New Military Issue Design

ddean

ddean

Joined
Mar 26, 2002
Messages
3,397
What about it?

Sarge, and others with field experience:

If you could wish for a new design and make it happen,

what would you specify for 'your' 'perfect' 'standard-issue' khukuri?

What would your criteria be?

Or is it better, in theory,
to offer a selection of random available khuks
and let each person pick their own.
 
I'm looking forward to the expert opinions. I would suggest a movie model type false edge, make the bad guys crap themselves just a little sooner.
 
Hmmmm, ain't no "magic bullet", lots of room for personal preference/interpretation. Here's my "two cents";
- Length = 15-16.5"
- Weight = right around 1 1/2 lbs (22 to 24 ounces)
- Handle = wood, unpolished
- Fittings = steel, blackened
- Blade = convex edge bevels, unpolished ("satin" finish)
- Scabbard = eliminate karda and chakma, (makes scabbard flatter,karda and chakma on smaller khuks of limited use anyway and prone to falling out/getting lost)

Now, what currently available khuks come close in fitting this bill? 15" AK, BAS, and 16.5" WWII. Actually, I've already pretty much seen the knife described above with some minor differences. It was a Villager version of a BAS donated by one of the forum good guys for our first deployment to Afghanistan.

Sarge
 
my 18" Sirupati. I would've loved to have my 16.5" WWII when in V.N. This one is just a bit heavy but when I was younger I wouldn't have cared about two or three oz. It is what the khuk can do that counts. The Sirupati is not very far behind the WWII. I wouldn't have felt bad if someone would have given me a BAS or a 15" AK.

I still think that Sarge has the right idea. Learn to use that khuk like second nature. You'd be surprised what any of them can do. :) :)
 
if Sarge got together with some manufacturers to come up with the "Sikes-Fairbairn combat khuk" he eehe/e.

Keith
 
3206967inchkhukuri.jpg


This 12 inch model would be pretty close. It is comfortable in hand, compact, and hard hitting; yet not cumbersome, and its kydex sheath is stury, lightweight, and easily attached anywhere. Bill Siegle call this one his small khukuri, made from 1/4 inch 5160 (look closely - there is even a miniscule cho).

n2s
 
No combat field experience here, so my opinion might not be worth much. But the one failing of the Khukuri - in my opinion - is that it's angled blade, and thick spine, make it a less than ideal thrusting weapon, especially in close where arm movements might be restricted.

I've tried thrusting into a number of targets and the angled blade coupled with the thick spine tends to force the wrist to bend, which makes it hard to put good leverage into the pushing action.

What I'd like to see is the upper portion of the blade and the spine along the first two or three inches either forged or ground into a real cutting edge. It does not mean the blade would need to thinned along the entire forward thickness - it could still be about as thick as it pretty much is, which would still leave a lot of metal forward to keep it a good chopper.

The whole idea of this modification is to simply get enough of a sharp edge on the forwardmost portion of the spine to allow the blade to penetrate more easily without causing it to be forced downward.
 
true. I always liken the khuk to an axe because of the bend. With an axe, the primary cutting edge is forward--off the center line of the handle by 3-6 inches. With a khuk, the same this true, so with a point off line by many inches a thrust would not be practical or advisable. It is a chopper. even the tip should be used in a chopping thrust motion.

EXCEPTION:
The UBE and the Movie model have recurved tips that bring the tip back in line for thrusting.
713mm.JPG

ube-sml.jpg

1010770069103_Uncle_Bill_Special.JPG


Keith
 
Originally posted by Red
Within practical limits, each soldier should choose their own.
Click to expand...

I'll drink to that.

The notion that one tool can fit the needs of a million men with infinitely diverse jobs belongs to the realm of madmen.
 
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