Not to jump on Steely's toes, but I also recently received one of these beautiful blades.
The first, and most exciting news I think, is the Warranty the Amar Singh Thapa Khukuri comes with.
Which I think is super cool.
The most surprising thing about this particular Khukuri is its size. It was advertised as a 20.5" ASTK, but it seems huge compared to my 16.5" CAKs. It measures (as the crow flies) about 20.75", and my CAKs are both roughly 16.75". However, the ASTK feels significantly larger than it is in actuality. I believe part of that is simply because of the different blade shape, and the different weight distribution of the ASTK . Regardless, when I pick up a CAK I usually think, "Well, this is nice. But it could stand to be a little larger." When I pick up the ASTK my first thought is usually, "This thing is huge, why on Earth did I buy something so big?" It's only 4 inches longer, but it feels like so much more Khukuri.
I've only handled two blades by Vim, this being one of them (the other was a BAS that went to a special friend), and I've loved the feel of both of them. His embellishments on the blades always seem like something he does because he's feels obligated. The brass inlay on the BAS was a little hit or miss, and the Sword of Shiva isn't nearly as nice as the SoS on my CAKs by Young Sher. That is to say that the SoS on my CAKs looks like a rough imitation of a straight Katana, while the SoS on my ASTK looks like two lines that gradually curve towards the center. I'll admit to some confusion on the Sword of Shiva. Different things I've read have referred to it as decoration, a blood groove, or a fuller. As far as I know the ASTK doesn't have any fullers, so I assume that the SoS is the "pointy" object carved on each side at the base of the spine.
The handle on the ASTK is the nicest feeling one yet. It is egg shaped with a small, but more noticeable than usual, taper towards the bottom (edge side) of the handle. The handle is also thinner, and I personally believe that the smaller size has more to do with the ergonomics than the taper. The "white metal" hardware fits the handle very nicely.
The handle was turned down a little more at the bolster so that there is no metal lip or edge to cut into your hand. The rings are nearly parallel all the way around, and the ridge sits nicely between my last two fingers. The pommel (Butt Plate, Keeper, and Tang Button) is about 15 degrees off center from the edge itself. In clock speak, if the edge and spine are at 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock, the points of the pommel are closer to 6:15 and 12:15. Other than being slightly off kilter there are some minor imperfections that didn't get sanded out of the handle completely. Still, the only Kami who's made a handle with this degree of fit and finish (that I've seen) so far has been Bura, and that's on a Tarwar so I don't know if it's a good comparison.
The handle measures (approximately):
Overall Length: 6 5/8"
Bolster Length: 15/16"
Pommel: 5/16"
Useable Handle: 5 5/16"
Distance between Bolster and Ridge: 2 7/8"
Somewhere in there I lost a 1/16", but I'm not sure where. It might just be that I'm not always looking perpendicular to the blade on the curved surfaces.
Handle Height: 1 7/16" (before the ridge)
1 5/15" (immediately following the ridge)
Handle Width: 1 1/8" (top / spine side)
The blade itself is pretty large. It measures (approximately):
Overall Blade Length: 14 11/16"
Upper Spine Length: 5 13/16"
Lower Spine Length: 9 9/16"
Ricasso Length (aka Cho Creep): 15/16"
Belly Width: 2 9/32"
Drop: 4 3/16"
Spine Thickness (Bolster): 7/16"
Spine Thickness (Shoulder): 7/16"
Spine Thickness (Tip): 1/4"
The blade has a slight cock to the left, and possibly a little bit of a twist in it as well. I'm unsure if the "twist" is just a result of the slight sideways bend in a doglegged blade, but we'll see how it does when I get around to chopping things. If it seems like an issue it may need to get fixed up at some point. In terms fit shape, polish, and sharpness though this one is beautiful. I still think that it has more "presence" than it should, especially when compared to the CAKs I'm used to swinging. It weighs in at 2.295 lbs; which is 36.72 oz, or approximately 20.82 baby ducks. Compare that to my CAKs at 1.873 lbs (29.968 oz or 17 baby ducks) and 1.973 lbs (31.568 oz or 17.9 baby ducks) respectively, and has a point of balance about 4.25" from the bolster. The PoB is really a best guess because the blade doesn't like to sit on edge. In any case, the point of balance is very close to the shoulder, and I can only imagine that this blade will be a very, very effective chopper.
The Karda and the Chakma are nicer than usual in terms of fit and finish, although neither one is really anything special. The Karda does have a slight curve which is unusual, but needs a good sharpening. I view these little tools like Fortune Cookies. No one gets Chinese food for the Fortune Cookies, but they are a nice little treat after you've feasted (in this case your eyes) on the main dish. I do like that they weight the exact same amount on the Postal Scale, that will change once the Karda gets sharpened I presume, but it's still kind of neat.
Chakma(k):
Overall Length: 5 7/8"
Steel Length: 3 1/8
Handle Length: 2 3/4"
Weight: .103 lbs (1.648 oz or .94 baby ducks)
Karda:
Overall Length: 5 7/8"
Blade Length: 3"
Handle Length: 2 7/8"
Weight: .103 lbs (1.648 oz or .94 baby ducks)
The first, and most exciting news I think, is the Warranty the Amar Singh Thapa Khukuri comes with.
Auntie said:
Which I think is super cool.
The most surprising thing about this particular Khukuri is its size. It was advertised as a 20.5" ASTK, but it seems huge compared to my 16.5" CAKs. It measures (as the crow flies) about 20.75", and my CAKs are both roughly 16.75". However, the ASTK feels significantly larger than it is in actuality. I believe part of that is simply because of the different blade shape, and the different weight distribution of the ASTK . Regardless, when I pick up a CAK I usually think, "Well, this is nice. But it could stand to be a little larger." When I pick up the ASTK my first thought is usually, "This thing is huge, why on Earth did I buy something so big?" It's only 4 inches longer, but it feels like so much more Khukuri.
I've only handled two blades by Vim, this being one of them (the other was a BAS that went to a special friend), and I've loved the feel of both of them. His embellishments on the blades always seem like something he does because he's feels obligated. The brass inlay on the BAS was a little hit or miss, and the Sword of Shiva isn't nearly as nice as the SoS on my CAKs by Young Sher. That is to say that the SoS on my CAKs looks like a rough imitation of a straight Katana, while the SoS on my ASTK looks like two lines that gradually curve towards the center. I'll admit to some confusion on the Sword of Shiva. Different things I've read have referred to it as decoration, a blood groove, or a fuller. As far as I know the ASTK doesn't have any fullers, so I assume that the SoS is the "pointy" object carved on each side at the base of the spine.
The handle on the ASTK is the nicest feeling one yet. It is egg shaped with a small, but more noticeable than usual, taper towards the bottom (edge side) of the handle. The handle is also thinner, and I personally believe that the smaller size has more to do with the ergonomics than the taper. The "white metal" hardware fits the handle very nicely.
The handle was turned down a little more at the bolster so that there is no metal lip or edge to cut into your hand. The rings are nearly parallel all the way around, and the ridge sits nicely between my last two fingers. The pommel (Butt Plate, Keeper, and Tang Button) is about 15 degrees off center from the edge itself. In clock speak, if the edge and spine are at 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock, the points of the pommel are closer to 6:15 and 12:15. Other than being slightly off kilter there are some minor imperfections that didn't get sanded out of the handle completely. Still, the only Kami who's made a handle with this degree of fit and finish (that I've seen) so far has been Bura, and that's on a Tarwar so I don't know if it's a good comparison.
The handle measures (approximately):
Overall Length: 6 5/8"
Bolster Length: 15/16"
Pommel: 5/16"
Useable Handle: 5 5/16"
Distance between Bolster and Ridge: 2 7/8"
Somewhere in there I lost a 1/16", but I'm not sure where. It might just be that I'm not always looking perpendicular to the blade on the curved surfaces.
Handle Height: 1 7/16" (before the ridge)
1 5/15" (immediately following the ridge)
Handle Width: 1 1/8" (top / spine side)
The blade itself is pretty large. It measures (approximately):
Overall Blade Length: 14 11/16"
Upper Spine Length: 5 13/16"
Lower Spine Length: 9 9/16"
Ricasso Length (aka Cho Creep): 15/16"
Belly Width: 2 9/32"
Drop: 4 3/16"
Spine Thickness (Bolster): 7/16"
Spine Thickness (Shoulder): 7/16"
Spine Thickness (Tip): 1/4"
The blade has a slight cock to the left, and possibly a little bit of a twist in it as well. I'm unsure if the "twist" is just a result of the slight sideways bend in a doglegged blade, but we'll see how it does when I get around to chopping things. If it seems like an issue it may need to get fixed up at some point. In terms fit shape, polish, and sharpness though this one is beautiful. I still think that it has more "presence" than it should, especially when compared to the CAKs I'm used to swinging. It weighs in at 2.295 lbs; which is 36.72 oz, or approximately 20.82 baby ducks. Compare that to my CAKs at 1.873 lbs (29.968 oz or 17 baby ducks) and 1.973 lbs (31.568 oz or 17.9 baby ducks) respectively, and has a point of balance about 4.25" from the bolster. The PoB is really a best guess because the blade doesn't like to sit on edge. In any case, the point of balance is very close to the shoulder, and I can only imagine that this blade will be a very, very effective chopper.
The Karda and the Chakma are nicer than usual in terms of fit and finish, although neither one is really anything special. The Karda does have a slight curve which is unusual, but needs a good sharpening. I view these little tools like Fortune Cookies. No one gets Chinese food for the Fortune Cookies, but they are a nice little treat after you've feasted (in this case your eyes) on the main dish. I do like that they weight the exact same amount on the Postal Scale, that will change once the Karda gets sharpened I presume, but it's still kind of neat.
Chakma(k):
Overall Length: 5 7/8"
Steel Length: 3 1/8
Handle Length: 2 3/4"
Weight: .103 lbs (1.648 oz or .94 baby ducks)
Karda:
Overall Length: 5 7/8"
Blade Length: 3"
Handle Length: 2 7/8"
Weight: .103 lbs (1.648 oz or .94 baby ducks)
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This is a design that really translates well to multiple length types. I would imagine that a scaled up version would handle very similarly to my 15.5" one. 
More khuk threads are ALWAYS a good thing
