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Post by kalkikrosah on Sept 29, 2017 21:49:12 GMT
I already own one khukuri thus far, a Himalayan Imports Chiruwa Ang Khola. The model I got is a heavy duty chopper, it handles nicely and came very sharp right out of the box. The only downside is that for some tasks, like cutting bamboo in the backyard, the blade is a little bit too heavy for the job, which is why I am thinking of getting a longer and more slender blade. I was adamant about returning back to Himalayan Imports for one of their Kobra Khukuris but after seeing a recent video on the Kult of Athena youtube channel I may have been swayed to look into an Ex-Gurka Khukuri House American Eagle Sirupati Khukuri. The lengths on the two khukuris I am looking at are near identical, I am definitely aiming for a 20" model, and they both use 5160 spring steel. But they differ quite a bit after that. The Himalayan Imports 20" Kumar Kobra comes with a mirror polish blade, weighs 1 pound 4 ounces (20 ounces), comes with a traditional handle with a choice between wood or horn (I am choosing wood this time), it comes peened, has a wood core scabbard and comes complete with a karda utility knife and a chakmak sharpening steel. The price tag on the 20" Kumar Kobra is $215 not including shipping. yhst-7333098713883.stores.yahoo.net/20inchkobra.html (Skallagrim's Kobra is 5 inches longer than the model I am looking at) The Ex-Gurka 30" American Eagle Sirupati comes with a rough finish, weighs 1 pound and 8 ounces (24 ounces), has an integrated westernized handle in rosewood with a finger guard, and a light weight stitched leather sheath. The price tag on the 20" American Eagle Sirupati is $110 on the Kult of Athena website. www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=EKHECK13&name=American+Eagle+Sirupate+Khukuri+The HI Kobra is the lighter of the two, so I can get quicker and more swings out of it before feeling tired. The blade is also comes with a maker's mark with the Kami's signature so I will know the exact smith who made my blade which is pretty neat. The hilt is peened so I know it won't have any problems with the hilt. The scabbard is much nicer and the wooden core will fend off rust better when is storage as well as keep my fingers safer when sheathing and unsheathing. And the added bonus of a karda and chakmak is always appreciated. And since I ordered from Himalayan Imports in the past I know shipping will be prompt and the craftsmanship will be top notch. The EGKH Sirupati uses nicer looking wood for their handles, and the shape of the handle is more ergonomic. The blade also comes in a rough finish, which means less required maintenance. Lastly is the price tag, literally half the price of the Kobra, which is always nice for the wallet. I plan to order it from Kult of Athena so I know the shipping will be excellent but as I have never purchased from Ex-Gurka Khukuri House before I am going in blind on their craftsmanship. The main downside with the Kobra is definitely the price tag. But sometimes that is the price you have to pay for something of such quality. There's also the traditional handle which tends to dig into your middle and ring finger after extended periods of fast chopping and is more likely to slip out with sweaty palms. And the mirror polish looks nice now but will fade into a satin polish after using it long enough and will require more care with each use. And with the Sirupati the added weight won't be too noticeable but should get mentioned. The sheath is pretty basic, the lack of a karda and a chakmak is lame when you're used to getting them, an integrated handle is the second best handle type behind peened and the sheath is thin and looks like it could rip if I am rough enough with it. So what are your thoughts on these two khukuri? Which one do you feel is the better deal? Is there any info I am missing out on that I should include into my evaluation? And do you know of any other khukuri that have similiar specs that I should look into?
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Post by randomnobody on Sept 29, 2017 23:15:51 GMT
A key thing to bear in mind is HI lists their stuff as overall length, so your 20" kukri will only have a 15-16" blade, given 3-5" for the grip. Conversely, most other vendors list lengths of the blade only, so a 20" kukri will have a 20" blade, plus 3-5" for the grip. So you're getting a bigger knife, which is where the extra weight comes from.
Otherwise, HI has a great following for good reason. I've not heard much about EGKH, but their stuff looks...okay? I've bought two kuks from the khukuri house and been very pleased with them. One I picked up second-hand, granted; their 15" sirupate (simiilar to a 20" from HI) but the other was a gift for a friend's wedding, their white kothimora. Both great knives.
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Post by Timo Nieminen on Sept 29, 2017 23:26:27 GMT
The handle on the HI is close to 6" long. I'd pick the HI over the EGKH, largely because I prefer traditional kukris. I like traditional handles, and find they give a good secure comfortable grip - as long as they aren't giant-size, like this particular HI. But if I was buying at HI prices, I'd buy Tora. Maybe something like torablades.com/shop/index.php?_a=product&product_id=178
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Post by kalkikrosah on Sept 30, 2017 5:15:24 GMT
A key thing to bear in mind is HI lists their stuff as overall length, so your 20" kukri will only have a 15-16" blade, given 3-5" for the grip. Conversely, most other vendors list lengths of the blade only, so a 20" kukri will have a 20" blade, plus 3-5" for the grip. So you're getting a bigger knife, which is where the extra weight comes from. Otherwise, HI has a great following for good reason. I've not heard much about EGKH, but their stuff looks...okay? I've bought two kuks from the khukuri house and been very pleased with them. One I picked up second-hand, granted; their 15" sirupate (simiilar to a 20" from HI) but the other was a gift for a friend's wedding, their white kothimora. Both great knives. You're right, the HI Kobra is listed by overall length but so is the EGKH Sirupati. They're the same length and 20 inches overall is fine for me. I know the Kobra goes up to 25" overall but the price jump for those extra 5" is about $200. That's a lot. So I am settling on the 20" because money reasons. The EGKH may go larger, I don't know but in the video it seems like its an adequate length. And HI's strong customer following is a combination of a quality product, speedy and no hassle shipping and excellent customer service. I may pay more for them but their khukuri is one I know I will definitely be impressed with. I never ordered from Ex-Gurka Khukuri House before. I don't see a lot of bad reviews of their stuff on KoA, so I feel like they might be a good risk to take at some point. If I don't order their 20" sirupati I will probably turn to them for a shorter 6" model for kitchen use. Since it would be getting used frequently and would have all manner of oils and water on the blade, a rough finish would be ideal for this type of use. Himalayan Imports only does mirror polished blades to my knowledge, so that rules them out for this style of khukuri.
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Post by kalkikrosah on Sept 30, 2017 6:02:22 GMT
The handle on the HI is close to 6" long. I'd pick the HI over the EGKH, largely because I prefer traditional kukris. I like traditional handles, and find they give a good secure comfortable grip - as long as they aren't giant-size, like this particular HI. But if I was buying at HI prices, I'd buy Tora. Maybe something like torablades.com/shop/index.php?_a=product&product_id=178I was not aware the handle was that long. How exactly do you know this though? The traditional handles are nice but I am not against going with something less traditional just to see how well these "American Eagle" handles handle. And I know about Tora Blades. According to SweetCostaRica they are as traditional as it gets with khukuris, right down to the stick tangs. But a quick look through their store and I cannot find anything on their site that matches the specs of the khukuris I listed in my original post. The sherpa sirupati is the closest one I can find. The weight comes close but none of the blades exceed 16 inches in length. So its hard to compare Tora to one of the 20" khukuris I listed above. I would definitely have to check them out at some point as they are the most authentic khukuris around and that's enough of a selling point for me. Also, if you know Tora Blades well, can you explain to me the difference between their KTM and GK range catalogs? They seem pretty similar.
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Post by Timo Nieminen on Sept 30, 2017 6:57:19 GMT
For handles, given a choice of 2 good-looking handles, one traditional and one not, the same price, I'd pick the traditional one. But if the non-traditional one was much cheaper, I wouldn't say no to good non-traditional. But I don't like the looks of the EGKH one. Firstly, I don't know if I'd like or dislike the finger spur, but I expect I'd dislike it. Secondly, other than the finger spur, it's a very straight handle, with no shaping to help support the hand (except the finger spur). Thirdly, it's so long that the pommel won't provide any support (well, maybe you could hold it with little finger right against the pommel, if the finger spur isn't in the way). To estimate the handle length of the HI, I measured from their photo. Blade about 13.5", so the Tora I linked has a blade of about the same length as the 20" HI (a little shorter, but close). Won't have quite as much reach, since the long handle on the HI will contribute to reach. Their GK and KTM lines come from different makers. Two factories. Which ones are better, I know not. The only Tora I have is a 13.25" sirupate, 540g. Probably GK, but not one of their current models. Don't know when it was made - came to me 2nd hand. Given that respectable antique kukri can be had for less than a new Tora or HI, I'm not about to rush out and buy a Tora or HI. But they are good. HI has much better F&F than the usual Nepali kukri makers (like EGKH), with Tora sitting betweeen HI and the others in terms of F&F. But the usual Nepali kukris are OK as far as F&F goes. The problem is that typically they're too heavy. (My thoughts on some of their modern handles are above.) However, their "light" models sometimes look quite nice. E.g., www.ebay.com/itm/Full-Tang-Blade-Khukuri-13-5-Cheetlage-Light-Version-Kukri-or-Traditional-NCZ-/172620310743 has about the same blade length as the HI, and is about 500g.
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Post by randomnobody on Sept 30, 2017 10:53:17 GMT
You're right, the HI Kobra is listed by overall length but sois the EGKH Sirupati. They're the same length and 20 inches overall is fine for me. Oh, whoops; I swear I checked and it listed 20" blade for the EGKH... I was quite tired last night so maybe the lines blurred together, so I stand corrected. With that in mind, considering the rest of your post, I'd try my luck with the EGKH.
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Post by kalkikrosah on Sept 30, 2017 14:26:55 GMT
You're right, the HI Kobra is listed by overall length but sois the EGKH Sirupati. They're the same length and 20 inches overall is fine for me. Oh, whoops; I swear I checked and it listed 20" blade for the EGKH... I was quite tired last night so maybe the lines blurred together, so I stand corrected. With that in mind, considering the rest of your post, I'd try my luck with the EGKH. It's cool. We all make mix ups from time to time. Thanks for taking the time to lend me your opinion.
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Post by randomnobody on Sept 30, 2017 18:11:13 GMT
Only other thing I can offer is my KHHI 15" (blade length, not including grip) sirupate, which would compare to these two in style and size, weighs in at 1lb 12.1oz without scabbard, 2lb 4.9oz with. It's heavy, nearly 1/2" thick at the bend, but it moves pretty well.
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Post by kalkikrosah on Sept 30, 2017 21:09:51 GMT
For handles, given a choice of 2 good-looking handles, one traditional and one not, the same price, I'd pick the traditional one. But if the non-traditional one was much cheaper, I wouldn't say no to good non-traditional. But I don't like the looks of the EGKH one. Firstly, I don't know if I'd like or dislike the finger spur, but I expect I'd dislike it. Secondly, other than the finger spur, it's a very straight handle, with no shaping to help support the hand (except the finger spur). Thirdly, it's so long that the pommel won't provide any support (well, maybe you could hold it with little finger right against the pommel, if the finger spur isn't in the way). To estimate the handle length of the HI, I measured from their photo. Blade about 13.5", so the Tora I linked has a blade of about the same length as the 20" HI (a little shorter, but close). Won't have quite as much reach, since the long handle on the HI will contribute to reach. Their GK and KTM lines come from different makers. Two factories. Which ones are better, I know not. The only Tora I have is a 13.25" sirupate, 540g. Probably GK, but not one of their current models. Don't know when it was made - came to me 2nd hand. Given that respectable antique kukri can be had for less than a new Tora or HI, I'm not about to rush out and buy a Tora or HI. But they are good. HI has much better F&F than the usual Nepali kukri makers (like EGKH), with Tora sitting betweeen HI and the others in terms of F&F. But the usual Nepali kukris are OK as far as F&F goes. The problem is that typically they're too heavy. (My thoughts on some of their modern handles are above.) However, their "light" models sometimes look quite nice. E.g., www.ebay.com/itm/Full-Tang-Blade-Khukuri-13-5-Cheetlage-Light-Version-Kukri-or-Traditional-NCZ-/172620310743 has about the same blade length as the HI, and is about 500g. The EGKH handle is definitely different and I wouldn't be able to say if its better or worse. But you do bring up a good point that the finger spur would limit the user to only using a hammer style grip. And besides that spur there really isn't much in the way of hand retention. The grip is very smooth. I imagine that if I really wanted to I could etch some ridges into the handle if I felt they needed them. They wouldn't be anywhere near as nice as Himalayan Imports' ridges but they would add some extra traction for my fingers to grip onto. And the Himalayan Imports' Kobra has that major flare out at the bottom of the handle. It would definitely help hold the hand in from slipping off the bottom of the handle but as Skallagrim says in his video that's where all the vibrations go to and would hurt your hand if it was resting on that spot. I doubt I would ever wield it with 2 hands but it is nice to know that the handle would support a 2 handed grip, albeit uncomfortably. Ok, so now I see how you determined the lengths. You had something else to compare it to. I do wish that Himalayan Imports would update their site to give out more specs for their blades. They say that each khukuri varies but they've been making so many over the years, which is understandable because they are all hand made, but it would be nice to get an "average" blade length, handle length, P.O.B. and other things just so the consumer would have a better idea of what they are buying. It could be that all the specs included on KoA has spoiled me but it would be nice to have that info on hand. Thanks for explaining the difference in the range types. It doesn't seem like one factory specializes in a particular type of khukuri so going through them all would be necessary to find one that fits my style of use. I would not know where to look for an antique khukuri but I agree that Himalayan Imports and Tora Blades are definitely the two best ones when it comes to reproduction khukuris. HI is known for having sturdier, shinier khukuris with near unbeatable customer service. Tora Blades is known for their historical accuracy and the liveliness of their khukuris. The kobra I listed is the lightest khukuri in HI's lineup and is a variation of the sirupati. Tora has one that is half an inch longer, their KTM Sherpa Sirupati: torablades.com/shop/index.php?_a=product&product_id=193It is 52 cm long (20.5 inches) when you add the blade length (39 cm) and the handle length (13 cm) together. The weight is 650 grams at its heaviest which translates to 23 ounces or 1.4 pounds which is slightly heavier than both models but still close enough that I would consider buying it. The karda is larger, the chakmak is bare-bones but still serviceable, the scabbard is on par with the Kobra's, it has a mirror finish and a no frills wooden handle. Its not as pretty as the other two but it would get the job done. I may throw that one into the mix of what I may end up buying. And the ebay khukuri you listed definitely seems like an ex-gurka khukuri house model. The scabbard looks nearly identical to this really ugly looking khukuri with a bulky knuckle guard on it. Even though I dislike the look of that scabbard leather, the dimensions are much in line with the two I listed in the original post and with a more traditional handle while still keeping the finger guard, only in a smaller package. Thanks for looking that one up for me. I'll be considering that one into the mix as well.
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Post by kalkikrosah on Sept 30, 2017 21:19:02 GMT
Only other thing I can offer is my KHHI 15" (blade length, not including grip) sirupate, which would compare to these two in style and size, weighs in at 1lb 12.1oz without scabbard, 2lb 4.9oz with. It's heavy, nearly 1/2" thick at the bend, but it moves pretty well. That's about the dimensions of my Chiruwa Ang Khola. It's 1 pound and 12 ounces as well, only its 2 inches longer than your sirupati. yhst-7333098713883.stores.yahoo.net/changkh.htmlI probably wouldn't get that since it would be much of the same of what I already have on hand. But I can testify to the liveliness of the blade since the dimensions are nearly identical. You get a good forearm work out just dropping these down using only your wrist.
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Post by randomnobody on Sept 30, 2017 22:36:37 GMT
I like to pinch the ferrule/collar/whatever between my thumb and forefinger with the rest of my fingers mostly loose. This makes the knife surprisingly flickable without sacrificing too much of that heavy hitting power.
Of course, since the grip on mine is also pretty long, it allows for a more "slipped" grip, as well, should one wish, which really puts that power behind it.
As for antiques, Atlanta Cutlery often has a few in their catalogs. Oriental Arms is an antique dealer with lots of central and east-Asian stuffs, from North Africa to Indonesia etc. They have several kukris of various styles and prices.
I'd avoid eBay, though a few can be found there if you're up for a lot of digging.
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Post by Timo Nieminen on Sept 30, 2017 22:51:38 GMT
I would not know where to look for an antique khukuri The easiest is www.atlantacutlery.com/antique-knivesAnd the ebay khukuri you listed definitely seems like an ex-gurka khukuri house model. The Nepali kukri houses are like typical Chinese restaurants in the West - they all offer the same menu. EGKH sells through ebay and amazon as well as their own website (and through resellers), so it could be theirs. But others do essentially identical kukri, and you can't tell who makes it unless you know who the particular seller is or sources from, or the maker uses a maker's mark.
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