I guess I have the flu. Who knows, and what's that mean, anyway? It's not going away very quickly, either. For once, I got sick in a timely manner. Usually, any illness peaks while my small sons are also very ill. I get to puke in the toilet and change a diaper afterwards. Or vice versa. This time it peaked while my wife was at home. She got to take care of children and clean the house. I watched Shirley Temple movies on TV. The sofa was my friend, and an old Swiss army blanket; good old 1965. It says that in blue. When you're sick enough to go down and stay down, you're at the mercy of whatever is on TV. Luck of the draw. With a high fever, it gets interesting, as you weave in and out of consciousness, accompanied by 60's reruns and old movies. I don't know about you, but old movies are my sick medicine, especially the black and whites. Getting sick is a spiritual journey for me. I use the time to heal my spirit as well as body.
The thought crossed my mind I could have the same flu Rusty had. Maybe I got it off the envelope his wife sent recently with his picture. There are some real strange munk thoughts about that I'm sure you don't want to hear. Most likely I caught it from my wife and baby son. Lord knows I've his snot all over my clothes. He's ran a river for days and isn't shy about wiping on my shirt when I hold him. Dad's the source of all goodness and understanding; and here's a little snot for you too.
This weekend I learned there was a box waiting in the Post Office, but I was too weak to get it. Good news travels fast here. "A Package? You got a package?"
It turned out to be a 16.25" WWll Khukuri with 'silver' metal fittings. I've kinda been expecting if for a long time, but for various and sundry strange reasons never arrived. It is a gift from an old friend here. It couldn't have come at a better time, and I think you know how that line finishes- they find their owners. This is horn handled and a beautiful fit too. The spine is 1/2" across. It has a non Habaki bolster.
Who made it? There are Nepali flags on it, and if they are true to what mPisi indicated in the webpage article on Kami marks it is a Kesar. Looks like a Kesar to me. The other Kesar I have, has the flags totally on the wrong side and facing the wrong way; so maybe it's a Murali. Trouble is, none of the marks shown by mPisi in the article match that chitlangi sold to me by Bill so long ago as a Kesar. This is why the entire symbol thing drove Uncle Bill crazy. They swapped them around and changed the orientation.
I even have doubts the Kamis would be 100% certain who made what of the pre-initialed stuff if they had a chance to handle them. Except for maybe Bura.
This WWll khuks weighs 30 oz. I know; THIRTY. Once upon a time Raghorn scored a 28ish oz 16" WWll. How I envied him. Like a darn Chiruwa AK in weight. We laughed together over that one. This blade is 11" long, and the handle over 4.5" just in the horn, not including the bolster.
So we have an ample handle, and a relatively short, stocky blade. Does is cut? Like a Banshee wails. I've said many times that true chopping begins at 16" with the Chiruwa AK. I have not believed in the 16.5" WWll. It was Rusty's favorite, but the leverage gained in the 18" has got to be substancial. The 15" AK's I've handled are only at the fringe of real chopping. I figured ditto for the 16" WWll's. Never owned one until now. I don't suppose I really own one. This thing is a mutant.
The Serviceberry branches dry real hard. Even the best of khuks have trouble with them. This little fiend bores through. I was very surprised. A huge part of the reason is the blade profile; for it tapers radically from the thick spine into a relatively slender edge. All of these factors; weight, edge shape/geometry, and length must be balanced. A thin edged 18" WWll or AK of similar weight to this stocky fellow would probably stick in timber. This one sticks only a little. Its weight to edge profile has been balanced, perhaps the Kamis intention. We know every blade is unique.
So, I've got Rusty's flu and the first sample of the blade he loved so much.
I've also got a very special gift from a dear friend, a Keeper, both of them, blade and man. The khuk took its time in coming but showed up at the right hour.
First thing Carter said when he lifted it, "Bet this cuts through a Cougar."
Yes. Bet it does.
munk
The thought crossed my mind I could have the same flu Rusty had. Maybe I got it off the envelope his wife sent recently with his picture. There are some real strange munk thoughts about that I'm sure you don't want to hear. Most likely I caught it from my wife and baby son. Lord knows I've his snot all over my clothes. He's ran a river for days and isn't shy about wiping on my shirt when I hold him. Dad's the source of all goodness and understanding; and here's a little snot for you too.
This weekend I learned there was a box waiting in the Post Office, but I was too weak to get it. Good news travels fast here. "A Package? You got a package?"
It turned out to be a 16.25" WWll Khukuri with 'silver' metal fittings. I've kinda been expecting if for a long time, but for various and sundry strange reasons never arrived. It is a gift from an old friend here. It couldn't have come at a better time, and I think you know how that line finishes- they find their owners. This is horn handled and a beautiful fit too. The spine is 1/2" across. It has a non Habaki bolster.
Who made it? There are Nepali flags on it, and if they are true to what mPisi indicated in the webpage article on Kami marks it is a Kesar. Looks like a Kesar to me. The other Kesar I have, has the flags totally on the wrong side and facing the wrong way; so maybe it's a Murali. Trouble is, none of the marks shown by mPisi in the article match that chitlangi sold to me by Bill so long ago as a Kesar. This is why the entire symbol thing drove Uncle Bill crazy. They swapped them around and changed the orientation.
I even have doubts the Kamis would be 100% certain who made what of the pre-initialed stuff if they had a chance to handle them. Except for maybe Bura.
This WWll khuks weighs 30 oz. I know; THIRTY. Once upon a time Raghorn scored a 28ish oz 16" WWll. How I envied him. Like a darn Chiruwa AK in weight. We laughed together over that one. This blade is 11" long, and the handle over 4.5" just in the horn, not including the bolster.
So we have an ample handle, and a relatively short, stocky blade. Does is cut? Like a Banshee wails. I've said many times that true chopping begins at 16" with the Chiruwa AK. I have not believed in the 16.5" WWll. It was Rusty's favorite, but the leverage gained in the 18" has got to be substancial. The 15" AK's I've handled are only at the fringe of real chopping. I figured ditto for the 16" WWll's. Never owned one until now. I don't suppose I really own one. This thing is a mutant.
The Serviceberry branches dry real hard. Even the best of khuks have trouble with them. This little fiend bores through. I was very surprised. A huge part of the reason is the blade profile; for it tapers radically from the thick spine into a relatively slender edge. All of these factors; weight, edge shape/geometry, and length must be balanced. A thin edged 18" WWll or AK of similar weight to this stocky fellow would probably stick in timber. This one sticks only a little. Its weight to edge profile has been balanced, perhaps the Kamis intention. We know every blade is unique.
So, I've got Rusty's flu and the first sample of the blade he loved so much.
I've also got a very special gift from a dear friend, a Keeper, both of them, blade and man. The khuk took its time in coming but showed up at the right hour.
First thing Carter said when he lifted it, "Bet this cuts through a Cougar."
Yes. Bet it does.
munk
Take care, Munk.
