Bonecutter/Ganga Ram from 9/2 DOTD

[bubbachen]

So I received the bonecutter/ganga several days ago, hefty monster for my first khukri. The widest point of the spine of the blade was just about 1/2 inch. It chopped and split logs in the backyard well but was somewhat difficult to handle because of the 38 ounce weight. I was disappointed in the details, however. The engraved lines that run about 4 inches parallel to the spine, distal to the bolsters, were very poorly hammered in, and you can see where several sections were missing. Some puckering of the metal along these lines is present as well. I scrubbed chunks of rust off where the bolster meets the blade, something else I didn't expect. The blade itself was nice, and the bevel was about 1/4 of the total blade size, more ganga style than bonecutter.

The Parang pictured is from the 9/8 DOTD, excellent to wield and comfortable to swing, since it is only 19 ounces and about the 18 inches like the ganga. It bit into wood more deeply, although the ganga chopped better due to sheer weight.

 

[Bladite]

chunks of rust or excess laha?

i agree, looks more like a classic middle era Ganga Ram than a Bonecutter or classic early era Ganga


Bladite

 

[jdk1]

I would think it was Laha. All of mine have some excess at the bolster and it's rust colored. The hammered in lines, I'm guessing, is the sword of Shiva. I think they're hand chiseled and it's kind of cool to me. If your big bonecutter is anything like my little bonecutter, I would think you'll end up happy overall. Take care.

 

[moogoogaidan]

Yeah, handmade khuks will never have the perfect factory-made looks of most knives (especially DOTD khuks), but over time i think you'll appreciate the beauty of each individual piece. They really are functional art. Think of the cosmetic imperfections as visible brush strokes on a canvas -- what you're seeing is the work of a master of craft.

 

[jdk1]

Bubba, as a follow up to the responses, I guess I should explain what “Laha” is. You will usually see tree sap given as the main ingredient. This old myth usually makes the old timers chuckle and shake their heads. I’ll go ahead and repeat the often told story of how we all put this old yarn to rest.

Years ago, outsiders hotly debated the ingredients in laha. The tree sap story had really gotten hold. Folks love these tales. Some researchers from Katmandu Poly Tech. traveled to Bir Gorkha to do some tests. Kami Sherpa immediately identified them as spies from Casa de Khukuri and pinned them into a corner. Bura, the old master, was just finishing up the original Dui Chirra Americana, a 53” 11.5 pound masterpiece. Bura decided the perfect way to quench or “christen” his work would be to plunge the still white hot blade into the belly of a rather plump researcher. About the time the Kamis were just about singeing the belly hair of said researcher, Uncle Bill and Auntie Yangdu returned from their weekend yacht trip on Lake ‘o’ the Neems. And not a second too soon! The defused the situation and convinced Kami Sherpa to allow the scientists to finish what they came for.

Well, the folks from Poly Tech. “discovered” what most of us had known all along: laha is nothing more than a simple mixture of common, everyday, unicorn snot, elf blood, and yeti boogers. Nothing more, nothing less. This old ”tree sap” legend has been the source of much consternation. One day, according to the union stewart of Kami local #211, one of the elves stripped down to his boxer shorts, ran out of the Bir Gorkha cafeteria, and demanded an apology from every tree in the company courtyard. Later on, we learned that Tirtha had replaced the elves’ juice with Shiner Bock, and we all know what happens when elves drink dark beer! That’s also how Tirtha got the “Beer Mug” nick name, and a lesson for another day.

Hopefully, that answers any questions and makes you feel better about the laha around the bolster.

 

[KiljoyKutlery]

Awesome!:thumbup: