged-up "zombie" attacker. One well-place strike, and it's all over. But, once again, keep the pepper spray as your first choice, whenever possible. I just hate the idea of anybody getting killed or permanently injured, even if they're "bad", as long as other equally effective options are available.
 
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