Any Kukri geeks here that can give me info?

[WinchesterAA]

I dunno much about Kukris and my googlefoo is failing.

Got some good pictures though, and what I hope to find out is - how much is it worth? Who made it? Is it capable of cutting through a million zombie heads on a single sharpen?

 

[markk]

That is a http://www.himalayan-imports.com/. A first rate kukhri...

 

[tallpaul]

might be a gurkha house- maybe the ang ghola? I have one very similar.... as far as zombies- not as many as ya may want- you can get tired swingin that one

BTW did it cut the sight off that pistol

 

[WinchesterAA]

I found the same markings on some of the kukris at HI, so that's probably what it is although I didn't find mine.

My next question is - Is this decorative or my new goto knife for anything ranging from - deforestation, firewood configuration, zombie attacks of course, and basically whatever else you might need a machete for? I do a good bit of cutting when I go to my lease, and I've yet to find good machetes with a 20" blade rather than the shorter ones that are next to useless in my hands.


The pistol came to me with an atrocious mount for a scope that limited the slide's movement thus preventing the slide from being locked and being the primary contributor to a plethora of stovepipes exclusively. I can't "aim" it anymore, but atleast it shoots. Front sight was MIA when I got it.


Also, recommendations for sharpening? I briefly read about how only the recurve is sharpened typically, is this correct and why?

It seems like it'd be worth the $$ to take it to a knife guy with a sharpening wheel and some experience, but are most knife sharpeners familiar with kukris or do I need to do some calling around?

 

[hso]

It is a real tool and not a toy. It will do the job.

 

[mossberg]

I've heard it does perform reasonably well on zombies.

 

[waterhouse]

Yours is a Himalayan Imports khukuri and was made by Lal Bahadur Bishwakarma ('Bura'), the royal kami. His initials and his crescent moon mark are stamped and can be seen in your pictures. If I had to guess I would say it is an Ang Khola, but I'm not too good at IDing the different blade designs.

That's a nice one, and as hso said a real tool. You should get many years of chopping, cutting, and zombie killing out of it.

For pictures and some info on the Kami who made your blade, see here:
http://www.himalayan-imports.com/kami.html

If it is an Ang Khola, they sell new for $125-195 depending on blade length, and slightly less than that if you get a good deal on one of the daily specials over at blade forums.

 

[WinchesterAA]

Ahh, sweet. This thread couldn't have turned out better, I got all the info I wanted and it was good too =)

Thanks a lot guys. I did some practicing yesterday and my forearms are quite sore after just half an hour. This should be fun to grow into a bit =)

The guy I got it from gave it to me as a gift, said it had some pretty rare features (like a plain edge guntang instead of the usual serrated) including that front groove (dunno if that's also called a fuller, but I suspect it's another way of reducing the weight)

Nevertheless though, sounds like I've got something good to work with, and for free!

I do believe it is an ang khola.

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Novice

I'm not familiar with the blade shape.

Yes, I've seen plenty, but never used one.

Perhaps someone could explain the advantages of the Kukri "bend" -- ergonomics, balance, stuff like that?

I can work out hatchets and machetes, but the Kukri profile isn't quite as obvious to me.

Clearly, since it evolved from generations of cutting use, it's not just someone's idea of "cultural cool" in Greater Asia.

A little illumination, please?

 

[WinchesterAA]

Kukri is an axe that uses torque and weight instead of just weight and accuracy.

It's pretty hard to miss with so just concentrate on what you're hitting, the kukri will take care of the rest =)

Deep cuts are possible with the tip of the blade too which is really good for cutting through doors and the like, as well as getting a nice rut to start chipping wood for kindling.

It's awkward at first, but once you figure out what works and what doesn't.. what works REALLY works.

 

[Mandirigma]

Blade shape helps put weight forward. Kurki's style of use is primarily slashing, with the shape it affect really deep cuts. Also used to chop through limbs, though even if not clean you are sure to break or fracture bone.

 

[pbhome71]

I use mine for gardening. Mostly tree pruning. It works as well as a pruning saw, but looks much cooler, and more fun to use. The one that I have has 10" blade. I also have a 6" blade, but I have not found a use for that, yet.

The way I use it, it works best for a branch 1" and up - mostly soft wood. The largest branch I tried is 3". Anything outside this parameters, I use my saw.

For me, I like to whack a branch with the bend. Hitting it with the tip portion does not give enough power for a deep cut. The branch I choose are all about torso to face height.

A good tools to have around the house. Good for splitting coconut too.

 

[Navy joe]

Any swing that if missing the target will terminate in your soft flesh may make you very unhappy. Swing correctly! Love my HI, use it to cut down trees. A lot.

 

[Colt46]

Yeah, The buttcap screams HI....

....as does the crudely etched Kami(smith) marks in front of the Cho.
I've purchased many HI kukris and doubt you can get a better knife for the money. They are heavy. The photos don't show how thick the spines on them are.
Designed to be unbreakable. A few have been able to do it over the years, but you really have to do unspeakable things to get them to fail.

From what I recall, the weight and the forward curve have a rather large and serendipitious 'sweet spot' that will really outcut most other forms of camp knives out there.
I cannot recommend HI good enough. good people too.

 

[WinchesterAA]

update - took a stab at sharpening the blade with that chakmak and..

w-o-w.. After about half an hour of messing with it, I was thoroughly impressed at how good of an edge you can get with a smooth piece of metal... I was baffled at first, figured it had to be for sharpening or something but didn't see how..

Well, it works. I can shave pretty well (both arms are mostly bald now I was having so much fun) with every inch of the blade.

Me likey =)

 

[JShirley]

Like Waterhouse said...HI, Bura, and it does appear to be an AK.

Here's a link to the HI website...the AK is the second type of kuk shown.

 

[Limeyfellow]

I use mine for gardening. Mostly tree pruning. It works as well as a pruning saw, but looks much cooler, and more fun to use. The one that I have has 10" blade. I also have a 6" blade, but I have not found a use for that, yet.

That what I use mine for most the time and out camping, chopping back sapplings and through branches for firewood, vines, taking down old plants in the vegatable garden and pretty much any yardwork. As long as you cut branches at and angle you can get through some meaty thick wood and it makes an excellent work/utility tool.

Himalayan Imports are excellent. Mine own is an HI Ang Khola.

 

[gb6491]

Excellent as mentioned the HI products are very good. I'm partial to the ones made by Bura myself. A couple of things; treat that horn handle with something now and again. Some recommend Hoof Flex. I just use something with lanolin in it when I have a horn handled khuk about. Next, the kardas can be hit or miss in regards to quality. I replaced mine with some small puukkos.
Enjoy your knife,
Regards,
Greg

One of my Buras:

Puukko:

 

[Colt46]

gb6491

I like the Puukko in replacement of the Karda(or chakma-always getting them confused). I found the knife portion of that combo to be pretty much useless. Nice work.

 

[JShirley]

Karda = small knife.

 

[woodybrighton]

Gurkha's tend to take the mick mercilessly if they seen white soldiers carrying khurkri's and big feck off knives tend to be frowned on in the british army.
that said there awesome field knives.
just don't be in a trench facing them "they do know its just an exercise don't they? well I'm not hanging around to find out"