Yesterday was like Christmas morning for me. My new kukri arrived from Katmandu, Nepal. I'm sure everyone has there favorite 'pruning' implement. My standard fall back is the machete. I came across these Ghurka knives as a much younger man traveling in that part of the world and have to confess to having a bit of a love affair with the sexy (as knives go) lines and functionality of these things. I've had several over the years. In Nepal they are just a standard every day tool for people that still mostly cook with wood. In WWII, the Japanese were terrified of the Ghurkas for their propensity to use these things on them. I've just found them to be the highest melding of the functionality of an axe and a field knife. Perfect for lopping off limbs for site lines while being small and light enough (this one weighs in at 1.8 lbs.) to carry in the back of my vest.
There lots of junk ones out there made from bumper metal for the tourist trade but this one is pure functionality and well balanced, made from recycled leaf spring steel. As such it will need to be kept oiled so as not to rust.
Is it just the kid in me that loves having a job where I get to go out and chop things occasionally? (Tree limbs of course!) 😀
I've always thought that Ghurka knives are formidable looking. Can you post a link to a source for yours? TIA
Sure thing Zapper,
Here's the link to my source.
They ship DHL from Katmandu.
> ..... confess to having a bit of a love affair with the sexy (as knives go) lines and functionality of these things......
> As such it will need to be kept oiled so as not to rust.
You will need to be careful with it, or you might break the tip; don't go around sticking it in the dirt...;-)
[flash width=420 height=315]//www.youtube.com/v/Th_LMP-SBdU?version=3&hl=en_US[/flash]
The real challenge will be not to start throwing it at trees to make it stick. I've busted a couple handles that way. :pinch:
Looks like a fine blade..
reminds of the Arkansas Toothpick link that Kent made awhile ago..
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What size do you have?
Now that I think about it, I used to own one. However with five sons now grown - I have no idea where it went.
I don't have one. I just remembered Kent's post and Paden's comment about using leaf springs. The only knife that I carry is an old Case hunting knife that I bought in Paris, Arkansas 30 years ago.
My brush knives (COE modified) are still my preferred cutting tools of choice and as others mentioned here that can be used to dig and probe in our soils here. For some residential surveys, I pull out a big limb lopper in order to calm the natives. Some people get frightened in uppity s/d when they think they spotted Karl from Slingblade passing by their house.
I bought the big limb lopper because I had this big fella (who was kind of Karl-like) working for me once and he said that slinging the brush knife gave him back aches and other assorted whines he had about using it. Of course, his form was all wrong but to appease the big dolt, I bought him the lopper which slowed us down cutting line.
Another source is: http://www.khukuripalace.com/?option=cms&cmsid=3632313438
I've been carrying around a Case Shark Tooth for a long, long time. One of the best knives I've ever owned. Not much of a chopper or lopper though.
The Karl from Slingblade reference gave me a chuckle.
Pulling out a kukri to lop off some branches will make some folks unconsciously take a step back. Only drawback is it doesn't have the reach of a machete when going through thorns.
A few tips on Kukris
Over the years I've learned a few things about kukris I'll share.
The two small blades that traditionally come with the kukri are for the most part, junk. Used mostly as a sharpening steel, they rarely made of a quality steel that will hold an edge and make them useful. I toss them. I carry a pocket knife for such tasks.
I avoid getting the darkened sheaths since a lot of times the stain used is water soluble and will run when wet. I wash it off to get it back to something like the original pre stain finish.
The brass sheath tip guards look fancy and are great for stabbing yourself in the thigh. They have to go.
The notch at the base of the blade is a blood drip. I've heard all kinds of garbage about what they are, shaped like a crown, they are suppose to give homage to the king. BS. They're designed so blood or whatever won't run down the blade and make the handle slippery.
Brass pommel guards are braised onto the tang. While they look nice, tend to work loose over time, especially if you beat the crap out of it actually using it for what it was intended for. Those get lost or cut off. Best go with a full tang handle like the one in the photo. Helps also to save the handle when you throw it and hit the butt of the handle against a tree.
A lot of the kukris you'll see are made for display, they won't hold an edge. Make sure it's made from good quality steel.
When gripping the scabbard to draw a kukri, never wrap your fingers across the portion covering the blade. If the blade is as sharp as intended, if drawn in a hurry, it can slice through the leather wrapping the scabbard and slice your hand open.
Every kukri is hand made. No two are exactly the same. They have a spirit of their own that machine made knives don't. It should feel natural and balanced in your hand, like an extension of your arm.
A few tips on Kukris
I have been carrying a Kukri daily for over 20 years. Mine was made by ColdSteel out of carbon V steel and has a rubberized handle. The knife is very easy to carry as it is short but still has the weight forward to help when cutting larger saplings and small trees. I can use the back to pond mag hubs into the ground for traverse points.
A few years ago I had a larger job thorugh heavy woods with lots of Mtn.Laurel, the Kukri cut OK but because I was swinging so much weight for so long I developed tennis elbow and couldn't even lift a cup of coffee for a few months. I have found that loppers and a bowsaw work great if you have a lot of brush to go through and the Kukri is nice to have for smaller amounts of clearing or to just have when that one branch near the gun is on line.
T.W.
A few tips on Kukris
I can relate Tom. I got a bad case of tennis elbow from pounding a frost pin into frozen ground in the spring on a large job. I couldn't hold a paper clip for nearly the entire summer. Like you said, the kukri is good for little jobs. Any serious cutting and I'm breaking out the chainsaw.
> What size do you have?
Mr. Miller,
A man simply does not ask another man what size he has. It just isn't done.
😉
Larry P
(Yes, I am the donkey that went to college.)
I just might have to get myself a very early birthday present. Great selection on that site! Thanks, WW. :good:
A few tips on Kukris
And not to be the perennial bummer, but after all that, wouldn't it just be easier to purchase a decent machete ?
A few tips on Kukris
Whatever blows your hair back and puts a grin on your face R.J. 😉
A few tips on Kukris
"wouldn't it just be easier to purchase a decent machete"
Machetes still work well but they are long and more trouble to carry plus they do not have the weight for larger chopping.
T.W.
Went to the link below, and found too many options. Which one did you get?
N
