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Pumpkin 40

Platinum Member
Joined
May 13, 1999
Messages
254
This is preaching to the choir. Am not a knife guru but I know what works. Called Bill about what to buy and received a WWII same week. Now have a 20"AK and one of the Village Knives. Question and observation..
My first cut w/ WWII almost cut a small maple tree I was trimming off a branch of into the center of the tree. The 20"AK does the same. These knives seem to "slice" vs others that "cut". Definately takes less effort. Is it the steel, blade angle, quality of production? Bottom line I'm sold on HI and Bill. Feel like I've met a friend.

Stay Safe!
 
Many thanks for kind words, Pumpkin.

Regarding your question about performance: I think the major item is blade shape which gives you a shearing action. Other items are contributing factors.

You said exactly what I like to hear because it is a confirmation that we are succeeding to some degree in our effort. We try to treat every customer like an old and trusted friend and the reciprocation is about 99.5 per cent I'd guess. Jay H., a fellow forumite and long time HI customer says we are like a family and I think he may be right. Maybe that's why the forumites named me "Uncle". It's the only way to fly!

Uncle Bill
 
The forumites named you "uncle" because you're old and crotchety, drink Heineken and know more than the rest of the local khukuri population. Oh, and you smoke too.

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JP
 
Pumpkin 40,

These are truely exceptional knives. Just yesterday I chopped down a 12" (about) standing dead pine tree with my 15" AK. It took me about 15-20 minutes and my technique is somewhat lacking! Now what other knife can you do this with? I am sold on HI!!!

I was considering a BAS or a WW2 as my next purchase. What is the difference between the two and how do you like them?

Mike
 
Mike, the basic difference is length and a little weight. The BAS is 15 inches and the WWII standard is 16.5 inches. Because of length and weight advantage the WWII will outperform the BAS.

We will get Cliff's opinion on this but I figure you could have taken that tree down in less than five minutes with a 20 inch AK.

John, speaking of smoking, when I worked there the Chief of Flight Test at Cessna was a chain smoker -- Camels, non filter. Of course, I could almost keep up with him. When we flew a test flight together the cockpit was so smoky if we had had a legitimate fire aboard I don't think we would have known it.

Uncle Bill
 
From the description of that monster 5 minutes sounds reaonable. Of course the 20" AK is not really a knife but a destructive device (like Vulcan Cannons and mortors and such). If I buy one of those do I need a Class 3 license and a tax stamp?

Uncle Bill, I just picked up your Yuengling today and a box to put it in. It should be on it's way tomarrow!

Mike
 
Uncle Bill
When I took the WWII and 20"AK for a hump/try out last weekend I realized both of them and my Sig220 and other equipment won't fit one pistol belt. A generic M16 sling makes a
convenient field expedient method of carry for the 20"AK. Looks wierd but it works. Does anyone else have pet way of carry? Also to answer Jaeger, the WWII feels like a natural extension of my arm and I am totally sold on it. WWII surely is one of your best sellers. The 20"AK reminds me of what does a wild bear do in the woods??

Stay Safe!!
 
Uncle,
you are too much.
What's a little smoke in the cockpit among friends, right?
Actually, it was one of my biggest fears.


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JP
 
Pumpkin, the WWII model is a favorite of Bando people, too. And thanks for tip on 20"AK carry. That is not the easiest knife to haul around.

John, I smoked in every airplane I ever flew or rode in -- even the old fabric covered crates -- and no fires. Only fire we had at Cessna while I was there was a production model. Caught fire on the final production test flight -- a radio check! Pilot and passenger, two old time engineers on a lark to get out of the office for a couple of hours, burned and crashed. Fate is the Hunter!

Uncle Bill
 
P40, time to get a shoulder rig for your Sig. I think it's more comfortable anyways. You can also go to a naked 'Alice' rig and start hanging everything high and put on a fanny pack for balance.

Bill, it was always the 'milk run' flights that turned squirrely. A squadron mate took a plane for a gear/brake/compass swing check and he never left the ground or exceeded 40 kts but the damned thing still managed to catch fire. Total 'alpha' loss.

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JP
 
I find that I can keep to my 20" Ang Khola with my 15" Ang Khola for a very short time. This is because I can get more hits with the 15" Ang Khola than the 20" Ang Khola. The 20" Ang Khola looks like it is moving in slow motion compared to a 15" Ang Khola. However, this requires maximum exertion from me and I can only keep the pace up for a few minutes. With the 20" Ang Khola I can keep going for a few hours with periodic burnishing breaks.

The 16.5" WWII model is really a great khukuri. It is not too far behind the 15" Ang Khola in chopping ability and also makes a good slicer. I think it is the best balance between weapon and tool. As well, the handle dimension length is greater on the WWII model than the BAS or 15" Ang Khola. If you get the WWII model you can answer another question that pops up from time to time, horn vs wood.

While the BAS is nice, it seems to be only a lighter version of the Ang Khola. The BAS is much more nicely decorated and finished than the Ang Khola.


Will
 
Thanks, Will, for valued input from a dedicated user. Information from the field is always best.

John, I never worried about fire for some reason and I probably should have. We took off right behind a Lear jet that crashed in front of us and burned. The test pilots got out (Lear pilot and FAA pilot doing single engine take offs). We circled and reported on the crash at the tower's request. I still didn't worry about fire.

Know what worried me most? Having to bail out and getting dragged through barbed wire fences in those 40 knot Kansas winds. Crazy, no?

Uncle Bill
 
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