HI Bowie or UB Especiale?

T

Taliesan

Joined
Oct 9, 2001
Messages
30
I am trying to decide whether to get the HI Bowie. Has anyone out there tried one or Uncle Bill's Especiale? If so, what do you think of it?
 
In your other thread, I said I now preferred Khuks over Bowies. The UBE just might be thought of as a blend - A very (spelled VERY) heavy, deeply re-curved Bowie, or a slghtly straightened Khukuri. As Khukuris go, it is medium-heavy. As Bowies go, it is one great big honkin' knife, and one that is hard to put down.
 
Taliesan, give up. It's like watching a virgin walk into the Mustang ranch for the first time. Sure, he's gonna pick one and take her back for fun and games. And afterwards he's going to go nuts deciding which one for the second time. And wondering which of the other 10 girls he'll try his next visit. And the answer is they're all different! Yee HAAAAAWWW!!!
 
Taliesan, I wholeheartedly recommend the UBE, but I am prejudiced, cause mine has a special spirit that speaks to me. I also have the Bowie, but it is so pretty, I haven't had the heart to really use her. Voluptuous and bloodthirsty, and wonderful to hold in your hand.

The UBE is a great all-around knife (actually magic--but I'll let you find out for yourself). Might seem a little big to you at first, until you get a GRS or a 20" AK.
 
There's nothing like the H.I.AK Bowie anywheres else, but you can do more work with a UBE in my opinion. Haven't done a test between them but baseing it on experience.:)
Last but not least just because of the added length the UBE has.
The only drawback to the UBE AFIAC is the overly large grip on the overly large handle, but the wood can be easily worked down to fit an individual's taste.:)

My Bro Finn likes the UBE handle just as it is, but then he's studied the old swords for a long time and has a different perspective on the large handle than I do. There's a theory(?)fact(?) about the large grips he knows about, but that I can never remember, but the large grip actually works better in some instances according to this theory or fact.
I'll try to give him a heads up to this thread and see if he can break loose from what he's doing an 'splain it to us yet again.;)
 
YVSA,

I am sure that the overly large handle makes it easier to handle torque and vibration. But, it takes some getting use to.

n2s
 
Originally posted by not2sharp
YVSA,

I am sure that the overly large handle makes it easier to handle torque and vibration. But, it takes some getting use to.

n2s
Click to expand...

Thanks N2S.:)
As I said, "I should have clarified..." My bad.:(
My opinion has been on the 1st impression of the UBEs I have got to handle a bit and not on a good basis for an opinion as I haven't tried one out as yet.
I usually don't do that....:o
And that's why I said my Bro Finn likes his just as it is.:)
When I 1st got mine I thought that I might modify the handle before I tried it based on past experience with the GRS and the Super Salyan but due to Finn's influence and expertise that I value highly I have decided to wait until I do actually get to try it out on some good chopping material.
It is a Big Honkin Handle though.:)

But the first thing I have to do before all else is to get the H.I.Southwestern Bowie model finished!!!!!!!
But guys I just really haven't felt like it physically.
I know, I know, y'all keep hearing that, but it is a fact that I do have an auto immune disease that's a form of rheumatoid arthritis that literally plays all holy hell with my body. Nothing is going to change that.
And it has been doing it again.
And I didn't really want to bring it up again as I am as tired of it as y'all are of hearing about my medical problems.
( I was taking extra medication during the khukuri khonvention so I could do what little I did as I didn't want anyone to know and I thought everything would be alright in a few days.)
The fact is I have gained right at 20 pounds since, what? a little over 2 weeks ago now?
It's from retention of fluid, mostly in my lower legs, and I have talked to my doc about it.
The nurse told me to go up another 20 milligrams on my medicine (Lasix) and I went up 40. (Along with the Potassium Harry, don't worry.)
The swelling has just barely abated (and it may have been over 20 pounds that I had actually gained to begin with.).
I will call the doc again in a couple of days and he will probably want to see me as well as chew my arse out for going on 20 more mgs of Lasix than what he said.
But that will prove a point to him as I damn near had to beg to be put on a diuretic to begin with some time back!!!!
And there's more to it than just this, but I just don't wanna talk about it anymore.
This confession has been bad enough.:mad:

If I can't get back to the model soon I will ask T-Bone if he will help me out on it.
T-Bone is as good or better than me anyway.
All it needs is the guard and handle made and fitted onto the blade.
It thouroughly pisses me off that I haven't been able to uphold my word and my end of getting this done. I know a lot of y'all are anxious about getting it as am I.
I really think this is gonna be one helluva Bowie Knife!!!!

For some reason I feel a little better after making my confession.
I guess it is good for the soul.:)
 
It says in the description of the Malla khukri that "the spine is flat (rather than in the traditional "V")like our logo khukuri." Can anyone tell me what that means? I was trying to think of what might be called the spine on my old Sirupati, but I cannot think of anything V-shaped on it that doesn't look V-shaped in the picture of the Malla. Also, Any general opinions about the Malla?
 
Taliesan:
It means the back edge of the blade. Most khukuris have an inverted V, as in " ^ ", shape along the top side rather than a flat or curved shape.
A flat edge on the spine of any knife makes it less user friendly than does the inverted ^ or a radius as the corners on a flat edge can dig into the hands when using the knife as a draw knife or the like.
 
Boy, Rusty is in rare form tonight!:D I think he's improving with age... or is it fermenting with age?;)

Yvsa, stay healthy, bro (or is it "uncle", you're older than me). Hope everything gets better soon, and I think I can speak for the others and say the bowie project can wait.

Taliesan: I have a Malla by Kumar(not with HI anymore) and it is really nice. I haven't used it, but I think it would be a good general purpose user, though it's really more designed to be a weapon IMO. It's a medium to light-weight khuk, and should be a good chopper and ok at brush clearing and the like. You'd probably like one, but then again they're all nice. :D
 
Matt, me boyo, you just ain't gonna believe this.

A couple hours ago I was explaining the gnosis of the desert fathers and acceptance of mysticism's noetic component as a true validation of the infinite cherishing, caring, and healing of our souls by the Other.

And the gal I'm explaining it to is going "WOW, I ask God for an answer and you're telling me he's already answered me!"

( I may have mentioned in the past that I'm an ordained deacon and elder and 3 time past congregation president. )

But then it didn't hurt a bit that she's a slender, 5'4" 29 year old blue-eyed blonde who's quite attractive, either.;)

And always remember that with me the taller the story sounds, the closer it usually comes to being God's own truth.
 
Greetings Bro Yvsa, Uncle, Wal, Rusty, et al

Finally coming up for air. Yes, I have been up to "something" - back to school for a real estate license, music projects, and dealing with the prospect of World War III.

Hang in there Bro, and keep eating as much ginseng as you can hold!

Taliesin,

My Bro Yvsa is right (not for the first time), the UBE will out-perform the bowie in just about every category, most things being generally equal - length, maximum width, thickness, edge shape and hardening of blade, handle diameter and length. I have had a number of large sized bowies and saxes (the bowies great grandad). Now I'm down to two - a fine HI bowie/bhuj made by Sanu having a 3/8 x 2.5 x 10 inch beautifully done distally tapered blade, and a Randall Smithsonian, which has a 3/8 X 2.5 X 11.5 inch blade. They are time-tested great all-around knives but - the UBE has all the design characteristics that make a SUPERIOR all-around knife. "If there can be only One"............ The UBE will do any work you might expect from a bowie, and do it better due the the weight distribution and recurve of the blade/edge. That includes thrusting. The French Army liked this pattern so much that it was adopted as a bayonet/short sword for over seventy years back in the 19th century (see Burton's "Book of the Sword"). Try using the ole bowie as a draw knife, especially the ones with a double edged point area. Speaking of points, I will sing the praises of the Americanized reinforced tanto point all day. I wouldn't mind seeing one of these on a UBE or GS.

Regarding the "large" handle, the pressure and reverse energy flow during use is distributed to the hand over a wider area. Also, the greater diameter allows easier use of two hands without making the handle greatly longer.

I sincerely hope this has made at least some sense.
 
Well, I decided to go with a plain YCS this time, although the UBE was very tempting. As for a bowie, I think I'll be patient and wait however long it takes for my wife to get over the bill for the khukri. Probably best anyway to wait for Yvsa to finish, at whatever pace he chooses, designing the Southwestern Bowie. May God grant him the health.

Thanks for all the kind advice.
 
And if He can't grant bro Yvsa the health bit, at least give him a little bit of orneriness and a dab of cantankerousness to get it done in spite of it all!;)
 
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