Random HI questions..

K

knife_nut73

Joined
Jun 25, 2006
Messages
299
I've been looking more and more into these knives since hearing about them. I've discovered lots of research before you buy knives since I started using and collecting knives. As this will be my first Kukri I want something rugged, average and able to handle chopping, cutting, ect. Its going to be a first, and since I'm new to this style(read all the stickies, and guides) I need something that can take some use without wrecking my pocket or someones hard work. I did look at the CS stuff(mostly as a beater that I wouldn't care about) but after reading some posts I was pointed here as the real deal. Just had a few questions. Whats the handle and material like? Are they rugged? How hard are they to sharpen and what do you need? Which model would be like the starter kukri? What should I expect to pay?
 
I've put mine through some hard use. The tangs are very strong and so are the handles. I doubt I'll ever break one.

Your best bet would be to pick one you can comfortably handle and control. I have no problems handling 20"+ khukris, but I'm a big guy.

Check out the M43 and the Chiruwa Ang Khola or maybe a 20" Sirupati or Chitlangi. Chitlangis are my favorite. Find the right size and weight for you and then just pick a style you like.

They're not hard to sharpen if you consider a khukri's main use is in the niche of a hatchet. They don't need to be literally sharp as a straight razor to perform well; in fact I have found they cut better and the edges last longer if they're sharp but not literally sharp enough to shave hair off your arm. You'll want to learn how to make a convex edge if you don't know how.

Also if you get one, be sure to test it by smacking it against logs to test for faults. Start with light blows and work up to full force blows, checking for bends and especially cracks in the blade and handle material. If it survives (chances are pretty good it will; all mine have) that test, you shouldn't ever worry about it breaking under normal use.
 
Knife nut, once you get your first H.I. Khukuri, you will definately want to own more.
No other Khukuri can compare to the strength and beauty of these blades.

Yangdu and her service here are also unmatched. In a very short time you will feel as part of the H.I. family, I know I did and its fun to watch others realize what a special forum this is, Welcome.
 
knife_nut73 said:
Just had a few questions. Whats the handle and material like? Are they rugged? How hard are they to sharpen and what do you need? Which model would be like the starter kukri? What should I expect to pay?
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Most models have what's basically a rat-tail tang that goes all the way through the handle and is peened at the butt-plate. I've never heard of anyone breaking these tangs, but if you want the toughest possible khuk, look for one of the chiruwa style handles. These are full tangs with handle scales riveted on. Someone else will have to comment on the durability of the wood and horn handle materials as I haven't used mine enough to really test it. I don't think I've seen anyone mention anything about broken handles either though. For sharpening the convex edge you'll need a few various grits of sand paper and a mouse pad. Couldn't be easier. Just lay the sandpaper on the mouse pad, lay the mouse pad on your thigh and stroke with the edge trailing. The curve of your leg lets you get the inside curve of the blade, and the mouse pad has just enough give to give the convex edge the right shape. The Ang Khola is a popular first khuk, but some models are better suited for different tasks, so if you let us know what you're wanting to do with it we can make some other suggestions. The 12 inch Ang Khola sells for $100 on the HI websight. This is a good size for hiking with since it packs easily. If you keep an eye on this forum you will see "deal of the day" posts by Yangdu. If you keep an eye on these and are fast enough with your e-mail you can get a great khuk for under a hundred bucks, sometimes well under. Hope this helps you out and answers most of your questions.
 
If you start with a 15 to 16.5 in khuk, you can stop there (hahahahahahaha) or move up or down.

I prefer an AK style, but there are as many devotees as there are models.

For woods-walking, my choice is a 12in AK for its general utility and lighter weight.

Welcome.



Kis
enjoy every sandwich
 
Welcome Knife Knut:)

I the #1 seller for HI is the 15" Ang Khola. This is what most people who start collecting HI khuks start with. It will be heavy enough to chop through most things, light enough to pack, strong enough to pry with, and of a familiar size to those that have used larger bowies in the past (9-10" blade with the remainder being handle).

The handles are rugged as rugged can be. They come in horn or wood. The horn tends to look more "exotic" while the wood, IMHO, is more stable and can be customized a little more easily.

As far as sharpening goes, the khuk responds well to most any kind of sharpening method. It's a good carbon steel that will get sharp via stone, sharpening steel, or belt sander. Most folks seem to like to convex the edge even more with a belt sander. Personally, I do all of my sharpening by hand with stones, steels, sand paper, and leather. The khuks have a Rockwell of around 57-60 at the "sweet spot" (about an inch to inch and a half from the tip and will extend 3"-5" depending on the khuk shape and length). The tip and re-curve will run slightly softer as the khuk edge is designed to dent and roll when you strike something hard rather than chip. Therefore, you shouldn't need any fancy diamond hones to keep it sharp.

You can e-mail Yangdu at himimp@aol.com if you would like to find the "perfect" khuk. She's a wonderful lady that is a pleasure to do business with. Or, you can wait for the Deal of the Day. Every so often (maybe a couple times a week give or take), Yangdu will post up some fantastic deals. Some of these knives are one of a kind items that don't come along often. Many of them are blems with just a little bit of rust or a dinged up scabbard. All of them come with HI's lifetime warranty. It's a good way to save big bucks on a khuk. They are usually around 1-3pm Eastern time. You gotta be quick sending your e-mail though. These babies go fast:D!

Some of the more common khuks that show up that might be best suited for your needs are: 15-18" AK's, 17" M-43 (very curvy...not the best starter khuk, IMHO), 16.5"-18" WWII. 16.5" Chiruwa AK (the kind with the slab handles pinned to the side of the tang.)

Once again, welcome:)
 
It doesn't really matter which one you get first. You're going to wind up with 40 of them, and at least 10 swords- like all the rest of us.


Mike
 
My favorite all-arounder is the British Army Service (BAS) model. It's ordinarily a little thinner than the ang kholas I've seen, blade-wise, which may make it a bit more serviceable for tasks other than chopping than are the really-thick big blades. The 15-inch overall size (with 10-inch blade) of the BAS makes it lighter and more likely to actually get carried than the bigger khukuris. It's quite a respectable chopper, too.

It's routinely offered for sale for about $100 on the Himalayan Imports shop site. However, if you lurk on the H.I. forum, noting when Yangdu posts the sales, you can often find it on sale for significantly less--especially if you're not averse to buying one with a little rust, a small crack in the handle, etc. Rust I just polish off; handle cracks I fill with epoxy.

One thing I always do with a new H.I. khukuri is chop it into a log and lean on it, back and forth, side to side, just to make sure it'll stand up to whatever I do with it. I've never had one break--EVER. But I've heard that occasionally one will, so I do this to make sure that if it's going to happen, it'll happen in a time and place where I can send it back according to the can't-be-beat guarantee, instead of way out in the woods somewhere. (Reflect on this: how many other makers of "tough" knives will guarantee replacement if you break it, so that you can actually afford to test your knife before taking it out into the wilderness and betting your life it'll work?)

They can be sharpened using ordinary stones, if you want. Convex sharpening and occasionally steeling the edge with the steel that comes with the knife (called a "chakma") is worth learning how to do. There are discussions of these procedures among the "sticky" posts at the top of the forum. It took me some practice, but now most of my khukuris have hair-popping, polished, convex edges, which I like quite a bit.

Have fun!
 
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