Looking for advice regarding what to buy.

Best Balanced: 18" WWII
Best Starter 20" or greater: Ganga Ram Special

I think the 18" WWII is the best balanced khukuri. It has good draw cutting and chopping ability. In my hands it rivals my 18" Ang Khola in chopping ability (perhaps I can not swing that khukuri fast enough). For more speed the 16.5" WWII would be better.

My 20" Ganga Ram Special (GRS) has excellent draw cutting and chopping ability. It does get stuck much more often than a WWII or Ang Khola. The GRS also has a sharper point so it should stab well. Looking at the profile I would suspect that the GRS would not stand up to prying as well as the Ang Khola or WWII.

It would be very painful prick oneself on the blunt cho. Everyone here believes the Gurkha pricking himself is a myth.

Will
 
"DeathDancer" has a point- The UBE would not be a good choice for a dedicated skinner. But from a field expedient vantage, with the karda used as a caping knife the rig will keep you in food and hides. Actually the belly on an UBE karda lends it to this work.

I haven't used a YCS yet, but the size and shape point to an excellent choice- Yvsa knows his stuff, and along with the UBE looks to be keeping the best attributes, while adding some new good ones. It's definately on my acquisition list.

Being a fan of the GS I want to recommend it also, even though I consider it more fighting tool than bail-out in the bush tool.

The khukuri variants that HI offers while maybe not appealing to those with a fixed concept of how a khukuri should look represent subtle improvements in the abillity of the knife to multi-task- something it has always excelled in anyway.

"bobwill", you have definately landed in the "land of khukuri milk and honey".

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"To know and to act are one."

[This message has been edited by Finnean (edited 02-11-2001).]
 
WrongFriend wrote: "Is GS that nice compared to Sirupati? Or do you mean a GS look fragile, delicate?

Maybe I am affected by knowing what I paid. The GS cost me twice as much money since Bill had seven or so of the Sirupatis that he wanted to sell. I believe I paid $75 for mine. I posted right after it came that I wished I had known how nice they really were; I would have bought two or three for future Christmas presents. It has a nice wood handle and nice brass inlay. There is nothing wrong with it at all.

The GS has that deeply fullered blade which makes it lighter. It is very highly polished. Yvsa sharpened it up for me. I had gotten part of it reasonably sharp but out toward the sweet spot it got so hard that my tools would just slide over it. So I guess my answer is, no, the GS is not in any way "fragile." I am just reluctant to get tree and weed sap all over it and/or to dull the nice sharp edge. That's a weakness in me, not the knife!

Gregg
 
:
Welcome Bobwill!!!!

I am biased towards the YCS but it doesn't meet your requirements of a 20" khukuri at 17", But it is very fast and to me cuts like a much heavier khukuri.
I have cut 1 1/2" green mulberry branches in two with one blow.
Something that is easily done with the heavier khukuris.

I would also recommend the Gelbu Special but coming in at 18" it is below the 20" you say you want so I would recommend the Millinneum Special at 21 inches.
It is basicaly an extended GS and IMO would meet your requirements fully.
The heavily fullered blade cuts down on some weight and makes the MS a nice khukuri to swing for whatever task you set for it.
But I agree with the rest of the guys and know that only one will not be enough.
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Edited for bad speelin'
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>>>>---Yvsa-G@WebTV.net---->®

"VEGETARIAN".............
Indin word for lousy hunter.



[This message has been edited by Yvsa (edited 02-11-2001).]
 
Well, I've elimated the Kobra from my first purchase possiblities. And, I think that I've eliminated the Ang Khola, not light enough. That will be my second buy. Then a 20 or 25 inch Kobra after that.
This knocks my original 3 down to the Sirupati. But, since then I've been drawn to the Gelbu special, possibly the 21". Since it's fifty dollars more expensive than the Sirupati I think that's going to rule that one out, but it sure would be a pretty knife to have.
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said with my best redneck voice
Any experience with the Gelbus? How, does that bevel hold up against chopping. The reason I ask is since saber ground edges have much more meat to resist chiping and lateral stress than hollowground. I definately like the looks though. That might actually become the second purchase, who knows.
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Oh yeah, that WWII is another one that I like. So, basically the idea is you can't really go wrong, right.
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Bob
 
Hello! and welcome Bob!
My 1st khuk was a British Army Service. It's in between the WWll & Ang Khola. You might want to look at this too. I'll tell ya what ever ya buy yer gonna LOVE IT!!!!!!!!! I'm partial to the Ang Khola's, simpley the best knives in the world! Let us know what you get! We'll see you around!!
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Chris B.
 
I'd like to put in my $.02 for the GS too. It's one of my 3 khuks, and the only regular HI that I have. The other two are a handleless GH BAS that I haven't used too much since I took the handle off of it, and a villager BAS that has too little of a handle for my hands. So the GS is my favorite because of it's awesome handle. It's great for me now that I sanded down the ring on it. It's a very versatile knife too; while I don't have many khuks to compare it too, my experience with it has been that it'll do most anything and do it well. It can take a beautiful edge with fine grit sandpaper mounted on styrofoam, and it's also just pretty in and of itself. It does fine cutting, such as springy vines, tolerably well, and it's an amazing chopper. One thing that it's bad for is work on very hard materials. The edge is thin, and it will wave when it hits something really hard (like bone) with a lot of force. I know now from hard experience
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.

I don't really know how it would perform as a weapon, but I do know that the initimidation factor alone would make it pretty fearsome.
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Seriously, in my experience it's very manueverable, and with the thick spine and thin edge it would make a hell of a cut if it connected. I've gone through 2-3" diameter grapevines with one swing. Since a grapevine has a lot less inertia than a person or animal, I would say that's quite a testament to it's performance. Especially considering that I am not really a skilled wielder of this khuk. I haven't had the chance to use it for much more than 5 hours. If one were to take the time to practice it would be awesome at close range.


And don't give up on your dream khuk first because of the price. I got mine as a UBDOTD for $125. It had a little crack in the handle and a slightly sub-par sheath. The sheath is more than adequate and the handle has behaved so far. So keep an eye out for good UBDOTD's while you make your decision. The right khuk might just find you instead of the other way around if you watch for it. I didn't plan to get a GS, I just happened to be the first one who saw this one and typed in MINE! quicker than anyone else. Plus, there is no wrong decision with which HI product to get. Even if it isn't right for you Bill gets you the right one in the end so it all works out.
 
I come to regret joining this thread. I wanted to share my humble opinion from my little experience, but every comment only heats up my urge for next khukuri, and piles up various khukuris onto my wish list!
Sirupati, WWII, MS (21" GS), BAS, GRS, and UBE! Thnx to luck I already own AK, and GS.

bobwill, a GS is hollow ground (or hollow forged) in its blade bevel from spine to edge bevel, not the edge bevel itself. Its edge is convex ground like other khukuris. IMO the I shape cross section of a GS is strong to lateral force like an I beam. Good compromisation between lightness and strength.

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\(^o^)/ Mizutani Satoshi \(^o^)/
 
:
Bobwill I know that sometimes $50.00 can be a helluva lot of money, but if you "_really_" want a longer blade wait just a bit longer and save the pennies up. You won't be sorry and getting exactly what you want the 1st time out is such a Great Satisfaction!!!!
I am speaking from a lot of experience here and not being patient enough and "settleing" for
what I had the money for at the time.
It's kinda like Uncle Bill sending me a 15"AK when I had decided on an 18"AK. But I was fortunate enough to be able to go ahead and get my 18"AK and I still consider it to be "The best knife in the world."
(That may change when I get my Baby GRS knowing what the standard GRS will do, but we'll see.
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)
And I gave the 15"AK to my sweet wife Barb and she wouldn't take for it!!!! To Barb her 15"AK is the "Best knife in the world."
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There was a time in my life that I would have settled for the 15"AK, but the beautiful part about HI Khukuri's is that if you don't think it fits you then you can trade it for another. That's a win win deal that no one can beat IMO.
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Either way you won't go wrong with a GS. Pala said at one time that if he was choosing a knife for the Ghorkas it woulld be the GS. And that coming from an old Ghorka himself means a lot.

I have said many times and will say it again that, "Each khukuri has certain tasks it excells at and others that it will perform, but no "one" khukuri is "best" for "all" tasks." And that's the reason for so many different models and styles made. The people of Nepal figured that out eons ago, but I think it's true of many things and not just knives.YMMV.
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>>>>---Yvsa-G@WebTV.net---->®

"VEGETARIAN".............
Indin word for lousy hunter.
 
Thanks for the info on the GS, it took me a while to figure out which kife everyone was talking about, but I've always been a little slow.
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So, it's crossection is more like a fuller than a hollow ground? I don't know much about kuhkuris, but I do know late Anlgo-Saxon and Viking era swords, well actually it's more like I know people who know Viking and Medieval swords and I've picked stuff up from them over the past year.
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I've just gotten biten by the kukri bug recently, and well that would explain why I'm here, as if I didn't have enough things that I want to buy I had to go and get introduced to these accursed things.
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I guess I might have to go with the GS 21".
Uncle Bill, or anyone else who might know, what size is pictured here, it's the shot from the the HI website?
<img src ="http://members.aol.com/nepalkamis/pict64.jpg">
Thanks for all your time, and all the information you've brought to me it is very much appreciated.

Oh, and one more question, what books would you recommend for doing more research on the topic of kuhkuris, not that I'll have too much time for casual reading this semester 2 history classes and 2 comp sci classes but you never know and hopefully I can find some of stuff in the library.
Thanks again.

Bob

[This message has been edited by bobwill (edited 02-12-2001).]
 
:
Bob you got it now!!!!
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The GS has its fullers Forged in same as the
Hanuman, YCS and H.I.Kothimoda.(I don't think I missed any, but...)
And since the fullers are forged in it does in essence just what Satoshi san has said, "makes it like an "I" beam."
I have a Hanuman blade as forged, well almost, since I have done a little work on it, laying right beside me and whenever I get time to finish it there is going to be a very beautiful khukuri with a hammer dingy finish in its fullers.
And who knows, I might just get wild and crazy with this one and put a sort of "C" or "D" guard on it.
And like the other fullerd blades it is gonna be hell tough.
You won't go wrong with the GS in any length, but I have to admit I like the "heft" of my MS better than my GS, but there's no doubt that at my age and condition I could swing the GS longer.
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&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;---Yvsa-G@WebTV.net----&gt;®

"VEGETARIAN".............
Indin word for lousy hunter.
 
Bob,

A good read is Sir Richard Burton's "The Book of the Sword". While he covers the history of the development of many types of blades from a wide variety of cultures, he does address the khukuri and it's suspected origins. Out of all the multitude of sword types he describes, the khukuri is the only one he refers to as "dreaded". Having been an officer in the army of the British Crown, he would have heard first hand accounts of khukuri's in action (the British army had a policy of requiring concise after-action reports from it's officers), and maybe seen it himself, or the forensic effects.

Other forumites can offer many more suggestions. Good luck.

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"To know and to act are one."
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">... I guess I might have to go with the GS 21" ...</font>
Click to expand...
Bob --- Go a head! You wouldn't know how good it is till you handle it for a chopping spree yourself! I have a light 18" Wooden Handled GS made by Kumar --- I guess it is about or less than 1.25 lbs --- very agile (I hope this wouldn't arouse Rusty's HIKV from buying another lightweight GS
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) --- just terrific for me --- a skinny KhukuriKnut!

Previously I have a 2 lbs 18" Hone Handled GS ... ferocious looking knife ... I returned it back to Pakcik Bill due to some handle crack ... it was then fast grabed by one of our friend who knows how to deal with handle crack problem!

BTW, Welcome to the Pakcik Bill's Cantina! Watch out for HIKV!

NEPAL HO!

[This message has been edited by mohd (edited 02-13-2001).]
 
Greetings,
I have to put in my $.02 as well. I am enamoured (sp?) with the 20" Sirupati, as are some others. It is a very good general-use blade (especially if it is a little on the heavy side, about 2 lbs). However, I must re-state what a few others have previously in the thread. The UBE is a phenomenal blade. Mine weighs in at about 2 1/4 pounds, but feels lighter than many others I have used in the sub-2 pound range. The balance and geometry of this blade is astounding. There is no defined "sweet-spot", as you can strike anywhere along the blade, and never get any bad feedback. Uncle's namesake Khukuri is a fantastic blade, and definitely worthy of consideration.

Rob
 
Hi Bobwill, welcome to the HIKV Cantina. As to which khukuris to consider, I agree that the Gelbu Special is a good choice for all round use. I would also recommend a plain Yvsa Cherokee Special or a baby Ganga Ram Special for consideration also. Best thing about this is that you can get one, try it out and if not quite what you want, trade it in for another model.

Harry
 
Yeah, sure, order one and you can swap it if you want. Tell me another one!

Say you order a 20" Sirupati. It comes in and ingratiates itself with you, does 90% of what you want superbly. And the other 10% pretty well. But, you know there's another khuk out there that will do that 10% superbly. So you order the Kobra or Gelbu Special. Do you send the Sirupati back? NO WAY!!!!! After all, it's practically perfect, isn't it?

Well, the Kobra comes in. This lightweight is a marvel. Does everything except chopping superbly. Then you wonder if you should have sacrificed the chopping ability. But it's so fast and light you can't stand to think of parting with it.

So you break down and order the 20" AK. What a revelation. Awesome, absolutely awesome. Not too nimble, but the Kobra takes care of that if you need nimble, and the Sirupati isn't too heavy and it isn't too light, so that you can now strap on light, medium, and heavy as you see fit.

Except that you heard that the 18" WWII is the perfect balance....

The fact is, you can't decide between blonde, brunette, redhead, or raven tressed beauties, and you don't want to! You want them ALL for your harem!! Viva La Difference!!! Thank God that Khukuris are gregarious, and welcome more of their sort.

Come to think of it, a little salt and pepper hair might round out things...

 
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