Newbie needs advice

W

wjzgma

Joined
Sep 4, 2002
Messages
255
Good day all,

You guys got me hooked on these blades!!!:D And I need your advice since money is getting tight so I need to spend wisely.

Looking for a 18-20" light blade where weight is a factor since I plan to backpack and main use will be for self defense and light chopper.

Here are the blades I'm considering: Gelbu Special, Sirupati, Kobra, Chitlangi, Chainpuri. Can anyone help me and explain the differences between the styles and recommend the best choice?

Thanks all, Wally
 
Those are all pretty similar styles. I'm not enough of an expert to explain the subtleties. Go to the HI web page and check out khukri faqs and khukri dynamics. I would like to hear the experts chime in on the differences as well. My chainpuri feels better in hand than my sirupati, but I think its just a handle issue, not that the blades are a little different.
 
From that list I would go for the Chit but that is just a matter of personal preferance and I think they are pretty. The kobra is the lightest there, but it really is better suited to martial arts than to being a camping knife. Personaly I want a BAS or the 16.5" WWII as a balanced camping khuk.
 
18" light fast chopper... hmmmm
siru, chit or gelbu are all good choices... im not sure about the kobra as i dont think they are made for chopping. may i suggest maybe an 18" balance model or a smaller 15-16" ak or pen knife?
 
18-20" and light doesn't lend itself well to chopping. Personally, I would prefer something in the 16-17" range for that purpose. The WWII and BGRS models would be my top picks; both will chop well, are fairly light for their size, and are well balanced for SD purposes. Don't get me wrong, I love the big, light blades too, but not for chopping, it's just not what they're made for.
 
Thanks one and all...I appreciate your help. The chopping would involve campfire building, making an emergency shether and fighting off cougars, bears, man sized 2 legged varmints...hopefully never have to do the fighting bit!!! But The kuk would be a good deterent.

Can anyone explain the subtleties between these blades. Gelbu Special, Sirupati, Kobra, Chitlangi, Chainpuri...the website showed the outlines variances but why are they different and why the different styules?
 
An 18"ish chitlangi would be perfect for you. I had one close to 19", and I carried it on some field exercises in the infantry (weight was at a premium, too, so it's NOT heavy), and later used it for many hours clearing light brush. I even cut down one decent (6") tree without damage...that was more work than you'd like to do, though! For saplings and large limbs, no problem at all.

Very light, very fast. I wrapped my handle with black grip tape to kill glare. If you just want a hard user, and aren't concerned with looks, I'd tape the edge, degrease, and spray paint the rest of the blade with flat enamel. :)

Get one- you'll love it. The 18" Chit had as much chopping power as my 16.5" WWII, but more reach.

(The Chainpuri is similar. A Kobra this size is more a light sword; I wouldn't chop with it. I don't like how most Sirupatis feel, and a Gelbu is one of the few Kuks I've never owned.)

John
 
Welcome:)

Well since you are planning on using this as an all around bushwhacker/shelter builder/etc...then I might suggest you forget about the kobra. It's one of my favorite blades, but it's more of a fighter and the weakest of the slim khuks. Still plenty strong, IMHO as the 20" versions come in with a blade thickness of about 5/16". That's the same thickness as a Cold Steel Trailmaster. The Siru, Chain, and Chit are all very close and it's really going to depend on the mood of the kami the day he made the blade to pick any of them over the others. They are all very close with the siru leaning more towards a chopper than a fighter.

Now.....let me add just a little more fuel to the fire. Have you thought about the Sher Attitude Special? They are not found on the site, but they do come in during the deals of the day quite a bit.
Here's a pic that our very own Mike (Ad Astra) took of his some time ago:
w38pf.jpg

The SAS is the blade in the middle. As you can see, it's not EXACTLY a khuk as it has no cho. However, this might just be the end all to your needs. Generally, they come in at 18" in length over all, weigh 20-23 oz, come with no chakma or karda so they pack very flat. The curve of the knife causes it to hook material as you chop so it does very well for its size on wood AND grass/leaves. The only product that I have that does a better job of light grass and vines is the hasiya which is basically a hand sickle. The SAS is going to be much stronger than say a kobra, but very friendly to tote around. Another feature that may or may not matter to you is that because it has no cho, you can choke up on the blade in that empty space to do finer work. Also, chos tend to look "alien" to those not used to knuks....so they automaticly think "weapon":rolleyes: The SAS is alllllll business;)

Good luck! The nice thing about HI is that ANYTHING you get will work and not let you down. Just try one that works for you. I'm sure you'll be picking up more;)

Once again, welcome!

Jake
 
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