an HI EDC?

Runs With Scissors

Runs With Scissors

Joined
Dec 3, 2000
Messages
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I just traded into my first HI product (and eighteen inch Sirupati)

Got more love for it than any man should have towards a slab of steel. very beautiful,interesting, and versatile. (Very, very, very versatile....It's put just about every other large fixed blade into the back of the closet where they may never again see the light of day!

There's only one problem with it: it's too darn big to carry daily! It's never far from me, in the truck, by the bed, etc. but it's just too darn big to be worn on a belt, and don't conceal worth a hill of beans (that okay, I know it wasn't made to be)

So, I'm kinda lookin' for a smaller one that can be carried regularly.
(I live in a fairly small town, so a fixed blade on the belt isn't necessarily freakish, or odd, as long as it's a relatively normal size)

So far I'm leaning towards the JKM-1, but the Bilton, and Kumar Karda are worth considering also. I'm really most interested in a blade length from 3.5 to five inches. Towards the 3.5 mark would probably be most preferred though.

What have been y'alls experience with these? any other recommendations that I'm thus far unaware of?

Thanks for any input.
 
JKM-1 will make an excellent EDC. The handles tend to be very short with a big gap between the handle scales and where the edge starts - I filed a finger choil into the empty metal with a half-round bastard file. Works great now. It's a little on the thick side for my tastes in a small knife - cuts well, but tends to bind in things like thick cardboard or vegetables. There's definitely enough metal to thin into a full-flat gring or do some convexing if you've got the know-how. I don't and it still works fine. The sheath is functional, but could be dressed up a bit. The dangling concept is good - you can slip it mostly into a pocket and have good access.

If you're willing to go a bit bigger, Bilton or 12" AK/sirupati might fit the bill. Probably have to do some sheath work to make it comfortable and semi-concealable, though. Sarge posted some great pics of his modified 12" AK sheath in the past few weeks.

Oh, and welcome to the madness!
 
JKM-1 is a handy blade. There aren't many days it is not used. To carry every day on the belt, mine probably need to see The Sarki Shop for a sheath; otherwise I can't find anything to complain about. It is a great size, holds an edge very well, & is very handy.
 
A long while back I put a single edge bevel on my JKM-1 and about two months ago I started carrying it on my belt when I go out in my jeans instead of my shorts or sweats.
The edge at the point is dayumed hard an mine and has experienced a little chipping that I am starting to work out. And mine came with a great dangly sheath with a very ample tie on it.
No complaints here and makes for a very handy EDC IMO!!!!:D
 
Sarge likes the Bilton and I do too. They seem to be hard as can be. Mine is a 5.5" blade and that is legal in TX. Around home the 12"AK is the king of the roost. It goes every where and one of them is by the bed every night. Along with the 16.5" WWII. The only thing about the Bilton that some would consider an advantage is the thinnere blade than the JKM or the KK. Much easier to slice veggies and such. After handling some of the bigger khuks the 12" knife is not very big. But to folks that are not used to the khuk, they most likely look very big indeed.:)
Welcome to the Cantina!
 
Just a thought here. The 10" New Model.It is just the sweetest little thing!:cool: I bought one for me and one for my lady. We both love them and they carry daily very well. It had a well fullered blade that lightens the knife up nicely aand thins the edge out making it cut very well without and binding in materials. It also has that sweet deep belly that I love so much. It looks like a tiny Foxys Folly!;) It is a little larger than you were asking for, but take a look at one. They are SWEET!;)
 
They make great EDCs and take a fine slicing edge (like many of Bura's blades). Not sure if they are readily available. Folks interested should get a special order together. If Bura feels like making more, count me in for a 14" model. The 10" is perfect for EDC.
 
RWS, you can't go wrong with either the JKM-1 or the Bilton, they're both great little EDC work knives. Like Pappy, I prefer the Bilton, and here's why;
- Even though the Bilton is slightly larger, it's actually a skosh lighter, so it carries dang near unnoticable on the belt
- There's definitely a "learning curve" (pun intended) involved in becoming comfortable using the Bilton, but once you do you'll find it to be a marvellously efficient cutter and slicer, heck I've even used one in conjunction with a baton to split some light kindling, the little booger just ate it up
- I prefer the rugged leather over wood, "khukuri scabbard", the Bilton comes with. Only modification needed to square it away is to replace the frog (which IMHO is purely decorative in nature) with something more substantial, sounds harder than it is. The standard "dangler" scabbard that JKM-1's come equipped with just don't inspire me with confidence, either safety wise or in securely retaining the knife during physical activity. Both my JKM-1's sport conventional flat scabbards of my own construction. Side note here* due to it's very straightforward and uncluttered design, the JKM-1 makes an excellent boot knife for "very discreet" carry.
- Last, but not least, as a strong selling point for the Bilton, is it's very economical price, an important consideration for a no-kidding "work knife". Bonus* you can order 'em handled in your choice of wood or horn.

Now let me stir up the pot and aggravate some folks (and y'all thought such behaviour was the Duck's sacred domain). It's regarding the 10" BDC, a.k.a. Bura New Model. Got one, real purty, sweet knife, love it, but it's never left the house. Why? Because wearing it in more "civilized" areas, one is painfully self conscious that "Bubba, that ain't no Buck folding hunter on your belt". In less civilized surroundings, it's simply no match for any of my three 12" Ang Kholas, which are just as comfortable to carry. Get your wife/girlfriend one of those 10" BDCs for the kitchen, they're great at chopping cabbage. Doh, here's Sarge, ducking an running, someone's bound to take exception to my highly biased opinions. Oh well, unlike the feathered fiend, I've never made any claims at sainthood.

Sarge
 
I've got a CBKC ( Chesapeake Bay Knife Club ) style 9" that is much sturdier than the Bilton. But Sarge is right on about carrying.

( Besides, a Bura made Royal Dhankuta or kothimoda goes better in the cummerbund of your tux! )
:p :D :D
 
Glad to hear the sirupati has found a good home!

The Bilton, sans frog, is my favorite boot knife. The scabbard feels like it was made especially for the Danners I work in.

As for the JKM-1, Terry makes a dandy belt sheath for this knife at a reasonable price. Looks great and tends not to alarm the sheep.

If you spend a lot of time in the outdoors, try attaching the 18" sirupati to the side of your backpack. That's how I carry my kobra.
 
Yup! Sirupati has definitely found a loving home! I fool with the thing around the house at night darn near as much as I used to fool with that BM! (Needless to say the wife aint pleased!):D


As far as the smaller model goes, I think I'm definitely leaning towards the Bilton. The JKM-1 just doesn't really look like it would quite get along with my XXL forepaws very well. Besides for thirty five bucks it'd be pretty darn difficult to go wrong with the Bilton.

I'd imagine it oughta handle alot of my mundane day to day chores pretty well. (lotsa kitchen use, string cutting, box opening, shim whittling, etc.)

Does the Bilton have the same differential heat treatment as larger khukuris? It doesn't seem like it would be really necessary in a smaller knife. But, then again I've been wrong before.

Thanks for the input!
 
13"AK is the "only"EDC K! 12":barf: 13"IS "perfect"!!Sarge,due to his lack of grace,(his bulk prevents him from slidin & glidin)HE can't hide a K properly!! Look at his pic"ANY" LEO would stop & frisk him!!:D HE JUST LOOKS GUILTY AS SIN"!! WOULDN'T YOU ARREST HIM!!I WOULD!!:D
THE SAINT!:cool:
 
I should hope to smile. Mine has a good hard blade. I have only had to touch it up once. It has done a lot of cutting. from string to cabage.
And, tape to apple pie. If it isn't real sharp when you get it. It will be a bit hard to put an edge on but, once it is there all the work is well worth it. Sarge sure is right about the little Kagas Katne. Very handy neck knife after a frog change.:)
 
Well, I THINK I just placed the order for the Bilton, kinda sorta...I'm paying by Money Order, and wound up sending an email instead of the standard order form, but in any case at least it's a step to get the ball rolling...:D
 
I'm telling you one more time Duck, them scaly things with big jaws are alligators, not women, and I sure wish you'd quit molesting 'em, it's plumb unnatural I tell you.

Sarge,
who was chopping up some seasoned pecan wood for the barbecue grill today with his Durba BGRS, poor slob had to stop and put the top part of his head back on when his ear to ear grin spread so far the two ends met.
 
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