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What is a better do-everything-hiking knife than CS Gurkha Kukri?

I have not owned any, but I have used the CS Gurkhas and found them to be excellent for the chores that you describe. I do not like the prices thou. Maybe a factory 2nd would save some $. Are their any knifemakers who build these? If I were you, I'd get one and try it. You only live once.
 
I think I'd like to get a Khukri one of these days. My feeler is going to be to see how long it takes Doc Canada to be arrested as a massive crazed, head decapitating on the bus type of character for carrying a Khuk in the Greater Toronto Area. I figure if he lasts out the next summer, it should be pretty safe.
 
Mzny people are buying their H.I. Kukri's off the subforum here in the manufacturers section.

You can also purchase from himalayan-imports.com

The M-43 served me without fail over a several year long hard spot where I usedit for a great many daily tasks. Including building several shelters and two log cabins.
 
wildmike said:
Himalayan Imports M-43 Kukri. The real thing is far superior to CS's imitation

the kukri like objects that are on the market aren't worth spit compared to a true kukri.
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Yeah what he said.:thumbup: Although I do have a CS khukri machete after seeing how well one past a destruction test on youtube. I got it because it was just $20 so I don't mind just keeping it in the back of my 4x4 for emergencies. I don't own a HI M43....yet, due to finances; but my 15" HI Ang Khola is a true work of art and the one I reach for when going a ways back into the bush. And they come with a lifetime guarantee. So even though HI's are much more expensive, you get what you pay for. As for the smaller tasks you mentioned (slicing pepperoni and spreading peanut butter) the HI M43 comes with a small utility knife, I believe it's called a Karda, that fits right in the sheath with your big honkin chopper as well as a small sharpening steel, which i think is called a chakma. Good luck with your decision.
 
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i understand what youre trying to do....honestly you dont need a 22oz kukri for sliptting logs and chopping....esp if its only for emergencies.

you want this blade for camp chores AND emergency knife? i think anything 5-7" would save weight and could do all of what you mentioned. my 6.5" SOD chopped through a 2x4 in under a minute of steady chopping, it spreads peanut butter, its lightweight and tough as nails....from the needs you described i honestly dont think you NEED a kukri...

im not trying to be an a$$ but if you hang around here and read posts you'll realize you might even have too many knives already!! :)
 
I'm gonna be straight up here.. I think a khuk as a chopper is a real work horse.. But for any blade that excells in 1 area you are going to have to compromise in all other areas, if you want to carry only 1 tool.

while a khuk will chop... it is less than ideal for filleting a brook trout..

while my mora, might be great for carving and cooking small game, it lacks the robustness needed to process large amounts of fire wood (if that;s what you are doing)

I am currelntly experimenting with using 1 knife for everything....(a bk7) and it is a excercis in compromise.. it is to small to be a great chopper... to long to be a detailed carver. but as I learn to adapt to these compromises the way I approach activites is evolving, in respect to my given tool.

We as a knife community tend to really over think these things...the best kept survival knife secret is that almost any one will work.....
I've logged in a fair amount of tree time over the past few years.. and to be honest most of the time I have to find an excuse to use my knife.

If you are looking for a do it all knife... be prepared to compromise efficiency in at least some activity. which will cause you to change the way you think about and perform tasks. for instance you may not be able to spread pb with a Khuk, but you can split a shim that can be used as a spreader...

This is why most people carry combinations of tools. but try what you feel drawn to, experimentation is the only true way to really know what wil work for you.
 
kgd said:
I think I'd like to get a Khukri one of these days. My feeler is going to be to see how long it takes Doc Canada to be arrested as a massive crazed, head decapitating on the bus type of character for carrying a Khuk in the Greater Toronto Area. I figure if he lasts out the next summer, it should be pretty safe.
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That broke me up. :D Haven't had a chance to use it (15-1/2" CAK) yet, but Slasher, Phil and I are getting together once I get rid of this cold/flu. Hey, you might even be up this way - I'll give you a heads up when we set the date.

Also, the next time you get up here, remind me to bring the Khuk - you have to bring the 'Walt'.

Doc
 
I'm with RescueRiley, too. With respect, for backpacking as you state, an F1 or 4-5" clone with a Swiss Army folder and a nice decent folding saw will you serve you way better than what you are considering. FWIW, friend.
 
i,d get a gransfor bruks small forest axe and a Mora or fallkniven F1 or S1. That combination really aint that heavy. That said for a multi role knife as said and for the price check out the Shrades SCHF9, alot of knife for the money.

Its the one in the center
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dec015.jpg
 
RescueRiley said:
We as a knife community tend to really over think these things...the best kept survival knife secret is that almost any one will work.....
I've logged in a fair amount of tree time over the past few years.. and to be honest most of the time I have to find an excuse to use my knife.
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A lot of truth to what you say RR. (BTW, nice to see read you again.)
 
I do agree that using a single blade to cover many/most chores will be a compromise most of the time.

Cpl Punishment said:
So, 1080 steel will be softer, have less edge retention and not be as tough as 5160.

At the $299 price tag on the Cold Steel, you could buy several HI kukris.
For a match to the CS's size and weight (17"OAL, 22 ounces), look at the Chitlangi, Chainpuri, and Sirupate blades. For a better utility blade look at the M43 like I posted above. It's heavier, but makes work much quicker (i.e. more effort per swing, but much fewer swings required to get the job done). They tend to be in the 32-35 ounce range and 18" - 18.5" OAL.
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The 5160 blade of the HI is not going to surpass the hardness of the CS Gurkha at RC 65.

To be clear, I am not looking at the CS for $299! I am looking at the one for just under $100.

My hatchet is about 30 ounces. At 32-35 oz for the HI, I'm not saving any weight.

August West said:
Yall must backpack different than me, I would suggest a Vic Farmer and a folding saw. I'm old and stove up, joints don't like carrying all that heavy metal. Chris
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My problem is 1) finding a small saw that I feel confident in carrying and 2) I can't sharpen a saw. I have looked into getting a saw. I think I will pursue that route.

sawgrass7 said:
I'm with RescueRiley, too. With respect, for backpacking as you state, an F1 or 4-5" clone with a Swiss Army folder and a nice decent folding saw will you serve you way better than what you are considering. FWIW, friend.
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I have a RAT RC-4. Do you think that takes the place of an F1?

Another knife option I have thought about is a Fehrman knife, specifically the First Strike with a 7.5” blade length or the Shadow Scout with a 6” blade length. But, now we are talking about a $210-280 knife. If I had one of those, I’d probably hike with that, a RAT Izula, and a SAK. I’m still considering a Fehrman knife, just because I like them.
 
My Sawvivor weighs 10 ounces and has an 18 inch saw blade. I replaced some of the rivets with nuts and bolts and it is now bulletproof. I also wear a Busse meaner streets on my belt, I have my son carry the estwing hatchet for redundancy.
 
Cold Steel doing a Khukri is like a KIA version of a Power Wagon...

Himalayan Imports is the best way to go, email Yangdu with ideas of what you are looking for in a blade and she will help you throughout the process.

The Busse Company knives aren't any better than any other knives of the same size for two to three hundred dollars less. Anything by BK&T, Ka-Bar, Ranger, TOPS or a host of others get the job done, the same way without the hype.

Case in point ASH-1 with the bells and whistles 450 bucks as a bro deal on the forum or wait until the magical infi gods decide its time for the ASH to come back out, then wait in line at the CO. store, after ordering and wait time you could have been on a vision quest through the Muir trail, ate steak for dinner, had Chuddy Bear make you a custom sheath and made all the fuzzsticks you could carry with a BK&T BK9.

Another option to look at would be a Barong or any of the Condor choppers.
 
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