Khukuri Advice

[Bluntrauma]

First off this is not about a Spyderco. I do have one though and it's awesome. Actually it is such a great cutter that it has piqued my interest in buying a more traditional one as a camp tool.

I would like to start off by saying that I want a HI Khukuri. I have not been able to find anything on their site (in stock) that I want yet and am fairly impatient, but that's another subject.

Anyway, until the right blade "hits me" I wanted to buy one to play around with and get an idea on how they chop and handle.

I am basically looking for one, maybe two (I hear it's addictive) but that's certainly not etched in stone.

I want one for light duty, basically a camp type knife for light chopping and so forth. At a later date I want something on the line of an M43 or Bonecutter.

Anyway, I have identified a few that meet my criteria. If any of you have any experience with these knives I would love to get your advice as to which one you thought might be the best first Khuk.

Panawal Dotted Supreme

http://www.thekhukurihouse.com/catal...id=313733fe4d5


Jungle Panawal (Better)

http://www.thekhukurihouse.com/catal...d=313436fc2012


Panawal Special (McCoy)

http://www.thekhukurihouse.com/catal...id=313631fc812


Junky Jungle Plus

http://www.khukuriblades.com/product...p?id=313732f87

[rosconey]

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

guys had a great rep at blade forums when i used to visit

[Bluntrauma]

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

guys had a great rep at blade forums when i used to visit

Yep they are the ones that I really want to get one from but they don't have anything on their site right now that I want. They are awesome and I have emailed back and forth with Yangdu but it will be a month or so before she has what I really want unless they throw up a deal of the day that I like and can get.

In the meantime I would like to get a feel for using one and these meet my specifics but I don't know much about them and thought maybe someone could offer up one that stands out. Thanks for the reply!

[tonydahose]

i bought one awhile back, chopped thru some 2" X4"s with it and then reshasrpened it up and put it on display so i can't tell you which one to get but keep an eye on BF for them in the sale section. i found this one which i am quite happy with. i can understand the impatience, trust me, i really can but why not save the money for the HI since that is what you really want anyways. good things come to those who wait.

[Bluntrauma]

This is true Tony. I tend to be a bit impulsive though.

Hey that is one beautiful blade. The person who made that one I believe is Kumar. If you can't find a SAK to hang from the end of it and want to get rid of it..... j/k

Thanks for the advice!

[Billy]

Hey, I saw your post over on BF and since you were getting so many great replies, I didn't add my own. I have a few HI's and they are indeed great blades. I think something in the 15" range makes a great all-around camp blade and can handle most anything from chopping to food prep without being too heavy to pack. My current favorite all around khuk is my 14" BDC. It chops like a much bigger blade, but handles kitchen duty more like an oversize chef knife. They are really fun knives to use and when you hold one, you definitely get the sense that the knife has a bit of a "soul". Here's some pics of my HI khuks -

Top to bottom: M-43, WWII, BGRS-V, Katunje Special, CAK-V, Baby AK


The only one missing from the group shot is my BDC...

[Bluntrauma]

Hey Billy those are some great looking blades. Yes I really want to ultimately get a HI Khukuri but I really want something right now and they are low on stock at this time. You really do have the polish on those blades!!!!!

[Bluntrauma]

So Billy which one is your favorite? That M-43 sure is sweet looking!

[Billy]

Most of those blades don't have that high polish anymore since they have all been used to some extent and I get tired of polishing them up that level.

Out of all of them, I think my favorite is probably the M-43 followed closely by the BDC. The M-43 is just a beast of a chopper and I have done some serious work with that knife. The BDC is a really good all-around blade as is the WWII and I enjoy using both in the kitchen on occasion. The BGRS-V is also a good little chopper and can hold it's own against the M-43 and actually chops better than the WWII. It was also my very first khuk so it holds a bit a special place in my collection.

Seriously, just keep an eye on the HI forum for the DOTD and I bet you find one that picks YOU!

Good luck in your search!