Hello all! Just arrived back home in Hawaii for the 2000 holidays (I forgot my video camera in Japan!!!), and what do I find? All the knives Uncle Bill was keeping for me, in three separate boxes, padded with pages of the Wall Street Journal.The Village Sirupati 20 inch is just like I thought it would be. Nice and light. It didn't feel sharp, but it shaved hair, severed sugar cane stalks cleanly and split 2x4s without any damage or wear. It even handled ricochets into concrete with just minor impacting, less than one mm long. I did more damage to the finish with my diamond sharpener trying to smooth the edge. The sheath is very tight. I hope I never need the blade in a hurry. That superfrog sheath looks great!The AK 15 blem had a great blade, with just some pitting. No problem. The handle had some hairline cracks that did not seem to affect performance at all, even splitting 2x4 wood and missing into concrete. The edge did impact in a couple of places, but were easily smoothed out. Trying to clean the oil off the blade with dish soap and scotch brite was a mistake.Anyone know how to restore a mirror finish by hand?The AK 20 inch was artwork. The wood handle with brass scrollwork was perfect. It was much bigger than I thought it would be. I can't control the bottom of the swing with one arm. It can still cut cane well, shattering the stalk into bits when not slicing. Cutting lumber requires no muscle at all. Trying it after my smaller blades was a joke. It sticks in wood or splits short 2x4s, burying the tip into the ground under gravity alone. There was no damage from impacting the concrete. Maybe it's harder than the villager.It's a monster. I can barely keep a grip on the handle. The other khukuri handles are almost too small for my hands. It feels heavier than three or four pounds in action. I'm fine using a two-handed swing. I see no reason why an AK 20 to the head would not be able to stop that hypothetical bear attack.I also got a BAS Villager ordered way back. I didn't try it out because I'll give it to a friend who's been taking care of some other knives for me while I've been away. It feels like a great fighter. At first I thought it was a 15 inch Sirupati.The kagas katnes were interesting. There was some variety in the shapes, sheaths and handles. A couple even have that black/grey marbled look. They are just miniatures of the same look and quality as the full-sized. I was trying to mix and match the best knives with the best sheaths, but couldn't do it. It looks like each sheath is individually made for each knife. I've already given one away as a gift (letter opener), and I'm trying to figure out a practical use for the others. Fishing? Small game? Maybe they'll take apart cardboard boxes if sharpened. They're not for chopping. My wrist was undamaged.The Kumar karda, I am sorry to say, was not what I expected. It looks as nice as the photo that inspired me, and the wood handle is extremely well finished. However, the blade was not sharpened, the tip is quite rounded, and I will have to try it grinding it myself by hand. I doubt it was meant as a classy letter opener, Uncle Bill. I'm still envious that new khukuris will receive this design karda as standard.I must not be using my chakmas correctly. They don't bite into the blade edge, just sliding around but get scratched themselves. My diamond rod smoothed off one curled karda tip with just a couple of strokes.Great work, Uncle Bill and the people of HI! Happy Holidays to all.Eric TakabayashiKauai, Hawaii
[This message has been edited by E (edited 25 December 1999).]
[This message has been edited by E (edited 25 December 1999).]
