Your favorite HI and why?

JayGoliath

JayGoliath

Joined
Mar 27, 2010
Messages
4,988
Spread across my HI vault there's a shining star. I guess that's why (It was Uncle Bill and now Shortwinger called it as) the khuk choose you:
Indeed a tough choice:

IMG_3376.jpg


ASTK- It's been a long journey brother Singh.
To quote Psalm 23:4, ASTK has gone through a tough road from custom seizure, cracked tang and many cycles of tree pulps (another indication of passing the UB's spine whack test) to earn him a steel-fitting kydex sheath!
It feels like a 1980's Detroit Piston secret Siru-18" of fearsome chopper as well as climbing partner.
Kami: Murali.


Dhanyabad Brother Singh!
:thumbup:
 
Last edited:
My grail khukuri is the 18" Ultimate Fighter by Rajkumar. I actually have 2, both handled in walnut. I really like them because the sharpened back swedge keeps the weight down, and the balance just feels better to me, but it still is a great chopper. I opened up a couple young coconuts, without dulling the edge at all, and the sharpened swedge allowed for some more precise cutting. It can't really be batoned all that well, depending on where you want to do your whacking, but I don't like batoning, and never do that anyways.

Plus, my combat style lends itself well to khukuri, and it's a faster blade than most HI models, but still full tang, and with a wide blade that has great thrusting power. If, by some weird happenstance, the zombie apocalypse comes, the UF will be one of the first blades I reach for.
 
My favorite one is my CAK, like I told you before, it's the one I'm taking to my grave. That is of course if my Super CAK arrives within my lifetime :)
 
Sorry for my ignorance and the newbie question but what model kuhk is that in the op


Nevermind found it
 
Wow, that's like asking which child do you love the most:p

My very first khuk, a villager finished AK/BAS hybrid made by Kumar is a constant joy to use. Of course, there are sentimental ones like the Uncle Bill Memorial khuk or the Cherokee Rose that I purchased when Yangdu was taking Uncle Bill's remains to Nepal. There are the special orders likethe Trisul or the Tirtha Bowie. There OLD favorites like the AK Bowie, The Seax, and the Kerambit.

I really couldn't tell you which one is my favorite. I guess after nearly 10 years, I'm still looking for "the one":D
 
As of today, my "favorite" AKA most used and fondled Khukri is my Bura made 20" Suripati named Lisa. If she can be lashed to my pack or stuck inside she goes with me on my outdoor trips. Though sometimes my WWII or once in a Blue moon the ASTK goes instead. From weed wacking my mom's yard to clearing trails to cutting melons and pumkins and other food, it has never let me down.

My 16.5" WWII was a close second, but my new 18" WWII might take it's place in the near future.
 
My 15" GRS. I've had 12"-23" khuluris, but I've found 15" to be ideal for me, and my GRS takes the cake. I loves me my choppers. It has replaced my 18" cak, but maybe it's cuz my GRS is my only 15" specimen.

My mind may change once I have others in the 15" range. I'll be circling the waters for a 15" CAK and WWII (maybe 16" since their handles tend to be longer). Also haven't given my new tamang dirt time, but it has a thinner edge and I'm afraid of using it like my choppers.
 
The favorite HI knife that I own is my M43. There are a couple of reasons for that. While I think that it's good for HI to branch out and try different knives like the Kumar Karda and the Bird and Trout Knife, HI's core competence lies with their khukuris. Their best knives are khukuris. Period. Second, my M43 fits the picture I have in mind of what a khukuri should be. The proportions are on, the balance is right, and the handle is sized for a human and not some Himalayan Yeti. Best of all, the thickness is appropriate for a knife and not a sharpened prybar like many of HI's wares have become over the years.
 
My favorite isn't hard to pick at all. In fact, it's the easiest choice I may ever make. Just how you know when you've been chosen, I guess.

Newest (still horrible) photo:
trinity.jpg


I seriously have to get some stuff or locations I can use for a background.

Anyway, I think that's a good trifecta of things that are short, stout, and ridiculously over-powered. With these tools, even a small child could easily shoot a bear, butcher it in 5 minutes, and then... uh... open that really stubborn pickle jar, to have something to go with the bear meat! :D
 
Ryan, it looks like you are ready to go Gordan Freeman on someones rear. :)
 
My AK that my very thoughtful girlfriend bought me. I had no idea what she was up to and it was for no particular occasion. Makes me smile whenever I use it.
 
Ryan, it looks like you are ready to go Gordan Freeman on someones rear. :)
Click to expand...

Or Adrian Shephard. :p Freeman used a crowbar, Shepard's the one who used a Stillson wrench.

And I decided to take a pic of what's very easily my 2nd favorite sharp object (also an HI) and gun, plus a random, not-particularly-favorite crowbar.

2nd.jpg


I'll figure out how to take good pictures someday. Until then, pretend they're supposed to be yellow, maybe illuminated by the flames of... something. I couldn't get the white balance to look good at all!

A sort of Chainpuri-Chitlangi hybrid, made by Sgt. Khadka, plus my .44 mag Mateba 6 Unica.

I guess I forgot to mention why everything's my favorite, earlier, too. Um... the Giant Chitlangi Bowie because it's 24" long and 3 pounds, 11 ounces, but the balance and handling are exactly like a European bastard sword (an excellent one, at that). But being shorter means the moment of inertia is lower for the same mass; thus it swings faster and easier, yet hits with the same power. If you've ever seen the video of the Cold Steel Chinese War Sword, where they chop 2 pigs in half at the same time, multiple times... it's exactly like that, only shorter and thus even faster (and 2 ounces heavier!). Plus the breadth of the blade means it can (and does) have a very thin edge. I've measured it a few ways, and the angle is thinner than my Paul Chen katana by a substantial amount.

Needless to say, it cuts unlike anything else. Everyone needs one. That, and the Serbu, are for when something needs to be split into two pieces on the first try. :D You need both hands to properly use either, though. Both are things that grabbed me by the shoulders and screamed "YOU NEED ME!!!" at first glance.

The Sgt. Khadka Chainpuri-Chitlangi, and I guess the Mateba Autorevolver as well, are the exact opposite. Except not. Seemingly infinitely lighter, extremely well-balanced and lightning-fast, yet very powerful. Very much a combination of finesse with overwhelming force. The SKCC is 18.5" long, but only 15 ounces. Not a typo at all, 15 ounces! It would almost be unbelievable, until you remember Khadka owns his own blacksmith shop, and only sells to HI. :p It pretty much cuts like a shortsword twice its weight. The Mateba's obviously less maneuverable, at 58 ounces. Same weight as a S&W 29 of the same size, 8-5/8" barrel, plus the wacky compensator that I just can't get off (9.5" with that). But the balance and handling are much better than any other bigbore revolver I've ever seen, since the entire front of the gun is actually an aluminum shroud around a steel barrel. Using aluminum cuts the weight to be the same as a standard bigbore, otherwise the thing would be an absolute brick. And being the same weight but with a light barrel, it handles much better. It actually balances exactly at the front of the trigger guard, which is just about the perfect balance for a large handgun, if you ask me. The thin barrel doesn't affect accuracy, either, it's easily the most accurate gun I own, handgun or longarm. I'm a terrible shot, myself, but I've seen someone else produce an unbelievable cloverleaf at 25 yards with it (lying on his back, shooting with the gun against the side of his thigh, using some kind of leather chap to protect against the cylinder gap blast).

Both were also love at first sight, but slightly less so than the previous 2. Very slightly.

It's 3rd place that I got nothing. Everything else I own can go take a walk. :p
 
Ryan M said:
Or Adrian Shephard. :p Freeman used a crowbar, Shepard's the one who used a Stillson wrench.

And I decided to take a pic of what's very easily my 2nd favorite sharp object (also an HI) and gun, plus a random, not-particularly-favorite crowbar.
Click to expand...

Thanks for reminding me of the Charactors name, I couldn't remember and saying "That dude from Opissing Forces on his hiny" didn't sound as good. ;) I'd like to see Valve bring Shepard back in Episode 3. He's been in Limbo or what ever that place is called since Op-For... IMO time for him to hook up with Freeman and kick some trash together.

So as to not insight to much thread drift; This Thread needs more pictures!! :foot:
 
my favorite???

the 17 inch Sirupati that I had no intention of buying until it came up on the DOTD
Serupati5.jpg

why? because its light fast, and slices through anything put in front of it, the more I use it the more I love it, the edge takes a beating and keeps going, it will take on anything from trees to grass with ease and IMO is absolutely gorgeous
 
Ryan M, that (second pic) looks kinda like a LIMBU style blade. Can anyone clarify please ?
Click to expand...

I believe the Limbu people live in the mountains of eastern Nepal, right? I have no idea what ethnicity Sgt. Khadka is, or where he was born or raised, or if that would even be particularly relevant, but he actually did make that knife in some type of overall eastern-mountain Nepali style. Whether Limbu in particular, more or less than the style of anyone else living in that general region, I have no idea. Very good eye, regardless!

I've been calling it a Chitlangi-Chainpuri, since the blade reminds me of a Chainpuri, and the handle of a Chitlangi (especially the large bell pommel). Though come to think of it, I have absolutely no idea where Chainpur or Chitlang are, either.

Here's an older photo showing the scabbard a little, made in the tuck-it-into-your-sash style, that I understand is popular in eastern Nepal.

2new.jpg


Also my amazingly-built Dukti sword, that from what I understand, was among the last dozen or 20 or so of the blades Bura made before his stroke. :( I think it may actually be one of his last swords, maybe even the very last, or am I accidentally making stuff up?

It's unlike any other sword I've ever seen, anyway. Measured with my calipers, and it's around 0.18-0.19 or so for most of the length, thinnest short sword I've ever seen. And yet it's stiff. Stiffer, by a lot, than a Paul Chen katana. Incredibly hard, enough that it took a solid hour to remove around 0.01" from a 3/16" wide area from the side of the tip, when I slightly reprofiled it with an xx-coarse diamond file. But if you whack the tip sideways on a piece of wood, there's still a noticable spring, but no vibrations whatsoever. I really hope he can pass on his knowledge. His heat treats were, and still are, second to none. I don't think there's anyone else in the world that could make an old Mercedes leaf spring that thin, yet that hard and rigid, but without a trace of brittleness, using nothing but a charcoal fire and a pitcher of water.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top