The best kukri around-which one?

Tblock1 said:
Both the links I posted led to kukris... sorry if I keep calling them machetes. I just can't imagine using a beautiful kukri like the HI's to chop through all types of stuff in the forest.
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But the H.I khukri's just LOVE to be used, They love to do what they were born to do.....just like the men who make them.
 
I guess so but they just look so nice. I use my kukri in mud and all sorts of stuff and I think the sheath on the kukri's would not hold up to it.
 
Tblock1 said:
I guess so but they just look so nice. I use my kukri in mud and all sorts of stuff and I think the sheath on the kukri's would not hold up to it.
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I think you'd be surprised at how durable the H.I. sheaths really are, with some neatsfoot oil or something to waterproof it, i think it would do fine. The H.I. Superfrog isn't called the 100 year superfrog for nothing, but it usually only comes on the "service" models and larger khuks.

Problem is most people leave the scabbard at home because of the leg-gouging chape and opt to get an original Ilbruche sheath or a kydex one for field use, so theres probably only a handful, if any, that know what one of these sheaths is capable of.

The only thing I'd be worried about though is getting water inside the sheath and then it splitting out because of wood swellage.
 
Tblock1 said:
What about the handles, are they very durable?
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While not as durable as the synthetic grips on machined knives, both water buffalo horn and Nepali oak are very durable. I have been bashing wood with khuks for over 6 years now. I have a collection of well over 40 pieces. Of those, one wooden handle developed a crack from sitting in my hot truck for the better part of 2 years. Once filled with wood filler and sanded, the crack has not developed any further.

To be quite honest, the natural epoxy used by the kamis (bladesmiths) is so tough that short of burning or smashing the handle off with a hammer, you will likely not need to replace a handle in your lifetime. As far as HI khuks go, they are over engineered compared to most khuks used by the native Nepali people. In Nepal, it is not uncommon for a khuk blade to be forged then burned into the wooden grip to set it 1/2-3/4 of the way into the grip. The handle will generally hold true for a few years, then need a tune up to be refitted with a new handle. Keep in mind that in Nepal the khuk is used for everything day in and day out. It's pretty dang impressive that a half tang burned into a grip can last a good long while:thumbup:

HI khuks (as well as Tora and maybe a few others) generally either extend all the way through the bottom of the handle and are peened over with a keeper as well as glued into place with laha (natural epoxy) or are full tang in the sense that two slab style pieces of grip are affixed to the full tang. This is generally considered stronger, but under most circumstances a well made khuk grip (like those of HI, Tora, etc) will go nowhere even if the tang is hidden and peened at the bottom.

In other words, YES the handles are very durable and with a little care (water sealant, horn conditioner, wiping down when you are finished with it) a well made khuk should be an heirloom for your great grandchildren.:D
 
I started with a HI... well that's it. I never felt the need to try something different (well, I tried different khuks from HI, but HI will keep filling my needs in khuks)
 
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I have HI Kukris and Cold Steel kukris. For users, I prefer the Cold Steels. The steel holds an edge better than the HI, and I prefer the flat grind. The checkering is a bit rough on the hand with the CS kraton handles. I sanded the ring off my HI Ang Khola and it is more comfortable now. The 22 oz CS Gurkha can hold its own with heavier Kukris from HI, up to a point. In pure chopping power, a heavy HI will do better, but its a beast to carry around and is too slow in the hand for slashing through light vegetation well. Of course, HI makes all kinds of kukris, some are light and fast. Both the CS and HI kukris will get the job done. I have used some of the cheap thin CS kukri machetes, and they chop surprisingly well, even if they aren't "real" kukris. The 3/16" thick Ontario kukri that BQM sells is a nice fast light kukri that chops reasonably well, too. For $60 or so, it is a bargain, although the sheath is cheaply made. Mike Stewart of Bark River Knife & Tool will be coming out with a high quality American-made kukri soon. He will likely use 5160 steel with his own heat treat. I'm looking forward to that one. It is still in the design stage right now.
 
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Here are some of my kukris. Left to right: 15.5" HI Chitlangi, 16" HI Ang Khola, 17" Ontario Combat, 18" Cold Steel Gurkha in SK-5, 18" Cold Steel Ghurka in Carbon V.
kukris008.jpg

Here you can see how thick even a medium sized 16" HI AK is next to the CS Gurkha, 7/16" vs 5/16" thick. The HI weighs 27 oz and the longer CS only 22 oz.
kukris004.jpg

Even the 17 oz 15.5" Hi Chitlangi is 3/8" thick.
kukris005.jpg

The 18" CS is 5/16" thick vs the 17" Ont at 3/16" thick.
The Ontario only weighs about 17 oz and is fast in the hand.
kukris006.jpg

Once you get up to the 18" and over HI kukris, most of them weigh from 31 oz up. Very heavy blades. So what is the best all-around kukri? For my uses, its the CS Gurkha. For really heavy axe-type chopping, probably a big 2+ pound HI, but that isn't all-around, is it? A lot of folks like the M-43 from HI as a good all-around kukri. I am hoping the best all-around kukri will be Mike Stewart's new one from BRKT. He is putting a lot of research and work into it, and yes, he owns lots of kukris to do his comparison testing with.
 
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Finally someone who takes HI kukri's off the platform they were on. They sound great, but I prefer the Cold steel gurka with it's rugged looks.
 
Tblock1 said:
Finally someone who takes HI kukri's off the platform they were on. They sound great, but I prefer the Cold steel gurka with it's rugged looks.
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Well then , I guess beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder.

Those "rugged looks" , to me IMHO, look only like a knock off khukuri.
and a damn expensive knock off for some models such as the san mai.
The Cold Steel Cookie Cutter khukuri, stamp and grind a few dozen more.
I see that CS stamps "gurkha Kukri" on the tang....it must be so that people will know what they are trying to imitate.
Quite Odd though that alot of folks are claiming that H.I. khukuri's are put on a pedestal (platform) and that most of these folks are cold steel khuk users/lovers.
It must be that these folks are jealous of something, as they all doth protest too loudly.
When youre done peeling all the blisters off your hands from using a CS khuk, let us know then how great they feel in hand.
When you break your CS khuk, cry very hard, because you will be replacing it out of your own pocket. If you buy an H.I. Ang khola and manage to be able to break it.(without abusing it) you will be the proud owner of TWO new ones. Now theres a challenge for ya, find a maker with a similar lifetime guarantee.
As for the best all around user khuk...... Uncle Bill used to wholeheartedly recommend the H.I. WWII model, and i would tend to agree, but the BAS and Ang khola are also great for field use.

If you want rugged good looks check out the M-43, Ganga Ram or bonecutter models from H.I.
 
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The HI kukris are fine. They vary greatly depending on the kami who made them and the style. I have no axe to grind in this, as I own and like both the beautiful traditional hand-made kukris from Nepal and the modern interpretations of them. As users, so far, I prefer the Cold Steels with their slightly thinner flat ground blades. But I have not used every model HI sells and am likely to buy a few more of them. As I said, they both get the job done. BTW, the kukris or khukuris, if you prefer, that are issued to the Gurkha regiments are made by Windlass, and are not nearly as pretty as most Himalayan Imports models or even the Cold Steels. I own some of them, and I much prefer both HI and CS kukris to the real Gurkha kukris.
 
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Horn Dog said:
The HI kukris are fine. They vary greatly depending on the kami who made them and the style. I have no axe to grind in this, as I own and like both the beautiful traditional hand-made kukris from Nepal and the modern interpretations of them. As users, so far, I prefer the Cold Steels with their slightly thinner flat ground blades. But I have not used every model HI sells and am likely to buy a few more of them. As I said, they both get the job done. BTW, the kukris or khukuris, if you prefer, that are issued to the Gurkha regiments are made by Windlass, and are not nearly as pretty as most Himalayan Imports models or even the Cold Steels. I own some of them, and I much prefer both HI and CS kukris to the real Gurkha kukris.
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Gah. Agreed.
To Each His Own, Sorry to all whom may have taken offense to my last post. It was a little Strong.
I guess I'm So traditionalist that if it aint got a "cho" it aint a real khuk.
I guess i'm of a mindset that if i'm gonna shell out the big bucks for a khuk, then it better be a high -quality, handmade, nearly one-of-a-kind khukuri......rather than one that is massed produced and identical to everyone elses. But thats only my Opinion.

Yah, The Windlass's arent great lookers Or users, but they get the job done and probably were the cheapest bidded gov't contractor.
On a side note, I did kinda like the looks of the Blackjack Knives Blackjack Kukri, Not enough to purchase one though. Last i had heard these were getting decent reviews.
 
Karda said:
Gah. Agreed.
To Each His Own, Sorry to all whom may have taken offense to my last post. It was a little Strong.
I guess I'm So traditionalist that if it aint got a "cho" it aint a real khuk.
I guess i'm of a mindset that if i'm gonna shell out the big bucks for a khuk, then it better be a high -quality, handmade, nearly one-of-a-kind khukuri......rather than one that is massed produced and identical to everyone elses. But thats only my Opinion.

Yah, The Windlass's arent great lookers Or users, but they get the job done and probably were the cheapest bidded gov't contractor.
On a side note, I did kinda like the looks of the Blackjack Knives Blackjack Kukri, Not enough to purchase one though. Last i had heard these were getting decent reviews.
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No offense taken by me, Karda. It is easy to see why HI Khuks are so loved by their owners. They are not just tools, they are art. And yes, they certainly will chop once you put a good edge on them. I've been looking for a nice Serapati. We'll just have to see what Yangdu comes up with on DOTD.
 
AfterTFD said:
Bark River is planning on making a khuk this year. Iirc it'll be made with 5160.
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Yes, Mike is working on it. He did say he thought it would be in 5160. The latest discussion on it was whether to go with a full tang or hidden tang. Either way, I'm getting one. A quality American-made kukri. Too cool. :D
 
I thought your reply was pretty funny Karda. To me it doesn't matter if it looks like it is an imitation, as long as it gets the job done. I have used cold steel machetes and kukri's for quite a while and have never gotten any blisters, so each to his own preferences.
 
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