New too kukris

Sharp Knives 86

Sharp Knives 86

Joined
Oct 27, 2009
Messages
783
Hey guys, I'm new to the kukri world and while my first kukri looks like it's gonna be a Windlass regimental kukri (mainly cause its what I can afford right now), I plan on spoiling myself for xmas and pick up an HI kuk and I had a few questions. The 4 HI kuks I'm mainly interested in are the M43, 15" Ang Khola, Chiruwa Ang Khola and 16.5" WWII and I was wondering what the blade length is for each knife? Also what is a "villager". From what I can gather, it seems like it's basically an unpolished blade, but I'm not too sure. If so, does HI offer their all their kukris with unpolished blades?
 
M43 tends to be about 18" - 19" long with about 13" of blade.

15" Ang Khola will have about 10" of blade.

Chiruwa Ang Khola, blade length depends on the size of the CAK in question. I have the Super CAK, 20.25" long with a 14.25" blade. The standard CAK IIRC is about 16.5" and probably has about 11" or 12" of blade, which would probably be about the same for a 16.5" WW2.

Yes a "villager" is a khukuri (or other H.I. piece) without the high degree of polish their standard ones have.

I've seen just about everything H.I. makes offered in Villager finish. Villagers aren't always available; it just depends on what Ms Yangdu happens to offer at the time or have in stock.
 
Sharp Knives 86 said:
Hey guys, I'm new to the kukri world and while my first kukri looks like it's gonna be a Windlass regimental kukri (mainly cause its what I can afford right now), I plan on spoiling myself for xmas and pick up an HI kuk and I had a few questions. The 4 HI kuks I'm mainly interested in are the M43, 15" Ang Khola, Chiruwa Ang Khola and 16.5" WWII and I was wondering what the blade length is for each knife? Also what is a "villager". From what I can gather, it seems like it's basically an unpolished blade, but I'm not too sure. If so, does HI offer their all their kukris with unpolished blades?
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The M-43 is usually made in an 18 inch length,the others you mentioned usually come in various sizes from 12-18 inches, sometimes larger ones are offered. Generally speaking you are looking at a handle length from 5-7 inches or slightly bigger for the largest models not including bolster. All H.I. khukuri are measured and posted in "OAL' or Overall Length. So if youre looking at a 15 inch khukuri you have 4.5- 5 inches of handle and approximately 10 inches of blade. Make no mistake though a 15 inch H.I. khukuri is a bloody large knife. As for the "villagers", yes. the blade is satin finished instead of highly polished and the handles arent as highly polished.
quite a few models come in a villager finish, but not all.

hope this helps.
 
I'll just add that you shouldn't even bother with the Windlass. I don't have one so I can't compare, but going off of what I do know of their knives/swords... save the money and just get a really good HI one.
 
I still have my first one, a windlass 'kukri' I bought in 1987.

It's serviceable and works reasonably well. It was a good buy for what I paid for it back then (about $20).

BUT to compare it to the real thing from H.I. is like comparing a rusty beat up Geo Metro to a Mercedez-Benz.

Years later I bought another Windlass, the Assam Rifles model and shattered the handle on it. I got to thinking there MUST be something better out there, and there was. I found H.I. and bought a 20" Ang Khola, and havent used a Windlass since.
 
First if you can always go with HI for kurkris as far as windlass goes if that is what you can aford you could do much worse, I've had one for about 25 years now and while it doesn't compare to HI's it is a very servicable plain Jane knife. As a side note I have been buying swords from windlass for over 20 years and have never had a bad experiance.
 
Wolf_1989 said:
BUT to compare it to the real thing from H.I. is like comparing a rusty beat up Geo Metro to a Mercedez-Benz.
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More like an 89 Honda Accord to a 69 Camaro SS

800px-3rd_honda_accord_dx_sedan.jpg

1969CamaroSS.jpg


But as far as the HI khukuri go... remember that the price includes shipping. So grab yourself a villager model and you're really only paying $70 or less. Not a bad price for something that will likely live past you.
 
Man the more I look at the HI kuks, the more I want one. I'm actually considering selling some stuff to help fund one. Question though, on the HI site I don't see an option for a villager finnish, do I have specify that and is the villager finnish cheaper? Also what kind of handle does the M43 come with? On the HI site it appears to have a wood handle but I saw one on here that appeared to have a bone handle but I don't see an option fo a bone handle on the M43. Can I request a bone handle?
 
Villagers are not listed because they are not always available, they come up fairly regularly in DotDs, you could also contact Yangdu ask if she has anything available or if she could get one for you that of course would take time...
 
Sharp Knives 86 said:
Man the more I look at the HI kuks, the more I want one. I'm actually considering selling some stuff to help fund one. Question though, on the HI site I don't see an option for a villager finnish, do I have specify that and is the villager finnish cheaper? Also what kind of handle does the M43 come with? On the HI site it appears to have a wood handle but I saw one on here that appeared to have a bone handle but I don't see an option fo a bone handle on the M43. Can I request a bone handle?
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Send an email to the owner, Yangdu at himimp@aol.com with a description of what you would like and she will let you know if she has any in stock. Right now though, she is out of stock on the M-43 model as far as i know,but you can still send an email with your request.
 
To add: I'd really check on the deals of the day posted in this forum.

Sometimes they are near full price, sometimes they are a steal.
 
I got lucky this morning. When Yangdu was looking thru her inventory this morning she found one last M43, and it's all mine.:D:cool::thumbup:
 
Ya know the more I look at the HI kuks and the more I read about them, I think I'm just gonna break down and get one instead of the Windlass. Now all I need to do is wait till I get payed next week and decide which model I want.
 
Keep us posted on your decision... with all the options available, it ain't easy!

Oh, and most of us generally like pics of khuks and the usage of said khuks. :thumbup:
 
Sharp Knives 86 said:
Ya know the more I look at the HI kuks and the more I read about them, I think I'm just gonna break down and get one instead of the Windlass. Now all I need to do is wait till I get payed next week and decide which model I want.
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.........And the sickness begins again!

[youtube]rNQRfBAzSzo[/youtube]
 
Few more questions (I know I'm annoying, sorry). Whats the difference between an AK and CAK? From looking at pics the CAK look like they have a full tang but correct me if I'm wrong.

Man I'm so torn on which khuk I want. I like the AK's/CAK's cause they're heavy duty choppers but I really like the look of the WWII (not too bulky but not too slim) and seems to be a good chopper as well. The M-43 is my first choice but they are out of stock from what I understand so I'm tempted to hold off till they get some more in.
 
Sharp Knives 86 said:
Few more questions (I know I'm annoying, sorry). Whats the difference between an AK and CAK? From looking at pics the CAK look like they have a full tang but correct me if I'm wrong.

Man I'm so torn on which khuk I want. I like the AK's/CAK's cause they're heavy duty choppers but I really like the look of the WWII (not too bulky but not too slim) and seems to be a good chopper as well. The M-43 is my first choice but they are out of stock from what I understand so I'm tempted to hold off till they get some more in.
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You are correct, the CAK has a full tang and the AK has a hidden tang. The CAK also is the only khukuri warranted for use as a prybar. The Wait will be worth it for the M-43, but noone says you have to get just one. :D
 
Karda said:
You are correct, the CAK has a full tang and the AK has a hidden tang. The CAK also is the only khukuri warranted for use as a prybar. The Wait will be worth it for the M-43, but noone says you have to get just one. :D
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Oh I definately plan on getting more than one :D I just can't afford all the ones I want at the same time :( Decisions, decisons.
 
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