Sirupati, GS and Kobra.....Opinions

Ankerson

Ankerson

Knife and Computer Geek
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I have read that some think that the Sirupati, GS and the Kobra are about the same weight and strenght.

I have 2 GS's, a 18.5" and 20", but don't have a Kobra or a Sirupati yet. :)

The balance on my GS's is very good and they are very fast, so I believe they scream weapon, but are still strong enough for heavy work.

Has anyone done a side by side test of the three all of equal lenght?

If so, I was just wondering what their opinions were.:)
 
You left out chitlangi. this is an old question. I don't think there is a definitive answer as Kami variations are more important here than style, other than the Kobra is not the worker the other three are.

Rusty usually shows up to tighten up my explanation about now...

munk
 
Please send $25.00 for each question in a Self Addressed Stamped Envelope to:

Russ Slate
PO Box 1995 ( you ought to have it figured out by now. )
Somewhere's up Lucky Boy Pass in the Bodie/Aurora vicinity. Expect a 30 day wait for reply in order for reseach.
 
Actually, got that awful crud that's going around. Get up an hour, crawl back in bed, repeat.

As for you Bruise, on the basis of what I saw, we will be setting you up with a monthly payment plan for my continued silence. :D :D :D
 
Rusty,

I think I already know the answer to the question, but I just wanted another opinion.

So what do you think?
 
Ankerson:

I think munk is right, more or less. I've handled all of the 18"ers that you mentioned, plus an 18" Chitlangi. I did some side-by-side work with the Chit, Siru and Kobra awhile back.

The Chit and Siru performed more or less the same. But not the Kobra.

My 18" Kobra is actually a couple of ounces heavier than my 18" Siru. But, because of the Kobra's more balance-neutral design, it was easily out-chopped by the other 18"ers. I would bet this would hold true for a Kobra, no matter who made it. (Unless, maybe, Sher went on a bender. But, a Kobra with a 1/2" spine sort of defeats the concept.)

S.
 
Sirupati tends to be the heaviest.
The GS I've never had one of, but they look awfully like the Chainpuri except they are fullered where Chainpuris are not, but I'd guess the average amount of steel in a 20" Chainpuri and 20" GS is awfully close. That makes for equivalent handling except that you can take two of any khuk made to the same specs by two kamis and they'll have different personalities.

My only kobra is the 26" I just got. Haven't got a chance to use it yet.

I've got two village chainpuris, both 17", one weighs 14 ozs, the other 24. The 24 oz chainpuri is my workhorse. The 14 oz has never been used, just sharpened. You have to feel it to believe it.

Bottom line is what Uncle Bill has repeatedly said. The 25" and 30" kobras are not khuks. They are swords. Now Tom Holt used his 25" for months before something happened. He apparently knew how to listen to what it would and wouldn't do. It ultimately failed, though.

My formula is an inch an ounce, and that's for light work. Up to 20" long.

The Sirupatis should do the job. Kami Sherpa himself said he'd take a GS if he had to serve again. The Chainpuris and whatever they call the light double fullered ones should work. The M43 would do nicely. The 20" kobras I'd have to pick one up and feel it. It all depends on the job and the khuk.

But try a WW2 and see if that solves your dilemma.
 
I don't have all the khuks your refer to either. I have used the 18" Sirupati a lot It was my light work horse. Who ever has it now, I hope loves it as much as I did. The twenty inch is a good khuk but to me has a different feel. The Kobra I had was a good snake knife but, was not much of a chopper. The only chopping I did with it was to make sure it could be relied on to do what it was supposed to. It had a wobble in the blade when I got it but it didn't seem to bother the performance any so I did't worry about it. It and the Siru's are good snake getters. I hope when spring comes, Uncle Bill has another 18" Siru. with horn handle for my replacement. If it turns out just a bit heavy that will be fine.

If you want a real worker with some authority take Rusty's advice and check out the 16.5" WWII or even the 18". There must be some reason that the 16.5" has been in so many conflicts.:) :)
 
A shop 2 20" Sirupati is set up vertically behind the seat of my truck. It was made pre Birghorka and it isn't as pretty as most HI's. So it gets relegated to back with the shovel and the rest of the hard working stuff.
 
Thanks guys.:D

That's pretty much what I thought anyway. I wasn't looking for opinions on what to buy really, just wondered what the "real" differences were. I was right, the Kobra is a Sword or a Weapon, and the Sirupati and GS are pretty much the same.


I really like the GS alot, I have 2 of them and I have an 18" Sirupati coming soon so I can compare for myself. :D
 
Rusty,

I have 5 AK's now. 15", Silver Mounted engraved, 16.5" Chir, 18", And 20".

2 GS's, 18.5" and 20.5"

A BAS

And a 18" Sirupati coming.

I will get a WW II one of these days though.:D
 
Kami Sherpa himself said he'd take a GS if he had to serve again.
Click to expand...

Yep I can see why too. :D

The balance of the GS's are excellent and they are very fast while still being strong which would make them great fighters. :)

I keep my 20.5" GS on my nightstand and I sleep very well indeed.:D
 
You can see the GS, Chitlangi and Sirupati models on the exhaust thread: :rolleyes:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=237065
(look at the red/blue part of the analysis)

If you do some browser stretching, you might be able to get all 3 in the same shot. I did, and what you see is that the 3 models are very similar, although the Sirupati is more "relaxed" than the others.

I left the Kobra out because it really is a sword, even at 18". The other models are designed more for chopping only - a downward motion - and not for thrusting, perrying, etc. (like the kobra is designed for).

Perhaps a few who have trained with each will chime in...
 
I have a 22" Kobra, and an 18" GS. If I were unlucky enough to get into a fight, I'd probably pick the GS because it is more maneuverable (just a bit more, not much difference) and has more chopping power. The blade is also long enough to cause serious damage, but not so long that it would tie me up in a close fight. I mean, if I hit something with the blade, I want it to go down immediately and not linger on to threaten me further, yet I don't want a blade that is as heavy as a WW2 nor as short as a BAS. The answer? 18" Gelbu Special, of course. Now if only the kamis can be convinced to make the GS blades a little thinner, seeing as it IS a weapon...
 
Kmark,

We can agree there, the GS is a weapon for sure, but it is still strong enough to take a real beating. :D

Both my 18.5" and 20.5" GS's are fast enough that you can hear them slice through the air. :D

The GS will be my first choice if I had to fight with one, they just feel right in my hand. :)

Although I wouldn't change them a bit, making them thinner would make them weaker like the Kobra and they wouldn't be GS's anymore.
 
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