- Joined
- Feb 26, 2002
- Messages
- 618
I was lucky enough to grab a Kumar M43 a few weeks ago. It was as perfect a M43 as you could get. I used cut and paste to place photographs of M43's from the HI FAQ and mine side by side and the match in shape is as perfect as is humanly possible. Kumar has copied the shape exactly. It is just a beautifully shaped blade. The Kami's are now getting the M43 shape to perfection. About a year ago I had purchased a Murali M43 and I was never happy with it (except for the handle which was quite large and fitted my hand perfectly). It was sort of shaped like an M43, but not enough to make me happy. It was eventually damaged by hitting some nails embedded in a tree I was chopping into. Hence the purchase of a new one.
But this new blade had one major defect. It was an absolute pain to use. The handle was too perfectly shaped - it was probably perfect for the hand of a gurkha, but way way too small for my european hand. The end of the buttcap cut into my palm and fingers just overlapped the end of the wood onto the bolster - and it has a very long bolster. As well, the balance was so far forward that it handled like a major pig. I did some minor cutting and it was an effective chopper on the small timber I used it on but its forward balance made it hard to control. It was a magnificent showpiece, but not a real user - until, until - I went to the local squash court and bought a Slazenger tape grip for a squash racquet. I think I read of someone else on the Cantina doing this. The tape was placed around the handle and taken forward right to the end of the steel bolster where it meets the blade. My fingers and hand now are choked on the handle in the way Duvon did with the WWII model and of course the grip has a larger diameter which suits my average european hand size better. The result has been an absolute miracle (and I'm talking at least 10000% better, probably more) - this M43 that was a pig to handle has changed into the most beautiful swan you can imagine. Its balance is now unbelieveable. I can't believe it is the same khukuri. It has turned into an incredible fast and controllable khukuri. I don't understand how this change to the handle has caused such a change. It is now an absolute beauty - in looks and balance.
I am still experimenting with the type of tape. The one I used tapes over and onto itself and only at the start and end does it tape to the wood and steel bolster). This is causing minor movement in the tape on the handle. I'll play with it and other types of tape for a while to work out the best tape to use - but I know what has to be done. I am amazed how making the handle a little thicker in diameter and a fraction longer and moving my grip more forward a little causes such a massive change in handling.
Some forumites talk about some khukuries having a feel that an owner knows is something special. This khukuri is now one of those. I'm happy.
But this new blade had one major defect. It was an absolute pain to use. The handle was too perfectly shaped - it was probably perfect for the hand of a gurkha, but way way too small for my european hand. The end of the buttcap cut into my palm and fingers just overlapped the end of the wood onto the bolster - and it has a very long bolster. As well, the balance was so far forward that it handled like a major pig. I did some minor cutting and it was an effective chopper on the small timber I used it on but its forward balance made it hard to control. It was a magnificent showpiece, but not a real user - until, until - I went to the local squash court and bought a Slazenger tape grip for a squash racquet. I think I read of someone else on the Cantina doing this. The tape was placed around the handle and taken forward right to the end of the steel bolster where it meets the blade. My fingers and hand now are choked on the handle in the way Duvon did with the WWII model and of course the grip has a larger diameter which suits my average european hand size better. The result has been an absolute miracle (and I'm talking at least 10000% better, probably more) - this M43 that was a pig to handle has changed into the most beautiful swan you can imagine. Its balance is now unbelieveable. I can't believe it is the same khukuri. It has turned into an incredible fast and controllable khukuri. I don't understand how this change to the handle has caused such a change. It is now an absolute beauty - in looks and balance.
I am still experimenting with the type of tape. The one I used tapes over and onto itself and only at the start and end does it tape to the wood and steel bolster). This is causing minor movement in the tape on the handle. I'll play with it and other types of tape for a while to work out the best tape to use - but I know what has to be done. I am amazed how making the handle a little thicker in diameter and a fraction longer and moving my grip more forward a little causes such a massive change in handling.
Some forumites talk about some khukuries having a feel that an owner knows is something special. This khukuri is now one of those. I'm happy.
