I will be in Chile and Peru for about 4 months and am considering the use of a kukri as a tool for light construction of temporary shelters, and standard tasks. Has anyone used one in conditions that range from mountain to jungle that would care to suggest size, shape and manufacturer? I am not concerned with a warrantee that promises that the knife can chop through a car and it will not be used as a martial weapon. I need a tool that will do the jobs I can think of and probably a couple I havn't. Thanks.
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Kukris
- Thread starter Joe99
- Start date
T
Trevor Calder
Go on over to the Gurkha house and Himalayan imports fora - they're the experts.
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"..it is foolishness and endless trouble to cast a
stone at every dog that barks at you.."
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"..it is foolishness and endless trouble to cast a
stone at every dog that barks at you.."
- Joined
- Nov 7, 1999
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Hi Joe....
Welcome to the forum...
Good blade for what you want to do..
If I can make a suggestion,, whatever you decide on make sure the handle grips are flat, and not round.. Kurkis are known to twist in your hand when chopping. A flat grip helps aviod this problem...
You might also want to check Cold Steels Kurkis out also...
A good place to ask this question is in the Gurka House forum, and the Himalayan Inports forum here:
http://www.bladeforums.com/cgi/Ultimate.cgi?action=intro&category=5&BypassCookie=true
These guys know their Kukris..
Good luck,,and let us know what you choose..
ttyle Eric...
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Eric E. Noeldechen
On/Scene Tactical
http://www.mnsi.net/~nbtnoel
Custom made, High Quality
Concealex Sheaths and Tool Holsters
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Welcome to the forum...
Good blade for what you want to do..
If I can make a suggestion,, whatever you decide on make sure the handle grips are flat, and not round.. Kurkis are known to twist in your hand when chopping. A flat grip helps aviod this problem...
You might also want to check Cold Steels Kurkis out also...
A good place to ask this question is in the Gurka House forum, and the Himalayan Inports forum here:
http://www.bladeforums.com/cgi/Ultimate.cgi?action=intro&category=5&BypassCookie=true
These guys know their Kukris..
Good luck,,and let us know what you choose..
ttyle Eric...
------------------
Eric E. Noeldechen
On/Scene Tactical
http://www.mnsi.net/~nbtnoel
Custom made, High Quality
Concealex Sheaths and Tool Holsters
Canada's Only Custom Concealex Shop!
Cliff Stamp
BANNED
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- Oct 5, 1998
- Messages
- 17,562
Erik :
Flat handles stop rotation by exerting a counter torque against your hand. This is not overly comfortable for long term high impact work. If this is happening you are doing something wrong. Change your technique not the handle design.
As for the question, if I was not prying and the vegetation was not that dense I would go with a thin profile and maybe see if there was a utility version of an 18'th century.
Cars by the way are not overly difficult to cut up. I would much rather (exertion wise) cut the roof off of a car than take down a 10" spruce.
-Cliff
Flat handles stop rotation by exerting a counter torque against your hand. This is not overly comfortable for long term high impact work. If this is happening you are doing something wrong. Change your technique not the handle design.
As for the question, if I was not prying and the vegetation was not that dense I would go with a thin profile and maybe see if there was a utility version of an 18'th century.
Cars by the way are not overly difficult to cut up. I would much rather (exertion wise) cut the roof off of a car than take down a 10" spruce.
-Cliff
- Joined
- Nov 7, 1999
- Messages
- 6,651
Hey Cliff...
Ohh I thought it was in the handle design..
Remember going over this a few months ago..
Hmm thought that was the answer,, maybe not..
What is the right technique then ?
Thanks..
Eric...
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Eric E. Noeldechen
On/Scene Tactical
http://www.mnsi.net/~nbtnoel
Custom made, High Quality
Concealex Sheaths and Tool Holsters
Canada's Only Custom Concealex Shop!
Ohh I thought it was in the handle design..
Remember going over this a few months ago..
Hmm thought that was the answer,, maybe not..
What is the right technique then ?
Thanks..
Eric...
------------------
Eric E. Noeldechen
On/Scene Tactical
http://www.mnsi.net/~nbtnoel
Custom made, High Quality
Concealex Sheaths and Tool Holsters
Canada's Only Custom Concealex Shop!
Cliff Stamp
BANNED
- Joined
- Oct 5, 1998
- Messages
- 17,562
Eric, for an in depth discussion of khukuri handling techniques do a search in the HI forum and discuss it with some Bando people (utility and martial aspects). Bill Martino can put you in contact with them. My technique, and some other grip specific information can be found in the following thread :
http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum26/HTML/000867.html
-Cliff
[This message has been edited by Cliff Stamp (edited 01-07-2000).]
http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum26/HTML/000867.html
-Cliff
[This message has been edited by Cliff Stamp (edited 01-07-2000).]
Cliff, I read through your thread on handle and cutting technique. I get thge impression you have used this type of aknife a good deal. Re: my above query, have you found a manufacturer which produces a kukri which might be more reliable? I looked at Cold Steel, which offers one for about $300.00, quite a bit more than HI or GH. I don't mind paying more but only if it warrants it. Thanks.
Cliff Stamp
BANNED
- Joined
- Oct 5, 1998
- Messages
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You can read my reviews of some khukuris at :
http://www.physics.mun.ca:80/~sstamp/knives/reviews.html
These include writeups on HI, GH, Ontario and CS khukuris. Short answer, while I have not used the CS khukuris I have used other knives they sell (large fixed blades) and have discussed the performance of the CS khukuris with experienced khukuri owners who have them - they are not in the same league as the top quality hand forged ones made in Nepal.
-Cliff
http://www.physics.mun.ca:80/~sstamp/knives/reviews.html
These include writeups on HI, GH, Ontario and CS khukuris. Short answer, while I have not used the CS khukuris I have used other knives they sell (large fixed blades) and have discussed the performance of the CS khukuris with experienced khukuri owners who have them - they are not in the same league as the top quality hand forged ones made in Nepal.
-Cliff
Hello Joe, I was fortunate enough to spend about 6 months in Patuca, Ecuador. I had three outstations that my soldiers and the observers rotated to; they ranged from highlands to the savana-style jungles of northern Peru.
Having a fellow knife nut down there, we were able to test a CS LTC Kukri, my HI 15" AK and the 12 and 18" blade machetes.
The LTC Kukri and machetes did wonders on most everything, except the hardwoods. As you can expect the AK excelled on all the hardwoods, bamboo, etc. The horn-handled AK did get a little slippery, but the kraton handled LTC also gave you blisters over prolonged useage.
My recommendation would be to get an HI Khukurie and a cheap 12" blade machete. Even if your pack'n in, I'm convinced the standard 12/18" blade machete's are worth their weight in gold. After going through a local Ecuadorian jungle survival school, I'm convinced the 'ol machete can do just about anything.
If you've got any other questions, give me an email.
Dave
Having a fellow knife nut down there, we were able to test a CS LTC Kukri, my HI 15" AK and the 12 and 18" blade machetes.
The LTC Kukri and machetes did wonders on most everything, except the hardwoods. As you can expect the AK excelled on all the hardwoods, bamboo, etc. The horn-handled AK did get a little slippery, but the kraton handled LTC also gave you blisters over prolonged useage.
My recommendation would be to get an HI Khukurie and a cheap 12" blade machete. Even if your pack'n in, I'm convinced the standard 12/18" blade machete's are worth their weight in gold. After going through a local Ecuadorian jungle survival school, I'm convinced the 'ol machete can do just about anything.
If you've got any other questions, give me an email.
Dave