Anybody else carve their handle rings?

Rusty

Rusty

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I started with the M43 cause it didn't feel right without a index for my hand I could tell in the dark by feel.

No matter that it had slab handles and a tang in the middle, I filed the back ring down where my little and ring fingers could fit behind it. Took that part down small enough to touch the base of my thumb with my ring finger. That is small indeed.

My middle finger I really carved a deep notch for in front of the back ring. Then the second ring in front of that. I can squeeze about two-thirds of my middle finger into it. Then finally the forward most rings match where my forefinger should rest. No matter that I filed thru the front rivet to keep the line going.

Anyway, with the thickness of the wood handles I can file everything but the back raised ring down and redo the rest to fit my hand only. The M43 handle I left relatively thick.

With the 19" village sirupati I really thinned it, to be able to move my smaller hands at will. Now I let my grip go loose and I can slide it all over and roundabout on the handle, but tighten my fingers down and the handle just jumps into where the bones of my fingers are locked into and against the grooves. ( Well, same with the M43, just didn't notice that until just now. )

One of these days I'll get a digital camera and post pictures to Uncle Bill to put up or take them up for him to make photos of.

Am enjoying the two I worked on all out of proportion to the amount of work it took to make them uniquely mine.

:D :D :D :D :D
 
Yes, I have carved the handles down on two of mine to match my grip. It sure gives a nicer feel and kind of makes it your own. Easier to handle, too. Not that fond of the handle rings, although most don't seem to get in the way, only if they are too thick.

Wolvesclaw
 
I'lll be doing some hadle carvinng or replacement on my chiruwa HI Falcata. Handle slabs too thick, and have minor splitting and warping. I'm probably replacing them with Ivory scales...should look awesome!
'
Keith
 
better2.jpg

:D
 
If the rings are pronounced, I'll take a bit of the edge off, and that's it.




munk
 
Most handles are one peice. M43 and AK are two peice.
I try to answer these questions figuring I asked the same several months ago and the real experts have answered them hundreds of times...


munk
 
Very cool stuff...

When I originally saw that pic, I was inspired to try my hand at checkering my Sirupati handle but my complete lack of fine craft skills ensured that it came out looking like it was dragged across a rock-filled sandpit... :D

Andrew Lim

Originally posted by Bill Martino
Nice stuff, Fed.
Click to expand...
 
Try a set of Dem-Bart checkering tools, ( from Brownell's ) and practice on a flat surface first, redvenom. Also, a use a good metal ruler and cut an initial line and main crossline with a sharp knife.

( If you happen to have access to a Bridgeport mill... ;) )

By the way - AK's usually have one piece handles with rat-tail tangs* like most other khukuris. The M43 and some others are made with full-width tangs and slab handles attached with two or more rivets, hence the term Panna Butta or literally in Nepali "rivetted-through". They are also referred to as "chiruwa". So munk was thinking of the Chiruwa AK's, not the ones with normal handles. But for some reason HI seems to get more Chiruwa AK's than chiruwas in any other model. And if my memory serves, though the original M43's were all slab handled and rivetted, at least one HI kami has sent over a one piece handled model. Now John Powell can chip in and correct my correction of munk's post.

Just remember that kami's will do about anything.

* PS: I used the term "rat-tail tangs" because it was easier to describe that way. "Kangaroo-tail tangs" would be more like it, since they are actually much more heavy duty than it sounds. If that makes any sense. No wonder Uncle Bill has a few beers after trying to make sense of Nepalis and westerners on the same day.
 
That's me, Rusty; correct at will.

I would like to see a single peice handled chiruwa AK.


munk
 
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