First thoughts on my first HI & saying hello.

D

DrClckWrk

Joined
Sep 20, 2003
Messages
373
Hi everybody,
I received my first khukuri today, an 18" GRS by Bura with white bone handle. There is a picture in this thread.
I've had big knives before, and more expensive ones than this. But there is something about it, can't quite put my finger on it, but there is something very personal about the knife. This is not an investment knife, or a check it out, play with it a bit and sell it knife. This is the kind of knife you make your own. Work on it. Shine it up. Use it often. Keep it. Never had one like this before.

The scabbard and karda/chakma combo makes for a great package and I'm very fond of the whole thing. The khuk fits in the scabbard perfectly and it seems very strong and well made. The karda was pretty sharp. The GRS could be sharper but it wasn't bad. The air in my house has been slashed to shreds today as I get to know this thing and the feel of it. The balance is very interesting on these and delicate, in a way. It makes a good sound slicing through the air. Cleaned it up a bit with some WD-40 and Q-tips, had what I'm guessing was some rouge in the decorative grooves near the spine, and of course my fingerprints all over. :rolleyes: Need some more supplies. Going to order some Ren Wax for the blade/leather and hooflex for the bone. As soon as I get the sharpening stuff I need I'm going to put a nice sharp convex edge on it and go chop some branches. I am convinced that after I do that for awhile I can really start getting to know it.

Guess thats about it for now. I've posted in here a couple of times before and lurked a bit but never really said hello and posted a lot so I thought this would be a good time. You guys have a good thing going here.

I do have one question, do certain kamis only make certain models? After liking this one so much I want the next one to be from Bura also. I have been considering the gelbu special for a lighter, longer blade (the 21" one) but I've never seen one listed in the UBBB's as made by Bura. Does he not make them?
Also, are the Tibetan swords double edged or single edged? I guess thats two questions. :D

Ryan
DrClckWrk
 
Greetings Earthling.
Welcome to the Cantina.


Some Kamis do make certain models- as Bura makes the Movie model. Not sure how that is between the Kamis. Other Kamis make Kobras- Sher, Kumar's brother does anyway, maybe they don't let it out of the family.\


munk
 
Hi, Ryan.

Welcome. Glad you like your new toy. I have one just like, bone handle and all. Bura, too.

A couple of works about bone. It's beautiful and elegant. The first time I chopped with it, a large triangular section of the bone broke out of the handle. Turns out the cavity inside was not sufficiently filled with laha (Nepalese epoxy), and was pretty much hollow. I took the handle completely apart, glued the pieces back together and filled the cavity (COMPLETELY) with epoxy. Lots of work, but fun.

Bottom line, if you tap the handle with a metal or wood object (screwdriver, other khuk) and it sounds hollow, it probably is and shouldn't be used as is. Others here have had the same experiences with bone. It's beautiful, but fragile.

That having been said, I'm convinced that with the work I've done on the reconstructed handle, it's good for years of chopping.

Just my opinion.

As ddean says, YYMV. Good luck.

Joe
 
Hey Ryan,

If you've lurked, you know what you may be in for.

Welcome, grab a chair, get used to the music, and don't mind the smoke. :)

Kamis make all models, but seem to favor some more than others. Random chance seems to be the guiding principal. Bura is the Master Kami, so you show good judgement, but don't rule out any of the others. The Quality Control at BirGhorka is such that you can count on much the same standard of excellence throughout the line.

Don't know that Bura chooses not to make 21 inchers....others may have more insight.

Think the sword is one-edged, but I allow myself to be wrong frequently...it keeps me humble. :rolleyes:

Hope you continue to enjoy the product, and the Cantina. Read the safety thread even if you are old and experienced and wise, please. Fingers are important appendages. :)



Kis
 
Welcome Ryan!

Kumar has become a favorite of mine, since my first HI Khukuri was by him, and I now have a pair of sirupatis by him (20" and 25")

I've missed out on a few GRS villagers by Bura. Hope to get one some day.

Again,

Welcome!

Tom
 
Bruise:

So he can put his feet on the other chair after he takes his shoes off. :eek:
 
If it seems the handle hasn't been completely filled with laha, you may want to loosen the buttplate or keeper so you can squeeze superglue into the handle. The regular cyanoacrylate runs into the cracks and thermally melts and rehardens with the laha. Then the gel form can plug the larger voids. I buy mine at the dollar stores, three small tubes to a package for a buck, and $5 to $10 buck's worth at a time.

I've gotten khuks for nearly half-price because of a handle crack, used the crack to run a couple tubes of regular superglue into the handle til filled, then fill the exterior of the crack most of the way with gel, when dry, use a Mark's-A-Lot permanent black marker to turn the glue black, and reapply glue thinly, dry, blacken, repeat, etc. Shave or sandpaper excess off, and it should be fixed for the rest of your lifetime.

You commented on the feel. Some khuks talk to you, not in words but in feelings when you pick them up. UB says the khuks find their rightful owner. If you put me on the stand and I'm sworn to tell the truth, I'd say it's a matter of ergonomics passed from illiterate fathers to their sons turned into an art form.

Off-the-record, magical is as about as good a description of what is, as any I've found. There's magic ( small m ) in these khuks.
 
Munk-
Thanks for the welcome and comments. I always enjoy your posts. I was thinking the same thing about the family connection. Also between Ganga Ram and Bura. Seems like Bura does a lot of GRS's.

Aardvark-
Thankyou for the info on the bone. I did do some reading on it so I knew about it breaking for some people. It just looks so nice! It is hard for me to tell by the sound whether it is hollow or not because I have to be quiet now but I'll check it out more thoroughly later. I'm sure I'd enjoy fixing it if it broke, though, so it is alright either way.

Kismet-
I'd be happy to have one from any of the Kami's. I didn't really choose Bura specifically to start with, it was just the opportunity that presented itself. I did read the safety thread carefully, thanks for mentioning it though, I can see how somebody could hurt themselves pretty quick with one of these if they were careless and uninformed. I'm not very old or experienced or wise although to people 23 and younger I am old but that is alright. Thanks for the welcome.

Gravertom-
Thanks for the welcome. I admire Kumar's work, too. His Kobras are very impressive.

Bri in Chi-
Thanks for the answer.

Josh Feltman-
Thanks for the welcome.

Thomas Linton-
Thanks for the chairs.

Bruise-
I thought you'd have 4 or 5 chairs by now :confused:

Rusty-
Thankyou for the good advice. I'm going to investigate the handle matter better when nobody is sleeping here and I can tap it louder.
As an art form at a high level or as magic, I'm think I'm lucky to have one of these. There is an element... if not magic, well I don't know what else I'd call it.

Uncle-
It is I who should thank you.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top