M43 question

Cpl Punishment

Cpl Punishment

Joined
Jan 28, 2006
Messages
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Since Wildmike keeps bringing up how much livlier his M43 is than an Ang Khola, and also mentions a thinner edge and spine, I have a question:

Did one of the Kamis make a thicker one?
Mine has a 1/2" spine, and the edge is about the same on my CAK (which, admittedly, is a Bura and I think he put a finer edge than is normal on CAKs)?

Also, putting them side by side, I have a CAK by Vim(?), the Bura CAK which is my favorite and my M43.

The Bura CAK has about 3/4" more drop at the tip than the other CAK (both 20"), and if I extrapolate the spine of the M43 to 20", the M43 would have roughly 5/8" more drop than the Bura CAK.

So, for the M43 experts, is the reason the M43 didn't impress me as much as others are with it because it doesn't weigh much less with the 1/2" spine, and isn't dropped as much in relation to the Bura CAK as it would be to a more standard CAK?

I'm starting to think I got incredibly lucky with the Bura -- the perfect kuk storm so to speak.
 
My M43 is considerably thicker and heavier than a standard M43. It still somehow has a more lively feel than an Ang Khola of the same length.


M43-M43.jpg
 
I have 2 older MKII's (same as the M43's) and just measured them. Their spine at the bolster is 1/4 inch; that begins to taper almost immediately and continues to taper all the way to the point. The blade also tapers very nicely from the spine down to the edge of the blade. That is what makes these kukris so lively. (5" handle and 13" blade)

When you double the size of the spine and don't begin the taper until after the peak of the shoulder, that is going to dramatically change the feel and performance of the kukri. It will feel way too heavy in the front and take away from the ability to do finer detail work. The larger handles take away from the feel as well. I think this is one kukri that doesn't do so well with overbuilding. Maybe it could handle a tenth of an inch bigger spine (maybe) but doubling it makes it a different animal altogether.

Bill
Virginia
 
I can't help but notice that at some point the kamis have started to overbuild the khuks.
or at least certain models.
Does anyone know why?

I know weight is very important for improved chopping, but doesn't it become cumbersom to use an 1/2" thick spine khuk for extended times.
 
Depends on what you are doing and how you are doing it.

I wanted my CAK to be a brute, because I want it to outchop a same-size axe. It also slices quite well. On soft stuff, I can just raise it to shoulder height, let it fall and guide the blade, letting gravity do the work. Not real tiring. It gets tiring if I'm swinging it all day, but for things I really need to swing it for, I get away with fewer swings than with a lighter tool.

For lighter work, i just use a smaller knife. The reason they come with a karda is they understand that there's no reason to insist that one tool do everything.
 
My Bura made M-43 has a thinner spine than my newer M-43.

Bura = 3/8" spine whereas the newer model is 7/16"-1/2" spine. My Bura made has more drop in the handle and is of the older shorter handle design (which I prefer).

Edge thickness seems to be very similar. Blade drop on both of mine is the same or very close to it.

The greaater weight of the newer model does not make it chop any better than the Bura made Blade. Both are very lively.

The Bura is the kuk I went through my several year ordeal with and which built the cabins etc.

My 15" Ang Khola weighs the same as my Bura made M-43. The edge is roughly twice as thick. It is more comfortable to use for spine whaking than the M-43. But the M-43 due to it's thinner edge and greater tip speed penetrates much deeper in a cut than the Ang Khola.

An 18" Ang Khola of greater mass would probably give nearly as good of penetration but at the expense of more energy and greater fatigue. The Ang Khola would probably be a better performer when it comes to splitting, but my M-43 had no problems in that respect either. When it came to splitting logs in half for the cabin roof I would start the split using the Kukri then hammer in wedges which I had cut with the kuk. I had made the mallet with the kuk as well (The M-43 makes a dandy drawknife).

Sounds like your Bura made blade combines the best elements of the M-43 and the CAK which would indeed be a well performing tool.
 
I think the American ideal of "bigger is better" is driving this increase in size. They are just giving us what we ask for. We tell them that all Americans have BIG hands and we are given monsterous handles. We start buying lots of big bhojpures and big ang kholas and then all the blades get beefy. I highly doubt kukris they sell to villagers in Nepal have gotten any bigger.

When I have to carry a kukri on my person I usually go to the standard jungle kukri or my Pattern One. A 10.5 inch blade is more than enough to do just about any job and they are relatively light and balanced. And when you compare that to a normal knive I would usually carry, its still a monster! I hope, especially with the M43, that the kamis keep the originals in mind and not go so big that they lose the purpose and utility of each model. They could offer the original and also overbuild ones as an option.

I'm not complaining, I am just a bit of a traditionalist. That is what drove me to the real Nepalese kukri rather than one of the off the shelf brands. I admire the hundreds of years of trial and error that have gone into each different type of kukri. Purpose has driven design. Think about this, a traditionally sized blade should easily last a century. It may need a handle replacement every 20 or 30 years but the blade itself will last far more than a lifetime with moderate care.

Bill
Virginia
 
OK, I had to break out the calipers.

The Spine is:
M43: .475"
CAK: .520"

The "height" of the bevel (from blade toward spine:
M43: .590"
CAK: .590"

Width at top of bevel:
M43: .218"
CAK: .222"

So it's no wonder, with more length, a bit more weight, and roughly identical edge geometry and spine thickness, the CAK outdoes the M43. A 20" M43 with the same geometry would probably give it a real run for its money. As it is, the 18" M43 rose to be my #2 pick very quickly.
 
Shortwinger: Not going to quote your post. . .

The beffiness may well have to do with the market. However, Americans are much larger, on average, than a Nepali. The average American (male) is 5'10 3/4" tall. I think the average Nepali (male) is on the order of 5'5" tall.

As for large handles, think on this: most knives people carry that actually use them day-in and day-out, have large grips. Even on very small blades, they'll often have full size grips. This is because large grips afford more control and less fatigue during long periods of use. Aesthetics, specifically the idea of "balance" drive people who don't use knives all the time to want proportional handles.

Granted I have large hands, but even the Americanized kukuri smaller than 18", and even my 22" Dui Chirra that I sold (which is made to keep a smaller handle for those that want them) are uncomfortably small to use. Unless you have very small hands, or are trying to wield a 25" monster, I have a hard time believing the grips are too big. Maybe bigger than you are used to, but I think you'll find that with more use, you'll come to like them.

The real question is, has anyone who's bought kobras, sirupates, gelbu specials, etc noticed them getting beefier. Ang Kholas, bonecutters, M43s, etc are supposed to be the bruisers of the line.
 
Cpl Punishment,

I agree with your post and have no issue with larger kukris, they are just not for me. To each his own. I am just a personal fan of the traditional size and proportion of the M43. I also like to have the ability to special order sizes, shapes and handle configurations to suit each person's wants or needs.

My post was just about sizes and proportions and how they relate to the intended job of a particular kukri. It was just a discussion, not meant to be negative or state that everyone has to agree with what I like. For me, I like the weight, length and size of the traditional MKII (M43). Obviously, someone twice my size might have something else in mind.

Bill
Virginia
 
My Bura made M-43 is of the traditional weight and size of the M-43 (Mk II) it weighs in at 26 oz.

My new style (unknown Kami) is of about the same size. with about 1/2 inch more handle and a thicker spine. It weighs in at 29 oz.

Not really much of a difference.
 
My M43 is considerably thicker and heavier than a standard M43. It still somehow has a more lively feel than an Ang Khola of the same length
Click to expand...

Wolf_1989,

How thick is the spine of your Super CAK? weight-wise, on the scale, how does it compared to your heavier M-43?

So you feel the bevel of the Super CAK or the weight by itself contribute to a better chopping than say, your heavier M-43 ?

With a lighter feel, Super CAK in a way that chops like butcher but still swing like Chitlangi?

I'm thinking of Cpl Punishment's 20" CAK that chops well but still nimble enough to slice things nicely. Scary sharp edge?
 
Last edited:
JayGoliath said:
Wolf_1989,

How thick is the spine of your Super CAK? weight-wise, on the scale, how does it compared to your heavier M-43?
Click to expand...

Super CAK:
OAL 20.25"
.354" thick
34.45 oz

M43:
OAL 20"
0.5" thick
41 oz

So you feel the bevel of the Super CAK or the weight by itself contribute to a better chopping than say, your heavier M-43 ?
Click to expand...

Their chopping abilities are pretty close. The SCAK has more slicing effect while the heavier M43 has more percussion.

With a lighter feel, Super CAK in a way that chops like butcher but still swing like Chitlangi?
Click to expand...

The Super CAK handles like a well made and well balanced short sword. That's what makes it 'super'. It's a BIG, powerful khukri but it's amazingly light and nimble. I suspect Sgt Khadka was secretly trained by Himalayan Elves.

I'm thinking of Cpl Punishment's 20" CAK that chops well but still nimble enough to slice things nicely. Scary sharp edge?
Click to expand...

It's a big curved scalpel.
 
wildmike said:
My Bura made M-43 is of the traditional weight and size of the M-43 (Mk II) it weighs in at 26 oz.

My new style (unknown Kami) is of about the same size. with about 1/2 inch more handle and a thicker spine. It weighs in at 29 oz.

Not really much of a difference.
Click to expand...

Your M-43 must be amazing in a 26 ounce package. My M-43, as nice and nimble as it is, still comes in at a hefty 35 ounces. I'm not the biggest person around either, and can't control it too well, at least not with one hand. Must speak with Auntie when I have the spare funds.
 
I'm surprised at the weight of Wolf's 41 oz. M-43 course it is a 20"er.

My weights could be off as all I have to weigh the knives with is a digital fish scale.
 
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