Grail Khuk, piece of HI History

pugs75

pugs75

Joined
Oct 21, 2009
Messages
1,977
Hey all,
Wanted to share with some good fortune with you. A few weeks ago I had the opportunity of a lifetime to pick this gem up. I had done some business a few weeks back with a gentleman who reached out to me and asked if I was interested in this khuk. It was a very early YCS special, it was made in early 2000 and I believe it was one of the first ones, it is made by Sanu who worked with Bura. You can see it in his work that the two kami's were very much alike. The scabbard as you see is lightly carved and the craftsmenship is amazing, the khuk feels alive in your hand and the balance is perfect, the two Karda's are very well done and very sharp and the awl is perfect. I still cant believe I actually got it. This one has will be on display for sure. My pics are not the best but will do for now, hope you all like em.




Sanu's mark was a cross,


 
very nice, I would have laid a dollar on that if given the chance-- I am lucky enough to have a YCS from a year earlier, slightly less fancy but sanu made mine as well if his mark was a cross? i think he was sher's brother
 
That's breathtaking. The photo's you sent earlier didn't show the blade, that's wicked cool. Almost Foxy Follyish in some respects. Drop dead gorgeous work for sure. Is it a sin to covet thy brothers blades?
 
Thanks guys it is a beauty for sure.

Gehazi, it could be from that year as well, but I have to keep researching to be sure.
 
Beautiful. I find it interesting that it has a pair of karda and no chakmak though... But yes, Bawanna coveting thy brother's blade should be a sin. Instead we SHOULD feel happy for pugs' new acquisition. Yet even as I say that I feel kinda sinful about that blade LOL.
 
that awl functions as the chakma, its edges are smooth and very suitable , the two skinning knives are absolutely top notch, and yeah pugs I would almost bet is from the same year-- yours has a great patina , but looks like it was never used, the color on the (grip) inlays is great



among the others
 
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Thats an amazing blade Pugs! That much fine craftsmanship deserves to be in another fine craftsmans hands! I'd say that khuk found its rightful home! Wonderful find and congrats!
 
Wow, I thought you were campaigning for me right up until that last sentence. You called me a craftsman once. I printed the message and framed it. Duct taped it on my man cave wall. Ego? Not used to that. Given more thought on the matter I agree with you and think Pugs had this one a coming. I'm no longer jealous although I'd give up an eye tooth to hold that thing for a minute or five.
 
I think we should have a party at Gehazi's. Too dangerous at Kronkews and Gehazi looks like he's got plenty for everyone to play with for a long evening.
 
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Bawanna said:
Wow, I thought you were campaigning for me right up until that last sentence. You called me a craftsman once. I printed the message and framed it. Duct taped it on my man cave wall. Ego? Not used to that. Given more thought on the matter I agree with you and think Pugs had this one a coming. I'm no longer jealous although I'd give up an eye tooth to hold that thing for a minute or five.
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Well you would definitely fit the bill for fine craftsman as well! I hope you checkered that frame maybe with some skip line! That blade does wreak of Foxy Folly! I just love the way them fullers all come together in a tear drop near the cho. That must be very hard to do:thumbup:
 
The only problem I can see is that it crosses the line from tool to art. I would be reluctant to chop anything with something that beautiful. Do you want to sell it?
 
arbytwo said:
The only problem I can see is that it crosses the line from tool to art. I would be reluctant to chop anything with something that beautiful. Do you want to sell it?
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If that attempt doesn't go through, I'm next in line :D
Can't blame me for trying. I hope.

Seriously nice blade and handle.
Had seen the ying yang pattern once before. Maybe HI homepage or some old threat and was wishing HI would make more of them :)
 
First Ganga Ram had Ying Yang i believe. See store catalog pic.
http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-7333098713883_2256_1075134
I think Berkley has that one. I may be mistaken... He has everything else:thumbup: Well cept this YCS.

Jens Schuetz said:
If that attempt doesn't go through, I'm next in line :D
Can't blame me for trying. I hope.

Seriously nice blade and handle.
Had seen the ying yang pattern once before. Maybe HI homepage or some old threat and was wishing HI would make more of them :)
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Thanks everyone, I can say that it certainly found me for sure, and rest assured it will never be a user, only a shelf queen. I could not bring myself to do it, plus I have plenty of users anyho. And as for getting rid of it lol, not a chance, but hey ya gotta try fellas.
 
Here's some more history about the YCS, from 2000.
(Sorry to say the pictures didn't survive.)


Wooden model with specs from Yvsa:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/147361-Yvsa-here-s-the-pix-You-post-the-specs-and-story

First one arrives in Reno.
Uncle Bill takes pre-orders, priced at $250 (way back in 2000):
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/147594-The-Yvsa-Special-is-here-and-SPECIAL-it-is!-Pix-and-sign-up-time

Yvsa gets delivery.
"OH MY GAWD It Is Beautiful."
He takes it out back and chops 4" dia. seasoned elm.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/147610-Okay!!!-I-am-going-to-Stop

More detailed review from Yvsa:

"The pix doesn't convey all the nuances that this khukuri and its tools has!
This is absolutely the most beautiful khukuri I have ever seen!

The blade spine is almost 3/8" measuring 0.370" and distal tapers from the Sword of Shiva to 0.215 which is almost 7/32" at the edge bevel!!! The edge bevel tapers from 1/4" at the bolster to about 5/32" or 0.150" one inch below the tip. The best that I can measure the top fuller is about 1/8" thick and the bottom one is about 0.100 or almost 1/32" thinner than the top one.
That is Absolutely ASTOUNDING!!! Sanu had absolute perfect control when he forged & ground this blade!!!

The blade was sharp with a burr that needed honed off, but before I did that I took it out back and chopped a piece of _Seasoned Elm_ that ran from about 4"dia to 3" dia. I cut it in two with 12 chops at the large end. The only downfall is its almost hollow ground edge which likes to hang up in the seasoned wet wood.

I have a feeling it will work much better on standing wood and will let y'all know when I can about that.
With its dimensions it IS NOT a sharpened pry bar.
And remember this khukuri only weighs 1lb.6oz.!!!!! I believe it done very well for as light as it is!!!!
It wasn't designed to do the work an AK excels at and I think anyone getting this model needs to be aware of that.
And Not Use twisting while chopping movements especially if its blade is overly hardened due to its thinner than normal edge..
Further _careful testing_ will let us
know.
The YCS and my 1943 WW II model are almost the same thickness about 1/2" from the edge, however the WW II model is easily filed while the YCS is not easily filed and there may be a hardness, toughness issue here.

This khukuri is Very Much like the older ones I have seen and handled!
In comparison to my WW II 1943 model the YCS is actually a bit lighter!! The YCS comes in just a bit below 1½ Lbs and the WW II comes in a tad over. That fits in with what Uncle Bill got when he weighed it at 1Lb. 6oz.

The blade on the Khukuri is very nicely hardened at about 59-60 Rc in the extra Long Sweet Spot!!! It is harder further toward the tip than usual.
And is harder than usual, about 57 Rc in the areas that are usually around 55-56 Rc.

The biggest karda in the group is 8 1/8" oal with a 5" blade almost 1 1/8" wide.The karda has a "drop" of 1 3/8" inch.
The small karda which takes the place of the chakma is 7 1/4" oal and has a "drop" of 1 5/16" inches with a 3 7/8" blade 1" wide.
Both blades are nicely recurved and have a high bevel and are distally tapered. They have a sorta flat, almost hollow ground bevel that makes sharpening to a really sharp edge possible and they are both Much Harder than normal. I would guess around 60 Rc.

The handles on both are so close to the same size it doesn't matter which one you pick up to do a certain chore, the length of the blade will determine that more than anything else. I designed the handles so that when you hold it the pinky finger closes into the palm just behind the handle and by doing so it makes the knife safer when a stabbing or entrance cut is made. I really like the "feel" but after all I made them comfortable
for me.
I believe that the YCS would make an ideal deer hunters rig because it has everything anyone will need to dress any deer out completely! Beats carrying a hatchet along for splitting the pelvic bone!

The full tang, three cornered punch speaks volumes for the kami's skill in forgeing. It comes to a needle sharp point and is perhaps 54 Rc which is very good for this kind of tool. It will punch holes in cloth that will prevent tearing.

The Frog is the Best I have seen to this date!!!! It is cut from ONE Piece of hide and folded over and extends to the bottom of itself and double sewn!!!

Uncle Bill has described the scabbard as it is and it is also one of the best ones I have seen to date.

The YCS and her tool's are 98% of the model and the minor differences are small.
All in all I am going to rate this as a 12 out of 10 rig!!

-- Yvsa, 11-09-2000

www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/157075-The-YCS-and-her-tool-s-edited
 
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