I have been using a khuk for years. I started with a cheap india khuk and later got one from nepal that I use a lot. I own several khuks. I love their chopping ability and they easily out preform the battle rat in chopping power however the are horrible for batoning. they baton pine okay but anything harder and I get exhausted. I complianed about this here before. I think it is part the geometry of the obtuse edge and blade that contributes to this and also the angles blade. I was camping this weekend and had to put it away and use a bowie for splitting. I think my khuk days are over.

why didn't you just use an axe..or a hatchet?

Batoning is a waste of time...unless absolutely necessary.... IMHO... but then again... I am in the minority around here...

Doc

I agree that an axe or hatchet is great but I don't always want to have to carry one in my pack. Batoning is not too difficult if you use the right blade. I don't carry a hatchet...I chose to carry a Silky folding saw and a knife large enough to chop/baton with. I think it should work just fine. Batoning is no more work than swinging a full size axe or pounding with a hatchet if you use the right knife and baton. There are others here though that are far more qualified to discuss this topic than I am. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I can tell you this much, the Killa Zilla khukri can darn sure split some wood. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I like batoning. the wood burns more efficiently if split. I also feel it is much safer to baton than swing an axe. although I am pretty good with my wildlife hatchet. I own several nice axes from bruks to wetterlings...

a knife or khuk can make kindling and fuss sticks easier because there is more esge ans that allows the opportunity to keep the edge at different levels of sharpness.

I love khuks and hate carrying an axe in the woods.

And I think batoning is about one of the most efficient and safe ways to split wood and do all kinds of useful woodcraft.

And I'm not going to go into details, because this discussion has been rehashed about a zillion times <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />


KHUKS RULE!

Would reverse batoning work?
I mean, baton the edge of the khuk into the piece you are trying to split and then flip over and baton the wood itself down the blade. Just an idea.

It's a design not interesting to me. I know they work, and someday maybe I'll look on them differently, but it wouldn't be my go to blade.

Here's a really cool story, mentions the use of a khukri. In war.

http://www.burmastar.org.uk/gian_singh.htm

More info:

http://www.himalayan-imports.com/faq/Construction.html

anybody have any words of advice?
dooes anyone else prefer the bowie for batoning?

I really need to get me a good Nepalese khuk. I have one of the cheap Indian Army ones, but that is not saying much.