Which is better a Parang or kukri???

[Gunner]

If we were to take an equal size and weight parang and kukri which would make a better chopper? Better carver? Better skinner? I really would love to get one but havent been able to find anyone that makes them. I would like to hear your opinions and if you know of someone that is selling one or makes them let me know. Thanks Geoff.

 

[storyville]

I believe parangs and khukuris are VERY different creatures. Khukuris are definitely choppers, although some designs lend themselves to more versatile uses than others. Check out the Himalayan Imports and Ghurka House forums here for more info on specific models.

I may be incorrect, but I believe parangs are essentially heavy duty machetes for hacking, bushwhacking, clearing vegetation and the like in jungle-type conditions. If you tried that with a khukuri, your arm would probably be sore in very little time. Similarly, if you tried chopping w/a parang, your arm will probably fall off before you got through the wood. There are probably various low-cost parangs available, but the "high-end" version is probably the AKI parang; for info see

http://lehua.ilhawaii.net/~knives/

As for carving and skinning: I imagine either tool would be rather awkward for the more delicate tasks. But the khukuris all come w/a smaller knife in the scabbard, which may serve well in either of these tasks.

On a related note: there's only one review of an AKI machete that I'm aware of (the straight-back, not the parang). Does anyone here have any experience w/either? They appear excellent in design, though quite pricey relative to others...

Glen

 

[Gunner]

The knife I am talking about is in the SAS survival handbook on page 20. Anyone have one? Thanks Geoff.