weight of your 16.5 chiruwa AK

P

Pan Tau

Joined
Sep 3, 2002
Messages
750
Hi,
I do have two 16.5 chiruwa-AKS at home right now . One is my first khuk, made by Bura in 2002 and the other is the one purchased on 12/31 2003 by Kumar (the newer one will be a present for my father).

I noticed a big difference regarding the weight and wonder if my old Bura-made favourite is kind of a "ultra light AK".

It weights 660 gramms or 21.2 ounces I think I have seen posts about WW2s of the same lengh being heavier.

The newer one by Kumar weights about 800 gramms = 25.7 ounces, which is quite heavy. The weight of Kumar`s blade is higher, because of an increased lengh (43 centimeters=16.9 inches) versus Bura-chiruwa (16.7 inches) and because of the thicker tang (Kumar: 4-4.5 millimeters = 0.16-0.18 inches versus the Bura-tang 2.5-3 millimeters = 0.10-0.12 inches).

I like my older and lighter AK better as it is possible to carry it on the belt all day without any problems. - I guess with this AK I do not need a 16.5 WW2, it is fast enough to be a weapon - not quite a typical AK I guess.

I am interested What the weight-range on the chiruwa-AKs is.
Please post so we can make a comparison.

Thanks
Andreas
 
I'm surprised that they only vary that much. Doesn't seem like one would notice 4.5 ounces w/out a postal scale.
 
Mine's sitting in a bucket at home, but I reckon it to be about 22 oz or so.

I also prefer the lighter blades. Generally I say that they handle and balance better, but it's because I'm weak.

:)
 
16.5" Chiruwa AK by Bura and 28oz. It's approximately a year and half old.
I wouldn't want it lighter.

The blades have lightened over the years, probably pure economics; shipping and scarcity of metal. HI is still thicker than other khukuris, though I do wish the spec sheets could be adjusted. Naturally, if you rewrote the specs on the khuks and someone got a heavy one, he'd be complaining; "hey, this weighs too much; the web site says it's only supposed to weigh....."



munk
 
I broke two, and dinged one which was repaired. It was during the Maoist uprising, the blade edges were very very thin, and the Kamis were nervous...I've owned 13 or so khuks since then, tested them all and they've been fine. I'm still a little nervous about my 25" Sanu AK; it light and has a very thin edge. But so far so good.

I want to say it's the medicocre specimen like myself that strips screws in engines or breaks khuks, but I know too many strong men who do the same...

But Bruise, I do think 28 oz is about right for everything. It's not too heavy to carry over hill and dale, it's just weighty enough to really start chopping. The balance is good whether it's a 16 chir ak or a 18" WWll.

Many of my khuks weigh about 28 oz. But if you watch the weights of the specials, you'll see the kamis know this too, and make 28 oz khuks.


Just a few ounces difference either way: 24oz does not cut as well. 2 lb khuks start feeling heavy after several miles walking...Kamis know,
Bruise, they know.

In fact, let this be the post where munk reveals 28 oz is the magic number for most khuks.




munk
 
... the magic 28...

would be too heavy for the use I intend.
So one could say my old ciruwa AK is more like a fullered WWII - would be an attractive design I guess.

Thank you!
 
I've got Chiruwas by both Bura and Kumar. I'm not sure of their weight exactly, but the Buras are lighter than the Kumars. I tend to like the heavier blades for chopping, but the lighter ones for carrying. So I guess I like them both, depending on what I'm doing. :)
 
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