Bonecutter VS. Hickory

C

Condottiere

Joined
Nov 17, 2006
Messages
48
Here are a few pics from a little earlier this summer. I was fortunate to get the chance to purchase an 18" Sgt. Khadka Bonecutter from a fellow forumite a few months ago, and I finally got around to giving it a good workout. I gave it a good sharpening beforehand, and I didn't feel it was necessary to re-sharpen afterwards. No damage to the blade, and pretty smooth going. I love the smaller handles on my Sgt. Khadka khuks. To the side, but out of sight, is a similar sized hickory cut w/ a Murali Bonecutter/ GR Special. The Murali wasn't very sharp when I received it, and I didn't sharpen it beforehand, so it didn't cut nearly as well. Performance improved greatly after sharpening, but I haven't tackled any similar sized trees with it since. The giant handle on the Murali was also pretty hard on my hand. I am happy with both, but the smaller handle definately lands the Sgt. K in first place w/ me.
-James
 

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Looks like one heck of a workout. HI's may not always come that sharp, but they take and hold an edge like nobodies business.

Thanks for sharing...
 
Impressive work James, nice pics too. I've yet to try out a Bonecutter, one of these days...
 
James,

Nice post and pics. I also have a Murali Bonecutter from another forumite that has a traditionally sized (smaller) handle that fits me perfectly! It is very well balanced and is a brute of a tool.

I don't know when this one was made but it was obviously before the switch to the bigger stuff. Like many others, I can't wait to see the new "old" ones come back to the future!

Bill
Virginia
 
Sorry, but I don't have any side by sides. I would take some, but I've sold the Murali to a friend. I'll see if I can get him to bring it next time he comes out. Here are a few pics of the Murali by itself though.
-James
 

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Thats a big tree to take down with a kukri, how long did that take you?
Also, I hope you dropped that widow maker!!!
 
Nope. I left it hung up in the other tree : ) I have a lot of wooded acreage, and if I ever happen to walk through there again, it will probably be years from now. I considered taking it down, and decided it just wasn't worth the effort.

I'm not sure how long it took. I'd guess around 40 minutes or so of moderate work. The heartwood on the larger one was some pretty tough stuff, and the tree was as straight as an arrow with virtually no lean. I had it whittled down to a very small core of heartwood, and it just didn't want to go. I cut nearly clean through before it would fall. The smaller one had a nice lean, and broke and fell as usual.
-James

EDIT: The smaller tree (Murali BC) went pretty fast.
 
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Nice pix, thank you for sharing
 
I was able to find (right in front of me the whole time) a pic of my Bonecutter, along with a WWII. Does anyone know how long Murali has been making kukris for HI? Just trying to get an idea of when this was made. Warty?

:thumbup:
DSC02825.JPG

Bill
Virginia
 
I don't know how long he has been around really. I am sure that someone does though.

I miss having wooded land to walk around on and do stuff like this on.
 
It appears that Murali has been working with HI since 2000. This has been an off and on affair which probably accounts for his various marks.
 
stickfred said:
It appears that Murali has been working with HI since 2000. This has been an off and on affair which probably accounts for his various marks.
Click to expand...

Yep - since around 2000. I believe he is like Sgt Khadka in that he does not work directly for HI but makes kukris for them. I recently acquired one of his older pieces - a 18" WWII from back when he used a trisul for a mark. Very elegant, slim and perfectly balanced kukri, with a nicely hardened edge to boot.

His old mark (trisul, 18" WW2):
P1050283.jpg


His new one (leaf?, 15" BAS):
P1050282.jpg
 
This such an awesome pic. There are billions of people that own knives in the world.... but how many own one that can actually chop down a full-grown tree? Very impressive....

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Ugly Duck said:
There are billions of people that own knives in the world.... but how many own one that can actually chop down a full-grown tree?
Click to expand...

Hmm, how many HI forum regulars are there? :D

And yes, though it need not be said, I'll say it anyway... Sgt. Khadka is the man. His Bonecutters are SA-WEET.
 
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