First Impressions Of New Khukuri

Big Bob

Big Bob

Joined
Oct 13, 1999
Messages
1,731
When I got home today there was the long brown box. Opened it up and there it was. For those who don't know, this khuk is based on the 25" one Yangdu is holding in the HI Biographies page in the FAQ (same picture also in Village Section). Here are the "spec"ifics:

OAL: 24 7/8"
Blade: 17 7/8" x 2 13/16" x 1/2"
Wooden portion of handle: 5 1/16", just over 1.5" in diameter (not counting main ring).
Buttcap (not counting Eye keeper): 5/8" thick.
Karda: 7 5/16"
Chakma: 7.25"

The handle is exactly the length I had wanted it (I guess it helped to translate the specs to mms before placing the order). I had originally ordered it in horn, but as hefty as it is, wood was probably the only choice.

The single most impressive feature on the khuk is the scrolled buttcap. Its very well engraved, both on the sides and the bottom. Shame on Bill for not posting pics.
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I'm not even going to try and take any pictures of it, for I couldn't do it justice. I say Jim should get this khuk and officially "research" how the buttcap holds up, since he is immune from HIKV and can be professional about it.
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Who knows, a scrolled buttcap revival just might erupt out of this.

Now the blade. It has the WWII style groove on each side and is well made. If it was raining right now I'd put it to a little use.

The scabbard is a little loose, so I will shrink it some. One thing that makes it nervous is that the khuk's edge is right up against the front of the scabbard. I'll be sure to instruct anyone who wants to draw it on how to do it safely. The frog was fitted at the elbow and the belt loop was made as I had wanted it.

All in all an excellently made khuk. Since the khuk isn't fullered, save for the grooves, its a bit heavy (maybe a tad over three lbs), but I'm up for it. With school and a new job I'll be busy for awhile, but I will post a field test sooner or later.

Bob

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The Milk Snake: Beautiful, harmless, good-natured, eats venomous snakes for lunch.
 
Hi Big Bob,
Looks like we both got our new babys on the same day, and they're remarkably approximately the same length. Sounds like yours is heavier, do to the wider blade though. I look forward to seeing how well that thing does against soda bottles.

So that was your scrolled buttcap? Beautiful work. That is a cool looking knife. Definately something to run from if I encountered someone wielding it.

Bob
 
See what I mean about being busy. Don't have the time to read all the necessary threads.
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Bob, I may need some practice to get the momentum right, but I'll let you (and every else) know how it goes. One thing's for sure: Some soda bottles are going to have a *really* bad day.
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Bob

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The Milk Snake: Beautiful, harmless, good-natured, eats venomous snakes for lunch.
 
:
Bob it seems you've wanted this khukuri for quite some time.
Uncle Bill said the kamis didn't get it exactly as you wanted?
How close did the kami come to what you wanted percentage wise?

That khukuri should be one mean chopper and wood splitter!!!!
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>>>>---Yvsa-G@WebTV.net---->®

"VEGETARIAN".............
Indin word for lousy hunter.
 
About the only thing about the blade shape I didn't care for was that the edge doesn't taper to the point like the original, but its pretty much grown on me by now. Its a helluva splitter alright. Yesterday I did a little work with it on a seasoned log. I was using a row of logs to place the log on and to protect the blade from hitting anything hard on the ground. My first couple of tries were misses and I left some mean looking gashes in the other logs. On about the third try I split the log in half. It was incredibly impressive to say the least. I decided to try splitting the halves. I must have hit part of the old concrete foundation on one of my attempts because after one of my swings I ended up with three sections of the blade near the tip that had rolled, with the middle one being the worst. I managed to straighten one section out with the chakma, but the other two were too awkward to rework. I email Bill to see if he thought I should send it back to be examined. He said that chopping area of the blade had been examined and that it was hardened enough, so maybe Bura had made the area near the tip a tad too soft. This weekend when I have a little time I'll lightly tap the blade back into place with a hammer.

I personally would rather have the blade fold than chip, since a fold does require additional steel to be taken off. Once I straighten the blade out, I'll test it on some seasoned wood. As long as it holds up to hard wood (that's about the only thing I chop with my khukuris) I'll be happy with it. One good thing about it: It'll give me some experience in blade repair, making the khuk all the more "mine".

Bob

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The Milk Snake: Beautiful, harmless, good-natured, eats venomous snakes for lunch.



[This message has been edited by Big Bob (edited 04-04-2001).]
 
Most khukuris are softer toward the point but every now and then I'll get one that's been hardened all the way and this one is actually a miss. The kamis do this so you don't break the tips of the knives off. A bent tip can be repaired easily. A broken tip is gone forever and requires a regrind.

But if Bura took too many liberties with this blade send it back and we'll make it right.



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Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
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