The Malla khuk

K

Krull

Joined
Aug 18, 2005
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I'm gonna take a plunge and get a real khuk.....now I need to know:The Malla khuk is something I've really fallen for,is it a good lopper-chopper? the blade is not as wide as other khuks,but it seems good to me (it kinda looks like the blade on the service khuk Windlass makes)

Mind this ain't gonna be a "logging" khuk like an AK,just something I can use to walk the woods with and be the better-MUCH better replacement to my Windlass khuk :D If I feel the urge to fell a 3-9 size tree I'll get a 20+ AK! :D
.....and I'm for damn sure gonna get a 30 inch Sirupati! (I'm in love with it! :eek: )

And others will follow....:D
 
Krull said:
I'm gonna take a plunge and get a real khuk.....now I need to know:The Malla khuk is something I've really fallen for,is it a good lopper-chopper?
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Krull I think there are better khuks for the job but if you like the Mala then go for it. Owning khukuris is all about getting what you like anyway and if it doesn't suit you for the job intended you can always get another later.
The Malla is an elegant khukuri but on the light side for working IMO.
 
Oh I don't doubt more will follow! :D I love these curvy blades,what I have in mind is somethin' to whack branches out of my way and to pare down wood for the stove (2 or maybe 3 inches is all I go after with any khuk...a 24in long 3+lb AK though.....) so I think more along the lines of med chopper and all around trail knife (I carry a sword in the woods with my 45. Glock 21 so I don't need another 3lbs of knife with me)
 
Krull said:
(I carry a sword in the woods with my 45. Glock 21 so I don't need another 3lbs of knife with me)
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Not wanting to sound like a stuck record or a loop tape I'll say get yourself the 17" Foxy Folly at 24 ounces or a tad heavier if possible. Excellent all around khukuri.;) :thumbup: :D :cool:
 
Krull said:
<snip> :D
.....and I'm for damn sure gonna get a 30 inch Sirupati! (I'm in love with it! :eek: )
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[singing]
And it's almost like being in love.
I'm sure a 30" chitlangi will follow :p
And others will follow....:D[/QUOTE]

It needn't happen.
Look at me, only ... uh ... 4 from HI and no need [hands trembling] to get [forehead sweating] any more.
At least until after I send Steve Fergerson what I owe him for Bill Marsh's cast-offs plus at least enough to get in the drawing :cool: :) :D
And while I'm at it - Thanks, Bill and Thank you, Steve for all of us.

Has anyone considered a line of "WWUBD" products?
 
Krull? A 30" Siru is a pretty neat khukuri but it is less practical than a lot of swords are, let alone khukuris. It's large, it's heavy, and it's very tiring to use. It is a good choice if you're looking for a nontraditional weapon or you want the biggest, baddest khukuri out there, but I don't think that it's a good choice for a walk through the woods.

I used to go for frequent walks through the woods with a pistol on my hip as well. I came to love the 15" BGRS, as it was just large enough to chop with but small enough that walking, running, entering and exiting vehicles, crawling through underbrush, jumping off embankments and climbing trees weren't an issue. (Among other things.) I've since learned that 16" is almost as conveniant and definitely more effective.

The Foxy Folly is also good, as is the 16.5" chiruwa AK, the 20" Siru, and a couple of others...but 30" may be excessive. You will be happy with it, but it may not be what you're looking for.
 
Krull, I've chopped with the malla with very satisfactory results. As Yvsa mentioned, it is lighter than the khuks identified as 'choppers', but the elegance certainly is there, and the flat spine makes it very unique. She certainly looks more 'weapon' than 'tool', but she'll chop wood without complaining.
 
The Malla should do just fine for a trail knife, Krull. I have a 30" Sirupati and its more of a splitting maul than a chopper IMO. It'll definitely be different.

Bob
 
The Sirupati is mostly gonna be rotated with the semi-costom cutlass I have,the Malla's gonna be a companion to the sword,I don't expect to be doing any "wilderness survival" things with it;may take it hunting;make a camp fire;clear bush etc.

I have a tendency to like the narrow khuks more i.e. Malla;Sirupati;Kobra and the like....also the Tarwar;Tibetan;and some the "fancy" khuks

Come to think of it.....a 20in Sirupati looks good too :D

*decisions,decisions*
 
Addendum: that's a 30" Siru in my avatar. Who am I kidding?

Seriously, 30" for fun, 20" and under for work. Just the way that I look at it. I've never owned, or even held, a Malla before, but it's on the list.
 
Yvsa is right and they are on the lighter side, but at an average of 18-18.5" and about 24 oz. they will surprise you with their versatility and can do a fair amount of work. I have them from 18" to 19" and from 21 to 26 oz. and they are one of my favorite designs.

For a woods carry knife that could do just about everything, I would opt for my favorite BGRS, but a Malla will do some trail clearing no problem, and would be a good slash-the-zombies model as well if needed. :D

Regards,

Norm
 
Interesting that the Malla is being described as light. Mine is not. I got the first one out of HI.

Picture and specs from the FAQ.

Malla.jpg


The khukuri is 19 inches, 2 inches wide, 7/16 thick and weighs about 2 & 1/4 pounds. There are a couple of unique things about the khukuri which should be mentioned. The spine is flat (rather than in the traditional "V") like my old Salyan, our logo khukuri.

This is a replica of a khukuri found buried under the floor of BirGorkha. It was nearly eaten up by rust but the kamis knew it was an old timer and suggested to Gelbu that he take the remnant to HMG Archeological Society for ID. The HMG experts figured it was a quality piece from the Malla period so we are going to call this model khukuri the "Malla" khukuri. And, it generated so much interest with HMG and the kamis that Kumar actually got more help and advice than he wanted!
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It is not light although sometimes it seems so. I would characterize it as balanced and authoritative. It would be a very decent chopper although it has never seen such duty.

I wonder if the specs have evolved some since they made the first one from the ancient rusty model? Perhaps some of you with newer ones can offer comparisons.

That's one of the things that makes HI knives so hard (oops I mean so easy) to talk about. No two are alike, even within the same "model" designation. Opinions may, of course, vary widely, as who knows if the knife one writes about has exactly the same nature as the one another writes of.

I guess the trick is to find one (individual knife) that sings to you.

Maybe models are like ethnic groups in people. Outside that there is the whole issue of personality of the individual knife.
 
JEEZ, HOWARD, THAT'S BEAUTIFUL!!

I mean, uh, it pains me that you were sent one that has too much weight. Allow me to trade you for one that is suits you better. Or, if you don't like the style at all, just go ahead and send it.

(I'll let you know if this works, guys.)
 
Boy, I have some pretty ones in horn, satisal, chandan and antler, but nothing like that! I love how the cho drops down a bit, the standard bolster and the handle. That looks like white horn. My heaviest is 2 lbs. 5 oz., but it is also 25" long.

I wish I had been here when stuff like this was available, but then it's probably just as well as I would probably be living under a railroad bridge somewhere...

Thanks for the eye candy.

Norm
 
My malla is a thick, heavy beast that excells at chopping. I say go for it. You may be able to talk Aunt Yangdu into hand-selecting one of an appropriate weight for you.
 
I want a Malla, and Howard's picture is driving me nutz. That light horn is beautiful Howard. I bet that is a prized posession. :eek:
 
Yvsa said:
. . . I'll say get yourself the 17" Foxy Folly at 24 ounces or a tad heavier if possible. Excellent all around khukuri.;) :thumbup: :D :cool:
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And it doubles as a canoe paddle! :thumbup: ;)

Seriously, I have two Mallas and love them. Prety stout and heavy in their own right, but with dimensions and lines not unlike a Sirupati. Both Mallas chop just fine.

. . . and I love my Neem handled FF, too!

Noah
 
Man alive, Howard, I have two Mallas and I'll trade 'em both to you for that one...



Mike
Ad Astra
Not Jealous :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
 
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