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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
whos kukri is better??
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A Himalayan Imports Khukuri will eat those other khuks for breakfast, and won't break the bank. They are hand-forged from Mercedes Benz truck springs, and are pretty much indestructible. They also cut and chop like you wouldn't believe. Check out the HI forum here under Makers and Manufacturers section; you'll be glad you did.
--Josh
--Josh
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What Josh Feltman said. No really. The Himalayan Imports Khukuri must simply be held to be believed. It will be money well spent. I must admit that I haven't seen the Kabar version, that being said the Cold Steel and Ontario Khukuris are almost jokes when compared to the ones for Himalayan Imports. I have...well more then I would like to admit, of them and the number of styles and sizes makes it so that you can find one to fit any needs. From 12" light duty choppers/slicers to 20" 3 pound monsters that you can use to scare things apart. Check them out.
t1mpani
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Once again a vote for HI. I've handled the Ontario, and it was dull as dirt. I have a CS Ghurka, and it's really sharp, but it's really a bent knife, not a khuk. It doesn't have the mass to be on par with HI for chopping, and really is on the brittle side if you accidentally hit something other than wood. Can't speak to the Kabar, as I've not seen anything more than a picture, but I own several HIs and have put a couple through hard use, and there's nothing to compare to them.
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Hmmmmmm. I think that I might see a trend forming here.
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I'm highly impressed with their wares.
I recently beat the living hell out of an 15" Ang and it's still going.
The biggest reason I bought a HI Khuk was because these were REAL. these are honest to god Khukris made by the people that know what the hell they're doing, not stamped out by the thousands in a factory somewhere. The HI Khuks are REAL and that made a difference to me.
C
I recently beat the living hell out of an 15" Ang and it's still going.
The biggest reason I bought a HI Khuk was because these were REAL. these are honest to god Khukris made by the people that know what the hell they're doing, not stamped out by the thousands in a factory somewhere. The HI Khuks are REAL and that made a difference to me.
C
Ok but what about some one that wants a beater kuk that they can just go wacking with.
If I wanted a hand made forged piece I would just get myself a forged piece from www.hayesknives.com and have him make me a custom piece in O1 tool steel 3/16th thick and have it eat your Himilayan Import piece.
Now I don't want that and nor dose shaft so can someone help us with the others. Cold Steel, Ka-Bar, Ontario...
I am not c trying to lessen the HI Kuk I am sure that it is a fantastic knife and that it is up there in the top ranks but we want sintetic handels and coated blades for not to expensive.
If I wanted a hand made forged piece I would just get myself a forged piece from www.hayesknives.com and have him make me a custom piece in O1 tool steel 3/16th thick and have it eat your Himilayan Import piece.
Now I don't want that and nor dose shaft so can someone help us with the others. Cold Steel, Ka-Bar, Ontario...
I am not c trying to lessen the HI Kuk I am sure that it is a fantastic knife and that it is up there in the top ranks but we want sintetic handels and coated blades for not to expensive.
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Did you happen to look at the blade prices for that hayesknives site?
I don't think most of HI's blades cost even a quarter of that!Get a HI Village model -- The finest handmade sharpened crowbars for ~$50.
t1mpani
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Well, I won't get into a handforged 3/16 O-1 vs. handforged 3/8 5160 argument, but I will tell you that unless the Kabar Khuk is a shockingly good tool (which I haven't heard anyone say yet) the knives originally asked about are not going to be great performers.
Of them, my guess would be the Cold Steel is the best. Like I said, I have a "Ghurka khukuri" from them (before I discoverd HI), and it's sharp, but not nearly as tough as you might think. It's tempered too hard for a striking tool. I broke the front 3/4 of an inch off doing some tree limbing a couple years ago--which is definately NOT outside it's intended uses. It would make a decent weapon because it's sharp and quick, but it's movement in that capacity won't be as intuitive to most of us as a good bowie or kabar would be.
I'm afraid you don't win the price war, either. The CS khuks run anywhere from $90.00 to $110.00 on 1sks. The HI BAS is $100.00 shipped if you buy from the HI store. If you hang around on the forum at about mid-day, the specials go on sale. I own 12 khuks from HI, and I only paid more than $70.00 for two of them. Most I picked up for $50-$60.
Finally, you're right, there are no synthetic materials on them. If it's really that big a deal, there's the full-tang models--pull off the buffalo horn scales and slap some G-10 on there. Blade finishes are pretty easy too.
Obviously, it's up to the person spending the money. But, when a bunch of different people who aren't getting paid for their advice all tell me the same thing, it usually gets me thinking.
Let us know what you decide.
Of them, my guess would be the Cold Steel is the best. Like I said, I have a "Ghurka khukuri" from them (before I discoverd HI), and it's sharp, but not nearly as tough as you might think. It's tempered too hard for a striking tool. I broke the front 3/4 of an inch off doing some tree limbing a couple years ago--which is definately NOT outside it's intended uses. It would make a decent weapon because it's sharp and quick, but it's movement in that capacity won't be as intuitive to most of us as a good bowie or kabar would be.
I'm afraid you don't win the price war, either. The CS khuks run anywhere from $90.00 to $110.00 on 1sks. The HI BAS is $100.00 shipped if you buy from the HI store. If you hang around on the forum at about mid-day, the specials go on sale. I own 12 khuks from HI, and I only paid more than $70.00 for two of them. Most I picked up for $50-$60.
Finally, you're right, there are no synthetic materials on them. If it's really that big a deal, there's the full-tang models--pull off the buffalo horn scales and slap some G-10 on there. Blade finishes are pretty easy too.
Obviously, it's up to the person spending the money. But, when a bunch of different people who aren't getting paid for their advice all tell me the same thing, it usually gets me thinking.
Let us know what you decide.
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Dollar for dollar you are not going to beat the HI Khurk. Can you get better? Yes I am sure you can at 5-10 (or more)times the price. That being said I would like to see a HI piece get "eaten" by anything and I mean anything. Dip the handle in plastic, blue the blade if you need to. The HI don't have that Tactical look or feel nor does it need it. It is a beater that will last a lifetime and has the warrenty to back that statment up.
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Actually, it kinda sounds like you are trying to lessen the HI piece. Have you ever used an HI product? I'll admit, I'm a little biased, and most of the regulars at the HI forum are probably a bit biased too, but there's a good reason for it. For the price of a synthetic no-soul mass-produced cookie-cutter blade, you can have a blade hand-forged by the same man who makes khukuris for the king of Nepal. I think it's impossible to convey the magical feeling of an HI khukuri in mere words. You really have to hold one of these blades to understand. If you want to buy a cheap factory blade for pretty much the same price you will pay for a hand-forged beast of a knife, be my guest. It just means that there will be more HI khukuris for me.
--Josh
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"you can have a blade hand-forged by the same man who makes khukuris for the king of Nepal." --Josh
Oh so that is why he is called the Royal Kami. I didn't know that. I thought it was just because he was the best.
Oh so that is why he is called the Royal Kami. I didn't know that. I thought it was just because he was the best.
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Nope, he makes them for the King of Nepal.
Course, not really a full time job,t hat's why we're privileged to get his work too.
And yeah, I must phrase real doubts as to anything "eating" an HI khuk. Cept maybe one of those giant car crushers, and I think i'd still put money on the HI.
Course, not really a full time job,t hat's why we're privileged to get his work too.
And yeah, I must phrase real doubts as to anything "eating" an HI khuk. Cept maybe one of those giant car crushers, and I think i'd still put money on the HI.
I hear that.
Like the other guys said, HI will give you a great value for a lot of performance. I have a 18" Ang Khola myself, and it is the meanest chopper that I own. The blade is 1/2" thick made from hand forged 5160 (from a mercedes truck spring). So, just repeating what the other guys have said: my first choice is an HI khukuri. Tons of different styles to choose from. Reduced price khuks onsale practically everyday. My favorite is the HI 18" AK.
A really good alternative would be Mineral Mountain Hatchet Works. Their Kukri is made from differentially hardened 5160, but you also get micarta handle scales and a kydex sheath. You get a semi-custom job. Nice fit and finish and can be had for $150.
http://www.plan-a.org/mmhw/kukri.htm
For the production types:
You can also add AG Russell to your list. They make a production kukri that fits the kind of look and feel you are looking for.
http://www.agrussell.com/agrussell/ru-658.html
Personally, I don't like the Cold Steel, Ontario or Kabar models. For the money, you could do a lot better with the companies listed above.
Also, I am a Wally Hayes fan. I don't think you can compare 3/16 O1 and 1/2 5160.
not2sharp
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I'll just add my vote for an HI khukuri. The knives are a terrific value and Bill from HI is a great person to deal with. I have had dozens of modern non-HI production khukuries. Some of them are nice useful knives (the lighter cold steel knives and the older Blackjack khukuries made excellent machetes), but none of them balance or perform like an HI khukuri.
HI is not a production company. It's a collective of incredibly capable custom knife makers who forge the knives one at a time. You will never find two matching HI khukuries. If these things were made in the US they would have to be sold for four to five times what HI is asking for them.
n2s
HI is not a production company. It's a collective of incredibly capable custom knife makers who forge the knives one at a time. You will never find two matching HI khukuries. If these things were made in the US they would have to be sold for four to five times what HI is asking for them.
n2s
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I dont own any of the other name brands nor will I...custom lets see
H.I all the way
this was my Villager that I sent to my Bro in Iraq...only the best...now battle tested and proven
H.I all the way
this was my Villager that I sent to my Bro in Iraq...only the best...now battle tested and proven
huh? On the Villagers I have and gave away crowbars they are not...the Villager I sent in the pic above was 1 lbs 3oz and the 20" Sirupati Villager I just got weights in at 1 lbs 8oz...if you think they are crowbars you better hit the weights
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HI is the best!
Best quality
Best dollar value
Best chopping ability
Best warrenty
Best man to buy from!!
I have non HI khuks, even one as you describe, an old Blackjack/Reihnhart combat khukuri.
Buy what most appeals to you right now, Come back later and try a HI. Once you compare you will realize that there is no comparing them.
You can tell that HI has a LARGE following here for a reason.
Best quality
Best dollar value
Best chopping ability
Best warrenty
Best man to buy from!!
I have non HI khuks, even one as you describe, an old Blackjack/Reihnhart combat khukuri.
Buy what most appeals to you right now, Come back later and try a HI. Once you compare you will realize that there is no comparing them.
You can tell that HI has a LARGE following here for a reason.