Newbie - Help Needed

R

Rocky Latham

Joined
Feb 23, 2002
Messages
10
Could some of those who own and use Khurkris give me a quick education on the strong points of the 25 and 30 inch Sirupati? I plan on the purchase of an 18 inch Ang Khola for its' chopping ability. My question is what are the features of the larger Sirupati. Is it that the Sirupati is a better weapon as compared to the Ang Khola. Forgive my lack of understanding but I would really like to hear from those who actually use theses knives so that I can make better choices. I am a large former Iron Jungle fanatic at 300lbs and 6'5" so I can handle a little weight an I have big hands if this helps you understand my needs better. So if I get an Ang Khola for chopping what can the Sirupati in 25 or 30 inches do better? Thaks for help a newbie to the wonderful world of Khurkuris. Rocky
 
Rocky, Welcome.
This is my take, after a little over a year learning from the guys on the forum, Howard's FAQ, the HI Site, and many, many Nepai sites on the web, just for background.

"The" blade began as a weapon, dropped off in the area when Hannibal passed by. It has been developed across the varied terrain of Nepal by farmers, village kamis, warriors and armourers. Most of it's development was as a daily agricultural tool, but it was always flavored with the probability that it would be needed as a weapon. Some are weighted more in one direction than the other. Another major factor in development was the terrain in which a given style either "began life" or "outlasted competition" in any given area. Then, just to confuse things, each blade's area of influence began to overlap many of the others. The mix is also spiced with designs intended purely for the military.
Finally, what HI has selected to make, falls into two broad groups - wide bladed choppers, and the leaf-bladed slicers. Both overlap each others' abilties, but the slim blades developed in viney, grassy areas don't chunk firewood well, and the big choppers don't build as much speed, and won't cut springy brush and vines. Sizes, IMHO, are like clothing sizes - Heber wears a 25" AK (and pretty well dressed he is, too:D), but I'm a size 15-20 in most blades. The Ganga Ram is the chopping king, at one end of the spectrum, and the Kobra is probably the slicing/slashing king at the other. Yvsa's Cherokee Special is a heavily fullered wide blade looks like a chopper (and is) but is light enough to build speed for slashing (and does). The fun comes when you get (as you propose) one from each end of the spectrum, and then start working toward the middle.
 
Thanks for all the help! Thanks also to 'Uncle' Bill Martino for all his kind help and advise. I just ordered a Ganga Ram Special, 22 inch and I am sure it will not be my last. I can hardly wait!
Rocky
 
Not being 6'5" and considerably less than 300 lbs. I can't give much of an opinion on the longer blades. They don't suit me very well. I figure that once you get your first khuk you will have a better idea of what you would like your next one to be like.

The folks around here lots of information for your khukuri needs. (they even answer some of my hair brained questions :))
 
Originally posted by Rocky Latham
I am a large former Iron Jungle fanatic at 300lbs and 6'5" so I can handle a little weight an I have big hands if this helps you understand my needs better.

So if I get an Ang Khola for chopping what can the Sirupati in 25 or 30 inches do better? Thaks for help a newbie to the wonderful world of Khurkuris. Rocky
Click to expand...

Osiyo Rocky. Welcome to the Cantina. Hayull Fire Rocky if you're that dayumed big you need a 25" AK like Heber has, not a measly little 18" jobber like I carry around sometimes!!!!:)

I can't say anything about the larger Sirupatis as I only have a little 15" model.
Many of the guys like the Sirupati as a weapon pure and simple. IIRC the 25" &30" Sirupatis have been deemed as unusually well made choppers due to their thickness.
For a guy your size they would/should fall back into the realm of weapons again.
The larger Sirupatis aren't for most people, but you would/should be able to make either sing like any well known Italian Baritone that suddenly had his jewels squeezed in a vice and winds up sounding more like a high Soprano breaking every piece of glass for 30 miles around with her sustained squeal of pure pain and terror.
Sorta like a German fellow I heard about the other day that had been tied to a tree by his scrotum and left there to be found by whomever.
 
I am a large former Iron Jungle fanatic at 300lbs and 6'5" so I can handle a little weight an I have big hands if this helps you understand my needs better
Click to expand...

Hmmm,what would Uncle Bill say..."big knives bring big forumites"


As far as Sirupatis go, I have a 20". For me (6'0 and 230--should be 210:)) it is definitely a chopper and not a weapon. I think it weighs something like 2lbs 4oz, which is to heavy for me to swing with any speed. But for your size, assuming most of that 300 to be muscle, you could probably make it whistle:D ;)

Can't speak for the larger Sirupatis.

I have read nothing but great things about the Ganga Ram from folks here that I respect very much, so i'm sure you'll love it:)
 
Good to see you found Uncle Bills place Rocky,
This is the only place to get Khuks and information about them!
It is too bad that there are not any more Falcatas collecting dust around the Cantina. That would be a great one for you! 27+", 3 1/4 lbs, and some of the sweetest fullers you could ask for. I love mine, although it is a job to try to manuver around quickly. I sort of get the swing going and hope I do not have to change directions quickly. Have fun here. The fun has just begun!!!!!!!!!
 
The larger Sirupatis give you more reach for brush work, and are far lighter than an Ang Khola of the same length, so they make better light bush blades, light being a very relative term. You can work longer with them with less fatigue. Try some limbing with a large Sirupati and an Ang Khola, and you will find they are worlds apart. My ~20" Sirupati is a feather weight compared to my ~20" Ang Khola.

-Cliff
 
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