Questions on first Khuks

P

Pan Tau

Joined
Sep 3, 2002
Messages
750
Hello,
being far away from having the money right now, I wonder which HI khukuris I should get as a first package.

:confused: 1. I need a small one with which one should be able to do some chopping (the 12" Ang Khola?)

:confused: 2. One all-around khuk (camping, hiking, bush clearing, not too heavy) (BAS?)

:confused: 3. One heavier chopper -
and here I wonder whether the 15" Ang Khola, the 18" Ang Khola or the Chiruwa Ang Khola would be fine.
So I have some questions:

Did anyone ever have problems with rust on the full tang construction of the chiruwa? (I think it could happen as the full tang is not as protected as the "rat-tail-tang" of the others - and you cannot protect the tang covered by the grip if water came in.)

What about stability? Is the full tang stronger?

...lots of questions you see. I hope you can help me,

thanks in advance
Andreas
 
I think that everyone will tell you that the small knife that chops and the all-round Khuk could be combined in the form of a BAS. You also said that you don't have much money so look for a BAS blem, they run for $60 and alot of them don't even have anything wrong.
 
BAS blem is the way to go !!

They are an absolute bargain as there is generally nothing wrong with them !!

HI standars are very high and a small little rust patch will half the price. Yangdu has an eagle eye as well - she sees things we don't so try nab a BAS blem !!

Brendan
 
Skeletor an Brendan,
thank you for recommending a BAS-Blem. I guess I will get one. It should be a good all-around blade, but at 15" I would not consider it a small knive (I know this could change after handling a 18" or 20" khukuri... :))

Any ideas about the chopper-questions mentioned in No.3 (15" AK, 18" AK, Chiruwa AK/ full tang, rat tail tang etc.)?

I will wait until I have enough money to buy the two or three khuks because of the shipping-costs to Germany - about two months to think a lot which one could be the bests - and enough to fall in love with another blade (the everest katana is a very beautiful one... :D )

Greetings from Bavaria,
Andreas
 
As for choppers, it depends...

A 21" Sirupati may be wonderful to me for chopping, I can't use it for extended periods of time because I get tired. I'm weak. However, I can chop vigorously for a couple of hours using a 15".

Some folks prefer the chiruwa and others prefer the rat tail. The construction of the chiruwa is said to transfer more shock to the hand while in use. Dunno, I haven't used a chiruwa much. As for rust I dunno either. The old carbon steel blades I've seen with similar construction haven't rusted away. So I would say with the proper care there wouldn't be much to worry about with either design.

The 12" imo is too light and short for heavy chopping but would do well in the kitchen or for general camp use. But I figure you can use a larger one for that too.

It may be wise to purchase one first. Then you will be better be able to judge your preferences.

:yawn:
 
A quick answer:

Decide what appeals to you.
Keep pics of the blades that catch your eye
and make you want to hold and look them over.
Some blades I just don't like the look.
Even the same model by the same kami will
look a little different from blade to blade.
That's why I watch this forum carefully to see
what passes through.

Rust not a problem.
Humidity -Through- handle
could create rust on enclosed
tang I suppose. Chiruwa rusting
still has more real metal than
the "rat-tail".

For general utility and/or chopping,
my list, by size, would be:

(1) 6" kages katne (small, household utility, & because of low cost)
(.) 10" Kumar karda (thinner lighter blade - nepali chef knife)
(2) 9-11" khukuri, usually village model
......any that becomes available
......(general utility, smaller, and durable)
(2) 12" ang khola (smaller light chopper, slicer, all-around,
......and "in stock", unlike 9-11" khuks)
......Maybe 12" Sirupati if weight is an issue.
(2) 12-14" villager style as available
......(this style/size is common throughout Nepal homes)
(.) 15" ang khola (a little heavier than BAS, lighter than 18")
(3) 16" M43 (sleek, all-around, chopper)
(3) 18" ang khola (chop, chop, chop, chop, chop, chop)
(.) 29" tarwar (length)

numbers indicate order I'd purchase.

I bought and liked the BAS,
but it was too light on one hand
and too heavy on the other.
It is a great blade.
And I might recommend it
if a person could buy only one blade.
But the ang khola is a better chopper,
and I think at 15" ang khola is
a better all-around user for me.
I also have a lighter, thinner yet durable
13-14" snub-nose village khuk
that I prefer to my BAS.

Also, I have a 10" 7oz village partial-tang hanuman khuk.
It's a real delight in the kitchen/home/camp.
But too "light" as an "only" blade outdoors.
A 12" AK has more mass and length for
chopping at wood or other tough items.
Although my hefty 10" could work if I used a
bat on it to enhance the mass.

10" OAL khuk is as good or better in my kitchen as
any of my 8-10" blade chef's knifes.
Slices better than I expected.

OK.....a not so quick answer. But maybe helpful.
 
I like the chiruwa AKs. At 16" to 17" they are the ideal all around size. And I think they are prettier to look at than the WWII, with their fullers and all.

I own two chiruwa AKs, and have a third (by Bura) on the way. My Sher AK is about 16.75" and weighs slightly more than 2 lbs. My Durba AK is about 16" and must weigh a full half pound less. It is much more petite all the way around; a whole different animal; faster, more of a weapon. The Sher is a monster. Both are chiruwas, they both feel great in the hand, and they are both beautiful to look at.

I think there is a reason that Uncle Bill seems to push the AKs as your entry level blade. They are beautiful representatives of khukuris. Very exotic blades.
 
I'd definitely recommend nothing less that an 18" AK as your heavy chopper (#3). Cuths everything I put under it. I feed mine wood, leather, rawhide, and I've even cut soft metals with it. Also a handy prybar, hammer, drawknife, and so on.

I'm outta my league on the smaller ones, but I'd suggest perhaps a 12, 15 or 18 inch sirupati, kobra, or Gelbu special. They' all sleek, strong, and easy to use all day. They have more snap to them. The heavy ones are chopppers, and impart more mass to the cutting. the sleeker khuks rely a bit on wrist and arm snap of the cutting power, but are light and easy to handle.

I guess I'm saying get a heavy choppping khuk and a lighter frame khuk as well. You've only just begun, so you've gott plenty of time to buy!

Wilkommen!

Keith
 
Thank you Bruise, Ddean, Ad and Ferrous,

I bought an older Khukuri-House-Panawal from a collector a few weeks ago - and broke the grip on first use :grumpy:. However I was impressed by the blade and style of khukuris and now stick to the idea of getting some more - and better ones (I noticed you have a name for this kind of "illness":)). I will repair the Panawal (its a full tang construction and hopefully not too difficult to repair) and think I will use it further on - but it is not a HI (think you all know what I mean). I also own a 13" Balance Khukuri (- but it is not really mine as my wife claims it because it's the only one with some scrollwork and she likes it).
I wonder which HI khukuri is similar to the khukuri I have (the style of the Panawal blade looks similar to the AK but the curve is further away from the grip if I`m right) - it would be easier to judge which one(s) I should get from Uncle Bill and which could wait.

bye
Andreas
 
You've done your home work !!

The 15inch AK isn't the no. 1 seller for nothing, the difference between performance of a BAS and chiruwa are slight but strength wise we are talking david and goliath (especially the chiruwa). The brass inlay on the BAS is very nice and the double frog loops are also unique. It can be easily carried on a belt (if you are so inclined) and is light enough to get used to.

Overall, whatever HI you choose you will be happy. The quality is above anything and the blades seem to have souls.

My new GS burns at my brain when it is out of reach !!

There are 2 thing about HI khukuris you can be sure of:

1. You wont just get one
2. You will love them all

Hope this helps
Brendan
 
Hi Brendan,
sorry, I'm new: What does GS stand for?

thanks and good night (I`ve been correcting homework essays for 5 hrs now - two left :barf: )
Andreas
 
Gelbu special !!

look at the post for 25/09 (I think - it's late)

It's a beaut !!
 
Gelbu Special is one of the better battle blades. It "swooshes" when you slice it through air. ;) You can get it moving real fast.
 
My two cents:

two very gross parameters determine the properties of the khuks. They are infinitely modified by the handmade properties of the blade and the various shapes.

first property: length vs. width at belly.
wide belly--chopper
thin belly--slicer or machete-like

second property: fullers
absent--shape and thickness rules, distal taper can modify somewhat
present--can drastically change the feel and balance of the blade. Anything from converting a slender blade to to something that feels like a feather in the hand, to making a smaller blade into a surprising chopper for it's size and weight.

If you purchase several, try to get two similar shaped blades with and without fullers. It is a real education, and fullers are a feature very rare in easily affordable blades. They can be magic, and I suspect present very rarely in blades that are not hand-forged.

For example the Gelbu special is like a Sirupati with a single, wide fuller. The two I have are very different.
 
Fullers rule. they also increase the work for the kami, but decrease the weight. Certianl older models had wide profiles, yet the multiple fullering kept the weight down.
 
Pan Tau - I hope we helped !!

Probably confused you but you'll get used to that !!

B
 
Thanks a lot everyone,
the thing about fullers was new to me. Actually I think I like the big bellied blades better than the thinner ones - as a long and thin blade I have an eye on the everest katana.

I´m now at about 600+ US$ for my first "I want to have this"-khukuri-package :rolleyes: - that is about 2/3 of what I get every month. I guess I will have to wait or select - and ask to make a deal with Uncle Bill concerning discount and shipping (perhaps I could send a collection of the best Bavarian beer - as it seems to be common as a "second currency" among forumites).

OK, I will eat nothing for two months and see how much I will be able to save ... and I could sell my bike and... - I think you know the effect :D

Bye from Bavaria and sorry for my not so good English

Andreas
 
I have a 20.5", 30 oz. Sirupati. I intend to get ahold of a Gelbu Special and a Chitlangi of similar length and weight to do a balance comparison. It should be interesting.
 
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