Trouble chooseing a Khukuri ....

W

WarDawg

Joined
Apr 24, 2003
Messages
35
Hi guys. Im glad I found this form and HI products. Ive always been fasinated with Khukuri's from reading Pappy Hicks /Nam storys in SOF in the early 80's as a young boy.Now I want one for myself.I been to the HI website and a fellow named Logan has been helping me with HI products as far as helpful info. Im stuck between the 18" AK and the WWII 18". I don't know why I came up with 18" but seemed like the go between in the lenght deptment. What the difference between them.They are the same price on the website. Now I also see myself going after the Brit service one in the future also.The wife gave me the go ahead on ordering one. Im just trying to figure out which one.Now I will be taking it camping and outdoor adventures with my son.And admiring it in the evening . Thanks for any input WarDawg
 
For camping trips I would suggest that you take the WWII. I am not belittling the big AK and, I haven't had one. I have both WWII's and they have taken care of all but the very heaviest work that I have had to do. My 18" is 30oz. of pure dynamite. When I get over the 6" limbs or logs I go for the heavy axe or my chain saw. other than that my khuks do just about all the work around my place. If you have a bunch of work around the house for a big AK I guess that would be the choice.

I know that you will get more suggestions than just mine. So, I will let that be my .02 cents.:) :D
 
Originally posted by WarDawg ..... Im stuck between the 18" AK and the WWII 18". I don't know why I came up with 18" but seemed like the go between in the lenght deptment. ..... Now I also see myself going after the Brit service one in the future also....... I will be taking it camping and outdoor adventures
Click to expand...
To sum up my impressions (salt optional ;)):
AK is oriented more for hard chopping; think hatchet replacement.
WWII is oriented more for weapon; but very usable for woodscraft.

15" or 18" AK's are good utility blades for woodscraft.
18" a little hefty (long) for belt carry, but do-able.
A little larger than a hatchet on the belt.
Better carried other than down the side of the leg---
The tip of the scabbard hangs about even with the fingertips.
[Maybe a leg tie off the scabbard would help?]

15" AK much easier to carry on the belt.

The BAS is a great blade, but not my cup of tea.
For that size range, especially in the woods, I'd go for the 15" AK.

If you get the 15"AK, you'll find yourself wanting to know what the 18" is like.
Likewise, if you get the 18" first, you'll want to try the 15".

It's the difference between a roping horse and a clydesdale.
Then there's the 12"AK working pony.
Which seems tiny in comparison, but is a sturdy useful blade that owns its own niche.

Scan back over the thread titles (since I think search won't work for you) as far back as you have time and you'll see this question answered many times for the various blades.

Also try:
http://www.himalayan-imports.com/faq/
http://www.physics.mun.ca/~sstamp/knives/HI_CS.html#comparative review

Welcome and good luck.
 
Hello WarDawg,
Good to see you over here. These guys will give you good info, a lot of it, and some you don't even want:D :p. Hopefully you will not get too infected with HIKV(Himilayan Imports Khukuri Virus). I have it pretty bad.
 
If you are above average in size and strength, you'll want a bigger khukuri. I think 18" is a decent size knife. You'll definitely know when it's with you. Personally, I bought mine to chop and split wood at the campsite so I went with the 18"AK.

The 16.5" WWII or AK is the next size down. The 15" khuk's are probably a whole lot easier to carry.

With the deals that Pala and Uncle Bill are making nowadays, you should be able to snag two khuks for the price of one to start with.
 
and is still my favorite. It chops plenty deep without giving up too much in the way of quickness. I think the HI website says "The best combination of tool and weapon that can be had". I would be inclined to agree. Don't worry. They have a way of finding the right home.

Frank
 
Get one of each .... or two of each... and the a sirupati... and then a Gelbu special... etc...
Really the maker can be a huge difference in the weight of any khuk. It is possible to have an 18" WWII that is as heavy or heavier than an 18" AK depending on who the makers were.
 
Yup, just try and jump on whatever comes up in the deals that day. There's a good measure of chance in buying any khuk.

Both the 18" AK and 18" WWII are comparable. The WWII tends to have long handles, while the AK tends to be a little longer in the blade. Both are good for general bashing.
 
15" AK. Your next khuk can be longer/shorter/lighter/heavier, but you'll still find plenty of work for the 15" AK to do. It gives you the compactness of a BAS, with more than just a skosh of added capability. For my money the 15" khuks are the best carrying khuks (actually the 12" AK, Sirupati, and Dhankuta are a joy to carry, but you give up way too much chopping power), the 18 inchers the best compromise khuks, and the 20 inch or better are for hauling around in the truck to play Paul Bunyan with.

Sarge
 
Was my first khuk, and it sees all of the hard use. I cut the normal stuff like wood with it, but also rawhide, metal and other nasty stuff, and it holds up to all nicely. (BTW, i don't recommend cutting metal, but if you're curious, start by chopping pennies and other soft metals).

My personal opinion is that the AK embodies the spirit of the khuk, and I'd call it the flagship HI product, as more AKs are sold than any other model. That speaks fer itself. The AK has a nice point, whereas the WWII has a more broad point. I like the AK because it puts the mass right behind the center of percussion, and the WWII puts the mass a bit more towards the point.

As for 15" AKs, I jsut love the 18incher more after messing with those. The 15inchers just lacked the extra mass for a truly devastating swing.

If you buy othe HI khuks in the 21-25 inch range, think of the lhgter built khuks like the Gelbu Special, Sirupati, or Kobra. These all remind me of reverse-curve wakizashis, for their handling qualities and weaponized feel. These in the 21" range run roughly equal in weight to the 18"AK. I like my khuks to be in the 1.8-2.2 pounds range.

Keith

Keith
 
with the 15" knives being easy carriers with the 15" AK being the heaviest of the 15's. The BAS or the AK will work for camping.

from now on I will have two khuks with me if I am very far from the house. I have already seen two rattlers and several lesser crawlers. So I guess it's time for the long blades. 18 " and up plus the 12"AK. :) :)
 
Well, here's another opinion and worth what you paid for it. I think the 16.5 inch chiruwa is the best combination of size, weight and strength. Not too long and not too short, just right.

And if you can get one with finger grooves, you've got perfection! :D
 
Suppose it depends on what you want to do with it. Can't go too wrong. Why not start with the WWII either size, then go with the AK. HIKV will probably get you by then so hang on and enjoy!(enjoy going broke!)
 
Originally posted by Ferrous Wheel ......... start by chopping pennies and other soft metals).
Click to expand...
BTW, does everybody know that pennies are no longer made of copper?

From :
http://www.usmint.gov/about_the_mint/fun_facts/index.cfm?action=fun_facts2
The Composition of the Cent
Following is a brief chronology of the metal composition of the cent coin (penny):
The composition was pure copper from 1793 to 1837.
From 1837 to 1857, the cent was made of bronze (95 percent copper, and five percent tin and zinc).
From 1857, the cent was 88 percent copper and 12 percent nickel, giving the coin a whitish appearance.
The cent was again bronze (95 percent copper, and five percent tin and zinc) from 1864 to 1962.
(Note: In 1943, the coin's composition was changed to zinc-coated steel._ This change was only for the year 1943 and was due to the critical use of copper for the war effort._ However, a limited number of copper pennies were minted that year._ You can read more about the rare, collectible 1943 copper penny in "What's So Special about the 1943 Copper Penny.")
In 1962, the cent's tin content, which was quite small, was removed._ That made the metal composition of the cent 95 percent copper and 5 percent zinc.
The alloy remained 95 percent copper and 5 percent zinc until 1982,
when the composition was changed to 97.5 percent zinc and 2.5 percent copper
(copper-plated zinc).
Cents of both compositions appeared in that year.
 
Yep, the pennies I cut were the copper jacketed zinc. Copper ones cut just fine too. I cut a quarter in --well quarters, and it was a copper center sandwiched between two nickel slabs. The Nickel is much harder than the Copper, so be sure to hit with the hardend CoP of the khuk if you try this.

Now it is a bit dangerous to get those pennies near HCl or some other acids, as Zinc produces an exothermic reaction to them.

Also, I thought that the pennies were steel during the war, not zinc. Thus the name steelheads for these pennies. They will rust, too.

Keith
 
16.5" WW2 is the hands down best all around compromise.

16.5" WW2 by Bura is no compromise. How can a magical blade be a compromise?

( you say there are no magic blades in the United States. I won't disagree with you. But in Nepal, they still make them with spirit inside them. Magic even. Laws of physics and the universe must not apply in Nepal. They ship them over here and the magic stays inside them. )
 
You will always have trouble choosing your next khuk no matter how many you have.

I was introduced to them 18 months ago. It takes me about nine months to make up my mind. Do the math and you'll figure out that I own three: A Durba 16.5" Chiruwa AK, a Dhankuta, and a Bilton.

It is unlikely that you'll ever use one as a weapon, so think tool or collector's piece. I would also advise 18" or less. Any of the WWII or AK models in the 15" - 18" range will please you.
 
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