Quality of different khukuri manufacturer?

[munk]

I carry a 18" 28 ounce khuk in the woods frequently. I gather small wood samples that I may later work with, clear an occasional obstruction, and feel the khuk is more then adequate for man or cougar. I used to carry a handgun, but it weighs more, and I can't gather wood samples with it.


Away from my home hills I may or may not take a khuk- or handgun- or both,

I think a khukuri is a pretty neat thing to have on you if the world happens to end on the afternoon of your hike.



munk

 

[Dave Rishar]

Steve?

I believe that he's talking about self defense in his home. Concealment (or lack thereof) wouldn't be an issue.

 

[Leatherface]

A melee weapon for homedefense??

Two words for ya...



CHAIN SAW!!!!

Yuppers get your self a really nice middle sized chainsaw and keep the blades sharp and the motor ready to go..

Dude breaks in all ya gotta do is pull the starter and show him tha love..Legal pretty much everywhere and makes a really nice conversation piece among friends...:thumbup:

 

[bwray]

I think a khukuri is a pretty neat thing to have on you if the world happens to end on the afternoon of your hike.
munk

Other than some sort of firestarter, I can't think of anything else I'd rather have with me for outdoor survival than a 15" - 18" khuk. My best 18" is the 28 oz. HI villager AK and I'm hoping the DOTD 15", 18 oz. PK I bought last Thursday will serve at the small end of the scale. Will test, photograph and report when the PI arrives. For me, minimal equipment for spending time in the woods is: 1) firestarter; 2) good khuk; 3) parachute cord.:thumbup:

 

[munk]

There's probably a flaw in the chainsaw defense but I can't think of it. Maybe pillows and stuff to tie the chain up.
Worked good for Doom.

I repeat this every 8 months for the newbies. I am not a knife guy. I am a gun guy who was hijacked on his way to getting a throwing hawk. Once I found the khuk, I knew I was a Khukuri guy, and a HI Kukri guy.

The khukuri is just about the best tool I can think of to have around in the woods. I still like my Ruger Redhawk 41, my Ruger Bisley 41, my SW Model 57 nickel plate 4", and my Rusty Desert Memorial Model 58.

But at 28 ounces, the khuk is just so nice to carry and does so much work.

munk

 

[Astrodada]

Hey munk can 28 oz be given a plus or minus ?

Say for some tip heavy nicely profile blade like the BGRS, the cutting ability would be the same even weighting say...3 oz less ?

 

[SASSAS]

So I don't want to spend alot on the khukuri .( I'll buy 5 - 6 khukuri,1 put in the bathroom,1 in toilet,1 in my workshop,I in the bedroom, 1 in my van )

A couple problems with this one...
1) Rust
2) Sitting Down

 

[munk]

depending upon blade profile, design, weight distribution and edge geometry; sure, plus or minus a couple ounces. The fat range is probably something like 26 to 32.


munk

 

[bwray]

I don't ordinarily discuss KH blades here because it is an HI forum. But since it's been brought up, I own five KH blades. The finish quality is inferior to HI but more than adequate. I am not familiar with the differences in blade steel, but in casual use I notice no difference in edge retention between the two brands. I am partial to the Panawal (full tang) models and each one I own has required some belt sanding to even up the wood to metal fit of the tang. Since i have purchased a small belt sander this doesn't bother me, but doing the job by hand with a file is quite a chore, and I returned one. I like the blades for various design characteristics that are just different from those offered by HI. If HI is the Cadillac of khuks, then KH would be the SUV. They are generally heavier and perhaps a little more robust.

Hope this casual, impartial revue is taken in the spirit in which it is offered.

 

[munk]

That's informative, bwray- thanks.

Once upon a time HI was criticised for making axes, not khuks, because the line was generally so heavy. I would like to note that recently Yangdu has confirmed the use of spring steel, not the sheet steel from India Tora and other houses use.

If I had advance notice of the world ending, it would be a HI blade in my hand when the time came. Not only are they strong, with a real guarentee, but Rusty and Bill sang them along. The Dharma work continues in Nepal. The Cantina plugs along. Spirit, strength and heart; that's good enough for me.


munk

 

[Azis]

In order of quality I would list

1. HI
2. GH
3. KH
4. AC
5. Tourist models (little coins on the sheath)
6. the cheap ones on ebay that are large and have wood handles and sell for a few bucks.
7. the new plastic handle ones now showing up on ebay.

I have about 90 Hi over 100 Gh about 20 KH and a couple dozen tourist other than rust they are all solid. Many I have had for many years and have done all sorts of things with them.

The HI is not just a little better it is much better in fact so much that it's not really a fair comparison.

 

[tedwca]

Ok, I did a quick photo session(not the greatest pics, but...) and created a quick website from Apple's iWeb software. It might be a little graphics heavy(sorry dial up guys). Here's the link:

http://web.mac.com/tedwilson/iWeb/Khukuris/HI and KH knives.html

 

[M. Taylor]

I dont' see much mentioned about Nepalese Kukri House. Any opinions on them?

 

[cavetech]

Steve?

I believe that he's talking about self defense in his home. Concealment (or lack thereof) wouldn't be an issue.

Hi Dave:

My previous post on this thread was about someone purchasing kuks for the explicit purpose of self defense. I don't know of any sugar coated way to say this.

In my opinion, and solely my opinion, it's so far out as to not even be considered as a viable option. If one is attacked out in the woods, at the 7-11 or in their own home, taking the time to draw a heavy kuk and then engageing in a close quarters knife fight against a fast lighter knife is ludicrous and unrealistic.

If a person feels the need to have a weapon at hand in a life and death confrontation, a kuk ain't it. Get real.

There are no winners in a knife fight. If someone pulls a knife, run away or shoot him. If you think you are going to stand there and conduct a brillant knife attack, explain all you injuries to Blue Cross. Even if you survive, you will be cut up bad.

There are other experienced individuals on this list that will tell you the same thing if they spoke up. I just don't have the tact tonight to say nothing.

 

[Svashtar]

In order of quality I would list

1. HI
2. GH
3. KH
4. AC
5. Tourist models (little coins on the sheath)
6. the cheap ones on ebay that are large and have wood handles and sell for a few bucks.
7. the new plastic handle ones now showing up on ebay.

I have about 90 Hi over 100 Gh about 20 KH and a couple dozen tourist other than rust they are all solid. Many I have had for many years and have done all sorts of things with them.

The HI is not just a little better it is much better in fact so much that it's not really a fair comparison.

I don't even know about GH. I have seen a couple of their knives, but aren't they gone now? And you have a hundred of them? Wow.

To answer M. Taylor's question, I do know about NKH. Their stuff is good, but the quality of the smaller wood handled knives is not that good, at least on the handle finishes. I understand that the same kamis who make knives for KH and Khukuri palace also makes knives for NKH. (So far I have never really gotten into KH even though they have a lot of models, as I get the same with HI without the shipping hassles, and I have NKH which is very similar. All my knives are HI by a huge majority, with about 20 NKH and Tora.)

I have several of the NKH mid sized and larger knives and they are well made overall. The frogs are very thin, but they are decent quality and the scabbard fit is good. They have several unique models. The shipping about killed me though. Tora makes some fine authentic knives as well. They are much lighter overall, maybe because of the stock they use as Munk mentioned. They come very sharp (via England) with good karda and chakmas.

For sheer # of models though, and variations and handle / wood types and constant new models (not to mention a continuous quality improvement mindset which I admire greatly), combined with a no BS warranty, free shipping, and knives that are extremely overbuilt and will last you a lifetime, HI just can't be beat IMO. There is a reason this is the most active forum on Bladeforums.

Norm

 

[Dave Rishar]

If a person feels the need to have a weapon at hand in a life and death confrontation, a kuk ain't it. Get real.

What is your recommendation? Remember, firearms aren't an option here.

 

[jmings]

What is your recommendation? Remember, firearms aren't an option here.

IMNSHO, friends, what ever one has and training with constant practice.
I am reminded of a quote from a novel taking place in the Middle Ages:
"Any warrior with a staff can beat a fool with a sword."

 

[Astrodada]

Well true jmings.....we have a saying here : "In barehand fighting the younger wins. but with staff fighting, the older excels" Practise and experience prevails.

 

[Azis]

<<I don't even know about GH. I have seen a couple of their knives, but aren't they gone now? And you have a hundred of them? >>

yes a guy started selling them on ebay a couple of years ago service models so I made a deal at 30 each and got them for my students, I kept 4 boxes of them still packed. They are not bad knives still not anything like even my cheapest HI blems but for the price they do the job.

 

[jamesraykenney]

Hi Dave:

My previous post on this thread was about someone purchasing kuks for the explicit purpose of self defense. I don't know of any sugar coated way to say this.

In my opinion, and solely my opinion, it's so far out as to not even be considered as a viable option. If one is attacked out in the woods, at the 7-11 or in their own home, taking the time to draw a heavy kuk and then engageing in a close quarters knife fight against a fast lighter knife is ludicrous and unrealistic.

If a person feels the need to have a weapon at hand in a life and death confrontation, a kuk ain't it. Get real.

There are no winners in a knife fight. If someone pulls a knife, run away or shoot him. If you think you are going to stand there and conduct a brillant knife attack, explain all you injuries to Blue Cross. Even if you survive, you will be cut up bad.

There are other experienced individuals on this list that will tell you the same thing if they spoke up. I just don't have the tact tonight to say nothing.

While I agree with a LOT of that...
Depending on just what you are using, speed is not EVERYTHING...
At some point, you start getting into the 'Don't bring a knife to a sword fight' category... Otherwise, throughout history, everyone would have been using only small knives and daggers, where in actual fact, they carried the biggest longest thing that their technology could produce, that would still allow them to be fast enough to score a hit...
A gun is, of course, MUCH better in almost all circumstances, but even people that use guns everyday often carry a knife for backup for when they are in a situation where someone is trying to get their gun away from them...
BUT... And this is a BIG BUT... from what I have read here, a gun is NOT an option where he lives...
I would suggest though, that a baseball bat would be almost, if not more useful to take out someone with a knife...
It would be very hard to stop a baseball bat with your hands, though admittedly a bit safer than trying to stop a LARGE khuk...