- Joined
- Oct 11, 2000
- Messages
- 372
I'm happy to say I now have ten big khuks in my collection. This excludes the three kagas katne. It puts me in the position of being able to compare my big khuks in order of the amount of enjoyment and satisfaction they give me. I'd like y'all to have a look at my order of preference given here below, if you please. I implore you not to view the list as a reflection on the source of my khuks. It only reflects on my personal likes and dislikes, and is a personal opinion only. It is offered here on GH Bladeforum as a thread to interest forumites and to challenge their own preferences. The list runs from best at top to worst at bottom.
18" Ang Khola: I bought this one as a blem, but fixed up the offending areas to my total satisfaction. It's got a scrolled buttcap and beautiful fit of horn to brass and brass to steel. Very impressive with its spine thickness of half an inch. The scabbard and K & C are well done. I have no hesitation in putting this beaut first on my list.
Cheetlang: A very impressive khuk, but unfortunately the fit of wood to brass buttcap leaves something to be desired. If it weren't for this, it would be first on my list. Beautifully worked K & C of respectable length, and nice unconventional scabbard. The K & C fall out every time the rig is handled. Impresses most guests.
WW I Mk I: I have a special regard for this khuk, although it is old and worn. Dated 1915. I got it as a blade only. The tang was intact, with retaining nut. I made a handle and scabbard for it. This exercise gave me a lot of satisfaction, especially as I copied the actual handle and scabbard to a "T", from pictures.
SN1 Presentation: I just HAD to have an engraved khuk, and here it is at last. Engraving done quite well. The blade has the word NEPAL stamped on it. There's a hairline crack in the horn handle, but it doesn't detract too much. If it weren't for the minute crack, it would move up at least a step. I'll try to fix the crack somehow. It also needs a K & C.
Gangawal: This is a very nice khuk with beautiful brass inlay on the sides of the blade nearest the spine. Blade is approximately SN1 size. I'll have to do some work on the scabbard and utility items; they are not complete. If it weren't for the brass inlay, it would go down one step.
SN1 Ceremonial: I like the idea that this is a service khukuri, distributed to Gurkha troops, although meant for parade purposes only. It is dated 1999, and has the word NEPAL stamped on it. That alone raises it in my esteem. But it is very plain.
16" Ang Khola: A very nice, neat uncomplicated horn-handled khuk. No flaws. Nice tight rig; nothing to complain about. But also nothing much to give it a boost with.
Indian Army: This one is not "real", but made in India to be an exact look-alike to the WW II K45. It nonetheless has a very good blade, and the wooden panna butta handle is very nice now that I have spent some hours on it. Good scabbard, with two kardas of respectable length.
Jungle Fighter: Not "real", but a tourist effort. Got it as a gift. Made in India. Good blade but unattractive horn handle. Handle is too short for comfy grip, and the brass buttcap is badly done. Good scabbard, over which I put a cotton olive drab camouflage scabbard cover, which my wife sewed for me.
16" Panawal: Received this one as a blem. Good blade, but really horrible panna butta horn handle. No scabbard, so I'll have to make one, as well as a K & C. The fit of horn to steel is really bad. The bolster is not brass, but two steel halves brazed to the tang. Yuch! Where the tang is visible all around, the steel is poorly finished. The buttcap is steel, not too bad. The two pins through the handle are not neat. Dunno what I'm going to do with this blem to improve the handle. The horn slabs must go. I might put in nice wood slabs and polish the bolster and tang edges really well.
Go well!
18" Ang Khola: I bought this one as a blem, but fixed up the offending areas to my total satisfaction. It's got a scrolled buttcap and beautiful fit of horn to brass and brass to steel. Very impressive with its spine thickness of half an inch. The scabbard and K & C are well done. I have no hesitation in putting this beaut first on my list.
Cheetlang: A very impressive khuk, but unfortunately the fit of wood to brass buttcap leaves something to be desired. If it weren't for this, it would be first on my list. Beautifully worked K & C of respectable length, and nice unconventional scabbard. The K & C fall out every time the rig is handled. Impresses most guests.
WW I Mk I: I have a special regard for this khuk, although it is old and worn. Dated 1915. I got it as a blade only. The tang was intact, with retaining nut. I made a handle and scabbard for it. This exercise gave me a lot of satisfaction, especially as I copied the actual handle and scabbard to a "T", from pictures.
SN1 Presentation: I just HAD to have an engraved khuk, and here it is at last. Engraving done quite well. The blade has the word NEPAL stamped on it. There's a hairline crack in the horn handle, but it doesn't detract too much. If it weren't for the minute crack, it would move up at least a step. I'll try to fix the crack somehow. It also needs a K & C.
Gangawal: This is a very nice khuk with beautiful brass inlay on the sides of the blade nearest the spine. Blade is approximately SN1 size. I'll have to do some work on the scabbard and utility items; they are not complete. If it weren't for the brass inlay, it would go down one step.
SN1 Ceremonial: I like the idea that this is a service khukuri, distributed to Gurkha troops, although meant for parade purposes only. It is dated 1999, and has the word NEPAL stamped on it. That alone raises it in my esteem. But it is very plain.
16" Ang Khola: A very nice, neat uncomplicated horn-handled khuk. No flaws. Nice tight rig; nothing to complain about. But also nothing much to give it a boost with.
Indian Army: This one is not "real", but made in India to be an exact look-alike to the WW II K45. It nonetheless has a very good blade, and the wooden panna butta handle is very nice now that I have spent some hours on it. Good scabbard, with two kardas of respectable length.
Jungle Fighter: Not "real", but a tourist effort. Got it as a gift. Made in India. Good blade but unattractive horn handle. Handle is too short for comfy grip, and the brass buttcap is badly done. Good scabbard, over which I put a cotton olive drab camouflage scabbard cover, which my wife sewed for me.
16" Panawal: Received this one as a blem. Good blade, but really horrible panna butta horn handle. No scabbard, so I'll have to make one, as well as a K & C. The fit of horn to steel is really bad. The bolster is not brass, but two steel halves brazed to the tang. Yuch! Where the tang is visible all around, the steel is poorly finished. The buttcap is steel, not too bad. The two pins through the handle are not neat. Dunno what I'm going to do with this blem to improve the handle. The horn slabs must go. I might put in nice wood slabs and polish the bolster and tang edges really well.
Go well!
Sheath is slightly snug as with the Cheetlang. Tied for 2nd favorite.