18in Sirupati out of stock ... got something else

Thanks wildmanh... I had ordered an 18 sirupati but it wasn't in stock so Auntie offered me the WWII 18 which I jumped on cause I couldn't wait to have and HI. I am going to email Auntie on Friday (payday) to see what else if anything is in stock. I guess the 18 sirupati I originally ordered should be here in a month or so.

Seeing that you have a 20in, I was wondering which you think about the 18 compared to the 20? I will already have an 18in WWII by the end of the week (fingers crossed). I should probably go with the 20 just to have a different blade size. Any insight would be much appreciated.
 
Yes 20" is fast and sweet! I have one. Great at weed whacking and still tough enough for chopping saplings etc. I have a 12" and a 25" as well but wouldnt you know it I dont have an 18":grumpy: I would think they get pretty light below 20".
 
My first HI khukuri was a 17.5" sirupati by Kumar. It only weighs 20 ounces and it is extremely fast, and it's still one of my favorites. It was the knife that gave me the HIKV - now I have over two dozen HI blades.
 
The WWII and Sirupati models are quite different. I have two Sirupati's (15" & 20") and two WWII's (16.5" & 18"). A Sirupati is more Machete or sword like and the WWII's are more Hatchet/axe like. This isn't always the case though. . . .

My 16.5" WWII is on the lighter, faster end. It handles chopping and brush work, not as good at brush work as the Sirupati and a bit better at chopping.

Personally, I think the standard WWII and Sirupati models compliment each other. Pairing a WWII with a Sirupati would cover light brush to heavy chopping and everything in between. Some people like the Ang Khola models better, I also have two of them, but prefer my WWII's. By the way, my 15" AK is a hair heavier then my 18" WWII. It's one heavy short beast!
 
.... I see myself acquiring the entire catalog of HI's stuff. I already have my next purchase few purchases worked out muahahhaah.

Do the kami's ever produce custom pieces or one offs that they sell through HI? I saw a couple pieces on this forum that aren't on the website. Can we commission a custom piece from a kami? I have the HIKV and I need a fix

A lot of the pieces that show up as DOTDs on this forum are not really customs, just less common models that are not sold at the web site. For example, I believe that the popular ASTK (Amar Singh Thapa Knife) is not sold at the HI web site (unless that changed recently). Also the popular KLVUK model, the smaller AK bowies, and others.

You can also order a custom piece that is a regular model with a few embellishments, such as a carved handle, or engravings on the blade, or extra large or small, etc. There are some forum threads (one quite recent) with pictures of people's favorite custom knives that you might want to look through. It's probably easier to have the kamis make a custom piece if it is based on a knife that already exists, where you can show them pictures and also know the length and weight.

If you have a unique design in mind, then a wooden model plus some drawings is best, but keep in mind that the weight and balance will be different when it is translated into steel.
 
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