Christmas in June

[mPisi]

Just when I was about to go postal on the post office, I get four packages today. Maybe they do read minds? Two of which were other stuff, very overdue. Now maybe I can look forward to the walking staf from Toxic Toys arriving after 3 months?? But the important part was that two were khuks!

First was a Bura Pen Knife from t1mpani's recent sale. What a beauty! Very sharp and polished up too. It will definitely be taken along the next time I need a small khuk.

Second was a Bura 14" BDC from my favorite uncle and aunt . I had missed out on the first shipment, but they took care of me asap as always. Now this BDC is nice, but I'm kinda underwhelmed . It just doesn't seem much different than a 14" Gelbu Special/M43 cross would be, or something like that. Dunno, I'll have to give it a while to grow on me. It's butterknife dull, too, but the handle is excellent horn, and just the suggestion of a habaki bolster.

So in the customer-designed khuk category, I am 2 for 4. Love the YCS and Pen Knife. "Shrug" on the kerambit and BDC. Still haven't got my hands on a Cherokee Rose, Berk Special, Foxy Fighter, katar, seax... Must keep trying!! LOL

Thanks Uncle Bill and Yangdu, Bura, the whole crew, t1mpani!!

 

[Ferrous Wheel]

Hmmm...I hear "secondary market" wheels a-turnin...Those HI 'bits are starting to speak to me...

Keith

 

[Daniel Koster]

The 14" BDC chops like a BAS....maybe better....?!

It's a serious workhorse that just happens to also be a beauty!

You already like 2 of my favorites as well (YCS & Pen)....


...now you've got me thinking back in time to when I first got my BDC - I thought it was weird too...especially compared to the formidable YCS. I brought it along on a camping trip anyway - just for the heck of it....This is one great all around knife! Used it for campfire chopping, spliting, making kindling, etc., as well as foraging for downed hickory logs, building a small raft and making walkings sticks from cedar. I ran out of time before I ran out of things to do with it.

Keep it and give it a second chance....

 

[Svashtar]

First was a Bura Pen Knife from t1mpani's recent sale. What a beauty! Very sharp and polished up too. It will definitely be taken along the next time I need a small khuk.

Recent sale? Hmm, seems I missed something there... I love my pen knife also. My copy is horn, and I like it so much I'm considering looking for one in wood as well. Nice design.

Second was a Bura 14" BDC from my favorite uncle and aunt . I had missed out on the first shipment, but they took care of me asap as always. Now this BDC is nice, but I'm kinda underwhelmed . It just doesn't seem much different than a 14" Gelbu Special/M43 cross would be, or something like that. Dunno, I'll have to give it a while to grow on me. It's butterknife dull, too, but the handle is excellent horn, and just the suggestion of a habaki bolster.

I also got my 14" BDC today in record time (prepaid this time! I learned my special order lesson.) It feels great in my hand, and has a wonderful balance to it. Definitely wider across the blade than a GS I think. I asked for wood and the handle and the whole piece is very well done, with no details overlooked. Extremely strong sheath and frog. Done by Bura and a nice match to the Kumar 10" BDC. As sharp as anything I have ever received from HI.

Still haven't got my hands on a Cherokee Rose, Berk Special, Foxy Fighter, katar, seax... Must keep trying!! LOL

My future must haves (or I should say hopeful acquisitions from past blade runs) are simple: A YCS, a FF, a Cherokee Rose and a Falcatta would be nice, in that order. Perhaps a Ghopte as well.

As for variants of what is in the current line, I am hoping someday for a 21 to 25" Malla, and a 25" Chitlangi, both in wood. Both would be awesome cutters I think, and should balance beautifully.

Thanks Uncle Bill and Yangdu, Bura, the whole crew!!

Same here!

Regards,

Norm

 

[DannyinJapan]

I will buy your 14" BDC if you dont want it.
I really wanted one of those....

 

[Yvsa]

I will buy your 14" BDC if you dont want it.
I really wanted one of those....

Danny, they -are- Nice!!!! I got one in a roundabout way.

 

[mPisi]

Whatever my final opinions, I won't be reselling the knives, as they are good examples of the special stuff that HI does. Everything finds a niche with me. Now if there was something better that came up, I don't mind trading special for special (like say, kerambit and 14" BDC for a good YCS ).

 

[Svashtar]

Danny, they -are- Nice!!!! I got one in a roundabout way.

]

I agree! here are some pics of the one that arrived today. Not the best quality pics I'm afraid, but enough to get the idea across anyway.

This one is 14" and 17.3 oz., by Bura. Good tough sheath with it as well.

Regards,

Norm

******************************

I guess the actual pics would help, sorry! I have the cold from hell and am supposed to be actually working tonight on a report tonight instead of talking about khuks, so am not concentrating too well!

Let me try again...

Nope, errors. rebooting...

 

[Svashtar]

Nope, sorry. "Upload errors" and then can't delete the file from the upload list. Too tired to deal with it tonight, so I'll try again tomorrow.

Later,

Norm

 

[munk]

Why is it, Sports fans, that when a derivative arrives it will, 'out chop' the BAS, Or 15"AK or what have you?

Chances are if it would do that there would be no BAS- troops would carry the other. The Laws of Physics do not allow lighter smaller blades disproportionate power. Fullers are perhaps some advantage on larger blades- for stiffness, some lightening. Weight and speed and blade profile and length determine cutting. MHO No expert here but I do chop wood.

In firearms it is the same- a wildcat, or new commercial venture gets credited with more velocity, greater accuracy, less kick, more case life, bla blaa blaa.

I think how we feel and what we believe about a tool makes for a lot of the tool's ability in our hands, anyway.


I doubt a 16" or 18" BDC would outchop the competition, but they would have been of more interest to those of us who really do chop wood than the 14", and would look neat to boot.


I think the best thing you can say about the BDC is it is a gorgeious camp knife. And you neighbor doesn't have one.

Lest this heresy of mine be met with a brutal counterattack, probably with those of you armed with BDCs, I believe any blade that someone wants is good enough reason to have or make the blade.

munk

 

[Daniel Koster]

I think the best thing you can say about the BDC is it is a gorgeious camp knife. And you neighbor doesn't have one.

Agreed........neighbor....


(ducking oncoming rounds......)



Honestly I don't think it's necessarily better than the BAS, but it does much better than you'd think given the size.



I see a run of 17.5" BDCs in the not-so-distant future...




crap...darn crystal ball....

 

[Nasty]

Don't do it Dan...you *know* I'll want one!

 

[munk]

I actually thought the Pen was interesting in that without the curve it put the same/similar weight forward. I'd be curious to see a same sized khuk superimposed on the blue print of the Pen- I even wonder if the edge forward measurements were actually close. IE- they look different but actually have a similar amount of metal occupying similar space.

As you know, I was less than rabid about the Pen unitl a poster on another forum knocked it. That got my dander up. People are inventive and deserve to try their hands and have fun. Why else are we on this stupid planet?
The Pen accomplished a task like a khuk without the bend. You'd have to be an engineer to know what it lost or gained without the bend. I sure don't. But people wanted it- and that my Neighbor, is all the justification we needed to explore and have a Pen in the first place. If we realize later the old heads of Nepal probably tried all this before that just makes it all the sweeter - we walk in good footsteps.

Has anyone noticed a sweeping curved blade- like a M43- does not chop as well as it looks? I don't know why. Why does the AK do so so well?
There must be some task a M43 curve does do best- though I don't know what it is- other than look BITCHEN!! It does give the impression of impending decapitation! It is exactly the the kind of tool I do not want to see in the hands of a "Peasent Uprising". This is not to say it cannot chop wood, but it does not chop as well as looks suggest.

The Hanshee, on the other hand, with a real pronouced curve, does seem to cut some vegitation better than a traditonal Khuk design. I'd guess springy vine type stuff- it seems to bunch and cut with a snap of the wrist. I"ve never mastered my own Hanshee- but I've seen what it can do.


munk