Which is the LTC, the cheap one of the the San Mai steel one?

Tried to send you a PM but your box is full....

Neither - the LTC was before CS ever did San Mai kukris. At the time, they only had two or three grades of kuks - the Ghurka, which ran around the $300 mark, and the LTC, which was I believe below $200.



The new, cheap Kukri Machete is based on the LTC Kukri blade shape... but the machete is cheaper steel and a lower quality handle. The LTC was a much nicer blade with a really good heat treat, and Carbon V steel, which is a heck of a good performer.

The present range is a San Mai and one in SK5 steel called the Gurkha Khukri...

The SK5 is made in Taiwan...the San Mai in Japan...

The old range of Carbon V had an LTC and an ATC ...difference was weight and thickness and belly shape...the LTC is a hybrid with a deeper belly...the ATC is the same as the San Mai and the Gurkha version...basically a more traditional shape...

The Carbon V ones were also made in Japan...so many companies are "none makers"...just PR outsourcing...however the steel of Carbon V was actually done by Camillus...I forget the name they gave it but it is worth Googling and checking it out as there was a temporary range of Camillus Becker's which were far better than they normally are which were made from the same steel...

For my money the only modern CS I might get is a San Mai version which is from Japan...but their Carbon V ATC version which is the heavier one and the same size as the San Mai is in my view better as it is easier to sharpen and takes a wicked "tool steel" edge...and it is cheaper...

I have had their San Mai steel...I had a Master Tanto...it took "ages" to sharpen...but I was young then...well over 20 years ago...and was sharpening with normal stones not diamond ones...

The place I found for the LTC also has the ATC version...it must have missed a lot of sales by spelling Khukri wrong...I only found it by using a wierd spelling...if anyone is seriously interested PM me...

As soon as I have a shipping notice and know they have them for sure I will confirm...but I think it is against the rules to link other companies knives here.

Interesting point...I noticed some "Wag" is selling LTC's and ATC's in Carbon V on e-bay for silly money in the course of my searching...don't buy them if you search and find them...they can be had still at normal money...infact..they are on sale...

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I would like to hear Scrappy's thoughts if he has the San Mai CS khukri on it's performance compared to the Carbon V Gurkha Khukri...you can get the San Mai for around $350 if you shop around ... but my instincts are that it would be harder to sharpen although the edge would last longer ... however the sharpness would be about the same in terms of the edge they took...

The thing with these type of knives though is that you need to be able to "steel" a burr in the edge if you clip a stone.... Carbon V is pretty good at coming out like this...I bet San Mai is'nt though ... and if you had to re-grind the edge it would be a long job even on a sander ...

I will look up the Ranger khukri again..I know I checked it off once before...

Khukri's really need hidden tang's to make sensible carry weight...SY could do a great job on one...personally I would like it in SR101...or SR77... but fancy the edge holding on the SR101 slightly more...they are'nt the easiest of things to sharpen ... so a bit more edge retention would be a bonus...

I know SR77 is tougher...but even on my Khukri's I only really do the normal "use" things such as wood and foilage...jemmying a door frame I have never done...a couple of Hatton rounds from a 12 Guage usually gains access on stuff like that...either that or a proper sledge hammer...so I just don't see a need for the knife/prybar thing...also in 20 plus years never seen anyone do this either...not for a real need if you see what I mean.

Let's see a picture of this ranger Kukri!

Saw some short sword he did on youtube...muy, muy cool!

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Nasty! Looks like a beast! How does it handle?

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