Took my M-43 out for some brush chopping last week.

00Turok

00Turok

Joined
Apr 29, 2015
Messages
69
Man the M-43 obliterates wood, & I got some old, dead, hard oak I smacked it against. ZERO damage to blade, & ZERO loss in sharpness so far.
It's a lot better chopper than my Cold Steel khukalike. The increased weight of the M-43 makes a day & night difference in chopping capability.
It feels almost axe like. I can only imagine what the Ang Kola series are like.
I tire fairly quickly with the CS khukalike, b/c I have to really put power behind the swing. It's a faster, more maneuverable blade, but It just lacks the mass of a good chopper.
The M-43 is the PERFECT balance for a fast, fighting blade & a chopper. I now truly have the best of both worlds, & my cake to have & eat. :D

My original sheath mod turned out to be too bulky & cumbersome though. I had to slim it down. I found that my Leatherman sheath had an elastic band on each side that snugly fit my diamond rod sharpener & firesteel, so I attached it to the M-43 sheath instead. If you look closely, I have a pair of stainless steel tweezers stuffed in a space next to the Chakmak.
The paracord wrapping tightened the sheath a little so the Khuk fits a little more snug than before. about 75' worth.
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M-43 & friends... Everything I currently stuff with my M-43...
Karda
Chakmak
EZE Lap - diamond rod knife sharpener
Exotac - Nano Striker XL & 2 spare ferro rods
Leatherman - Supertool 300
Stainless steel tweezers
Stainless steel mini scissors
Stainless steel nail clippers
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An Altoids tin fits perfectly in the Leatherman sheath too, & I could carry the tin, filled with a mini fishing kit I put together & some tinder (waxed coated cotton balls), instead of the multitool. Not sure I want to give up the multi as my Khuk's companion though. Hmmmmmm :confused:

The Chakmak has got a lot of scratches on it, b/c I used it to sharpen a bunch of really dull kitchen knives for practice. I never used a sharpening steel before & this little chakmak was surprisingly effective. It alone brought all my kitchen knives nearly razor sharp. I then just honed them with a leather strop.

I also gave up on the bandolier carry style since I carry my M1A on a 2 point sling, & the khuk would be in the way. So I added a dangler & hip carry my M-43.
This set up is surprisingly comfortable, offers me complete maneuverability, stability, & easy access to my khuk & friends. Hmmm? But blocks access to some of my tactical pockets. :grumpy:
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Here's the Himalayan Imports M-43 & Cold Steel Gurkha Kukri comparison. Oh... my God. Just look at the difference in thickness.
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Blade length of M-43 is 12.5" vs CS khukalike at 12". The M-43 has a much wider & longer handle than the CS khukalike & is WAY more comfortable to chop with than the CS. The rubber handle on the CS khukalike always gives me blisters when I use it bare handed. I chopped all day with my M-43 & not 1 blister developed. Plus the wider flare of the pommel end of the M-43 keeps me from loosing grip much, much better; despite the wooden handle being slicker than the rubber CS handle.

Still never going to give up the CS khukalike, b/c that carbon-V steel is beast. Man does it last & last & last & last & last &... you get the point.
But the capabilities of the M-43 just far out shines the CS, so it is now my primary knife. It will be by my side on boar hunts, camp outs, & the garden.

On last pic of an EPIC knife to show off the kami mark.
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Yeah I am definitely infected. It's so hard to resist the HI website now.
Just added a tinder case to my sheath using a strap keeper as a gear clip.
It's filled with 4 large, petroleum jelly cotton balls. Each one has an 8.5 minute burn time. :D
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I forgot to mention how batoning with the M-43 splits wood like lightning. You pretty much don't need to hammer it through the log at all.
Just get it started & swing the Khuk, with attached log, against the ground & ...... S...P...L...I...T!
 
Nice rig and wrap job man! Cant have too much parachord! I dont usually have to worry about that too much the way I camp:D
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00Turok said:
Yeah I am definitely infected. It's so hard to resist the HI website now.
Just added a tinder case to my sheath using a strap keeper as a gear clip.
It's filled with 4 large, petroleum jelly cotton balls. Each one has an 8.5 minute burn time. :D
View attachment 546623View attachment 546627View attachment 546626

I forgot to mention how batoning with the M-43 splits wood like lightning. You pretty much don't need to hammer it through the log at all.
Just get it started & swing the Khuk, with attached log, against the ground & ...... S...P...L...I...T!
Click to expand...
Resistance is futile Turok. I, like many before me, know all too well....
 
arbiter said:
Resistance is futile Turok. I, like many before me, know all too well....
Click to expand...

Yeah I know. I should just give in....... WAIT! :eek: I can't!

Auntie accidentally shipped me a 2nd M-43 several days ago. Got that unopened triangle sitting on my couch right now, waiting to be taken back to the post office tomorrow. Got to hold off a little bit longer before I just buy the thing. :D

As much as I thought about it though, I'm in save money mode. Sooooooo :confused: Hmmmmm?
The Wifey & I are saving up for something big. I got to be good.
 
Now Denis is showing a true moment of brilliance here. A M-43 in the wild without an owner... Why, that is just a purchase waiting to happen :D
 
Had not planned on another HI for a few months, but..... :)
Looks like I'm too late, though.
If it was close to the dimensions I want, I might be persuaded to divert cash from elsewhere.

Denis
 
Hey Denis, those 15 inch M43s show up quite frequently. They are not going away, anywhere.

The standard ones, before, that are still not going anywhere either were the 17 an 18 inch ones.

All these have handles for bigger hands, western-sized.

What you were discussing about with Jdk1 were even older models, lighter, which you could still get, as we've seen from a guy that posted here recently (February?)....sorry, can't recall his name, I think the thread was "Kumar goes old school". You will just need to order it...probably after things settle in Nepal.
 
Figuring it may be a while before normal Nepalese service is resumed & thought if the dimensions are right on this "loose" one I oughta go for it while it's floating around. :)
Denis
 
Shavru said:
Now Denis is showing a true moment of brilliance here. A M-43 in the wild without an owner... Why, that is just a purchase waiting to happen :D
Click to expand...

Yup, absolutely brilliant sharking...:thumbup::D
 
00Turok said:
Yeah I am definitely infected. It's so hard to resist the HI website now.
Just added a tinder case to my sheath using a strap keeper as a gear clip.
It's filled with 4 large, petroleum jelly cotton balls. Each one has an 8.5 minute burn time. :D
View attachment 546623View attachment 546627View attachment 546626

I forgot to mention how batoning with the M-43 splits wood like lightning. You pretty much don't need to hammer it through the log at all.
Just get it started & swing the Khuk, with attached log, against the ground & ...... S...P...L...I...T!
Click to expand...

That chute looks like an mc1-1b.
 
00Turok said:
You pretty much don't need to hammer it through the log at all.
Just get it started & swing the Khuk, with attached log, against the ground & ...... S...P...L...I...T!
Click to expand...

Please read the safety thread. This practice is a great way to damage yourself or your khukuri. Please don't do it.

ETA: No sales in this forum...thanks.
 
Karda,
If the no-sale comment was directed at me, I was just thinking it'd be a simple resolution to the shipping error.
I could have sent whatever amount to Yangdu to pay for the 43 & whatever shipping necessary to Turok to mail to me instead of returning to Yangdu.

Struck me as a 3-way win.
Yangdu gets paid.
Turok gets the knife gone.
I get another one of the model I prefer.

Didn't know that was a violation of anything.
Denis
 
Dobe_1 said:
That chute looks like an mc1-1b.
Click to expand...
I do believe your right. Ive gone through a few and have the greatest of respect for them. They can be very dangerous rigged as a tent if you dont take certain safety precautions. Ive been dragged down the beach, almost had my truck flipped over, and all kinds of stuff during my learning curve but I got it figured out now. Secret is rig nothing you care about to more than one strand of parachord. It needs to break away if needed. Otherwise easy to rig and plenty of room.
 
DPris said:
Turok,
What size is that 43?
You gonna keep it?
Denis
Click to expand...

Never opened the package so I have no idea on size... & I sent it back to Yangdu the day of your post here, 05-29.
I guess you can ask her about it though.

Are you looking for a 15" or a 18"
 
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