15 inch Sirupati

StmmZaum

StmmZaum

Joined
Dec 12, 2003
Messages
293
Ok, this isn't a review because I am not an expert, however my new Sirupati arrived (Amtrak IIRC) an it is, well, different. The sheath is beautiful, I love the smooth finish and it is a nice fit. The knife itself is good, not up to the same standards as my Bura blades but still nice (a few dents where there shouldnt be on the bolster, thats about it though). It is an interesting size, I not a chopper by any means but I think it will make a good hiking knife as it probably won't get much heavy work and could handle light cutting duties. It is very light and the handle is about right for me. I can see why martial artists would like them, a 18 inch siru is now on my list. The only problem I have is that I am having difficulty sharpening it, it doesn't want to take an edge for some reason. I will see what I can do, keep working on it with a steel for now.

Anyhow, just wanted to say thanks to UB for the new Khuk, a welcome addition to my collection. Actually the one thing that spooked me was the switch to cuboidal boxes instead of triangular.

Thanks again!
Stefan
 
Dimes to donuts that means you got a nice, hard edge. REad the sharpening data, and if all else fails, commiserate with me.

Dents in the bolster sound like handling damage to me.


munk
 
I used to have a 15" Siru. It was horn and started cracking so I gave it away. Handle was still sound though. My wife used it some and it chopped pretty well on 2" and under stuff. I know what you mean about sharpening it. Took me a while but mine held a wonderful edge once I got a good edge on it.
 
I think it's a karma thing...the good hard edges are the ones with the horn cracks! :-(

The good thing is that we don't much mind giving those away to good friends after we touch them up properly...they probably don't even notice or mind the cracks and they have a blade that probably won't ever (in their use) need a full sharpening again.

Karma...go figure!
 
Cheers guys, it took a fair while for it to take an edge but it did eventually, it also polished up beautifully. It will take more effort to get it to the same sharpness as my WW2 (blunt by you fellas standards but good enough for me) but it will get there. It is a strange knife, I mean I am used to the larger khuks and its just so different, it is actually probably the ideal camping knife for my purposes because it will do anything my old Tanto will do plus chop. I can see why the blade shape is popular for a fighter, actually it looks like becoming my 'webbing knife' because of its size and general utility.

Munk, I don't think the dents in the bolster are handling, they are very small and look like they are where it was shaped (on my Bura WW2 there are similar marks but they are straight and go into the corner if that makes sense so are less noticable). In all honesty though it is beautiful and will probably be my most used Khuk in a short time. The more I handle it the more I like it.
 
Yup...the small (ROFLMAO...where else is a 15" considered small?) ones are very handy. They'll do anything you ask them to!
 
All I can say is that each one is different, somehow, some way. Get another the same kami, the same length, same model, and it'll be different.

Bill calls it karma and says the blade chooses it's owner. I won't argue with that. If I did, I know the bleeping kamis would make a liar out of me in a second.
 
I also have a 15" Amtrak Sirupati with a horn handle. It developed a white streak in the handle, near the butcap, and then a fine hairline crack appeared - much too fine to get a fingernail in. A fill with superglue, three coats of Watco Danish Oil and no more cracking.

I had no trouble getting a good edge very quickly with a fine India bench stone, followed by a Norton Soft Arkansas and a hard white Arkansas. I used an India carving cone slip for the inner curve near the cho. The steel is much softer near the cho than at the main curve of the blade.

The Amtrak is not as nice as the Bura blades that I have or the Kumar Villager. It is a few ounces lighter than the Kumar 17" villager Sirupati, but feels heavier. It looks more polished than the villagers, but does not have the balance of the Kumar blade or the class of those by Bura.
 
My horn-handled 15" sirupati (18 oz. by Kesar) is my constant travelling companion to and from work. I like it because there is enough weight for chopping in an emergency and light enough to swing quickly in other emergencies - (not that I've needed to).
 
Nasty, yesterday I told my friend about my new 'little knife', he asked how big it was so I told him and he cracked up. 'How is 15 inches small?'

'When held up next to a 18 inch WW2 Khukri, its tiny'

Arty, there seems to be a fine ridge in the handle, I can't decide if it is a crack or just a ridge but it may need a little work. Either way, it is a beautiful blads. It is so different to the others.

Terr, I wish mine could take up that kind of duty, unfortunatly that could get me two years in the nick so I think it's a bit of a no no ;) Shame that though.

Rusty, that is what I was thinking, they have something mass produced blades don't. Incidentally you may be worried to know that I have taken the first step into local authority social work ;) . On the up side, its adults and elderly rather than mental health.
 
What a riot! :D A 15" knife is considered "little" only on this forum. Try taking one through the security line at the airport! "Hey, it's just a little knife." Nightly news item: "Huge Sword Found on Airline Passenger."
I guess there is a big difference between a camping trip and and real urban life.
 
When I meet that really hard steel I go to the wet or dry sandpaper starting with 400 grit and finishing with 1000,1500 or 2000 grit. I've yet to find a steel that wouldn't cut using the sandpaper.
 
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