Need a 1ST and new Khukri, was directed to yous guys..

ERdept

ERdept

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May 17, 2005
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Hi all, I asked on the general knife forum about getting a Khukri, but specifically said that I wanted to avoid the HI forum and thier opinions due to inherent bias. Well, the answer to my post was the this was the best place to buy the best knives.

So here I am, a new buyer. I just don't know which model to get. My fears are that natural handle materials will deteriorate, crack and break in time. Somone suggested the full tang khukri.

I'd like more input from you'all before buying. I want ONLY 1 knife that I can generally use for everything, chopping, survival, cutting, defense, etc. What do you recommend? My one knife I go to the jungles, deserts and arctic, and inner city parking lot with.

Cliff
 
http://www.himalayan-imports.com/faq/physics/Khukuri_Dynamics.html


1. Study this site.

2. The bias is to quality. No one here can recommend something they have not used. Your choice to listen or not about those they HAVE used.

3. Very few khuks are used for self-defense in real life...anywhere.

4. From your list: "ONLY 1 knife that I can generally use for everything, chopping, survival, cutting, defense, etc. "--the most utilitarian model/size would seem to be a 16.5 in WWII model, most often recommended by the man who founded Himalayan Imports.

5. Others will have other opinions. Your choice.

I hope you do well.
 
Take good advice! Get out of here.
If you love blades, if you appreciate value...go
Because, if you think one blade does it all...escape now!
These people are dangerous.
Trust me - I have 4 blades in transit after receiving the first.
Here they have a name for it - can't recall it right now.
TIP to butter toast with 20"WW11 - first staple toast to bench.
And good luck -
 
Fantastic knives, incredible value, lifetime warrenty...run away from here as fast as you can.


We want to keep them all for ourselves.






ps: Welcome to the Cantina!
 
BrentH said:
Here they have a name for it - can't recall it right now.
-
Click to expand...

Brent, you're thinking of HIKV. Himalayan Imports Khukuri Virus;)
Welcome Cliff:)
A do all knife is kind of tough to come by, but generally there are a few types of models that fit this bill.
The 16.5" WWII model, as Kismet had mentioned is a great all-'rounder. Some of us like the 18" WWII a little better. You get just a little bit more blade and handle for a variety of grips. Both of our late mods, and true first class gentlemen, Uncle Bill and Rusty swore by the WWII. It's hard to argue with that.
Another one to think about is the 16.5" Ang Khola. It is slab tang like you said. Probably one of the toughest, if not the toughest, blades HI offers. It even has a "bend it or break it and get two free" warranty.
Finally, if weight is an issue then maybe you would like the BAS model. It's a lot like an Ang Khola, except a little lighter and not so "choppy". It is a compromise khuk, though. Some people love the utility in a small package. Others feel that it is too jack-of-all-trades.
Whatever you decide on, please remember:
1) Read the safety thread....then reread it...then Kismet will tell you to read it again;) Good advice.
2) All knife lengths are TOTAL lengths. A 15" Ang Khola has more of a 10 or 11" BLADE. It is best to ask Yangdu for a longer or shorter handle is you have overly big or small hands.
Hope this helps:)
Once again, Welcome to the Cantina:)

Jake
 
15"AK. It doesn't chop quite as well as a 16.5 WW2 or 16.5 AK but it's lighter and easier to pack around for long periods of time.

me = lazy and weak.
 
Another guy who wants one blade to do everything? I was that guy once...

Welcome.


How much wood do you need to chop?
How much weight do you wish to carry?


I guess I'd go with a wood handle, which is a little sacraligious as I like Horn very much. But I think wood lasts through more temp and moisture conditions than horn. You seem concerned about breakage. I would not worry about the traditional tang khuks as opposed to the Chirruwa style handle and tang; both are tough.


munk
 
Steely_Gunz said:
Brent, you're thinking of HIKV. Himalayan Imports Khukuri Virus;)

Thats the one Jake.. Flue like, with direct line from sinusus to bank card number!! Run...
Click to expand...
 
The unbreakable one. Actually, I ordered the M43, but sent another email asking for the ordrer to be changed to the Chiruwa. I hope it gets done, if not, I'd stil be happy with my original order.

Will post pics when in of actual usage. All my knives, though some are $600 custom folders, I use.

Cliff :D
 
For an all-around I'd echo recommendations for the M43, Chiruwa Ang Khola, or the WW2 model. The 16.5 AK and WW2 are nice compact all-around blades. The M43 is a little bigger, but is more of a classic style.
I personally like the Uncle Bill Especial (UBE) for all-around.
As for defense, in Nepal and Burma (among the Kachin) kukris are well-used for everything including self-defense. They are like the machete of rural South America, they are used for everything.
 
Even in the Himilayan Imports site, it details a story of the Ghurkas and a girl in India using it to ward off folks.

Anyway, if this is the national knife of a certain country, I'm sure it has been used for defense. Most of my cutting will be in the backyard. When I go to work, I get off at 3 am and have to walk to my car at that time. I work at a hospital in a part of LA that everyone has heard of. It recieves all those shooting, stabbings and trauma from the LA area and it's in a very bad area of town, that has a large university near it. You know the one with the Trojanas a mascot, whose shool colors are burgundy. HA HA HA.

cliff
 
Welcome to the Cantina Cliff.


Good choice on the AK, although I probably would have said good choice on whatever you bought.

Did you get the 16" or 18". I'm thinking if that is you in your avatar, you could probably manage an 18 pretty ok .....

Cheers,

Bamboo
 
Welcome

You've made a decision,
but there may be other info of use
in the Khompendium post
Linked below in my sig

marked noobee


~
~~~~~~~~~
<:eek:> THEY call me 'Dean' :)-fYI-fWiW-iIRC-JMO-M2C-YMMV-TiA-YW-GL-HH-HBd-IBSCUtWS-theWotBGUaDUaDUaD
<> Noobee <> Tips <> Baha'i Prayers Links --A--T--H--D
 
ERdept;

I used to work in a an acute Psychiatric recieving unit near that area.

The M43 you've ordered is a wonderful blade. What do you wanna bet you can't eat just one, though? IF you get the Chiruwa AK that will be fine also.

You know, people used to wait for months for the chance to buy a M43, they were coveted and semi rare.


munk
 
I loved it when they called code and we had to do takedowns. Everyone got what we called the big mac (haldol, ativan, benadryl) in two Intramuscular shots to the gluteus maximus, cause they were strapped down by then.

Cliff
 
Chiruwa AK is a good choice. The lines aren't quite as pretty as the M43, but it's an HI standard for a reason. I think the kamis build alot of function into that blade.

Some tips to keep you happy when it gets there:

1. Don't expect the fit and finish of a $400 folder. Often, the lines don't looks perfectly straight (sometimes they are, sometimes a little off). The polish will be mirror, but may not be perfectly even. But it's a working knife, so that won't matter soon after you start using it.

2. Don't expect it to be shaving sharp. It's already traveled half way around the world, so it may need to visit a bench stone for a little while to bring up optimum sharpness.

3. No chrome here. Expect some rust in use, unless you live in the desert, or are very meticulous about cleaning and drying your blades. Car wax works wonders.

4. Chiruwas are usually horn. Yes, horn is prone to cracks, but they tend to be superficial. There are plenty of threads about horn care, which basically amount to glopping on some hand/nail/hoof care junk every once in a while. Cracks usually aren't a big deal. If you like the blade, but not the cracks, it would be pretty easy to rehandle in micarta, stabillized wood, or something comparable.

5. Make sure the handle fits your hand. Lots of people make major or minor handle modifications. This is easy with either horn or wood. With your average production knife, metal and plastic handles make serious modification much more daunting. Don't be afraid to customize it to suit you. That said, I've found that I can accomodate most every HI handle I've ever touched.

6. Test, test, test! Go out and use your blade hard and make sure it's going to stand up to it's intended use.

Khuks aren't for everyone, and yes, the Cantina is made up of fans. If it works for you, great! If not more magic for the rest of us. ;)

Enjoy!
 
ERdept said:
Iintend to use this thing HARD!

Cliff
Click to expand...

Good deal, that's what they're made for. :D Khuks are serious blades, and I've no doubt you'll not only love this one, but also wind up buying several more, if nothing more than to try out different styles. However, if this is your first khuk, I'd recommend you take it easy with it at first, and definitely read the safety thread. A blade that'll easily chop through a wrist thick sapling, will just as easily chop through a wrist thick, uh , wrist. :eek:

Welcome to the Cantina, and enjoy your first HI khukuri, it won't be your last.....Bwahahaaaaa :p

Sarge
 
Evil, you're just pure evil. :D

Thanks guys for all the kind words again. I'll post pics of knife and usage when it's in.

cliff
 
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