The Original CZ Forum
GENERAL => General Discussion => Topic started by: mkd on September 10, 2021, 11:09:07 AM
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anyone have any experience purchasing a khukuri style knife from Napal or here in USA? Not sure if i want to get a modern more usefull knife or a more traditional hand made that is suitable for use. watched lots of videos still uncertain?
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They're design is pretty good for some things. Like chopping flesh and grass etc. But it's also bad I'd say in more ways than good. You can't exactly stab with one.. nor throw it if ya had to. And ya can't exactly baton one with a mallet either for woodworking in the feild. Next is thier weight. The real Nepal style ones are super thick. But they kinda wrap your waist a bit when sheathed. Which is the next issue. It's hard to get a simple sheath for them. And lastly if it's it's true napal example they many times have those spiritual grooves carved into the blade right around where you'd do most whittling with. Which never made much sense to me. So when I need a multi purpose chopper I eventually found this maker. And for the price I found it to be a good mix of weight.. balance.. and purpose. Has a full tang and is front heavy enough to be used as a machete when needed. Yet small enough for all uses really. It's the Hudson River model made by Condor(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210910/e2131bb9b1d7f5728b55e3063f5204ff.jpg)
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Oh and here's the thickness. I'd say it's comparable to a mid size khukri without being too thick. But yeah I've been in the same boat and wanted a real Nepal model till I thought long enough. Then settled with a minimalistic route model instead. I'd prefer one with a handgaurd.. palmswell.. lanyard hole.. and so on. But this just felt right when I picked it up. Also looks less scary as other models. Kinda like a big kitchen knife lol. Haven't used it to clean a deer etc yet but I'm certain it will do what's needed then some(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210910/a2e3fbd7c95135cdda66828900a9ead7.jpg)
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I have an 11" Afganistan issue model.
In terms of quality I'd give it about 3/5. The blade wasn't particularly sharp and the tang was slightly wider than the handle. You would also want big hands as the handle was very thick.
In terms of use, it is a good multi purpose chopping tool. Lighter and more flexible than a hatchet and it looks cool to boot.
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I consider them to be more machete or hatchet use than knife. You'll still need a standard field or bushcraft knife for all the usual tasks.
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I don't see any around anymore. But check to see if anyone still makes or sells a good well made Hori Hori tool. They're a Japanese broad knife that's thick and convexed so it can scoop dirt. Many have a saw on the side. Here's a decent one. I've seen more heavy duty ones in past but not anymore. They make a handy multi use blade also. This is a smaller one I happen to still have(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210910/a378f72edad36c27351afd494b36211f.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210910/46f96cb8de0b35387bd72c47efb200e7.jpg)
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The bottom one looks like it would make a good diving knife.
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Prolly would. Would have to put a new grip on it maybe. But if ya look close this is a cheapo. It don't have the weight like I'd want on it. It's a bit short. And it's not a full tang. I snagged this one from a place similar to a Harbor Freight store near me so it's not top quality. But at the time I had a metal detector and figured this one would work fine for digging near tree roots etc when metal detecting objects in dirt. But even this one worked pretty good. Only bad thing about it's design is it would be nice if it could have a flat side to baton on it. I don't like saws on blades cause they usually never work as intended and always get dull fast and never re-sharpen back the way you'd hope they would. So I usually just keep a few long Saw-Zall blades with me and an adapter handle for hand use and use them and when they get dull just toss them. But I like the scoop design tho. I think it would make a good bayonet blade design for troops. The scoop makes them harder to bend and it also helps scoop dirt. But a handy blade to have none the less especially if ya plan to hike someplace and build a shelter. This and a folding army shovel I tend to keep stored away as a pair for any digging that may be needed. Some folding shovels double as a hatchet also pretty well. Lots of choices out there to choose from. I try to carry things that have multi uses tho to save on amount of gear that needs carried. Another good reason for large straight blades vs Khukris etc.. if ya ever need to build a spear you'll want it to be a straight blade for that. Like if you're someplace without a gun.. you can use if for defense against large game. Even spear fish. They nice too for shearing limbs u can't reach that way also. I need to drill the handle of chopper I showed above on it's pommel for a safety lanyard loop. Even maybe install some micarda handles with better grips and palm swells. And maybe 2 more holes so it can be laced to a stick. Anyways there's alot of gimmicky knives out there. But those are attributes I say are the best to have one whichever u do choose. Those Nepal Khukris tho.. They're very well crafted and great deals on the price. I just don't get much multi function out of them. But they have a cult following tho. And if u find one that has a small dagger like extra knife in the same scabbard as the Khukri.. it likely not meant to be a knife. But a a honing steel that looks like a knife lol. So users back then could sharpen rhier blades out in the wild. There's so many left even today from like 200 years ago or more cause in Nepal is because they're considered sacred items. And if I recall correctly used alot in ceremonies.. including sky burials. Where they had to butcher people into bite size chunks for the vultures there. And it's great for that job I think lol
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from a good blade dealer like Kult of Athena, there are many options. Most will need to be sharpened before use.
Windlass Steelcraft makes a good quality Kukri, including the actual military issue kukri. - https://www.kultofathena.com/product/assam-rifles-kukri/
Ex-Gurkha Kukri House makes them even better, but at a little higher price. - https://www.kultofathena.com/product/full-tang-service-no-1-khukuri-10-blade/
I have both.
Atlanta Cutlery has some pre-1895 vintage kukri if you want a real antique one.
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I'm not a fan of serrated blades as a general rule. One exception would be a dive knife. Think fishing line or nets. Here a serrated blade makes sense. Also with a dive knife prying. My favorite from the past was more chisel point than spear point. I didn't know what a Khukuri knife was. We use to call them Gurkha knives. The ones I remember were tourist knives and generally pretty poor quality. This was 40 years ago though.
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Das Hugh, i have had lot's of knives. benchmade, spyderco, columbia river, buck etc, and recently bought a couple Tramontina machetes. One is a 12" and the other is an 18" which i have modified to include contouring, staining, wrapping with jute and varnishing. The blades were also honed to a very fine edge however i left the tips blunt like they came. I also have a condor Golok machete that is a very nice piece that i do not even use for fear of messing it up. The Tramontinas are going to get use. I do not need more it is more of " i want one" notion.If i got anything at all i would lean to an item that was used in service and of style of an actual duty piece.
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Yeah I stumbled across the condor line in a local knife shop. They seem really well made. And just feel good in the hands. Never used mine yet cause my health went downhill soon after buying it. Went back a few years later to same store and it's nearly all they carry now so I think they got popular. And yeah the Khukris are very pretty and I too would hate to mess one up. Was googling them a long while back and was impressed with how little they cost still beings how old most are. I'm kind of out of my knife phase I was in tho. Went into a more expensive gun one lol. Wished I stayed in knives lol
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I have a 1980s kukri that used to get used for branch trimming on trees and shrubs.
The Assam Rifles kukri has nearly doubled in price over the last year (was $36 when I bought in Sep 2020).
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Didn't those Gurkha knives come with a smaller knife, used for taking ears or some such?
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Some may now. But I was told ages ago the other knife was actually a honing steel to sharpen the main blade and that they're dull. Some people may make knives from them or replaced them with bladed knives etc. But it was it's original purpose. Don't quote me tho as I'm not an expert by any means lol
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Didn't those Gurkha knives come with a smaller knife, used for taking ears or some such?
They usually come w/ two small blades w/ one for sharpening and one for utility, but not suitable for most heavier field or bushcraft tasks.
Think of the sharp one like a penknife, but fixed blade.
Again, kukri = a machete or hatchet or use. Or small combat sword.
You still want that 4-7" combat/field/bushcraft knife. Possible you could get away w/ something a little smaller/lighter but quality like a benchmade folder if you use the kukri for all heavier tasks and keep the mid-sized folder razor sharp. A larger BM auto folder -- don't recall which model offhand -- is what the US military often issues to troops who can't carry firearms in various overseas hearts and minds postings.
*Here's a nutnfancy vid on the BM folder -- 3.5" blade is what my research shows there... Images of knife match what I recall from nearly a decade back of what a family member was issued prior to one of those postings. He prob covers all the details, since his vids are exhaustive:
** Looks like embeds might be turned off as not seeing below, so here's the link *https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKmCTlK7br8* -- remove stars when you copy/paste.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKmCTlK7br8
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Didn't those Gurkha knives come with a smaller knife, used for taking ears or some such?
there are two accessories in the scabbard - a small utility knife and a very similar looking honing tool.
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Didn't those Gurkha knives come with a smaller knife, used for taking ears or some such?
there are two accessories in the scabbard - a small utility knife and a very similar looking honing tool.
Ah.
I've never owned one, but have seen them.
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And here I am with juts a Benchmade Resistor in my pocket...last fixed blade knife I owned was a Gerber Mark II....
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And here I am with juts a Benchmade Resistor in my pocket...last fixed blade knife I owned was a Gerber Mark II....
original wasp-waisted or newer serrated?
unfortunately they haven't made the original style for many years, so I had to settle for serrated.
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For Nepalese khukuris, I've dealt with Kailash Blades and Knives By Hand. Both have kamis in country in Nepal, and they sell high quality, reasonably priced blades.
Kailash will also do commissions, and have done some VERY nice iklwas, shortswords and other custom pieces.
Knives By Hand also does non-khukuri designs, though they don't generally accept commissions.
https://knivesbyhand.com/ (https://knivesbyhand.com/)
https://kailashblades.com/ (https://kailashblades.com/)
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anyone have any experience purchasing a khukuri style knife from Napal or here in USA? Not sure if i want to get a modern more usefull knife or a more traditional hand made that is suitable for use. watched lots of videos still uncertain?
I think it's pretty cool to have an authentic, hand-made khukuri in the knife drawer.
I bought one from Khukuri House Handmade Industries (KHHI) in 2010 for less than a hundred dollars. It's a great chopper, but a modern style large knife is probably more useful. Depends on what you really want/need...
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Das Hugh. i bought a Hori Hori from Amazon, the one most recommended. It came with a cheap man made case like in your pic and only has a half tang. The handle was rather blocky shaped and did not fit my hand very well so i rasped all the sharp edges and thinned the handle down, especially on the front to make the flare more pronounced and the grip more secure. I also bought a 12" Tramontina to go along with the 18" i purchased a while ago. the 12 inch is the one i like the best, not as clumbersome and balanced better than the larger one. I i had only one my favorite would be the shorter one. I thought i had what i need for working tools however i just ordered a 12' pruning stick and saw for the work i have to do on the two live oaks that were planted when the house was built 2 yrs ago. After looking at all the options i went with a Jameson FG-6pk-7f6. Anything that has to do work has to hold up so i was reluctant to by Fiskars which seams to be popular.
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I'm sorry for getting into this conversation rather late....
I just bought a khukri style "khukuri blade". I looked at Nepalese knives online, and in person locally. Its not that I wasn't impressed, but its obvious that the Nepalese blades, or blade sets, are really one-off's each. While for authenticity, that's a great thing, and I admire the worker who hammered, filed, and polished out any of those blades, I was looking for something with a bit more known utility. Mine was going to be an honest to Pete working knife. The type and quality and heat treat of the Nepalese steel always comes into question. They're built for looks, not really... for hard use <- my opinion.
I ended up with a Tops Khukuri 7.0, which has been doing well for me in anything from whacking small to moderate limbs from trees and brush, to slicing fatwood bits, and even carving down a match stick to clean out the USB-C connection on my phone. Its 1095, coated, and heat treated to.. I forget, someplace in the high 50's on Rockwell. Easy to get shaving sharp, and its seeming to stay that way so far. My abode here has a lot of vegetation, so I hand the knife on my belt most weekends when I'm out and about doing yardwork. There's always something that needs cuttin' back.
Not so much endorsing the Tops knife as bringing up the opposing schools of though - authenticity vs usefulness. Depends on what ya want I guess.