M-43 vs Dui Chirra

A

arbytwo

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Apr 21, 2013
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So I've been thinking about getting an M-43 to fill the gap between my 15" Ang Khola and my 21" Chitlangi when I noticed the 2/13 DOTD, a 17.5" 34oz Dui Chirra.
Purna's Chainpuri and Dui Chirra for 2/13



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It's about the same length/weight ratio as the M43 and looks quite similar. Both have Chiruwa handles. The bell looks a little different but that might be a good thing. My question is about any difference in robustness. The M43 is warranted for field use and I do not see the Dui Chirra on that list. Then again, I have only seen Dui Chirras on the DOTD. So I'm asking those of you who have used one or both to weigh in with reviews and insights. I want something that I can use and not worry about damaging. I'm a user, not a collector. Please understand, I mean no disrespect to collectors; I've learned a great deal from them over the years. I just like to use my tools, even if they are pretty. And if Bawanna tells me that no one needs more than two kukris I will, of course, believe him.
 
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No one and I mean no one needs more than 2 khukri's.

One for daily chopping and one for Sunday go to meetin. About covers it all.

But it's sort of like a mechanics tool box. Nobody needs more than 2 screwdrivers especially if you got a butter knife out of the kitchen drawer to help out but many mechanics have dozens of screwdrivers.

So I'd say in order to be a professional khukri user/collector/accumulator one must have at least 50 khukri's.

That of course makes me a know nothing rookie in the sharp pointy thing arena.

I of course am here for you to help you get your 50. Your a professional, I can feel it in my cells.

I'll get to shopping right now, you can count on me.

As for your Dui Chirra thing, I'd say they are nearly as robust as the M43 or at least close. Given the slightest amount of love and care for a knife, I doubt there is anything an M43 can do that a Dui couldn't.

They are relatively new I think, hence only on the DOD's do far. But again I'm a rookie so not positive about that.

Take care of your blade and your blade will take care of you......
 
Depends which Dui Chirra you are talking about. I have a Tamar Dui with a relatively thin spine and light weight. It's 17.5in and 22oz. It has the standard tail/stump tang. It's a fighting machine that can serve as a chopper but it's no where near a M43 in that department.

I also own a Dui Chirra from Purna. It's a beast! A well balanced beast with a curved spine that matches the blade curvature. Very slick and highly finished. It's 17.5in. , but this Dui is 33oz. and has a Chirwa/full tang handle. This bad boy can do everything the M43 can do and it does it with dual fuller sexiness! It's not as fast as the Thamar Dui but it's heavier duty.

To tell you the truth I kinda prefer my lighter Thamar piece mainly because I am into fighting or martial arts style blades. Anyone you choose will last a lifetime
 
Seeing as how there are dui WWII models out there (an M43 is a WWII variant) I don't think it would really matter as long as you were comparing apples to apples between the two. Of course I have my own personal opinion, but, according to a forumite who shall remain anonymous, and whose initials are BAWANNA, is not worth much. My totally honest opinion would be for you to admit that you suffer from HIKV and purchase one of each.
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I have a purna dui AND an m43 and have used both for what HI would define as field use, and I have to say that they chop very similarly, but if this blade was dedicated field use I may go for the m43 simply for the fact that the handle is straight which means I can get an easy two handed grip on it if need be. The m43 is about 8 oz heavier than my dui chirra at 38 oz but has a thicker spine which means it has just a slight advantage in chopping. Both being chiruwa handles ( and Himalayan Imports Knives) I'm not afraid of durability at all with them. Really I'd say both are good for any kind of field use and perform very nearly the same.
 
If I may...the M43 has a handle that seems straight compared to a Dui Chirra, indeed; that said, I haven't seen one that has the really straight handle of an Ang Khola. There is a slight curve there, at least usually.
 
Bookie said:
Seeing as how there are dui WWII models out there (an M43 is a WWII variant) I don't think it would really matter as long as you were comparing apples to apples between the two. Of course I have my own personal opinion, but, according to a forumite who shall remain anonymous, and whose initials are BAWANNA, is not worth much. My totally honest opinion would be for you to admit that you suffer from HIKV and purchase one of each.
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Now yall take that back Doc, your opinion is worth a lot to many of us. Perhaps not in dollars and mostly sense but still valuable.

I know he's going for the dolls anyhow, thought I'd talk tough and earn it this time.
 
I think that Bawanna meant that no one needs more than two at a time.

On your main point, "dui chirra" simply means that a blade has two fullers (two on each side). Most of the Chitlangis, for example, are dui chirra, but the Chitlangi is not considered a heavy chopper.

Lately we've seen quite a few dui chirras that clearly are suitable for heavy chopping, based on their length, weight and shape. One thing that's hard to tell from the photos and descriptions is edge geometry. The heavy choppers have more beef behind the edge, but maybe someone more expert than me can speak to that.

I usually assume that when an expert kami makes a thick, heavy khukuri that looks like a good chopper, he probably has given it the right edge geometry for that kind of work.

The current round of dui chirras seem to be a hybrid design, resembling an M43 in some ways, and a WWII in others, if you go by blade shape and size/weight, and the very nice downward curved handle is different from both of those models.

For comparison, here are a couple of dui chirra Chitlangis, both very nice, robust blades, but neither one is designed as a heavy chopper:

A villager Chitlangi by Lokendra Kami, 15" overall length, 16 oz, all steel fittings. One of my favorites.

View attachment 517871

A polished Chitlangi by Tirtha Kami, 21" overall length, 37 oz.

View attachment 517872
 
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What about the edges on them? Does perhaps one (the dui chirra?) have less material (thinner) behind the edge?
 
guruguru said:
What about the edges on them? Does perhaps one (the dui chirra?) have less material (thinner) behind the edge?
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A while back, someone posted a comparison of the different edge profiles of many of the HI models. Maybe someone can find it now. Steve Tall: Help!!

However, that posting did not include the new crop of dui chirras, which are quite recent.
 
AFAIK, the Foxy Follies (that didn't have the problems that affected few of them) withstood impressively serious chopping tests, in spite of the being lighter. I think a nice convex edge and proper heat treat count way more than spine thickness when it comes to performance in this area.
 
davidf99 said:
A while back, someone posted a comparison of the different edge profiles of many of the HI models. Maybe someone can find it now. Steve Tall: Help!!

However, that posting did not include the new crop of dui chirras, which are quite recent.
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That was me David. I think i put it in someone elses post tho. Last knight i did the contours on my Samsher and was going to add it here. I dont have a Dui Chirra but do have a Yek Chirra but it was a lighter 21". I was planning to make a new thread and just start adding models As I can. Anyone who knows how to do contour maps can add to it as well. Least thats my plan. Ill stick link here if I can find it. ...or wait for Steve:D...bloodhound he is:thumbup:

BTW: Regardless of the heat treat if you treat a Chitlangi like a Ang Khola you can damage it. Thats a fact;)
 
ndoghouse said:
BTW: Regardless of the heat treat if you treat a Chitlangi like a Ang Khola you can damage it. Thats a fact;)
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Oh deff. agreed; what I wanted to say actually is that in blades within the same "class", 4 ounces of weight difference or 1 mm less on the spine won't transform a monster chopper into a kagas gatne (did I get that right?). :p
 
I remember not too long ago someone got them a new fox folly and buried it like 10-12 inches through a piece of plywood. I wasnt paneling either. 3/8, 1/2" thick maybe. Pretty impressive. I think he bought it used so i guess he wasnt worried about voiding the warranty.
 
ndoghouse said:
I remember not too long ago someone got them a new fox folly and buried it like 10-12 inches through a piece of plywood. I wasnt paneling either. 3/8, 1/2" thick maybe. Pretty impressive. I think he bought it used so i guess he wasnt worried about voiding the warranty.
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1/2" thick? I remember these being much less thicker. Hmmm. Maybe that one was a custom one?

[Edit] Here's what I pulled up as far as stats go: http://zknives.com/knives/fixed/himp/himp20foxyf.shtml .

And: "Beautifully done by Bura. 20.5 inches, 37 ounces. 3.25 wide, 5/16 thick. Good karda and chakma. Scabbard by village sarki." (http://www.himalayan-imports.com/one-time-knives.html)

Another one, 1/4": http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...Imports-Western-Style-Foxy-Folly-Kukri-(GONE)

7mm: http://www.ramanon.com/topic/50001-hi-foxy-folly-by-tirtha/
 
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Congratulations, Ndoghouse, now I'm gonna blame you for making me lust enough to get one!

Arghhh!...:(
 
Moonw said:
1/2" thick? I remember these being much less thicker. Hmmm. Maybe that one was a custom one?

[Edit] Here's what I pulled up as far as stats go: http://zknives.com/knives/fixed/himp/himp20foxyf.shtml .

And: "Beautifully done by Bura. 20.5 inches, 37 ounces. 3.25 wide, 5/16 thick. Good karda and chakma. Scabbard by village sarki." (http://www.himalayan-imports.com/one-time-knives.html)

Another one, 1/4": http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...Imports-Western-Style-Foxy-Folly-Kukri-(GONE)
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im talking about the plywood. Sorry . The knife is about 1/4" IMBARFTMGB (dont google that ill tell ya) If My Brain Aint Rotted From Too Much Guinness and Butterfingers. Dont tell Bookie;)
 
ndoghouse said:
im talking about the plywood. Sorry . The knife is about 1/4" IMBARFTMGB (dont google that ill tell ya) If My Brain Aint Rotted From Too Much Guinness and Butterfingers. Dont tell Bookie;)
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Don't worry, I read that wrong :), it's on me.

So this means I don't have anyone else to blame for lusting after one, but myself. :D;)
 
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