Happy New Year everyone! I thought I would share my review of the knives that I had gotten recently from Aunty. I had ordered the following knives on 5 Dec, and had received them on 24 Dec. What a great Christmas surprise :chuncky: :
1. 18 inch 30 ounce UBE Uncle Bill Special by Tirtha. Satisal wood handle.
2. 18 1/4 inch 21 ounce Chainpuri Knife from Chainpur. Carved satisal wood sheath and handle.
3. 13 inch 8 ounce Reti Knife by Dhan. Yellow Dhar wood handle.
Naturally, I spent some time admiring them but how could I resist not bringing these gorgeous blades out for a stroll?
The UBE felt strong and raring to go, so it had first go at a log that was in our way (well, it wasn't quite in our way but it was just asking for it). The wooden handle took the brunt well and there was minimal friction burn. The blade bit well and with the weight behind it, it went through the log pretty quickly. I have to find a larger log next time for this one.
Although not an ideal use, but I was curious as to how well it threw. I wished I could say that it hit on the first try but that was just me. Even if it didn't hit the target with the point, I am sure that with with its mass, anything getting hit with the UBE would have a bad headache.
Of course, the Chainpuri didn't want to get left out and it too chanced (sort of) upon another log and had a go at it too. Well, upon first sight of the Chainpuri it looked more like a fighting knife than a tool, and I was pleased to see that it bit at wood just as well as its larger sibling. With the smaller handle, it fitted my hands better and the flare at the bottom ensured that I had good control on the strokes. If I was going on an extended trip, the Chainpuri would be a good knife to bring along as it still had the chopping and cutting ability but lighter. Another plus about the Chainpuri was its scabbard in that its side was covered in brass and removed the possibility of cutting through, unlike the other sheaths. That's why I called it its scabbard. However, the karda and chakma does have a habit of falling out of their slots.
The Chainpuri lighter weight also allowed one to easily de-limb or make a quick spear.
The Reti quickly became a favourite of mine. Now I understand why there was so much love for this little blade. It cut quickly and made feathersticks like nobody's business. It also went and shaped bamboo effortlessly. It being so light, also made it seem at times that I wasn't carrying it on my belt or in hand.
The above is one of my favourites (a Tamang I belive) and one of the benchmarks to which I use to compare other knives. Although broader than the Chainpuri, it is slightly shorter (about half an inch) and thinner than it, hence making it lighter.
A suggestion to make all the knives more useful or easier to maintain, would be to have an option to have Kydex sheaths. Given that I live in the tropics with its high humidity and frequent rainfall, it's tougher to maintain leather sheaths.
Just a couple more pictures:
All the khukuris in review.
With their larger friend, a Kanetsune Hana.
Thank you for reading this lengthy post.
1. 18 inch 30 ounce UBE Uncle Bill Special by Tirtha. Satisal wood handle.
2. 18 1/4 inch 21 ounce Chainpuri Knife from Chainpur. Carved satisal wood sheath and handle.
3. 13 inch 8 ounce Reti Knife by Dhan. Yellow Dhar wood handle.
Naturally, I spent some time admiring them but how could I resist not bringing these gorgeous blades out for a stroll?
The UBE felt strong and raring to go, so it had first go at a log that was in our way (well, it wasn't quite in our way but it was just asking for it). The wooden handle took the brunt well and there was minimal friction burn. The blade bit well and with the weight behind it, it went through the log pretty quickly. I have to find a larger log next time for this one.
Although not an ideal use, but I was curious as to how well it threw. I wished I could say that it hit on the first try but that was just me. Even if it didn't hit the target with the point, I am sure that with with its mass, anything getting hit with the UBE would have a bad headache.
Of course, the Chainpuri didn't want to get left out and it too chanced (sort of) upon another log and had a go at it too. Well, upon first sight of the Chainpuri it looked more like a fighting knife than a tool, and I was pleased to see that it bit at wood just as well as its larger sibling. With the smaller handle, it fitted my hands better and the flare at the bottom ensured that I had good control on the strokes. If I was going on an extended trip, the Chainpuri would be a good knife to bring along as it still had the chopping and cutting ability but lighter. Another plus about the Chainpuri was its scabbard in that its side was covered in brass and removed the possibility of cutting through, unlike the other sheaths. That's why I called it its scabbard. However, the karda and chakma does have a habit of falling out of their slots.
The Chainpuri lighter weight also allowed one to easily de-limb or make a quick spear.
The Reti quickly became a favourite of mine. Now I understand why there was so much love for this little blade. It cut quickly and made feathersticks like nobody's business. It also went and shaped bamboo effortlessly. It being so light, also made it seem at times that I wasn't carrying it on my belt or in hand.
The above is one of my favourites (a Tamang I belive) and one of the benchmarks to which I use to compare other knives. Although broader than the Chainpuri, it is slightly shorter (about half an inch) and thinner than it, hence making it lighter.
A suggestion to make all the knives more useful or easier to maintain, would be to have an option to have Kydex sheaths. Given that I live in the tropics with its high humidity and frequent rainfall, it's tougher to maintain leather sheaths.
Just a couple more pictures:
All the khukuris in review.
With their larger friend, a Kanetsune Hana.
Thank you for reading this lengthy post.
Last edited:
. Should be showing now.
