- Joined
- Feb 4, 1999
- Messages
- 5,786
I had an opportunity recently to do a lot of cutting with one of my khukuris. I couldn't find my favorite, a Himalayan Imports village model, so I used a Ghurka House model I have had for a couple years. I don't know what model it is, but it is your typical khukuri...about 16-17" long overall. Basically it looks to be about the same as an HI WWII model. The khukuri came to me used and had a pretty beat up edge (doesn't cut anything), but it chops like crazy! <p>
Like most real Himalayan khuks this one is probably 5160 forged from an old car spring. As usual, it is about 1/2" thick or more at the spine with a slightly hollow grind and a broad, thick convex edge. There is some engraving and light brass inlay on the blade and it had a polished finish at some point in its lifetime. This one has a horn handle. It also has a major right bend to it, but I have yet to see a khukuri that is straight from one end to the other.<p>
A few things that I like about this khukuri are its handle and its feel in the hand. The handle is thicker than most of my other khukuris, so it gives a nice secure grip. It is also a shade longer than most, so it helps keep my hand away from the point at the end of the handle which always rubs you raw after prolonged use. The khukuri itself is very heavy, too. Compared to an HI WWII and my HI village model, both of which are about the same size, the GH is noticeably heavier. It also has more of a forward cant to it. On a powerful swing, the sweet spot is placed basically so you catch whatever you are cutting on the backswing!<p>
I had a tree fall over this winter and I used the GH to cut all the limbs off. It exceled at this task, despite having a completely dull edge. On some thinner branches, I just turned the khuk around and whacked them with the spine of the blade and they snapped right off. All that mass really pays off when chopping. The wood is very dense, and I think it is a maple of some type, but I am not positive. I worked on the trunk (about 1.5' across where I was working) and the khuk took huge hunks on each swing, but started to lose effectiveness about halfway through. I used a wood saw to finish cutting, but as the saw started to bind I used the khukuri like a splitting wedge by sticking it in the cut, edge down, and using a branch to smash the spine into the cut and separate the log a bit so the saw could continue without hanging up.<p>
I know any good khukuri can take such abuse, but I was surprised to see how the spine was totally unmarked even while being beaten with a branch over a hundred times! Pretty impressive.<p>
I am a die-hard Himalayan Imports fan myself, but if GH is continuing to import khukuris like the one I have, then their product is very good, too. You can't go wrong with either company, and nothing is more fun than having an excuse to take one of these things in the yard and chop stuff up!
Like most real Himalayan khuks this one is probably 5160 forged from an old car spring. As usual, it is about 1/2" thick or more at the spine with a slightly hollow grind and a broad, thick convex edge. There is some engraving and light brass inlay on the blade and it had a polished finish at some point in its lifetime. This one has a horn handle. It also has a major right bend to it, but I have yet to see a khukuri that is straight from one end to the other.<p>
A few things that I like about this khukuri are its handle and its feel in the hand. The handle is thicker than most of my other khukuris, so it gives a nice secure grip. It is also a shade longer than most, so it helps keep my hand away from the point at the end of the handle which always rubs you raw after prolonged use. The khukuri itself is very heavy, too. Compared to an HI WWII and my HI village model, both of which are about the same size, the GH is noticeably heavier. It also has more of a forward cant to it. On a powerful swing, the sweet spot is placed basically so you catch whatever you are cutting on the backswing!<p>
I had a tree fall over this winter and I used the GH to cut all the limbs off. It exceled at this task, despite having a completely dull edge. On some thinner branches, I just turned the khuk around and whacked them with the spine of the blade and they snapped right off. All that mass really pays off when chopping. The wood is very dense, and I think it is a maple of some type, but I am not positive. I worked on the trunk (about 1.5' across where I was working) and the khuk took huge hunks on each swing, but started to lose effectiveness about halfway through. I used a wood saw to finish cutting, but as the saw started to bind I used the khukuri like a splitting wedge by sticking it in the cut, edge down, and using a branch to smash the spine into the cut and separate the log a bit so the saw could continue without hanging up.<p>
I know any good khukuri can take such abuse, but I was surprised to see how the spine was totally unmarked even while being beaten with a branch over a hundred times! Pretty impressive.<p>
I am a die-hard Himalayan Imports fan myself, but if GH is continuing to import khukuris like the one I have, then their product is very good, too. You can't go wrong with either company, and nothing is more fun than having an excuse to take one of these things in the yard and chop stuff up!