Looking at the Bilton for my first HI

Mackenzie4856

Mackenzie4856

Joined
Mar 28, 2006
Messages
385
Hello all. I've had a cheap tourist POS kukri that I got from a cousin for many years. Recently carried it on one of my night wanderings (I go to college in a small town in the Massachusetts Berkshires, not much to do if you don't want to get trashed) and used it on some scrap boards I found laying around. I was hooked. Now I'm looking into getting my first real high-quality kukri. I was over at the HI sight and saw the Bilton. It’s similar in size to what I have, although the proportions between handle and blade are substantially different. And I must say I am enamored with the price. After reading the safety thread and the various FAQ sections, I have determined that I don't know enough about kukris to buy it without first getting other opinions. So I turn to you all.

Would the Bilton work as a light-to-mid hard use knife and as a "learner's kukri?" It would be filling the same duties as a large bowie or light hatchet, but I'd like to be able to slice as well without pulling out another knife, if possible.

Thanks in advance for the help. Hope my questions aren't too foolish, but hell, if they are, now I know.
 
Mackenzie4856 said:
Hello all. I've had a cheap tourist POS kukri that I got from a cousin for many years. Recently carried it on one of my night wanderings (I go to college in a small town in the Massachusetts Berkshires, not much to do if you don't want to get trashed) and used it on some scrap boards I found laying around. I was hooked. Now I'm looking into getting my first real high-quality kukri. I was over at the HI sight and saw the Bilton. It’s similar in size to what I have, although the proportions between handle and blade are substantially different. And I must say I am enamored with the price. After reading the safety thread and the various FAQ sections, I have determined that I don't know enough about kukris to buy it without first getting other opinions. So I turn to you all.

Would the Bilton work as a light-to-mid hard use knife and as a "learner's kukri?" It would be filling the same duties as a large bowie or light hatchet, but I'd like to be able to slice as well without pulling out another knife, if possible.

Thanks in advance for the help. Hope my questions aren't too foolish, but hell, if they are, now I know.
Click to expand...

I think you may find the Bilton too small/light for what you have in mind, they generally only have about a 5 1/2" blade. A fifteen inch khuk (that's OAL), makes for a good beginner's khuk, big enough to chop with, but "small" enough to be easily manageable. I see "large bowie", "light hatchet", and "slice" mentioned in your "khukuri job description". My recommendation for a khuk that fits those parameters would be a 15" Pen Knife. They pop up from time to time on the DOTDs. Also wouldn't pass up a good buy on a 15" AK or BAS, any of the three khuks mentioned would make a great "learner's khukuri", as you put it.

Sarge
 
Thank you very much, very helpful.

While I'm here, another question: kukri or khukiri: Is one more proper than the other? I used kukri because that's what I've always heard/seen (before this forum, that is), and figured it would also help establish the knowledge base I was working with.

Another question, this one pretty foolish, but I'm tired so whatever: what are the DOTDs?
 
Welcome! You chose the right place to learn about Khukuris! Sarge said it right up above, the Bilton is pretty small. Remember that HI Khukuri's are measured in Overall length, so when you see the bilton as 9" on the shopping site, that means probably a 4" handle and a 5" blade.

My first HI Khuk was a 16.5" Chiruwa Ang Khola. Chiruwa means that it has a full width tang versus a tapered tang. Somewhat stronger than the tapered tang (even though the tapered tang is stronger than most people would ever need) and also comes with the "break it or bend it and get two free" warranty. As recommended above, anything above 15" with a decent weight over 20 oz. will serve your purpose. I have always wanted to try a Pen Knife over 15" because of the way my 12" Pens chop. I just snagged a beautiful WWII model for my buddy a couple weeks back. It was the first one I had used and it was hell for stout and a great chopper. He loves it and has proceeded to use it almost every day with no problems.

Here are a few pics of my Chiruwa Ang Khola by Kumar,

CAK_5.jpg

CAK_4.jpg

CAK_2.jpg
 
Lefthandblack, great pictures!

Anyway, as noted above, I wouldn't get a bilton as my first HI. Nothing wrong with them, I've got a couple few myself. Its just that the bigger khuks are so much more useful and better for their intended purpose as hard use heavy blades and choppers. I've got several knives that work better as plain old knives than my biltons, but nothing comes close to the full size khuks for chopping and heavy use.

I'd go with the BAS or maybe the 16.5" WWII. In my limited experience, I think that the best of the khuks are in the 16.5-18" range.
 
:thumbup: I also just started to collect these beautiful blades!!! :thumbup:

I am looking for a good all around camping/backpacking tool so weight is important. And wonder what are the diiferences and/or advantages of the different Khukris styles mentioned in the thread. Can anyone be kind enough to get a short summary and or recomendation of each of these blades...AK, YCS, BAS, KPH and WWII?
 
I love my 16 1/2" WWII, which I bought for the purposes you describe. It chops well, is light enough to carry, is short enough to not be awkward on the belt. Not as good a dedicated chopper as something bigger (e.g.an 18" WWII, or BGRS, or 18"AK), but easier to hump around. Prolly better as a chopper than a BAS, but less good as a weapon (it's not too pointy).

It might be that a 15" AK would do as well for you as a 16 1/2" WWII - it's a dedicated chopper, and has a bit more weight forward. But it wouldn't perhaps be quite as versatile for other tasks.
 
wjzgma said:
:thumbup: I also just started to collect these beautiful blades!!! :thumbup:

I am looking for a good all around camping/backpacking tool so weight is important. And wonder what are the diiferences and/or advantages of the different Khukris styles mentioned in the thread. Can anyone be kind enough to get a short summary and or recomendation of each of these blades...AK, YCS, BAS, KPH and WWII?
Click to expand...

There is so much information in this place, and so many people much more qualified than I to give it, but if you go to the HI website (its linked to this forum) and go into Khukri FAQS, there is information about the different sizes and shapes.

A few very general comments: there are so many different varieties out there I don't even know them all. Generally, on one end of the spectrum the AK is considered the heavy duty chopper (also see the GRS). At the other end, a sirupati is lighter, faster and more martial, as well as being for light chopping (its still a lot heavier than regular machetes); its the lightest of what many here consider the real khuks A WWII is in the middel, an all rounder (my personal favorite). The BAS is also a lighter duty all rounder, quite a bit smaller than the heavy duty khuks. More martial, but not as good a chopper as the WWII. I think the BAS is one of the nicest looking overall khuks.
 
With a good sharp edge, don't overlook the 12" AK. very sweet, lighter to carry than the bigger blades, and more like a large "Camp" knife than a 15" Khukuri.

I know I know, on this forum, a 12" knife is "small" !

:D

Tom
 
all good info:) Also, "KPH" stands for "Kismet Practical Hunter" also called a "SARGE" or "Sarge" or "Sarge/KPH". It was designed by our very own forumite regular, Kismet. A great design for hunters and those that go stomping around in the woods. However, it's a small belt knife. I have one (ok 3:D) and its in my EDC rotation.

The YCS is a real joy to use. It was designed by our very own Yvsa (hence Yvsa Cherokee Special). Heavily fullered for a lighter but stong blade, it comes with two very nice over-sized kardas (one of which i am wearing on my person as we speak:D) and a triangular awl. it was designed to be the ultimate hunting rig for dressing game. They were not seen for a long time as there were some QC issues. However, a revived special run came about a couple of years ago where some very premium ones were made with exotic wood handles and the like. The irony of it all is that this revamped design included the chiruwa (slab) tang instead of the standard stick tang like Yvsa perfers. However, they came out beautiful and will chop like no tomorrow. I put mine up against a full sized GRS. It was about 80% as effective, but is 3" shorter and looked a lot better making the chips fly;)

Jake
 
Thanks all for the advice. The choices makes my head swim!!!

Does any have a picture of the KPH? Sounds like I might want to consider this one?
 
wjzgma said:
Thanks all for the advice. The choices makes my head swim!!!

Does any have a picture of the KPH? Sounds like I might want to consider this one?
Click to expand...

Please, please, please forgive the horrible photography, but this is a pic of two of my KPH's. The one on the left with more a clip point is how they normally look. This is a probably from the first run, and they had the tendancy to come a little rounded in the tip area. Other than that, they are great! A little filing could have taken care of it, but i actually liked the point as it was. They typically come with a wood or an antler handle and a white metal guard. I really, really liked mine. You can tell from the amount of abuse it took on a near daily basis.

Then the one on the right showed up. There is a story behind this one. Ya see, I got a really great Sarge/KPH village model. Just like my orginal KPH, but with a rough finish and a pine wood handle. Sadly, the tip was too hard and broke within a day of getting it:( I told Yangdu about it, and she sent me a replacement. I asked her if i could send the broken knife to Kismet as he might get a kick out of the first "failure" of his design (he and I are friends, so i thought some ribbing was in order:D). She agreed. So off the little broken Sarge/KPH goes to Kis.

What do i find in my box no less than a week later... someone had sent me a totally reground and rehandled KPH complete with a polished blade, antler grip, and steel spoon guard. It's a mystery;). It was "demoted" by having it's tip broken off, so it was dubbed the "Corporal". The Corp has been a constant companion on my hip just about every day since then. It truly was the nicest gift I've ever gotten....from whomever;)

DSC00602.jpg


You also might think about some of the R series knives. like the R-3:
6-20-06-4.JPG

It's the antler handled one at the bottom of the group of knives.

or the R-6 which is like the cross between a JKM-1 and a Sarge/KPH...kinda.
6-29-06-7.JPG


I have handled both. The R-3 is a great EDC stout little knife. I gave it as a gift to a co-worker friend who helped me out of a tight spot. I keep the R-6 as back up in my truck as an emergency pry bar/window breaker.

Jake
 
Hi, and welcome!

As others have said, you need a little larger kukuri to get a better feel for the family. For me personally, a 14" BDC is the smallest kuk that feels "right"*. If you're patient, you might eventually find one at a good price, and it's such a great knife, you'll never want to get rid of it, even if you eventually get more.

*I'm a fairly strong 5'6" male, for perspective.

John
 
Thanks Jake, for the Great Pics...excuse the bad photography???. You must be kidding. The pics looked great and I like the creative use of the driftwood. I have to find some driftwood so I can make a display at home. Again thanks for all the friendly feedback. I usually do more reading thatn posting...didn't realize how much fun posting can be!! Now the only drawback is "I'm more confused than ever" but I'll just have to buy one of each and then decide on my own. I'm hooked but the wallet is going to hold me back a little. Thanks again all, Waldo:D
 
Thanks, Waldo, but I forgot to point out that the first pic...ya know, the blurry one, is mine. The rest were taken by Yangdu for her DOTD:o ;)

Jake
 
Hey, here's an idea. Why dont some of the peopel with more experience send wjzgma and I some of their Khukiris? :D

You can tell all your friends you are enablers!
 
Hey what heck...you got your point across. Thanks just the same. On the driftwood, from left to right, what is the name of the #2 knife?
 
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