Everest Katana thoughts wanted

rdnzl

rdnzl

Joined
Aug 16, 2000
Messages
938
Hi all. I did a search and read quite a bit about the EK, but now, after some of you have had them a while, can you give me any more of your thoughts? I placed an order for one today.
 
Fit, finish, handling,balance. What generation do you have and how have they improved since the first ones came out?
 
Hmmm...it's been a while since the whole katana thing has been talked about,this should be a good thread.

Anyways, if your curious which one I have it's the one on the web page in the middle of the katanas in the sword section (the chiruwa one)
The first thing you should know is that for the most part it isn't a traditional japanese katana, it's something very cool and different. It's honestly a new style of sword from my standpoint.
The fit and finish on mine were excellent, there is hardly a place on the fittings that isn't etched or decorated in some way, the scabbard it beautfiul, nothing like a traditional saya, bet very special and individual.
Since mine is full tang chiruwa it is probably a bit heavier than most HI katanas, but it handles well and feels good, it does not have the typical "feel" of a katana, but something of it's own feel.
The blade and tip are very well done, the tip is properly shaped and makes the appropriate kind of "whoosh" sound that is unique to katana.
The edge on mine was a working edge, not razor sharp so I need to touch it up. However, the tip is FREAKISHLY sharp, to the point of being uncanny. I can literally lightly (with close to zero pressure) touch the tip and feel like I'm being cut, pretty unusual.

Overall, it's a great sword and your getting something very unique with it..it is likely that no two will be the exact same so your really getting something your own.
 
I've been trying to not get too excited. But one's coming my way. Kinda like that kid on Christmas morning feel to it.
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Can wait to try it out and cut some stuff. Good thing it's won't be long before...

sing
AKTI #A000356
 
Thanks for making a very strong point, Matt. The Everest Katana is not a Japanese clone by any stretch of the imagination. This is why we call it the "Everest" katana. It's the BirGorkha rendition and it shows that a kami who is used to making tough khukuris made the sword. The handle, for example, is there to stay no matter what. The scabbards vary greatly and are in no way traditional. So far it has proven to be tougher than most katanas chopping cow spines and ripping the tatami man to shreds with ease and no damage to the blade.

Those wanting a traditional katana should NOT get the Everest version. Ray Tirona tested an Everest katana and posted a very good report somewhere.

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Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ
Himalayan Imports Archives (18,000+ posts)
 
BirGhorka Everest Katana. Made by the best kamis in Nepal. That's what I want.

Maybe someday I'll own one of every model made at BirGhorka......or go broke trying
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p.s. No truth to the rumor that a vaccine for HIKV has been found.
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<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by rdnzl:
Fit, finish, handling,balance. What generation do you have and how have they improved since the first ones came out?</font>
Click to expand...

My first Everest Katana was Prototype #2 which was tested by Broken Arrow (Ray T). Fit is good, finish is good, handles great(I have modified the handle by removing the brass wire inlays and done some sanding and checking ) either one or two handed. Has a flaired buttcap which I have left in place. Hamon goes from blade tip to 3 inches above circular guard. Balances nicely for me in that it feels like a natural extension of my arm. It does not have a proper Tsuba or Habaki on it. Bura was the maker.

My next katana was the first Everest Kothimoda Katana done. The blade is a bit smaller and thinner, but not appreciably so. Haven't checked the temper on this with ferric chloride etch, but will do this sometime in the future. Kumar added an oval tsuba and habaki is present. Handle is finger grooved(some people like this, others don't and makes no difference in my opinion). Scabbard is covered with silverwork and is a real show piece. Fit, finish, handling and balance are very good.

My third Everest Katana has recently been shipped to me but has not arrived yet. Sanu was the maker of this katana and it will be interesting to compare the subtle differences each maker has added to his interpretation of the katana style.

My feeling is HI Everest Katana quality continues to improve and if you are looking for a katana style variant, this is a nice piece to have. Being able to check the katana out on receipt is another plus as if you are not happy with anything, it can be returned to HI.

Further commentary are available by searching the HI Forum Archives for the keywords Katana, Broken Arrow.

Hope this quick reply gives you some useful information.

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Harry
 
I am so glad that the Everest Katana is getting popular! The prototype #2 that I test was awesome. Not very traditional looking, but I wouldn't hesitate to take it into harms way. The models made after #2 look even better. I'm glad the Kamis in Nepal are getting the hang out of making these great swords. I still remember that I showed #2 to a traditional Katana collector. He said it was crude looking. I told him that even though it doesn't look very traditional, it passed my all my tests. I wouldn't want to get cut with it! Also, one has to remember that each Everest Katana made is trully an original piece. No one in the whole world will have the same exact sword! For the money, you can't beat it. A unique sword that you can pass down in you family.
 
The basic philosophy of the kami is to make something that will work first and be beautiful second. It took them a year at BirGorkha to work the beauty into the khukuris they make. I think it will take just as long or longer to make the katana beautiful. But, with each shipment I receive I see improvements. I was impressed with the katana that Harry special ordered. They came pretty close to giving him exactly what he had ordered and they don't always do this.

And many thanks all for good input and help.

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Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ
Himalayan Imports Archives (18,000+ posts)
 
Uncle Bill,

I agree BirGhorka continues to improve the product they put out. Now I'll have to start thinking about the HI Everest Wakazashi.....

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Harry
 
I recently got a copy of an intersting book ,"Decapitation and katana" on true katana history of its usage against our belief. Japanese army took katana, took them into warfare in China, broke many katanas on enemy and more by themselves. A soldier who had a katana in their hand for the first time was often tempted to try it on wood, sometimes on stone, or helmets. Most failed. Loosened or broken Mekugi (tang pin made of bamboo, removable), bent and/or chipped edge, etc, etc. Some were el cheapos but the defects showed up alike. A master katana kami who was employed to fix them and did on more than 2000 katanas reported that a katana was a poor weapon in battlefield. At least, the katanas of the day. He and his lab made some improved katana by studying how katanas had been used in feudal era. Their practically perfect katanas had thick, clamshell (convex) cross section, made of spring steel. Although they were perfect in terms of combat on the basis of their research, when they took the katanas back to Japan only to be pi$$ed off by "katana experts". They know much about hamon, were good at tameshigiri (an MA master cuts a tatami man in two or three then judges katana). They didn't admit any mistreating katana like marching in damp climate for weeks or mis-hit the target though both were usual in warfare.

To me an HI katana seems close to the "perfect katana" in the report. Or an AK katana is more preferrable, maybe? Have fun of your HI katanas!

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(T_T) ...crying
\(^o^)/ ...cheerful
(ToT) ...crying
Mizutani Satoshi
 
WrongFriend, thank you very much for the summation above. Information such as you have contributed is invaluable in furthering our collective knowlege. It is very welcomed.
 
I second that, Rusty.

As I have mentioned before the Everest Katana is NOT a clone of a Japanese model but an effort by men who believe the first function of any knife is to stand up to hard use -- second, if it can be made beautiful in addition to strength and toughness OK. But beauty, tradition, everything will be sacrificed for function.

This is why our katana has a handle that will not fail and a very tough but sometimes not so traditional blade.

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Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ
Himalayan Imports Archives (18,000+ posts)
 
Well, I guess at this point it becomes quite obvious that the everest is something in it's own. Overall it feels extremely solid and well done...it feels like "my" sword...something only for me. I think that's part of the magic of HI. Though there is a good amount of HI stuff out there, it's all different in one way or another, thus is exclusively "yours"...that combined with and unstoppable blade and all that nice lore and mystique of the Kamis and Nepal...a personal everest kat is a great thing to have
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Nice sword, very "neutral" balance, whch has allowed me to work it into forms from several styles. Sturdy, quick, a very good all around user, but pretty enough for a display model. Can't say enough about how much blade you get for the money, just a phenomenal value.
 
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