British Army Service questions...

Masteroffajitas · Feb 17, 2009

This is going to be my first HI knife, and I have a few questions.

Does it ever slip in your hands? I'll probably buy gloves.

Who is it made by, is it made in Nepal like the rest of them?

How do you like it?

Does the knfe in your sheath drag your pants down?

C.S. Graves · Feb 17, 2009

I don't own the BAS specifically, but as long as the handle is dry, horn or wood, the swollen pommel of khuks and the centre ring keeps it in your hand. If you've never chopped with one before, and you take a while to get used to chopping, you may experience some rotation and glancing at first. If the one you're buying is horn, and you don't find it grippy enough, you can always rough it up with sandpaper. It'll be made in Nepal, but unless you snagged one from a Deal of the Day, you probably won't be able to tell the kami till you get your hands on it. I'm guessing that anything under 16" won't pull yer pants down for some time, but larger will start to tug at your belt after a while. Lord knows, my 19" Samsher did.

Karda · Feb 18, 2009

I have a 15" BAS and i love it. It is a little lighter and more swingable than an AK or WWII or the same size, yet only sacrifices a slight amount in chopping ability. It is very packable for hiking and camping and is a great all around user. Doesnt drag my drawers down at all.

If you watch the DOTD's, Yangdu Usually lists who the Khuk is made by, along with it's specs so you can get a good deal on a blade made by your favorite kami.

b.c.molin · Feb 18, 2009

I got a Sher 15inch/24ounce BAS in the end of year clearance sales as a gift for a friend and in the limited time I held it it felt very work orientated, as if it would be at home chopping or for self defense purposes.

It was chunky compared to my 15.25inch/19ounce Chitlangi but still very quick in hand and it is a model I hope to obtain for myself in the future.

Uplander · Feb 18, 2009

I don't like to wear gloves while using any cutting tool, feels like I don't have total control. I carry my Khuks on a seperate belt, counterbalanced by a "possibles pouch"
Uplander

kronckew · Feb 18, 2009

i use an over-the-shoulder baldric to carry my kukhris, keeps the weight off the belt and on the shoulder where it isn't a problem. tuck the ends of the baldric UNDER your belt to keep it from swinging away from your body.
here's the baldric on my 20" HI kobra.

dha on top

carabiner thru the frog, then the snap clip ends of the baldric clip to steel rings threaded onto the carabiner. baldric itself is a nylon webbing with metal fittings/clips. improvising is fun.

C.S. Graves · Feb 18, 2009

kronckew said:
dha on top

I totally want a darb/dha that size.

The Kobra is accounted for though. :thumbup:

kronckew · Feb 18, 2009

dha has 23.25" blade (1.25" wide at the sweet spot nr. tip), grip is 10", blade is 3/8" thick at the grip join - distally tapering to the point;spine is flat for 6" or so & that part is decorated in silver koftgari style, as is the side of the blade. 17" false edge.

blade decoration on dha under the three kukhri:

this dha was brought back from burma after ww2 by a chindit who had liberated it from a japanese junior officer who suddenly didn't need it anymore. the chindit assumed the japanese officer had obtained it from a burmese who had similarly suddenly not needed to carry it, and he did not feel bad about making the japanese officer into a permanently ex-officer . much better than a shin-gunto mass produced jap ww2 issue sword i can see why the japanese guy coveted it (as do others).

b.c.molin · Feb 18, 2009

C.S. Graves said:
I totally want a darb/dha that size.

If I could find one of that quality I wouldn't care too much about its size.

From its history it really is a blade to die for?

madbomber1998 · Feb 18, 2009

kronckew said:
i use an over-the-shoulder baldric to carry my kukhris, keeps the weight off the belt and on the shoulder where it isn't a problem. tuck the ends of the baldric UNDER your belt to keep it from swinging away from your body.
here's the baldric on my 20" HI kobra.

dha on top carabiner thru the frog, then the snap clip ends of the baldric clip to steel rings threaded onto the carabiner. baldric itself is a nylon webbing with metal fittings/clips. improvising is fun.

What kind of sword is that?

Skyler R. · Feb 18, 2009

madbomber1998 said:
What kind of sword is that?

Dha.

b.c.molin · Feb 18, 2009

madbomber1998 said:
What kind of sword is that?

If I may jump in before kronckew with a quick answer (but not as short as Skyer R

)

A Burmese Dha sometimes called a Darb in other South East Asian countries such as Thailand.

He details its history in post #8.

Mr Graves is a long time admirer of the Dha/Darb whereas I am just a newcomer to their eloquent lines and have only a basic knowledge of their history.

This may give some idea as to the variety of their forms:

http://dharesearch.bowditch.us/SwordsFrame1Source1.htm

I wish you luck finding out more info but I fear that they are as addictive as Khukuri's !

kronckew · Feb 19, 2009

Bonkers said:
...
...but I fear that they are as addictive as Khukuri's !

i've only got 7 sword sized ones, and about 5 smaller ones ranging from about a 5in. blade on up to about a 12" blade one. ('dha' covers a broad size range).

i'm not an addict, i'm not an addict, i'm...