WHY do I need a Khukuri?

Summerland: When I first saw your request, I thought, now there's another innocent sucker in paradise. However, by now the other addicts have had their say and you know why you need a khukuri. I might add they are quite unique and represent a mystical and colorful culture. They are also quite useful. I've given a few as working tools. You need a variety of them to make a good collection. Get a WWII for starters, then a good Sirupati, then some antler-handled and silver mounted ones, if Uncle Bill can get then anymore... Good luck, we all will hold khuk anonymous meetings for you.

G. Bass
 
Why do you need a Khuk, let me think about this...

1. To frighten your neighbors when you trim trees and bushes.
2. To keep your mother-in-law wondering...
3. Just have some extra money that you need to find a place for.
4. You never know when you might run out of razors, and you always need a close shave!

But seriously, these are THE tool to have. If you do any outdoor work (limbing, firewood gathering, etc.), there is no better tool. I agree with the 15"AK recommendation as a general purpose knife, or a WWII. Personally I like the Sirupati for machete type work. As someone else mentioned, you will find things to use it for after you have it. There is not another knife available that feels like an HI Khuk. The abuse that these knives can take, without abusing you is amazing. If you can't do it with a Khuk, it probably doesn't need to be done! Buy one, and, as the others have mentioned, be prepared to buy more. You won't have a real need for them probably, but it doesn't matter. You will NEED them (HIKV). If you don't want to have several, don't buy one. It's inevitable, you can't fight it. Anything that Uncle Bill sells is excellent, and the service that he gives is even better. Good luck, and welcome to the Asylum!

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'He's losin' it... (Words spoken about me by a visitor seeing me with my Khuk!)
Lucky for them I'm not...
 
Its true, folks--the more I look at the pictures of these things, the more I want them. I just remembered . . . years ago as a small child I was visiting my grandparents, and saw a large curvy knife on the wall of his study. I was fascinated by it at the time. From what I can remember of it, it must have been a Khukuri.

So do you think its spell lay dormant in my mind, waiting all these years to JUMP UP AND GRAB ME??!! Or am I just rationalizing (Me to my wife: "Honey, after all, Grandpa had one . . . ")?
 
What's so special about khukuris..?

1. Scientific answer; it's to do with the unique profile of the blade, the combination of convex and concave in one cutting edge.

A curved edge cuts better than a straight one. Partly this is because when you swing your arm, you swing it in a circle, not a straight line. A curved edge converts more of this circular movement into cutting force; the blade is drawn along and down into the material being cut, remaining in contact with it far longer.

As the earliest human beings knew when they designed the sickle and the scythe, a concave cutting edge cuts best; as the blade is drawn into the material by the stroke, the edge gradient increases and optimises the area of contact between edge and material. Much more of the edge is used than with a straight or convex blade, for the same amount of musclepower employed.

Where the khuk wins out over the billhook, beanhook or sickle is by adding a convex cutting edge to the concave; this prevents jamming at the end of the stroke, when the percussive energy of the blow has been used up, and takes advantage of the radius of the bottom end of the arm's swing; in other words, the khuk edge is cutting *all* the time it's in contact with the material, not just some of the time. Secondly; not all your cuts are going to land perfectly on the blade's centre of percussion. If you only connect with the tip of the blade, with a hook or sickle you're wasting your time & energy. With a khuk, you have a cutting tip that's about as ergonomic as a convex edge can get, second only to the 'kissaki' of the Japanese blade.

2. Aesthetic/historical answer; the khuk is the living descendant of a tradition of blade design that goes back at least 2,700 years to the ancient Greek machaera, and probably beyond that to the machaera's antecedents in the Levant and Egypt. HI khuks are made using techniques that haven't changed in centuries, by craftsmen deeply rooted in the traditions of their culture.

3. Practical answer; because they're cheap, they won't ever break and they cut stuff up but good!
 
I really wish that I had not looked at the ganga Ram. I think that it has moved to the top of my wish list. The next one down is the gangola. Oh well, can anyone tell me about the ganga ram? Price, and is it as good as it looks? How long till bill gets back?

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"Clear a path for the Kukhri or it will clear one for itself"
 
Hello Summerland: ---a 15" khukuri is a big knife. When we talk 20" AK and the like, we are talking really big tough blades, probably with kinda thick handles. The 15" AK might be the best especially if you get only one. Good fighter and chopper utility khukuri.

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Summerland:
Uncle Bill sent me a 15" AK as my 1st khukuri and I wound up giving it to my wife. It is just the right size for her. It is a wonderful tool and very suitable for whatever you want to throw at it. I am a pretty big guy though, large frame and bones, but on the short side. I used to be 5'11" and after 3 back surgeries down to 5' 9" now. I had decided on an 18" AK and ordered one. It was at the time a Shop 2 knife and they were just getting up to speed so to speak.
I used to think it was the best knife in the world, perfect hardness, weight, etc. Then I got a Ganga Ram and it is the Best Knife in the world equal too and surpassing my 18" AK in some areas.
The only problem is that mine weighs 3 1/4 Lbs but you can hardly tell it until you use it for a while.

SOoooo. I now have 2 knifes I consider the best in the world.
I would have a hard time decideing which one to take with me. I guess it would depend on how far I was going to have to carry it.

The reason for all of the above even though the other guys that suffer from HIKV have given you good advice you might want to choose your 1st. based one on your size and condition.
Of course if you give your wife one she won't be so apt to ask why you need another one when that time comes around.
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Matt:
If I remember right the Ganga Ram is $250.00. Mine is a 1/4" short of 22 inches. I know some of the guys don't want to use thier's and I competely understand why.!! They are awesome.!!!! My reasoning is that Ganga Ram, 80 years old took the time to come into the dirty city to make us some Magical Khukuri's to use and I firmly believe that he did just that.

When I got mine it was beautifully polished and had the appearance of having some kind of Rainbow colors in very small granules in the blade. After using it a bit and using Scotch Brite to take out the small scratches a piece of Black Jack Oak put in the blade, they are still there although pretty faint. It may be just my imagination, but I still wonder what causes them
to show up in the steel. I may polish it up again to see if they caome out brighter again.

The problem with the Ganga Ram is that the old kami was/is getting sick of the dirty city and wants to go or has already went back to his village..... Now the solution to the problem may be to ask Uncle Bill when he gets back if Bura could make some Ganga Ram Specials.
I am Betting that he could and I am going to order another one if it is possible to talk Bura into doing the job.

With the kami's great pride and each one believing they are the Best Kami in All of Nepal we may be able to get some more Magical Khukuris.!!
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Anyone getting aGanga Ram certainly will not be disapointed!!!!!!!!

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>>>>---¥vsa---->®

"Know your own bone, gnaw at it, bury it, unearth it again."

'Thoreau'

Khukuri FAQ
 
Thanks, Yvsa!
I'm about 6'3", 220 lbs--not a bodybuilder, but I don't mind swinging a large blade. . .
 
There are many good reasons to have a khukuri. Its unique and useful geometry, good quality and even spirit given by master kamis, etc, etc.
But there's an unspoken major reason why we buy one.
Because there is a khukuri.


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\(^o^)/ Mizutani Satoshi \(^o^)/
 
Summerland,

I would agree with the suggestions to go with a 15 inch Ang Khola, but I would suggest considering a 15 inch Sirupati or a WWII or BAS. These are all good khukuris to start out on. If you intend that these be used, consider chopping ability with the Ang Khola being at the top of the list. If you are looking at slicing, the Sirupati fits the bill. If you are looking at a general, all purpose khukuri, consider the WWII, BAS, 18th Century and Gelbu Special models. If you are looking at a collector's item, consider the 18 inch Banspati.

Check out the Khukuri FAQ and search previous threads in this forum for further info.

Hope this helps.

Harry
 
When I was a little kid - I always dreamed of a wandering clan in a great plain - riding horses - hunting with traditional weapons & arms such as bows, spears & knives. Sometimes now - I still have that kind of dream! Khukuris are just fit enough to represent those kind of dream world in my reality world!

GRS is a special product! It is really a limited edition by Gangga Ram - it is the manifestation of his past, his current, his dream, his joy, his cry, his blood, his sweat, his tear, his smile, his laugh, his swear - blended into steel work! Of course you can make a replica of it but that replica is not the same GRS - I suggest you better get one real GRS before it is too late!
 
Summerland, I have many of the ones discussed and although my personal favorite is the 15 inch AK, I would say that for your size you may want to go with the 18 inch AK. It is a great compromise between the 15 inch and the 20 inch. It is a BIG blade but more easily wielded than the 20 incher.
 
Well, for one thing, Khukuris are alot cheaper to purchase that Katanas.
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They are easier to hide/carry than a full size Katana or some types of Wakizashis. They cut really well against a variety of things and they have alot of spirit in them!
 
I agree BA. Kukri may be one of the oldest but it is still the best.

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"Clear a path for the Kukhri or it will clear one for itself"
 
The most important reason for having a khukuri is to keep your chronic HIKV under control(temporary) until the next HI offering occurs.

Harry
Chronic HI Khukuri Virus Sufferer since September, 1999.
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:
Cliff probably has the best reason of all to get a khukuri in his answer to people questioning him, "What are you going to do with THAT?!?!?", when he brings his 22" Ang Khola out, and his reply, "Anything _I_ Want To!!" LMRRAO.hehehe

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>>>>---¥vsa---->®

"Know your own bone, gnaw at it, bury it, unearth it again."

'Thoreau'

Khukuri FAQ
 
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