[Blofeld]

I've recently fallen in love with this design. Where is the best place to get decent ones? I'm not so much worried about top-of-the-line as I am about getting burned on a crap one. Where to look, what to look for?

[nalioth]

http://himalayan-imports.com/

[kamagong]

Check out www.himalayan-imports.com The make wonderful khukuris. For a first khukuri I'd look into getting a Gelbu Special, 15" Ang Khola, or a BAS.

[Blofeld]

Oooh, I know what I want for Christmas!:D

[gb6491]

nalioth wrote: http://himalayan-imports.com/
Another vote for Himalayan Imports here:D; be sure to read their FAQ page: http://himalayan-imports.com/faq/
Oops forgot to add; They have a forum at bladeforums.com that is very informative. Specials deals are offered on the forum every so often, but you have to be quick!!!!
http://i38.tinypic.com/33p683p.jpg

Regards,
Greg

[MikeJackmin]

Be sure to read the safety information as well. It's surprisingly easy to really hurt yourself with one of these things.

I have an old ebay Kuk that I use for trimming multiflora rose bushes. I find that using a Kuk is similar to using a scythe - it's all about technique, and it can be very hard to describe how to do it right. When I happen to be using it correctly the thing cuts like a light saber, and when I'm doing it wrong, it's like beating on the bushes with a club.

It's kind of fun to try to figure out what the trick is, but I haven't discovered it yet.

[Aka Zero]

I like my cheap cold steel kukri machete. Blade shape and machete thinness do wonders for chopping anything. And at $15-18 you won't mind dinging it up, or really hacking with it.

But as said before, I have hear Himalayan Imports suggested more times than not for authentic style kukris.

[Wolfman_556]

I'm fond of H.I. too.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y141/Wahya/HPIM0934.jpg

[JShirley]

Blofeld,

Welcome to THR. What are you looking for in a kukuri? Do you want an all-around bush knife, a carryable knife that can also chop fairly well, a fighter with some chopping ability, or something huge and powerful?

John

[Navy joe]

Had to attend a disaster response tonight with my HI Khuk. The remnants of tropical storm Fay blew down my corn patch. There is something to be said for one tool that can chop garden stakes, pound them in, cut string, and dig or do anything else I might need to do. I bought the British Army pattern, it is a good all around tool and near indestructible. I clear small trees out of the pasture and keep it in the car because we get a lot of downed trees and limbs in the road around here. Get an HI, you won't be sorry.

[SeanSw]

I spent years reading about khukuris before buying a Nepalese made model. Soon after using one I couldn't understand their greatness, they really aren't my kind of do-it-all knife. They're pretty neat but all that I've tried were hard on my hands and heavy on the belt. I'd rather carry a belt knife and a 'hawk :)

[Blofeld]

Thank you, guys.

JShirley, putting together my bug out bag, my wife has shamed me by having hers already.:neener:

So this design seems to fill the bill as far as all-purpose survival knife. I realize there are a variety of specialized tools better suited for different tasks, but to keep it small and light, this beats hauling a fighter/ axe/ e-tool/ machete.

And I collect knives, have no representative of this design, so figured you guys would know where to start.

My credit card will suffer.:eek:

[Wolfman_556]

Blofield, if you look at the photo I posted on this thread, you will see three H.I. khukuris from my collection.

In order from top to bottom they are:

20" Ang Khola
21.5" Chitlangi
20.25" Sirupati

The Ang Khola is my primary worker. It's best suited as a chopping tool because it is simply too heavy/bulky to be a good fighter.

The Sirupati is light and very quick & agile. It's the one I would pick for fighting but it's still sturdy enough for light brush clearing.

The Chitlangi in the middle is my favorite. It's about halfway in width and weight between the two and as such it can fill both niches of 'worker' and 'fighter' (but not as good obviously for the specific task in question as the other two).

Another one I could recommend is the M43 model. I bought one for my brother for xmas last year and he loves it. Full scale tang, great balance, good speed, and very good cutting power.

M43:
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y141/Wahya/HPIM0769.jpg

[JShirley]

Blofeld,

For your purposes, I suggest one of the following HI kuks:

15-16" BAS
15" AK
16" BDC
16.5" WWII (http://john.photodelivery.dynalias.com/beltsword/content/bin/images/large/_DSF4529.jpg) (Next to a 2 liter, so you can see scale.)
17" GRS

This should be teamed with a small knife such as a Shrade Sharpfinger or any of the good daily user folding knives.

John

[Blofeld]

I'm going to be sooo broke. Thanks again though guys.