For those who own one: handle preference for M-43?

FSCJedi said:
Do you have a pic or a link to the thread where it was listed? I like the sounds of that. All the "villager" finish means is that everything isn't polished, right? I don't want rough joining seams around the grip or anything.
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The 18" UBE that I pictured above would be considered a villager because the blade is satin finish rather than polished. Some people prefer the villager to a polished finish. They are not less expensive or in any way imperfect for being called "villager" -- it's just HI terminology.

There is another type of HI knife sometimes called "ugly villager" that is a lot cheaper and less finished; for example, the forging scales are left on. Most of those are the KLVUK model (Keshar Lal Utility Knife), originally made by Keshar Lal kami (he probably still makes most of them). I don't have a KLVUK, but I have an Ugly Villager by Arjun kami, which I believe was the precursor to the KLVUK:

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This is 16" OAL and 23 oz. It is sturdy, well-balanced and has one of the most comfortable handles of any HI knife I've held. Worth every penny of the $45 that Yangdu listed it for. Mine is #15 in the photo. Satisaal handle and brass fittings.
 
FSCJedi said:
Do you have a pic or a link to the thread where it was listed? I like the sounds of that. All the "villager" finish means is that everything isn't polished, right? I don't want rough joining seams around the grip or anything.
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Hey FSCJedi: I'm not set up to upload a new photo right now but it is the M-43 (middle one) from this recent DOD.
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It's just not shiny (but no other HI kukris with which to compare) but nicely finished on the handle. No issues or blems or rough edges.
 
Actually, the wood vs. horn dilemma is a matter of preference.
I've seen both shrink and both crack in about the same manner.
If either are polished the same, they feel about the same in terms of grippiness.
The only real difference between the two is that wood requires a bit more hydration and maintenance.
 
Hope this isn't OT, but what is a villager fit?

I'm looking to buy my first kukri and I like the idea of a villager finish (satin) but can't find any information on what villager fit refers too.
 
Welcome guruguru! Your right about the satin finish. They are the same in structural quality (fit) as the polished. Some still have the forging scale and they are referred to as villager finish as well but they are obvious in the pics because they are black.

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Villager with satin finish

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Villager with forging scale.
 
Thanks and thanks, ndoghouse. Is your villager with scale a KLVUK? Been reading and a KLVUK looks ideal for a first purchase.
 
a klvuk is ideal first purchase, and there is black scale on them as a rule, easy to keep or remove-- glad you have decided to go ahead and pull the trigger guruguru, you may just email auntie and ask if she has one for you?
 
That one is a Chiruwa Ang Khola about 16". It comes with the Karda, Chakma and sheath. The KLVUK is similar but is usually a bit lighter and the edge geometry is more suited for general purpose tasks where the CAK is pretty much a dedicated chopper. The CAK can be used for general purpose as well but it was born to chop. General purpose meaning stripping bark ,carving, slicing, and other task that are easier with a thinner edge. KLVUK is a great first blade. It does not have a sheath though but the price reflects that. There are people here on this forum that can make you one if you desire for very reasonable rates.

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Heres one of my KLVUKs. You might notice the edge is a bit more acute than the AK. They are still great choppers and make perfect packing knives for that reason. Excellent all around blade for sure!
 
They used to have those for the Kami medical relief fund but they are out of them now from what i hear.
 
There was one listed back in Oct 2014 that came with a sheath for $95.

I'll take the advice above and just email Auntie Yangdu directly to see if she has any KLVUK on hand.

ndoghouse- you picked up a village CAK with scale? Seems like a rare combination, nice find.
 
I'd love to see more khukuri with scales to be honest, I use my blades in the woods anyways, so I wouldn't have to worry about buggering up those perty mirror polishes.
 
guruguru said:
There was one listed back in Oct 2014 that came with a sheath for $95.

I'll take the advice above and just email Auntie Yangdu directly to see if she has any KLVUK on hand.

ndoghouse- you picked up a village CAK with scale? Seems like a rare combination, nice find.
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Yes it is made by Kumar when he first came back to HI. I snagged it up without a second thought. They are kinda rare. I see the satin ones quite often but the scale version is not so common.

Now these M43's here are really highly spoken of for general use. Many prefer them over everything as a go to blade. I dont have one but that might be a consideration as well? She may even have them stocked right now. Dont know? We havent seen KLVUKS lately but she may have some of them stashed too. The M43's dont have the ring on the handle so for the person that is bothered by that may find it a wise choice.
 
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Day late and a dollar short, but I haven't noticed much, if any, difference between my horn handled and wood handled khukuri.
 
I am still chuckling about Jake's "I am a very lazy man" comment.
I have both horn and wood, both in HI's and Filipino/Indo blades. I also have a woodstove for primart heat-so I prefer wood, but I've never had an HI handle go funny on me. The older stuff requires more care-I have a golok that's about 15 years old and that horn has gotten a little flaky (but that golok has has some serious abuse as well). You can make both work, to me wood is easier to "rescue" if it gets really dry because it sucks up the oil faster-horn tales a couple days as it's not so porous, so that can take the knife off "active duty" for a day or so as it soaks in.
 
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Where do you get your Filipino blades from? If it's not OK to post here - although I don't think there's direct competition between these and HI's - let's move to the Cantina.

I have an enep high on my list, but I was thinking about a golok, too. And in all cases, I'd go as ~traditional~ as possible.
 
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