Post your 20" AK pics and comments here!

T

Tristan_Bantam

Joined
Jul 29, 2003
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I'm planning to get a 20 inch Ang Khola khukuri (or however you spell that). I'd like to hear what people who have one of these think about it. Can I use it as an axe substitute? What are its (dis)advantages (I know it's heavy, but not how heavy)? It's described as "the king of the choppers" on the HI site. I like that. :D But for now, please keep the hype to a minimum, and give me the hard facts. Oh yeah, and pictures would be most welcome!

Thanks!

P.S. What are the two small knives called, and what do you use them for? I think I read somewhere that one of them is used as an edge redresser? :confused: What's the leather scabbard like, quality-wise?
 
The two smaller tools are the karda and chakma. The karda is a small utility knife and the chakma is a small edge burnishing tool. The scabbards will all vary as they are handmade, but the scabbard on my 20" AK is top notch!

As for the 20" AK itself, it is a monster of a khukuri! At 39 ounces, my 20" AK is a fairly light one, but still a beast to wield. I would say that my 20" AK chops better than my 8 lb splitting maul! :eek:

If you want a heavy duty chopper, the 20" AK is what you need!

Here is a picture of my beautiful 20" AK!

5-16-1sher.JPG
 
Thanks. Ah, an edge *burnishing* tool! That makes a little more sense to me. Is the chakma the one to the right?

One question, though -- doesn't the can opener notch ("cho"?) present a structural integrity problem? How wide/thick is the tang (if anyone has disassembled it)?

It does look very intimidating, though! Is the spine thinner on the forward-curving part?
 
The Chakma is the one on the right.

The structural integrity part, yes and no. The thickness of the metal on one of my 15" AKs is about 3/8". While it does mean it is weaker than a similar knife without a cho, it doesn't mean I could bend either of them. A 20" AK will have much more metal in the same area.

The tang is as thick as the spine at the bolster and tapers down to about 3/16" on my 15" AK. I don't have a 20" so I'm not sure why I'm posting anything. Since lack of knowledge has never stopped me from posting before, I'll continue. :)

The spine does taper slightly starting at the curve not by much usually except at the final inch or two before the point.
 
The tangs on the standard models are what is commonly known as a 'stick tang'. They taper down to about a 1/4" or so relatively round piece of steel. You won't break it unless it's been overhardened, and if that does happen you will get a replacement very quickly. The scabbards often aren't up to the standard the khuks set, unfortunately. They are very functional, but not always too pretty. That's just my opinion, others have gotten very good scabbards they are very happy with.

If you'd like to see some tough, unbiased tests of HI khuks, go to Cliff Stamp's homepage. http://www.physics.mun.ca/~sstamp/knives/index.html . Trust me, you won't break one. They're tough, no BS. Also, welcome to the HI forum!
 
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25" AK
22" GRS
20" AK - Chiruwa
18" YCS
 
Oh man. Pendentive, I want...no...wait, I need a that (or it's brother) 25in Ak. I saw that I missed a couple of sales on them over the past few months. I have a 18" AK and have loved it thus far. Putting that picture up is just plain cruel.
 
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I posted this on a previous thread, this is my second 20" AK. Actually it's closer to 22". Shown with an 18" GRS for contrast. It's a monster, the specs are:

OAL 21.5"
Blade 14.5"
Spine 13/16" wide
Weight approximately five pounds
Handle circumference 5"
Karda 7"

I haven't used this one at all, but I had one previously that I used to split a lot of seasoned firewood.
 
I understand that since the khukuris are individually made by different kamis, the weight will vary. But 39 ounces (1,105 grams) and 5 pounds (2,268 grams) is too extreme a difference! Does anyone have a reliable scale, upon which they can place a 20" AK without the scabbard, small blades etc.?

I've seen comments about tip damages. Should I refrain from using the tip for piercing hard materials (dry wood, for instance)?

I have ordered the AK, by the way! My apologies to Uncle Bill for buying a 2nd hand one, but if it lives up to its reputation, I'm sure I'll become hungry for more! :D

Thanks to everyone who've contributed.
 
Tristan, the one I posted a picture of was made quite awhile back in the early days of HI and is not representative of what's produced by Birgorkha today. I thought it would be interesting to post here alongside the current ones.
 
Tristan:

Recently I acquired a 20" AK "Villager" model which weighs exactly 32 oz. It is two inches longer and two oz. lighter than my 18" AK, but you wouldn't know it from looking at them. A slight difference in blade thickness makes an exponential difference in overall weight, and an AK 20" long could be potentially very heavy.

You can pierce or strike anything you want with the tip, but it will ding up alot easier than the hardened striking surface. The chakma will straighten out most of these problems and that is mainly what I use the Chakma for. The hardened area never seems to develop any problems. What I try to do is hit with the hardened area, but when I swing short the tip catches the log and prevents a total miss. You don't get that type of protection from screw-ups with an axe.

I'd post some pics, but my updated forum membership is still "in process." Sorry.
 
I wouldn't worry about any type of wood damaging the tip, only cement or rock. clif355 described it pretty well, I'll just reiterate that they're still very tough, just not quite as much as the harder portions of the blade. The upside is that the tip will deform before it will break, if you're powerful enough to do either. Not too likely with an Ang Khola.
 
Sorry but won't post pic. It wasn't any good.
The first 20" AK was by Gurkha House (Lalit's factory). About three pounds which puts it into the two-hand range for me at least. Can swing it with one hand but not with the same control. The other one by Sanu weighs 2 1/2 pounds and is about right for this type of knife. Works like an axe but can cut the coupons out of the paper. :D
 
Here is a shot of my 20" Villager next to a 21" Gelbu Special. If one looks heavier than the other, it is an illusion because they are both two-pounders and cut about the same (which is to say they both march through wood like power tools). If you get one of the heavier ones it should really make the chips fly.
 

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Yikes! :eek: :eek:

Please tell me you used a chainsaw to fell that tree behind your khuks!
 
Originally posted by pendentive
Yikes! :eek: :eek:

Please tell me you used a chainsaw to fell that tree behind your khuks!
Click to expand...

Naw, it's static electricity!!!!;)
He rubbed the khuks on his hair and stuck 'em to the side of the tree.:rolleyes: :p :D ;)

I just know you're gonna believe that!;) :D
 
I'm innocent. That tree was DOA when I got to the scene. The only thing we are allowed to do to trees that big in this state is hug them - and not too tight.
 
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