New twist on an old topic

kamagong

kamagong

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Jan 13, 2001
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I want to ask you guys a question that's been asked on this forum already a dozen times. What is your favorite using khukuri? Mine is a 16 1/2" Baby GRS. I find that it's the perfect length for me, and at 1 3/4 pounds is light enough to carry yet still have enough heft to do some real work.

Now here's the twist. How big are you? The reason I'm asking is because our size undoubtedly impacts our choice in tools. I'm 5'9", 150 pounds. If I was taller I'd probably prefer a longer khukuri, but as it is I prefer my HIs in the 16-17" range. Any longer and a khukuri can become inconvenient; any smaller and it's just not as much fun.
 
Good thread. My current favorite user is my 15.5" villager BGRS. Its just so carryable, but its still a thick bladed stout worker. Plus I made a new karda and chakma for it, and a new frog, so its really mine now. I wish it was longer. Spectre showed a perfect 17" villager BGRS yesterday. It had a big full belly and was simply beautiful. Nice knife. Wonder if he needs a new frog for it? John?

Oh yea. I'm 5' 9" and 175 lbs.
 
That's a really tough question. I really like my 15.5" 24ishoz Villager as I can pack it pretty much anywhere. My favorite khuk to use is my 18.5" Chiruwa YCS. I think it's in the 30-32oz range if i remember right. However, my go to thrashing khuk always has been and probably always will be my 18" 29oz WWII. That thing has been to hell and back:)

I'm 5'10 and 175lbs

Jake
 
I like my 17" 23 oz ers and I got a 15" 18 oz er but haven't got a chance to really test it yet.

If I get a chance I would like to snag one of the 15" BGRS's that is like 20 some oz's. I find a shorter, but heavier khuk is easier on my tendons for extended chopping over the longer models.
 
My favorite is a 17.0" BGRS, but I have a 16" Chiruwa that is in the running also except it has a finger-groove handle that I'm growing unfond of. It will probably be re-handled in the next few months though when I get the time. I'm 6'3"/195 and have a couple bigger khuks but like the 16" - 17" best.
 
Wow. Yvsa, I never thought that another khukuri would ever displace the YCS as your favorite.
 
kamagong said:
Wow. Yvsa, I never thought that another khukuri would ever displace the YCS as your favorite.
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Thats funny. I've never heard Yvsa say anything positive about the YCS. I'll have to do a search.

Edited. Did a search and found a great review for the original YCS from Yvsa. I guess I have confused the newer heavy chiruwa style that he did not like. Right Yvsa?
 
Great idea kamagong. My newest is a 16.5" WWII by Sher that weighs 26 oz. I haven't even used it yet (stabilizing the bone handle) but I can tell you now it will displace my previous favorite. It's a bit heavier than most 16.5 inchers and has a weight forward feel to it that appeals to me. This WWII would be my everyday chopper.

For those more challenging tasks I also have a new favorite. Both new favorites were DOTD within the last 2 weeks. The heavy duty favorite is an 18" Hanshee by Bura weighing 28 oz. I didn't even know what a Hanshee was when I bought it, but it looked good in the photo. It too has a bone handle (my first two bone-handled HI Khuks) that I just finished stabilizing. The displaced heavy chopper was an 18" villager AK, also at 28 oz. The Hanshee has more curvature, expecially in the grip, and the ring location suits me well. I had to remove the ring on the villager AK because my third finger wanted to go right where it already was.

Personal stats? Hmmm, 6'3" at 225 lbs. What do I wanna weigh? I'd be happy anywhere from 195 to 205 lbs. Gonna have to play the diet card; exercize alone no longer does it for me. Metabolic rate slows down as you get older you know.:(
 
bwray said:
What do I wanna weigh?(
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That's funny. I'm a bit ways from my ideal weight also. I'm naturally slender, too slender for my tastes actually. I wish I could put on fifteen more pounds more muscle, but it's hard to do. I don't have much mass to convert into muscle, and I don't really have a big appetite. Plus, the real world has an annoying tendency of getting in the way. In order to put on that much weight I'd have to hit the gym a couple of hours a day. Who has time to do that?
 
kamagong said:
That's funny. I'm a bit ways from my ideal weight also. I'm naturally slender, too slender for my tastes actually.
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This whole thing keeps getting funnier. When I was running the quarter mile in high school I felt that I was too slender too. I ran at 175 lbs my senior year, and when I quit running in college it still took a lot of effort to eventually get up to 185. However, I have the requisite esperience to be able to caution you, be careful what you wish for.;)
 
Lately I have been going with my 16.5 inch 26.3 ounce chiruwa Ang Khola as my favorite. The more I use it, the more I like it. Last weekend I used it to split seasoned oak, 6-7" in diameter. The method I used was to start the cut with one good chop, then just lift the khurk with log attached before slamming it down onto the chopping block. Takes about three or four attempts before the log splits clean. Oh what a feeling! I am 5"11 and 150 pounds and this khurk feels right on.:)
 
18" AK riding in a custom Terry Sisco sheath. DOn't remember who made it, maybe Kumar? There are others that are prettier or have more senitimental value, but I grab that one more than any other.
 
MauiRob said:
18" AK riding in a custom Terry Sisco sheath. DOn't remember who made it, maybe Kumar? There are others that are prettier or have more senitimental value, but I grab that one more than any other.
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I, as a newb, would like to see a pic. It sounds like a beautiful knife (I love Kumar's work the best), and Terry's work is famous. Pic, Pic.:thumbup:
 
I', 6'5" tall and weigh about 180 pounds. I tend to carry either my 16.5" WWII model or my 20" Sirupati the most. Typicly I lean towads 18+" long Khukuris or longer, but that all depends on what I'm doing. brush work I definantly like long blades, but for light camp choirs and back packing I go with a 15" knife.

Thanks for the thread!! :)

Heber
 
Only have one khukuri so far - an 18" Ang Khola. My next will be either a 16.5" AK or a 22" GRS.

5'10"
260 lbs.
Pretty solid.
 
Right now my favorite user is my 21" GS. Its comfortable to use (made by Kumar, need I say more about the handle), has plenty of blade, and at about 28 oz can bite deep.

6'0" and 170lbs

Bob
 
I think you guys forgot about arm length, overall strength and experience, probably a host of other things I can't think of right now in determining why a certain khuk fits one.

We have different weights and lengths of baseball bats. Most men reach for a very narrow range of bat within what is available.

I don't have a favorite user. I've got a several excellent choppers at approx 18" and around 30 ounces. I prefer a lighter khuk for carry. 27 or 28 ounces.

munk
 
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