Pros and Cons of a Kukri

S

Sporkman

Joined
Feb 19, 2011
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5
Looking at HI Kukris, not Kukri-shaped machetes from Cold Steel, Ka-bar, etc.

So, I'm in the market for a larger fixed blade, the only fixed blade I have is a Glock 81 (very durable but has shortcomings, great knife for the price though).

Now from doing research it looks like a good Kukri can replace a Machete in most situations, you can also baton with it and it has the forward weight comparable to a hatchet.

The Kukris from Himalayan Imports have a very good reputation for being durable and well made.

Now, is there some kind of negative to using a Kukri (other than weight) over say an ESEE Junglas, or other high quality chopper?

Now, the Junglas is obviously made out of a more higher tech steel than the Mercedes leaf-spring steel in the Kukri, but for chopping is that really going to make a difference as long as the Kuk doesn't get too rusty?
 
You can't baton as wide of a cut with a kukri as with a long straight survival knife. However, in practice, that really doesn't matter. In terms of utility, the kukri is more of a cross between a knife and a tomahawk. If you stick to wood that a tomahawk user would process, and maybe a bit bigger, you'll be fine with a kukri.

In other words, yes there are theoretical disadvantages to a kukri, but in practice it can help keep you alive as well as other tool choices. It all comes down to preference. If you are good at chopping, batoning, and processing game with a kukri, and you enjoy kukri style processing, you'll do just fine.
 
Now, the Junglas is obviously made out of a more higher tech steel than the Mercedes leaf-spring steel in the Kukri, but for chopping is that really going to make a difference as long as the Kuk doesn't get too rusty?
Click to expand...
Actually I'm not quite sure what kind of steel I would prefer in a chopper. Spring steels (correctly heat treated) got a good reputation!!
 
Spring steels , 5160 and similar , work very well for choppers such as kukris. Weight problems ?? Kukris come in various sizes and weights .The military type weigh about 24 ozs and are capable of chopping some serious stuff. A lighter one like my 18 oz is good for smallr stuff.
 
You can baton machetes as long as they're stiff enough. I batoned a CS barong machete through a 10"-diameter 7'-long tree trunk once just to see if I could. :cool:
 
Pros:
Can be used as a knife (with some practice) for small and large tasks.
It can chop wood as good as a hatchet or even small forest ax (if the correct model is chosen).
It can split wood as good or better than a hatchet or small forest ax.
It can baton very well once you get used to the dynamics of the blade.
If you choose a model with a good Karda (companion knife) you have something to do smaller jobs such as skinning or camp chores.
It could be used as a very effective weapon for self defence against 2 or 4 legged creatures should the need arise. Its like a laxative for a robber, all you have to do is take it out and they mess themselves!
It will last forever and is special enough to pass down generation to generation.

Cons:
Kind of big & heavy for belt carry. (there are other ways to carry that work well)
Traditional scabbard needs to be replaced if you are a regular in the field.
Carbon steel knives, just like a rifle, need some care and attention to keep surface rust at bay.
If used incorrectly such as "swinging for the stands", it can be quite dangerous.
There is a learning curve to sharpening them.

If you end up liking the kukri, you will find that you can do small jobs and large job well with it and most importantly, you will enjoy it. It just takes some practice. Luckily once you get that "triangled box" in the mail and take the kukri out, you can't put it down for about a year so you get the required practice! I love the fact that I have to care for it like a trusted rifle and I usually find uses for it every day. Add to that, this is made entirely by hand; signed by the maker. Not many things these days are done in this manner, that alone make it special. I think "nutnfancy" calls that the "second kind of cool!"

Before you lay down the dollars you should go over to the HI forum and get familiar with the different models so you find the perfect match for what you are doing.

Good luck,
Bill
Virginia
 
Khuks vary in size, shape and thickness. Some are made for general purpose, some are dedicated choppers, some are made for war and martial bladecraft.

The khuk itself is quite old and has been used for every purpose under the son over the centuries.

HI makes many different models to fit most any niche. If you want one for backpacking/camping outdoor work, the general purpose models are most suitable as they provide good portability as good chopping and cutting service.

The main drawback to the use of the khuk for some purposes is its shape. The "bent" blade makes it more difficult to use for most slicing tasks, though the smaller models have been used for that purpose, and some khuks are straighter than others and so more useful for slicing.

Also, the blades are generally fairly thick by most standards, so food processing and the like is more problematic. The khuk was meant originally for war, and was then adopted for processing wood, chopping, splitting and shaping.

HI is a very good company with well-deserved customer loyalty. You will find most any information you might need at the HI subforum.

Andy
 
I have an M43 that will be going up for sale soon because of the one major (for me) downside -- the handle doesn't fit my gorilla-wide hands.
other than that, it does a great job of chopping down brush, clearing low hanging limbs, chopping down the occasional honey locust growing in the wrong spot, etc...
The mass & balance takes some getting used to, but is helpful when chopping.
 
I'm going to be ordering another one this week. They're great choppers, and actually good slicers on the drawcut too. Weight and heft take some getting used to, as they're definitely more blade heavy than a lot of people expect, but they grow on you FAST. I think shortwinger got it pretty much down. I'd say, just get one that calls to you. You can't go wrong with HI; the steel is great. Holds an edge very nicely, and is pretty much indestructible with proper care.
 
They're great at reducing trees (and furniture) to splinters; they're not great as splinter-pickers.
 
I've had this HI 15" AK in my RV for years and it's been a fantastic wood processor for me. Whether I'm clearing mesquite around a campsite or splitting cedar/pecan wood, it does the job quickly and easily. I used it a lot this past week to clear out a section of bamboo around my property line. It went through that crap like a hot knife through butter. (My neighbor planted it around his pond and it's spreading like wildfire in all directions :mad: ).

hi1.jpg
 
Sporkman said:
Now, is there some kind of negative to using a Kukri (other than weight) over say an ESEE Junglas, or other high quality chopper?

Now, the Junglas is obviously made out of a more higher tech steel than the Mercedes leaf-spring steel in the Kukri, but for chopping is that really going to make a difference as long as the Kuk doesn't get too rusty?
Click to expand...

I think shortwinger gave a great summary for you.

A couple FYI's:

1) At 22 oz, the ESEE Junglas (and Busse BM, RTAK II, etc.) is no lighter than my 22oz 15" HI Vojpuri (similar to an Ang Khola). You can certainly buy a heavier Khukuri, but then the added weight is your own choice and not an assumed negative.

2) ESEE Junglas is 1095 Steel, which is actually among the bare minimum simplest, least "higher tech steel" available - next down is 100% iron. 5160 could be a specialized "upgrade" from 1095, but not specialized for cutlery (less carbon, more manganese) - not that it isn't great for hard-use knives, any user could tell you it is. And I don't mean to disparage 1095 - it is great stuff, especially with Rowen's HT, but it is very much low-tech in regard to steel composition.

3) In my own use, the Khukuri is a far better, more powerful chopper than the heavy machetes, but the Junglas et al. have a reduced learning-curve with regard to ease of use and safety. For me, the heavy machete felt like an (heavy) extension of my arm the moment it was in hand; the khukuri is still a separate entity, requiring more practice and training...
 
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