Hello,
I am a new member here and have greatly enjoyed reading the entertaining and informative conversations that go on in this forum. I have been curious about Khukuris for some time and based on the enthusiasm everyone seems to have for the HI blades, I recently decided to purchase an 18" Ang Khola. I received the blade today and have to say that I am extremely well pleased. The pictures one sees on the web simply do not do justice to the reality of the product.
I have to admit here that I had some uncertainty about the comfort and useability of this type of blade. My hands are on the small side and I had some concern about my ability to properly utilize this knife (is a Khukuri considered to be a knife?....it would seem to be a class unto itself).
Happily, my concerns proved to be baseless. Everything said in this forum about these wonderful instruments has been proven out to me. The handle, which in pictures appears stylish and unusual to the newcomer, is actually quite a good fit for my hand. I have found the Khukuri to be very comfortable to use with either a choked up grip (thumb resting on the bolster) or with a grip down on the pommel. The blade swings differently and quite instinctively with either grip.
Upon receipt of the Khukuri, I put a "working" edge on it (not razor sharp but quite functional) and proceeded to try the blade on several items I had on hand. As I was a new user, I approached the initial chopping tasks with some care but soon found the blade to be very easy to use. The sweet spot on the blade seems to be almost magically drawn to the desired impact point.
My last chopping chore was to section up a 12' 2x4 that had become well seasoned from outdoor storage for a year or two. After cutting the board into 6 pieces, I checked the edge and found no detectable rolling or damage of any kind. This is not an extreme test, I'm sure, but I came away feeling that you could dismember a house in relatively short order with one of these Khukuris.
After chopping up all of the available material and cleaning up the resulting carnage, I found myself near a particularly overgrown shrub. On a bit of a lark, I decided to see how the AK would function as a bush pruner. Using a choked up grip and a reduced swing, I was pleasantly surprised to find it was quite easy to sever the free standing (1/4" to 1/2") branches in a controlled fashion.
To sum up, I feel it necessary to thank everyone on this forum for convincing me (even tho you didn't know you were doing so) to try one of these beautiful blades. I feel certain there are more in my future. Thanks!
MSB
I am a new member here and have greatly enjoyed reading the entertaining and informative conversations that go on in this forum. I have been curious about Khukuris for some time and based on the enthusiasm everyone seems to have for the HI blades, I recently decided to purchase an 18" Ang Khola. I received the blade today and have to say that I am extremely well pleased. The pictures one sees on the web simply do not do justice to the reality of the product.
I have to admit here that I had some uncertainty about the comfort and useability of this type of blade. My hands are on the small side and I had some concern about my ability to properly utilize this knife (is a Khukuri considered to be a knife?....it would seem to be a class unto itself).
Happily, my concerns proved to be baseless. Everything said in this forum about these wonderful instruments has been proven out to me. The handle, which in pictures appears stylish and unusual to the newcomer, is actually quite a good fit for my hand. I have found the Khukuri to be very comfortable to use with either a choked up grip (thumb resting on the bolster) or with a grip down on the pommel. The blade swings differently and quite instinctively with either grip.
Upon receipt of the Khukuri, I put a "working" edge on it (not razor sharp but quite functional) and proceeded to try the blade on several items I had on hand. As I was a new user, I approached the initial chopping tasks with some care but soon found the blade to be very easy to use. The sweet spot on the blade seems to be almost magically drawn to the desired impact point.
My last chopping chore was to section up a 12' 2x4 that had become well seasoned from outdoor storage for a year or two. After cutting the board into 6 pieces, I checked the edge and found no detectable rolling or damage of any kind. This is not an extreme test, I'm sure, but I came away feeling that you could dismember a house in relatively short order with one of these Khukuris.
After chopping up all of the available material and cleaning up the resulting carnage, I found myself near a particularly overgrown shrub. On a bit of a lark, I decided to see how the AK would function as a bush pruner. Using a choked up grip and a reduced swing, I was pleasantly surprised to find it was quite easy to sever the free standing (1/4" to 1/2") branches in a controlled fashion.
To sum up, I feel it necessary to thank everyone on this forum for convincing me (even tho you didn't know you were doing so) to try one of these beautiful blades. I feel certain there are more in my future. Thanks!
MSB
Can't decide if the company's(ie. kantina member's) the best part or the UBBB's and CPD's. 
It's a hard decision.
