Chainpuri!

firkin

firkin

Joined
Jan 26, 2002
Messages
2,737
OK, the 28 oz. Chainpuri with horn handle by Kumar arrived.

WOW .......................WOW-WOW.

Initial impressions only, I'll try and get her sharpened and choppin' over the weekend.

Except for a couple of minor details mentioned below, the grip is truely excellent.
It has a graceful curve, and feels and looks better than the almost perfectly staight handle on my 21" Chit. Very dramatic appearance in the black horn. Shaping and finishing quite well done.
So what are the details? Firstly Kumar either got lost or changed his mind or something when doing the checkering--it is well done and regular (a few over-runs), but it looks like someone carved a big capitol 'M" over the checkering on one side. Second, the carved pattern at the butt just doesn't live up to the quality of the work on the rest of the knife. My guess is it was made with an electric engraver, which tended to slip a lot. Lots of micro-cracks and flaking at the edges of the cuts. It looks like a double-helix type pattern was intended, but it honestly resembles a scribble made by a three-year old, instead of decorations incised by an accomplished crafsman. So far, I can't really think of any way to make it look better, except to clean out the polishing compound.

The blade is about as close to flawless as you can get.
It's fairly wasp-waisted in the recurve, so there's a little belly, and the continous taper to the very pointy tip all add up to a really beautiful profile. The thing feels surprising fast and agile, presumably because there's not much weight at the tip. It's hard to believe it weighs 28 1/4 oz. My 30 7/8 oz Chitlangi feels pretty slow in comparison. Cho is very nicely executed and fairly well cleaned up, and actually a bit smaller than those of this style on other khuks I've got. There's lots of metal in a khuk, but the smaller cho should be stronger. Scrollwork and sword of Shiva well done. The bevel is about 5/8 wide and doesn't appear hollow anywhere, but I'll have to get it onto the whetstones to know for sure. Might be a little hollow in the recurve.


Karda and Chakma well finished, and nicely shaped to compliment the khuk's shape. The tang of the Karda is bent or the handle hole isn't true. The blade is at least 5 degrees out of true. That's about the only really substantial thing one could complain about. Scabbard is usual good job by the Sarki.

This may be my new favorite khuk. Of course I want one that is 18-19 inches now. Anybody who likes Chitlangis or Gelbu Specials should like Chainpuris. If the Kamis could put in a single fuller without changing the shape at all, the perfect khuk might be the result. A least for long skinny khuks.
 
I know how you feel. I have one of the 18.5" chainpuris, and it's the most elegant and deadly blade that I have.
 
Firkin-- your reports from the field have been exemplary as of late. Makes me want a chainpuri all the more.
--Josh
 
I think everbody wants a Chainpuri, some may just not be aware of it yet.

I hope Uncle can convince the Kamis to keep making them.

Aardvark, is the handle of your Chainpuri decorated just before the pommel, and if so, what's it like?
 
It is decorated. If I remember correctly, it's like a square 'sawtooth' (not sure if that's clear). It's rather well executed.
 
I don't see the need to get another chainpuri. The 17" 14 oz villager has it's place - carving up people.

The 17" 1 & 1/4 lb. villager may be a bit lighter than most general purpose rigs but the 2 inches over a 15" make it able to do more than you'd expected. My first choice for grabbing to do yardwork.

And the HI 20" chainpuri is everything you'd want a Kobra to be and more. But it just sits on the shelf accepting the adoration it is due.

If I had to describe them, chainpuri's would be the green eyed redheads of the HI line, as opposed to blue eyed blodes, brown eyed brunettes, or raven tressed beauties.

( Daydreaming of becoming a Mormon so I can have it all! Probably die of a heart attack within a year, but what a way to go.!!! )
:) ;) :D
 
Originally posted by Rusty
( Daydreaming of becoming a Mormon so I can have it all! Probably die of a heart attack within a year, but what a way to go.!!! )
:) ;) :D
Click to expand...

What a way indeed.
 
I put an edge on the Chainpuri.

It was a bit hollow-ground but not a lot. After a couple hours with whetstones and sandpaper, I've got sort of a convex edge--theres an irregular, slightly lower band in the middle of the bevel about 1/3 of total width. It's not real deep, the coarser stones left a few scratches there. It would take a few more hours to get to full convex by hand I guess.

Anyway, I went up through finer grits and polished the edge. Then I tried chopping a 5" diam piece of dried fruitwood (loquat). This stuff has quickly showed the faults in the couple khuks I've had with overly thin or soft edges.

The Chainpuri did quite well. The slightly heavier 21" Chitlangi did a little better, but not by much. Both penetrated about equally, but the Chit cleared chips better and didn't stick ocassionally like the Chainpuri. I think that's because of the steeper, narrower bevel on the Chitlangi. I also spent more time on the Chit's bevel, so it is a little closer to full convex. I'm sure a little quality time with a belt grinder would help the Chainpuri a lot.

The sweet spot seems pretty big on the Chainpuri, no bad strikes or vibration like can occur with my smaller Gelbu special. It chopped the big stuff better than I expected. Of course, it's not an AK.

The Chainpuri is nimble enough that I could trim off some sprawling honeysuckle at head level and higher without feeling suicidal. It is a bit on the heavy side to do that for long though. I'd think a lighter, 18-19 inch Chainpuri would be pretty close to perfect for this kind of work with smaller brush and vegetation that can be cut with one stroke. I'd bet that kind of stuff grows in the region of Nepal that this style comes from.

It looks about as tough as a Sirupati. Think of it like a sirupati with a lot of weight taken off the tip and a little deeper recurve.

I was little surprised to find that the pointy corners on the pommel didn't get in the way at all, as on some khuks, I need to remove a little bit on top at the butt.

Very nice knife. I'm with Rusty, a little smaller and lighter would be best for me to use for general use or as a weapon. This style with a single fuller (pretty sure I've seen a pix of one somewhere) would be very serious competition for the Gelbu Special.
 
Originally posted by firkin
I was a bit hollow-ground ..... After a couple hours...I've got sort of a convex edge
Click to expand...
Is this anything like saying you were 3 sheets to the wind?
 
LOL, ddean.

Actually I think I was more hungary, at that point.

OK, I'll go back and add a 't' to that sentence.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top