Author Topic: Khukri knives (Read 10885 times)

sohmdaddy · « **on:** July 28, 2010, 06:38:25 pm »

Do I have to spend several hundred dollars on a Cold Steel Khukri to get one that is good quality? Say I wanted one as a camping tool, would I need to save hundreds of dollars?

WeTheArmed.com

Storyteller · « **Reply #1 on:** July 28, 2010, 07:29:39 pm »

Oh He*l no. I have 2 suggestions.
#1 Atlanta Cutlery I purchased one of their "British Issue" Kukri's more than 25 years ago. It's been used for camping, yard clearing, Haloween costumes and 5 or 6 other things. I still have it, and use it.
#2 Go on line and enter "Khukri" in the search. You can purchase direct from several makers that label themselves as former "Ghurka" soldieras. I cannot attest to the validity of the claims, but the knives appear good.
After working with one a while, you'll wonder why you never had one before. Good luck.

Buckeye Redneck · « **Reply #2 on:** July 28, 2010, 10:17:28 pm »

Ask that Ghurka that's in deep scat over lopping a tango's head off with one.

Grant · « **Reply #3 on:** July 29, 2010, 08:47:31 am »

I got a $12.99 knockoff from....stoneworks? something like that.

Mainly because Khukri's look cool, but I have no use for one

Actually though, I'm sorta surprised. for $12, it has decent steel. Not great, but better than some of that pot-metal floating around. All I need to do is eventually replace that plastic handle with something more solid....

tire iron · « **Reply #4 on:** July 29, 2010, 09:30:59 am »

No - don't buy the one made by CS.

Get one of the "real" ones. You won't mind USING it if you spent less than $50 on it. And you FIND things to use it with too! Cool knives that REALLY chop through stuff - like saplings and small trees (and some chicken heads too!).

I guarantee this WILL happen - as you as you pick one up - after about 20 seconds you will find yourself looking around for SOMETHING to chop. Guaranteed! (Happens to me every time.)

cheers

tire iron

RevDisk · « **Reply #5 on:** July 29, 2010, 10:21:36 am »

Quote from: sohmdaddy on July 28, 2010, 06:38:25 pm

Do I have to spend several hundred dollars on a Cold Steel Khukri to get one that is good quality? Say I wanted one as a camping tool, would I need to save hundreds of dollars?

http://www.himalayan-imports.com/

Trust me. Just buy one from HI and get it over with.

Granted, I'm working on a new project to "improve" a khukri. With tungsten carbide, cobalt, silver, phosphoric acid, and a few other additions. Because anything that can be made in the entire world, can be made better by an American.

tire iron · « **Reply #6 on:** July 29, 2010, 12:57:09 pm »

I would just get one of ebay for around $40 - can't see spending more than that for what it is.

cheers

tire iron

akodo · « **Reply #7 on:** July 31, 2010, 12:00:22 am »

get the Cold Steel Khukri Machete for $15-$20

http://www.manventureoutpost.com/products/Cold-Steel-97KMS-Kukri-Machete.html

Coronach · « **Reply #8 on:** July 31, 2010, 12:39:39 pm »

I second Himilayan Imports. You get a real, hand-made Khuk that can be used and abused for a fraction of what it would cost if something of similar quality was made by a major maker in the US. Plus, HI is not exploiting its workers, it is paying them a fair wage in their nation.

I own four, and they're incredible. Get one, you won't be sorry.

Mike

Raptor · « **Reply #9 on:** July 31, 2010, 12:42:49 pm »

What about these guys? http://www.thekhukurihouse.com/ How do they stack up against Himalayan Imports?

Coronach · « **Reply #10 on:** July 31, 2010, 12:46:12 pm »

Also, if you're looking for a hard-use knife, get a Villager. http://www.himalayan-imports.com/villagers.html

A Village Khukuri is what the people in Nepal actually use. It is not finely polished, it is not ornate. It will look like a cheap-arsed hunk of steel with a rough-hewn handle. It will look like junk- unit you start using it. It will hold and maintain a fine edge. It will perform camp chores with aplomb. It is a perfect working khuk- and if you bang it up, it just adds to the character.

Mike

PS added bonus: the Cho (the odd little hole/projection in the blade just above the bolster) on my Villager works as a beer bottle opener. Can't argue with that.

ETA: No idea abut Khukri House. Quality-wise, I can't imagine them being better than HI. Price-point may be better, but I like the ethics of HI, and I like my HI khukris. I see no reason to buy from anyone else.

sohmdaddy · « **Reply #11 on:** July 31, 2010, 07:15:49 pm »

Any opinions on this one?

http://www.nepalesekhukuri.com/index.php?prodId=139&catid=0&var=ItemDetails

Maybe I should just buy one and tell you how it works.

Coronach · « **Reply #12 on:** August 02, 2010, 11:35:54 am »

No opinion. I'd check on Bladeforums. Last time I read there, they were unabashedly pro-HI for cost/quality/ethics/authenticity, but there are enough posters there who will give stuff a fair shake, even if you posit that there is a bias towards HI. I think HI earned its bias fair and square, but that's just me.

Mike

Harm · « **Reply #13 on:** August 02, 2010, 11:58:21 am »

Quote from: Raptor on July 31, 2010, 12:42:49 pm

What about these guys? http://www.thekhukurihouse.com/ How do they stack up against Himalayan Imports?

Raptor - rumor is these guys get their Kuk's from the same place as HI.

Coronach · « **Reply #14 on:** August 02, 2010, 12:24:17 pm »

I've not followed HI closely for a few years now, but I was under the impression that this was NOT the case a few years back. HI had two "factories" set up for their kamis...I'm not aware that they have outsourced, or sold khukuris under other brand names. Could be wrong, though.

Mike

Harm · « **Reply #15 on:** August 02, 2010, 12:40:08 pm »

Coronach - Thats how it was explained to me when I bought my first a few years ago. If thats not the case I was misled (not by Kuhkri House but by a 3rd party) in which case...

That said I still want an HI Bowie Knife. I want one so badly!

sohmdaddy · « **Reply #16 on:** August 27, 2010, 04:49:03 pm »

What do you all think about this one http://www.coldsteel.com/kukrimachetes.html

Verses This one https://www.kabar.com/product/productDetail.do?productNumber=1249&mode=category&categoryId=1,2,3,7&categoryName=Military/Tactical

Harm · « **Reply #17 on:** August 27, 2010, 04:59:23 pm »

I have the magnum kuk from CS. Its a machete not much a kuk. FWIW.

sohmdaddy · « **Reply #18 on:** August 28, 2010, 01:35:56 am »

What is the quality of the blade? Is it really flexible or rigid? Does it hold a good sharp edge for a long time? How hard have you used it?

Is it flimsy and cheap or tough and inexpensive?

dstocum · « **Reply #19 on:** August 28, 2010, 03:35:12 am »

Something as skinny as those Cold Steel things isn't going to be anything like a real kukri. The spine of my kukri is over three times as thick as the CS machetes. I don't have one of those specific models, but I had a different CS machete and I was unimpressed with the quality as I received it. Be prepared to spend some quality time with a file to give it any sort of edge. The "sheath" was a joke as well.

As for the Ka-bar, why would anyone hollow-grind a chopping blade?

I bought my kukri from Himalayan Imports a few years ago and couldn't be happier. I have a 15" Ang-khola, if it matters. Just buy the real thing, it's worth the money--they're pretty cheap for what you're getting.

Coronach · « **Reply #20 on:** August 28, 2010, 04:07:56 am »

Concur with dstocum. The CS and Kabar offerings may be decent knives, but they're not khukuris. And a HI khuk is pretty cheap for what you get. If it was made in the US it would cost as much as a Busse Combat.

Mike

sohmdaddy · « **Reply #21 on:** August 29, 2010, 12:32:25 pm »

What is hollow grinding?

JesseL · « **Reply #22 on:** August 29, 2010, 02:27:09 pm »

Quote from: sohmdaddy on August 29, 2010, 12:32:25 pm

What is hollow grinding?

#1 in this diagram:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grind

Coronach · « **Reply #23 on:** August 31, 2010, 12:39:16 am »

And, to elaborate more, a hollow-grind is good for slicing, not for chopping. For chopping you want something more like #6, which will force the material apart, is less likely to stick (or, at least be easier to remove if it gets stuck), and is more robust at the tip. Khuks are choppers, not slicers.

Mike

JD · « **Reply #24 on:** August 31, 2010, 12:53:27 am »

It was mentioned before and I'll chime in too. If you want a beater that's more machete than a traditional Kukri at a low, low price that will hold up well enough...

knifetests.com - Cold Steel Kukri Machete Destruction Test

Besides that, I would also pick up one of the others that were mentioned. Can't have enough Kukri I say!