Sirupati, 12 inch

SharpBits

SharpBits

Gold Member
Joined
Apr 26, 2002
Messages
4,645
Hi,

I have recently taken a liking of the Chiruwa Ang Khola which appears to be one heckova a blade! I thought it was my next khukri..But, while I was browsing the HI shopping site, I stumbled across the Sirupati, 12 inch! What a beauty! Now I have a few questions about this blade: Is it a capable utility-type blade? I know that the smaller khuk's are not made for chopping which is fine as my 15" AK will do fine for that. So is the 12" Sirupati a useful blade or just a looker?
Thanks in advance.

-SB
 
Everything we make is fully functional (usually!!!) and so is the 12 inch Sirupati. It will do a lot of tasks but is not a chopper. It is the easiest khukuri to carry concealed.
 
Originally posted by Bill Martino
Everything we make is fully functional (usually!!!) and so is the 12 inch Sirupati. It will do a lot of tasks but is not a chopper. It is the easiest khukuri to carry concealed.
Click to expand...

What about the Kagas Katne? :D:D:D

Speaking of which, how much does one of those sweet little Paper Cutters/mini survival Khuks weigh?
 
The 12" Sirupati was my first HI khukuri. It's a good knife, but has it's limitations as khukuris go. A lot depends on what you want to use it for. After becoming accustomed to carrying and using my BAS in the field over here in Afghanistan, the 12" Siru (now in the possession of one of my guys) feels kind of dinky and inadequate. You may experience the same thing if you use your 15" AK a lot.

Sarge
 
Thanks for the responses!

I was thinking of using it as a general use knife or maybe as a fancy draw-knife. I want to build a primitive bow someday and am (always;) ) looking for an excuse for one more knife!

-SB
PS- Does anyone else have experience with the 12 " Sirupati?
 
I got a 12" Sirupati to use as a big game field-dressing and butchering knife. It looks like it will be perfect for the task but I'll have to wait until fall before I can give a proper field report.

Same goes for the 12" AK - If all goes well I'll provide feedback after the hunt.
 
Offhand, I've had 5 12"ers I can recall ( and still have 4 of them ). Two of them Sirupatis and three of them AKs.

Sirupati #1 was made by shop one and is a fighter - one blood-thirstier than my Bauchop Alleycat.

Sirupati #2 is Birghorka made and is a utility knife. Thick spined, heavy duty for a Sirupati and up to chopping as needed.

Ang Khola #1 is a shop 2 blem and every bit of 15/32" thru the spine. It inspired the term "pocket battleship". Given enough time it'd do the job on a sequoia.

Ang Kholas #2 and #3 are Birghorka made and thinner spined though still AK's and also about same weight as Sirupati #2. Utility knives. Wouldn't have much preference between S#2 and AK's #2 and #3.

Point is, two knives sre almost identical ( AKs 2&3 ) though made by different kamis. That leaves four of the five distinctly different though 3 of the 5 would make good utility knives, and the other two might condescend to do the odd job if needed.

But the difference in the feel? Fortunately or unfortunately, I sometimes get to fondle before buying. Unless you take a trip to Reno, you don't have that opportunity. Hell with it. They find their rightful owner eventually anyway.
 
I'd be interested to see a side-by-side comparison of the 12" Sirupati and the famed & named "Pen Knife" (once it arrives).

Sarge = up for the task?
 
Which one? Come to think about it further I've had 3 sirupatis and 3 aks in 12" length so far. All felt some different to me.
 
Sarge= Up to the task?
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Ready willing and able! I'm particularly fond of "primitive" camping, a fair hand at flint & steel (starting a fire with anything else is boring), and know how to whittle Ojibwe bird traps and such. My "toolkit" has long been; a small sharp neck knife, a medium sized belt knife, and a good belt axe/tomahawk. I'm thinking a good khukri, with it's karda and chakma, will be pretty much all I need. Especially, if I grind a chakma out of a file, ala Rusty, so it can double as a fire striker. While I'm at it, if the karda's not up to par I'll make one that is. Texas knifemaker's supply sells sticks of water buffalo horn. That, and some good Nicholson files, are all I need make a set of accessory knives that will be as fully functional as the khukri they complement.
I'm getting my Kumar made 12" Siru back when I get home. The troop I gave it to left it at home because he didn't want it to get "messed up". Oh my achin' a&&. I'll swap him a Russian bayonet if he just wants a knife he ain't going to use. It'll be interesting to put the 12" Siru and the "Pen Knife" through some side by side testing. Got to admit I'm going to cheat a bit and reprofile the Siru's edge geometry, which is currently too thick to bite really well. Heck yeah, I'd be honored to be an official "Pen Knife field tester":) :D :)

Sarge
 
Originally posted by Sylvrfalcn
Ready willing and able! Heck yeah, I'd be honored to be an official "Pen Knife field tester".
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It's all yours my friend.

What I'd like to see someday is a BAS outfitted with an unusually large karda, maybe 7.5"-9" OAL, and a 6" chakma. That would seem to be one-size-fits-all, or one-knife(set)-does-all.
 
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