Replace my Bhojpure with an M43?

Reading over this thread I think I'm come to a conclusion...Please share your thoughts on what I THINK I've decided:

Again, I'm not exactly in the position to be a collector of these extravagant knives (though as I stated before - I would if I could). I think my best move would be to sell my 15" Ang Khola and my Kabar kukri-machete in order to justify my purchase of an M43. I'll try out the M43 against the Bhojpure and see which I prefer... then depending on how near-broke I am, either keep both or sell the one that isn't as much to my liking.

Can't wait until I'm out of college and have some actual $$ to throw around :(
 
Here it comes. . .

When I finally (after 4 years of hemming and hawing) ordered an HI kukri, I wanted a blade that could outchop a similar length hatchet, and act as a survival tool for the PAW (Post-Apocalyptic World). A 20" CAK was the choice. Yangdu sent me a beautiful example (didn't have one in stock, had one made -- by Bura! -- and shipped over). Since then it's become my favorite, and most used blade.
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The M43 I bought after reading WildMike forever go on about it, rose fast to close the hgap to the "favorite" spot my CAK holds. It came real close. After using both side-by-side each morning this week, I'll say my first CAK still holds top honors. It does outchop it ( it weighs a lot more -- a hair over 40 oz -- and putting it directly next to my M43, the M43 only drops about 1 inch more than the CAK. Maybe that's why it works so well?). But, the M43 is a very close second and definitely wins out if weight becomes an issue.
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You could do much worse than the M43, and if the Bhojpure is too heavy, I'd go for the M43 over a CAK.

Now, to throw another wrench in the works, if you want a good all-round survival knife, there's also the AK bowie, which is a hell of a chopper for its size.
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Yeah, I'm a bastard, I know. ;)

I understand the broke college student thing, but just be prepared. I got lucky and bought the best tool for me ont he first shot, yet now I've got. . .I really don't know how many kukris, at least a dozen, plus knives, swords, some things I don't know how to classify. . .It never ends. I even look at my much more expensive blades from time to time and wonder why I have them.
 
Replace? What word is this?

ADD! Add and more add. Khukuris do not like to be alone. They love their brothers and sisters.
 
Killa... if you read through what Corp shared above, and check out the review thread on this forum on the super CAK by wolf 1989. You will notice a common thread. While the 20" AK's barely outchopped the M-43 they did it at the cost of a lot more weight. The M-43 does the same work with far less effort. It is also much faster in the hand, more agile and faster on the return. Its performance is way above what would be exected from a knife of its size and weight.

When I made the decision to purchase my M-43 I examined all the technical info I could get off the website first and that info indicated to me the superior characteristics of the M-43.

I too was very short on money so I had to make my bucks really count.

According to the laws of physics a faster thinner blade will cut deeper than a heavier thicker one. The edge on the M-43 is a shearing edge, it is designed to produce a higher speed to the cutting edge. The weight of my heavier M-43 is only 27 oz.. My first by Bura, weighs in at a light 24 oz. The same weight as a 15" AK I have. The edge is roughly half to 2/3's the thickness of the AK with a wide bevel. These things cut.

If your interest is in a superior survival blade then it is IMHO your best choice. Mine served me several years in survival conditions enabling me to build shelters, traps, furnishings etc.
As I have related in several other threads dealing with my experiences with the M-43 it enabled me not only to survive but to thrive in those conditions. The M-43 and the application of a fair bit of knowledge saved my life in no uncertain terms. You may say I was able to extensively test the knife and its design in extreme field conditions over an extended period of time. Needless to say It passed.
 
wildmike said:
Killa... if you read through what Corp shared above, and check out the review thread on this forum on the super CAK by wolf 1989. You will notice a common thread. While the 20" AK's barely outchopped the M-43 they did it at the cost of a lot more weight. The M-43 does the same work with far less effort. It is also much faster in the hand, more agile and faster on the return. Its performance is way above what would be exected from a knife of its size and weight.

When I made the decision to purchase my M-43 I examined all the technical info I could get off the website first and that info indicated to me the superior characteristics of the M-43.

I too was very short on money so I had to make my bucks really count.

According to the laws of physics a faster thinner blade will cut deeper than a heavier thicker one. The edge on the M-43 is a shearing edge, it is designed to produce a higher speed to the cutting edge. The weight of my heavier M-43 is only 27 oz.. My first by Bura, weighs in at a light 24 oz. The same weight as a 15" AK I have. The edge is roughly half to 2/3's the thickness of the AK with a wide bevel. These things cut.

If your interest is in a superior survival blade then it is IMHO your best choice. Mine served me several years in survival conditions enabling me to build shelters, traps, furnishings etc.
As I have related in several other threads dealing with my experiences with the M-43 it enabled me not only to survive but to thrive in those conditions. The M-43 and the application of a fair bit of knowledge saved my life in no uncertain terms. You may say I was able to extensively test the knife and its design in extreme field conditions over an extended period of time. Needless to say It passed.
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I swear it's pitchforks and torches if I get my M-43 next week and it doesn't match up to the hype Wildmike gives it! Haha. :D He loves and swears by that thing as do many people. So I decided yesterday to make the plunge. I'll put it up against my U.F. when it gets here. Keeping in mind the U.F. is roughly the same length but almost twice the weight.
 
John Shields said:
I swear it's pitchforks and torches if I get my M-43 next week and it doesn't match up to the hype Wildmike gives it! Haha. :D He loves and swears by that thing as do many people. So I decided yesterday to make the plunge. I'll put it up against my U.F. when it gets here. Keeping in mind the U.F. is roughly the same length but almost twice the weight.
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Wow you bought an M43 too, congrats!

Can you post a picture of the one you ordered, and let me know the handle material and blade length?

As in survival theme would you say wood is preferable?

Thanks!
 
Mtell1 said:
Wow you bought an M43 too, congrats!

Can you post a picture of the one you ordered, and let me know the handle material and blade length?

As in survival theme would you say wood is preferable?

Thanks!
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Yeah I got myself an M-43. :\ Wildmike better be right! As for pictures... the ones on the website are a bit grainy. So I'll take some photos when I get it in to put it into contrast. The Ultimate Fighter I got a couple days ago is here. It's a fantastic looking blade and does some SERIOUS chopping (I'd wonder how well compared to the AK's or CAK's). Unfortunately it's as I thought it would be... REALLY heavy. The M-43 is said to be significantly lighter.

When I chose my M-43 I asked for the "smaller" handle variant (there's a larger and smaller version) and for horn material. I like the look of the horn as some of the wood handles are rather bright in color. If they had a real dark wood color I would have gone with that. I suppose if I wanted to go through the trouble I could have gotten the wood, and then added my own stain color to it after some woodworking. But it's more work than necessary right now.

As for which is better for a handle? I don't think either is better than the other. Some of the guys here will of course have their preference. Wood may be less likely to crack when dropped... but may be less sturdy when wet. Depends I would say on the actual wood. I like the horn because of the smoothness and look. Eventually though once I find my perfect Khukuri, I'll be working on getting a custom handle for it anyway.
 
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I prefer horn due to its being slicker. However after working with the wood handled kuks I've found that it makes just about no difference in handling. The satisal wood (rosewood) is very durable. I know little about the Neem wood except that they are lighter in color.
 
wildmike said:
I prefer horn due to its being slicker. However after working with the wood handled kuks I've found that it makes just about no difference in handling. The satisal wood (rosewood) is very durable. I know little about the Neem wood except that they are lighter in color.
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Yeah my U.F. has the Satisal wood handle. It had the texture and feel that it could probably stop a bullet (very HARD wood). But I wonder how durable it'll be over time or when exposed to the elements for long periods of time.

But either way I think these handle materials will last (it's been said that they should last quite a few years). It's just personal preference in which you choose.
 
Great thanks for the info and again congrats on the 2 new knifes :D, cant wait to see your posted pics when you get it! :thumbup:
 
John I seal the wood with boot grease after sanding with 800 grit paper or finer. Most folks use wax I just used what was handy. Most folks treat the horn with mineral oil or hoof dressing. Both have held up exceptionaly well in extreme outdoor conditions with minimal care.

Let me know how ya like the M-43.
 
b.c.molin said:
Excellent pick-up wolfenhawk. :D

Some might say Wolf_1989 has the Chitlangi variant and perhaps acquired a newly discovered Super CAK strain as well? :p :thumbup: :D
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Eventually the Super CAK will be regarded as the king of khukuris.

:thumbup:
 
Wolf_1989 said:
Eventually the Super CAK will be regarded as the king of khukuris.

:thumbup:
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Hi, Ive never heard of the Super CAK model, is the super a beefed up version?

It really sucks that there is no search function (for free members) on this forum as I could quickly find that out...
 
Mtell read that whole thread on the super CAK. We cover several points of comparison between the M-43, super CAK etc. It performs on a par with the M-43. which says a lot about both knives.
 
wildmike said:
Mtell read that whole thread on the super CAK. We cover several points of comparison between the M-43, super CAK etc. It performs on a par with the M-43. which says a lot about both knives.
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Yeah my brother and I have both agreed that the SCAK, as far as performance goes, is basically like a large M43.
 
Well I went ahead and put my Ang Khola and kabar kukri-machete up for sale and contacted Auntie Yangdu about an M43... I'm going to miss the AK - it was quite the little workhorse. Compromise sucks :(

I hate to seem like I'm self advertising, but If anyone would like to help out the jobless college student, I'm willing to cut a deal for forum members who might want to purchase the AK for their collection or as a gift for someone - Just shoot me an email :)
 
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