Seeking wisdom from my HI experts.

[Scara]

Davidf99, I'm 5'11 and 220lbs. I like to think I'm pretty fit and try to do most things the hard way as a means of exercise. I like the idea of a heavier khukri to pound stakes and other stuff. I really appreciate your help, also do you carry a file for sharpening or something like a pocket stone?
Respectfully, Chance.

Most kukris come with a chakmak, which is pretty much a honing steel. It'll do most of what you need in the field if you don't abuse the blade.

 

[Jens Schuetz]

ferdinand:

No one on this thread has asked the key questions. How big and fit are you? How much really heavy chopping will you be doing, like cutting down trees or large logs, as opposed to general camping and hiking chores? Without knowing those answers, people are just telling you what's best for them, not what might be best for you.

The large, heavy HI blades are more like short-handled axes than any non-HI knives that you might have encountered, including knives that are described as choppers. If you buy an HI blade that is too heavy/unwieldy for you, it might end up as a closet queen.

Some people swear by their 20" 42 oz heavy HI choppers, but they might be physically much different from you, and their usage needs might be different. Unless you are very fit and have a lot of very heavy chopping to do, I would not make a 20" Ang Khola the first purchase. It might turn out to be the best blade for five percent of what you do, but too heavy for the other ninety-five percent.

A 15" AK (that's overall length, by the way, not blade length) can cut anything that an 18" or 20" AK can cut; it will just take longer. So if heavy chopping is only a small part of how you will be using the blade, then it might make sense to go with the 15" AK, which will be more convenient for most tasks.

Any of the models listed by cul4u01 above will work just fine. I am partial to the M43 and WWII models myself, like Bookie. FYI, the HI versions tend to have thicker, heavier blades than the corresponding models used during WWII. That makes sense inasmuch as nowadays the blades are much more likely to be used on wood rather than enemy soldiers.

No one? Hmm.

 

[bailey newman]

I carry two ceramic rods and a belt strop

 

[Yangdu]

My suggestion is get the 16 inch Chiurwa Ang Khola
Welcome to the HI and blade forum

 

[mohd]

.. I'm 5'11 and 220lbs ..

Ferdinand, go for a wood handle 18" WW II.
IIRC in one of the old thread the majority of the forumites agreed that 18" WW II is considered as the most versatile Khuk around.
With your size IMVHO 18" WW II will serve best your purposes.

mohd

 

[Umi]

Welcome!

I would listen to Auntie Yangdu, that is some solid advice from someone who knows.

I am your clone at 5'11"+ and 220lbs. Fit, and hard way. My first kuk was a 18" tin chirra. It is a beautiful blade. I use it some, sweet med to heavy chopper. Of course, that blade carried the HIV, or Himalayan Import Virus. I scoured the DOTD threads, and found a DYNAMITE 16" Chiurwa Ang Kohla. That was my go to blade. I used it so much I even made it a part of my truck kit. That was my demise. My son "borrowed" it to chop firewood with papa, and now i cant trade him anything for it. The 16" is alot more than you think. The weight and balance is sublime. I have made chunks fly the size of sliders at TGIF. For real for real. I thought bigger might be better, and got a 25" Magnum Ang Kohla. My Holy Grail knife. 4 lbs of axe with a 20" blade. After accidentally lobotomizing a innocent Bacchus imp lawn statue, i feared losing a leg, or several pints of blood, or both.

I guess what im trying to say is : the only thing better than a 16" ang kohla would be a 16" Chiruwa Ang kohla. The Chiurwa is when the tang is full, with 2 handle half's riveted, and guaranteed by HI to be indestructible, even when used as a pry bar. I have several chiurwa's now, but never had a problem with a regular full tang from HI. Once you get familiar with the 16", if you want/need to see chunks the size of big mac's fly, go larger slowly. The blades personalities change exponentially. Im fine with the 18's, but it is more than I need most times. I dont have any heavy 20's. The light 20's are great in open space on thorny vines, when you want to stay back. On saw grass i like light 16" or 18" blade. The 20" is just a little too slow.

 

[Bigbore577]

I agree wit UMI and the others on a 20" heavy weight. It may be to much of a good thing for many. I have a 20" Super CAK around 46oz IIRC, not an all day, every day Khukri.

 

[ferdinand]

I wanted to update you all, I gave HI a call today and unbelievably the one and only Auntie answers. We spoke briefly and if all goes as planned I'm going to be in Reno in the near future. She told me to give her a heads up to when I'd be there and we'd meet and pick a blade/blades. I'm so grateful for her and your hospitality, I've asked a few questions on bladeforums and by far this is the most accommodating area.
Respectfully, Chance.

 

[Bigbore577]

I wanted to update you all, I gave HI a call today and unbelievably the one and only Auntie answers. We spoke briefly and if all goes as planned I'm going to be in Reno in the near future. She told me to give her a heads up to when I'd be there and we'd meet and pick a blade/blades. I'm so grateful for her and your hospitality, I've asked a few questions on bladeforums and by far this is the most accommodating area.
Respectfully, Chance.

You're in the best hands EVER! Spend little notice to what I've said, I defer to Auntie's vastly superior knowledge! She grew up at the base of the Himalayan mountains visiting Kamis as a necessity. She knows the real deal unlike others proclaiming to know such and I'm not speaking of fellow forum members.

 

[CHEMMINS]

I got a 17.5" 31 oz WWII for my first Khuk and couldn't be happier. I think it fits the bill for what you are wanting to do with.

 

[Jackal_89]

Not trying to de-rail the OP's thread, but perhaps my own question will help them as well.

What is the big difference between the WWII and the BAS? I mean, weren't BAS models used back then?

 

[cul4u01]

Not trying to de-rail the OP's thread, but perhaps my own question will help them as well.

What is the big difference between the WWII and the BAS? I mean, weren't BAS models used back then?

I know that the shape of the blade is different. I have both, and I much prefer my BAS, I don't know why, I just do. Just like many things, it just comes down to personal preference.

 

[mohd]

.. What is the big difference between the WWII and the BAS? ..

I have both 15" BAS 1.25 lbs and 18" WW II 2 lbs.
Jackal, for the sake of discussion the difference between WW II and BAS are in the length (different in 3") and the weight (different in .75 lbs).
I am 5' 6" and 143 lbs so I'm more comfy with BAS.
Ferdinand is 5' 11" and 220 lbs so I guess he should be better off with 18" WW II.

.. the shape of the blade is different ..

Yes, you're right Cul, the shape of 18" WW II and BAS is slightly different and IMVHO it cause the 18" WW II more front heavy compared to BAS meaning it makes the 18" WW II more effective for chopping and felling trees.

Furthermore Ferdinand wrote:

.. I want a big chopper .. a utility tool .. I also want a sheath .. I currently trap, hunt and hike .. a machete and double bit axe ..

WW II is a big chopper, a utility Khuk and IMG it should be a carry-able blade for a user with Ferdinand's size!
And again IMG the 18" WW II stands in between of a machete and double bit axe!

So in summary the factors which should be seriously taken into consideration in choosing the right Khuk for the right functions are the shape and the size of the Khuk as well as the size of the user himself!

That's my 2cO pal

mohd

 

[davidf99]

I have both 15" BAS 1.25 lbs and 18" WW II 2 lbs.

Jackal, for the sake of discussion the difference between WW II and BAS are in the length (different in 3") and the weight (different in .75 lbs).

I am 5' 6" and 143 lbs so I'm more comfy with BAS. Ferdinand is 5' 11" and 220 lbs so I guess he should be better off with 18" WW II....

mohd:

I agree with most of your posting. However, all HI models come in a variety of lengths and weights. Your particular WWII is longer and heavier than your particular BAS, but some BAS are longer and heavier, while some WWIIs are shorter and lighter. As far as DOTDs on this forum are concerned, in the past several years I've seen many more WWIIs than BAS, so availability might be an issue.

In spite of the variation in lengths and weights, some generalizations can be made. For example, a 20" Ang Khola (or CAK) will likely be too heavy for extended use by most forumites, because the AK is a very heavy model by design and there is usually a huge difference in weight between 18" and 20" for a given model. That's because everything (length, width and thickness) tends to be proportionately bigger. On the other hand, a 20" Chitlangi or Sirupati will probably be significantly lighter weight....

For general purpose usage (camping, hiking, chopping) I suggest the "80-20 rule." In general it says that 80 percent of the cost of a project is due to the toughest 20 percent of the specs. For purposes of choosing a knife, I'd say to buy one that is ideal for the most common (80 percent) of your expected usage, as long as it can handle (perhaps not perfectly) the least common (20 percent) of required tasks.

When someone says "camping, hiking, chopping" I would pretty much rule out anything like a 20" Ang Khola. Even if the user is a big guy, why lug around such a heavy chunk of steel? If it's for the exercise you can pack along a barbell. A 15" CAK or an 18" WWII will probably be similar in weight, and either one can handle all normal camping, hiking and chopping tasks. I agree with you that an 18" WWII would be good for a big guy like Ferdinand. Probably even a 16" or 17" WWII, depending on how much actual hiking is involved.

One other thing: When someone new to HI says that he wants a "big chopper" I would take that with a grain of salt, since even the lighter weight HI blades might be considered "big choppers" compared to other knives in the non-HI world. For example, a 1/4" spine is considered quite thick for most non-HI blades, but in the HI world 3/8" spines are more common and even 1/2" spines are not unusual for models like an 18" Ang Khola. Many people when they get their first HI khukuri are pleasantly surprised at how massive they really are.

 

[Bawanna]

You both make good valid points in man area's.

One reason I usually suggest getting the feet wet, perhaps with a KLVUK or any DOTD that appeals to get a feel for what's what.

Pictures and talk here can't begin to compare to slipping one of these HI beauties out of a lovely triangle box for the first time.

Then there's another transition when you stop drooling and start chopping whereby you say, Ok I get it. I need longer, or shorter or lighter or heavier.

Excellent analogy on the 80/20 thing, I like that a lot. It's kind of like my wife is 80 percent the reason I don't have more HI knives, and lack of money is 20 percent, maybe not as good as your analogy but pretty good for me I reckon.

 

[khukoo head]

I'm with you Bawanna. I am just getting started in the world of HI khukuris, but now that I have a few, and have some experience in their actual use, I know a bit better what I like and would look for in future acquisitions. Since we all know the HIKV is highly infectious and your first HI blade is almost never your last, I say get one that looks cool to you, use it, learn it, love it, then get another one!

 

[Jens Schuetz]

You both make good valid points in man area's.

One reason I usually suggest getting the feet wet, perhaps with a KLVUK or any DOTD that appeals to get a feel for what's what.

Pictures and talk here can't begin to compare to slipping one of these HI beauties out of a lovely triangle box for the first time.

Then there's another transition when you stop drooling and start chopping whereby you say, Ok I get it. I need longer, or shorter or lighter or heavier.

Excellent analogy on the 80/20 thing, I like that a lot. It's kind of like my wife is 80 percent the reason I don't have more HI knives, and lack of money is 20 percent, maybe not as good as your analogy but pretty good for me I reckon.

I only know the 40/20 rule from a guy who exchanged his 40 year old wife for two 20 year old ones.

 

[Bigbore577]

I only know the 40/20 rule from a guy who exchanged his 40 year old wife for two 20 year old ones.

I knew him as well! It's a small world! Shortly thereafter he began counting grass roots.

 

[davidf99]

I only know the 40/20 rule from a guy who exchanged his 40 year old wife for two 20 year old ones.

You're entitled to your opinion, but many people would consider that a very bad bargain. There's also the 50/50 rule, that it's better to make decisions with the top part of the body than the bottom part.

 

[Jens Schuetz]

You're entitled to your opinion, but many people would consider that a very bad bargain. There's also the 50/50 rule, that it's better to make decisions with the top part of the body than the bottom part.

I didn't talk of me but the guy who did it is probably entitled to his opinion too?

Personally I don't get how anybody could get married a second time. I guess that's where your 50/50 rule comes into play.