Should I get an Ang Khola?

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arbytwo

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Apr 21, 2013
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I have never owned a Khukri but now I find myself wanting one. Himalayan Imports has a very good reputation on the internet for offering a high quality product so I have been reading posts on this forum. When I saw how Yangdu dealt with the problem of quality control I was impressed with her honesty and integrity. She did not try to hide the issue or sell the lesser items as deals of the day but publicly announced the discovery of a problem and how they were resolving the issue. So now I know I want one from Himalayan Imports.
I'm leaning toward the 15" Ang Khola but thought I'd solicit opinions if something else is preferable. I don't need to do heavy chopping just control some blackberries and bamboo and maybe cut some fruit tree branches. I have the Cold Steel Kukri machete that was used in a comparison on this forum and came out second best to a Himalayan Imports khukri. So I thought I'd ask those with more experience.
Thanks for any advice offered
 
The 15" AK is a great all 'rounder. I would get one asap:)...it won't be your last;)
 
A 15" Ang Khola will likely be a little too heavy and short for blackberries and their thorns, but should work great on the bamboo and limbing.
The AK and CAK are my favorite models because of their toughness, one cannot go wrong by having at least one in their collection.
 
i would go definitely go for the 15" AK i bought the chiruwa ang khola and wow i was amazed i felt like it was disrespectful to even put it to use..such a beauty. so i bought a 15 " Ang khola just to have fun with and it serves me phenomenally.
 
15" AK is a great all around blade. A bit heavy for blackberries, but it will work. Your khukuri machete might be better (less fatiguing) for that task.

Another thing to consider is one of the lighter khukuris in the 15-17" range. Go for about an inch per ounce. That will work well for blackberries and light limbing.
 
arbytwo said:
I I don't need to do heavy chopping just control some blackberries and bamboo and maybe cut some fruit tree branches.
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Funny today being Father's Day I saw two (2) Kukri that would work well for you arbytwo.
The one on the left:
18'' 15 ounce villager fit and finish Tamang Knife by Vim. Neem wood handle
And the one on the right:
15" 16 ounce Chitlangi by Lachhu. Horn handle.
Hi Samples.jpg
They seem like very good tools, easy to handle and great for Bamboo (IMO).
These are sold but buy similar one(s) and you won't be sorry.
 
Well Here's my first "real" post because I have most of the knives listed above except the villager Tamang and bush conditions you mention. I have many blackberry vines and if you plan on cutting them out you almost assuredly will be chopping into the ground. This is where i do not use my cold steel because when (not if) you nick the edge you have to repair it. For smaller bamboo I cant say but i would think a lighter faster knife would be better like the sirupate or chitlangi. I have a similar bamboo-like plant-giant ragweed and my Ang Khola is just a bit too slow and thick for it but it will work if ya get the right angle on it. My 17.5" chitlangi blast right through it but here is where length is a consideration. If you have much to cut then you may not want to be stooping over all day (im waiting on my 25" siru now:) ). Thanks again Aunti! For delimbing and light chopping I still use my HI AK and cold steel both. They are still two different knives for different conditions in my opinion. When delimbing usually there is a tree attached so this is where the extra weight and thickness comes in handy and i prefer the AK over the CS. Its the weight of the tree verses the weight and sharpness of the knife. Limbs will fall. I keep a more obtuse or higher angle edge on the AK for general chopping and for bamboo-like stuffi like to have a thinner or more acute edge. Its all a tradeoff. As everyone has said sounds like you need a few knives but if your doing any chopping at all and this is your first I would have to agree with all above as well and the AK wins my selection. Especially if your packing it camping. Watch DOTD if you dont mind repairing handles and save a few bucks for your next knife! :) oh and if your married buy your wife a Kagas Katne for cleaning shrimp and peelin taters. You will be on her good side before you get sick with the virus:). worked for me!
 
I think you need two knives; you need a machete (mora's a good one or any Latin machete) and an ang khola. There a fellow forumite on here named "fortytwoblades" who not only sells machetes but professionally sharpens and sometimes creates a new grind on them. The ang khola could be your go-to chopper while the machete can be your branch or brush cutter. Machetes can be inexpensive too so it shouldn't be too tough getting one alongside your HI AK.
 
Thanks for all the insight. I just ordered the Ang Khola. Now my concern is that people who know these knives say they may be habit forming. I guess I'll have to deal with that as it happens.
 
ndoghouse said:
For smaller bamboo I cant say but i would think a lighter faster knife would be better like the sirupate or chitlangi. I have a similar bamboo-like plant-giant ragweed and my Ang Khola is just a bit too slow and thick for it but it will work if ya get the right angle on it. My 17.5" chitlangi blast right through it but here is where length is a consideration.
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Thank you :thumbup:.

ndoghouse said:
As everyone has said sounds like you need a few knives but if your doing any chopping at all and this is your first I would have to agree with all above as well and the AK wins my selection. Especially if your packing it camping.
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I wouldn't worry so much about chopping and splitting with our Kukris camping because they all can do it. Some are better than others but you can do a lot of things with just a 4 inch knife and can split wood with a folding saw if you have the knowledge.

Personally I have found soooo much dead fall everywhere I have never needed to do much splitting and chopping for the campfire. The game changer is wet weather then I carry my bigger blade, Surupate and/or splitter blade.
 
I've been eyeballing the 20" AK and the 22" Ganga Ram, and I have the rough weights on those. However, there's no specs on the M43.
Anyone have a reasonably accurate length and weight on that M43? Even if it's smaller than the others, I still want to write down the specs.
Thanx! :)

(Oh, sorry if I went slightly OT.)
 
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For twolfnm by request.
I have noticed since I have been on this forum the Himalayan Imports M-43 variation of the famous WW2 Kukri is very popular and is usually a bigger HI model made for heavy-duty chopping. They are well built and attractive. Below are some HI M-43s that will give you an idea of what you will get on the forum through deals if you do not order one directly from Himalayan Imports.
Note: There is no real standard for a Himalayan Imports M-43 in size, dimensions, and weight (IMO).

Deals for 4/3
18 inch 28 ounce villager fit and finish M-43 by Tirhtha Kami. Satisal wood handle.
HI M-43 Deals for 4-3.jpg

Deals for 2/19
18 inch 27 ounce M-43 by RajKumar.
HI M-43 Deals for 2-19.jpg

Deals for 2/8
18 inch 28 ounce M-43 by Bhakta. Satisal wood handle.
HI M-43 Deals for 2-8.jpg

Deals for 12/7
19 inch 34 ounce M-43 by Rajkumar. Satisal wood handle.
HI M-43 Deals for 12-7.jpg


Rare smaller HI M-43 with an average sized HI one
15" long and 21oz with a 5/16" spine by Rajkumar (smaller M-43)
18.5" long and 34oz (the regular M-43)
HI M-43 Deals for pyro_1.jpg
Above picture is pyro_1's
 
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Welcome to the HI and fourm, arbytwo
 
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