Disappointed but happy.

[Mark Nelson]

After everyone posted the great picuture of the AK BOwies last week I had to have one. I do think that I may have the worst case of HIKV this year. SO I ordered one from Uncle Bill. WHen it gat he yesterday and I got it out of all the packing I saw the first thing that wasn't quite right. The thin leather strap that holds the frog in place was loose. Loose to the point that I was able to pull the frog right off the sheath. No big deal. A easy fix. The horn had come away slighty from the handle at a couple of places once more no big deal. Then I pulled the blade from the sheath and my heart sank a bit. After looking at all of the great picture that everyone had posted what I had in my hand while the same was quite a bit different. Mainly it lacked the two well defined fullers that stood out so beautifully on all the pictures that I had seen. It looks like Sher took the front part of a 18" or 20" Ak, cut it shorter and put a bowie style handle on it. I sat there and looked and moved the blade around in my hand and I can say that I like it. If I was Uncle Bill and I had to send a Ak Bowie to me then I think that this would have been the one that I would have picked to send also. Everything that I have ordered that wasn't a blem I asked for a heavier Khurk if that was possible. Most of the blems that I have order have been the or the larger types. After all I am the guy that posted how much I liked my 25" 37oz Kobra. This thing looks like it could stop a train if needed. A complete tank of a knife. It is right at 15" and weighs in at 1 pound 12 ounces. So while it isn't what I had thought it would be exactly it is a great piece of work and I think that Uncle Bill once more sent a HI product to the person that should have had it in the first place. Sorry this is so long I will post some pics after my camera charges up. Thanks all. Next I will write about the 20" AK villager that I got and think that I want to marry...

 

[CAVEDWELLER]

I hear ya, I got my 20" Villager Sirupati yesterday and I like it so much that I don't wanna use it (that's the disappointing part). I think the Villager finish beats the BG "Magic Stone" finish hands down, but that's cuz I'm no too fond of a mirror polish. This is my first Villager and Blem, and Bill obviously has higher standards than I cuz you can't see the "Blem" in it.

 

[t1mpani]

My reason for fondness of the mirror polish is because it resists rust far better than satin does. My 12 inch AK villager (which has already done a fair amount of whacking around) is a great blade, but if any of the wood is green I have to get oil on the blade right away or it starts darkening really quick. I may just give it a lemon juice coat at some point, and be done with it.

 

[Mr.BadExample]

I was initially disappointed with the fullering on my Bura AK Bowie that was rescued and sharpened by Pen. I was expecting the stand-out deep fullers like the pic on the store site. It grew on me daily, and I sent it off to Terry Sisco for new leather. Now I miss it a lot!
The more you use it, the more you'll love it.

 

[cliff355]

I have been a little surprised by what came out of the triangular box a couple times myself. For some reason, I got the impression from website pictures that WWIIs and Sirupatis weren't fullered, but recently got Bura-made examples of each which had the bejesus fullered out of them. Both are very well done, and it probably has more to do with the picture the kami has in his mind of the khuk in question on a particular day. Sher seems to visualize a more stalwart product, judging by the 15" AK I have by him. It is a real chunk, and I like it very much also. Each one of these HI khuks seems to be very much an individual project and therefore all the more valuable.

 

[ddean]

I've noticed more fullering this year than last year.

Hope the trend continues.