So how does an 18" or 15" pen knife hold up to the other Khuks?

Walking Man

Walking Man

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I really like the looks of it, but I'm a hair concerned about it's chopping power due the reduced angle. Of course, not all khuks are for chopping, but I haven't really heard of any comparisons at all (I know they are fairly new).
If anyone can shed some light on it's performance and compare it with a couple other khuks, please post!
Thanks.
 
Not chop with a Pen Knife? Don't say that around any of mine, the dang things are chopping beasts, bite into that wood like they're hungry for it :D . Now, admittedly a thicker, heavier, blade is probably better for splitting wood, but for just chopping stuff down and chopping stuff up, I not only have confidence in my Pen knives, I actually prefer them over others for a lot of stuff.

Sarge
 
Sylvrfalcn said:
Not chop with a Pen Knife? Don't say that around any of mine, the dang things are chopping beasts, bite into that wood like they're hungry for it :D . Now, admittedly a thicker, heavier, blade is probably better for splitting wood, but for just chopping stuff down and chopping stuff up, I not only have confidence in my Pen knives, I actually prefer them over others for a lot of stuff.
Click to expand...
Which sizes do you use?
 
I don't have a lot of exp with the Pens (got one recently, but my job hasn't allowed me the time to really experiment with it... or the Bolo, or the Tarwar :D ), but as I understand it they've got 2 things going for them as far chopping power. 1) Forward heavy blade, 2) wide blade which allows for a slimmer profile and more penetration. The Pen is one of two khuks that you always hear people say chops like a bigger knife (the YCS being the other).
 
I've been pretty interested in getting a 15 or 12in pen knife for hiking and lighter weight adventuring... where my bigger knife is just too heavy for.
 
I have to say I think I like my 12" pen better than my 15" ak... for trimming branches etc. wherever 'bite' is an issue. For real chopping I use the 21" GRS that Norm put up for adoption. :D
 
I've got a 12" Pen knife. I think it must be a dud. never have been happy with it. Doesn't hold an edge, or chop very well. I did a side by side comparison with my thinner lighter, less chopping oriented Becker #5, and that Becker made my Pen Knife look silly.

On the flip side though, nothing can hold a candle to my 18" Chiruwa Ang Khola.:D

Maybe I'll get me a bigger Pen Knife some time and try again?
 
My two 12" Pens chop like demons. For their size, I honestly have never used a blade that chops better. It is probably a combination of edge geometry and the deep belly, but it definitely works!! I really want to pick up a larger one someday to test it out. I bet you could chop down a telephone pole pretty easily with one of the 18" models.
 
my Pen chops great but I DID have to do a lot of work on the edge to get it right. It varied from shaving to dead dull all along the edge. Once I got the edge right it was great. I have been really interested to know about the bigger ones.
 
I've really been wanting a 15" PK. The 18" looks too much like a WWII for my tastes...and I already have a WWII that I love:D However, my 12" PK probably packs the most chopping punch for its size than most any other khuk I own. Used and abused it still keeps going. Chopping up pallets at work, making camp fires on outtings, and even pulling garden duty cutting tough weed mat and stabbing through the clay-filled rubbish they call soil in my neighborhood.

I tell ya what, if these threads about some of my favorite blades keep popping up, I'm going to have to find a lot of work to do around the house. I've already broken out the M43 to give in a polish and sharpening. Now, it looks like I'm going to have to do the same for my mighty little PK:D

If you are going hiking and need just ONE chopper/digger/splitter that is light weight, then the 12" PK is WAY WAY WAY up on my list. For me, I mostly base camp. That means a pretty big blade for the logs I bring for firewood and a little belt knife for the trails. However, I would really like to give a 15" PK a spin. My main gripe with the 15" khuks is that they feel TOO jack-of-all-trades. I have big knives for big stuff and small knives for small stuff. If the 15" PK packs as much punch as the 12", then it just MIGHT take over camping duty for my WWII/M43/YCS. Maybe the Mrs. will snag me one for Christmas or my birthday:)

jake
 
So if I get it right, for the same size a pen knife is as good as a AK for chopping?

Think I'll have to start a new thread on that... right after I ask the search engine
 
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