What am I missing?

fulloflead

fulloflead

Joined
May 3, 2002
Messages
6,192
Pardon me, but when ever I check the "new posts" there's a kazillion new posts on this forum, so I figured I'd stop by and see what the fuss was all about.

This is a popular forum!

What am I missing? I have no clue. I gotta know!

Gimme a knife recommendation so I can buy it and see what all the fuss is all about! :D
 
Why, yes, it is! Welcome, fulloflead.

The Cantina as we callit is a bit diff than the other BF forums, more of an online community of sorts. I'd say that cept fer the wee hours (where me and a certain Danny in Japan rule, him bcuz of timezones, be bcuz I never sleep:D) there's an avg of 20 folks logged in here.

The co. is HI, and the recommendations can be found here in the threads, or on the HI homepage & shopping site.
http://www.himalayan-imports.com/
This site has lots of links to testimonials for the khukuri, the versatile bent blade of Nepal. They are hand made in Nepal at Bir Gorkha, by blacksmiths (called Kamis) using the old ways of forging and hardening. Bill Martino (Uncle Bill) and his wife Yangdu run things here in the US, while Yangdu's father Pala runs the show in Nepal and keeps the Kamis in line.

As for a recommendation: I'd say if you consider yourself of average to smaller build, try a 15" Ang Khola, the unbreakable khukuri. Or the fancier BAS (British Army Service). Many also prefer the 18" AK or the WWII models. There are quite a few longer khuks, some being of lighter build, some heavier choppers as well.

There are more than just khukuris made--you can get a bowie knife, other small to medium knives, an Everest Katana, or other sword-length items.

As many who ome here have found, you can't buy just one!

Rest of the folks will be along to testify!



Keith
 
I'm still up as well, watchin Dungeons & Dragons on TBS.;)

Welcome fulloflead. I've seen you around, think it was on W&C earlier this evening.;)
Keith has told you right. We all have our favorite's as it's been said, "You can't buy just one." My favorite 18" all purpose khuk is a BGRS which translated is an 18" oal wide bellied khuk. My favorite weapon style is a 21"+ Chitlangi and my favorite heavy khuk is what we call a Foxy Folly designed and model made by our very own Foxjaw. I have several others I like as well.
See what I mean about having more than one?:eek: ;)
 
I played some D&D as a kid, but thot the movie was a bit flat. Lotsa FX, but this was before Pete Jackson was rolling in with Lord of the Rings. He set the new hi-water mark for epic fantasy with that trilogy.

You'll have to lemme know whatcha think.

Keith
 
i still love legend...

a good first khukuri depends on what you want it for :) or what you think you want it for, cause once you have it, you'll want something else to do the original job, and the first one for another job. and soon you'll have a floor covered in wood, horn, steel and leather.

for self defence, the 12" sirupati is quick but agressive. for general small chores like light branch clearing and such, the 12 ak is very handy, but if your going to be doing any significan work, the larger angs will take immediate presidence. 1 chop from an 18" ang is equal to about 3 chops of a 12" on a really thick branch.

theres a lot of variations of each khukuri, to fit personal prefences and specification of task. your basic 2 models (or so ive reasoned out) are the sirupati, and the ang khola. these two models come in the widest viraiety of lenghts, and are the basic lines of what the design needs to do.

the ang khola is thick and heavy, with a single fuller near the head of the blade.
the sirupati isnt fullered at all, and is reletively thin (from spine to blade), but do to it not being fullered can take a massive beating without feeling like you need to go easy on it.

most of the other models are variations of these two designs, the bgrs being a heftier version of the ang with a more forward balance, the foxies folly being a more forward balance with a broader curve, but double fullered to take off some of the weight so you can handle the broader blade.
the chitlangy and khobra are variatonis of the sirupati, one fullered to lessen the weight, the other thiner from spine to edge to acheive the same effect.

all aspects change how the khukury handles, and how it handles will vary from user to user, from frame to fram.

name a model that sounds interesting, and we can tell you what it feels like, and what we think its good for :) *and dont forget the forum search tool :D *

and seriously, you can't just buy one. ive hear people claim the same about other companies - but its different with HI... their so cheap price wise that you dont realize how fast the money flows until your ankle deep in nepaley forged cutlery....
 
Welcome FOL,

What Yvsa said. Try out a 18" Ganga Ram Special. Wood handle. Also a Pen Knife is a nice small one.
 
As one 'folder' guy to another:

Run while you still can!

I have 4 khukuris and doubt it'll stay that way!

Actually, though, to get your beak wet, get a Bilton. It's a great around-the-house khukuri. From there, you can branch out into any of the tool or weapon aspects of the larger blades.
 
the other thing you'll notice is that when you post a thread and come back, it'll likely have 20-30 posts in it already and changed subjects entirely!

:eek: :D :p


Oh...and, Welcome!


Buy a 15" BAS. Best seller. Best all-around khukuri. Inexpensive. Easy to tote.


Or, just wait around until my lunch-hour when Uncle Bill will proceed to post all the great Deals of the Day!!! :mad: :D :p
 
My first was a 20" Sirupati. My first HI was a 16.5" Chiruwa (full tang, riveted scales) AK. You will probably love any one that you get. My advice?

RUN while you still can. These things are addictive. DO NOT BUY ONE! Just kidding. Buy one and you'll likely buy 10 more. It helps support poor people in Nepal.

Steve

Oh, another thing. I noticed that you like Microtechs. So do I. They are ultra precise and made very well. But they are made on machines and each one is almost exactly like the next one. Each khukuri will have some flaws. They're handmade with relatively primitive equipment. But each one has something of the Kami (bladesmith) in it. They are like a living thing. Each one is different. They come alive in your hand. Some of us think that they speak to us.

Tryyyyyy it, you'll liiiiiike it.
 
Yep. Comes with the territory. The nimble fingered forumites sometimes respond to multiple topix in a post, so you can have a lot going sometimes.

Keith
 
I already owned three Khukuris when I first came to the cantina. Since then, I have bought ten, given away three, and am perpetually plotting to obtain more. I am working on adapting a golf bag to hold all of my Khuks, so that when I happen upon a task, I can simply select the best Khuk for the job from among my "Horns and Woods" instead of my "irons and woods". :D



Edited to add: Anybody know where I can get some little fuzzy socks that would fit over Khuk handles? :p
 
and half of those were at the MWKK, Mac! (you greedy lil $^@%)

:eek: :D :footinmou



try a golf supply shop. they carry fuzzy socks...:D
 
Ya know? You're right! I did pick up five at the khon. :eek: I feel so bad. Please excuse my avarice, (and my elbow when the next "deal-of-the-day" comes around.) ;)
 
MacHete said:
Edited to add: Anybody know where I can get some little fuzzy socks that would fit over Khuk handles? :p
Click to expand...
Don't go buyin enny dayumed fuzzy socks.:rolleyes: :p Recycle, use the bags offa Royal Crown bottles with their nice little pull ties.:D :cool: :D
 
Yvsa said:
Don't go buyin enny dayumed fuzzy socks.:rolleyes: :p Recycle, use the bags offa Royal Crown bottles with their nice little pull ties.:D :cool: :D
Click to expand...

I seldom buy RC Cola, but I've never seen it sold in bags. :confused: ;) :p

Actually, the sock cover things are pointless until I work out a numbering system. One number with an "I" or a "W" is nice and compact, but the khuks would have to be designated '18WW' or "20GRS" or "26.5AK". Kinda hard to squeeze that onto a sock fitted to a Khukuri handle. :D
 
fulloflead said:
What am I missing?

:D
Click to expand...

At times just about everything. Some of the best people you could ever get to know and some of the most incredible knives that you could hope to own. I will throw in a 18" Ak as a first. Gives you a taste of size and still small enough to carry, in my opinion at least. Welcome.
 
thombrogan said:
As one 'folder' guy to another:

Run while you still can!

I have 4 khukuris and doubt it'll stay that way!

Actually, though, to get your beak wet, get a Bilton. It's a great around-the-house khukuri. From there, you can branch out into any of the tool or weapon aspects of the larger blades.
Click to expand...

UH-OH! Maybe I should run.

I'll read first, then I'll run.

Or, maybe I'll stay. :D
 
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