I'm getting my 1st HI Kukri, info wanted.

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kgriggs8

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It is The 15 inch 17 oz. villager BAS by Bura. Horn handle. Anything I should know about this? I am new to Kukris but thought something like the BAS would be a good first one since it is sort of a typical style.

Anyone know how the "villagers" compare to to the regular ones in terms of quality? I did a little looking and found that "Bura" is well known. Is this a good 1st Kukri to get my feet wet with?
 
The quality of villagers is as good or better than the regular ones. You will find threads speculating whether the final buffing of the 'regular' ones heats the edge too much. Jury is still out on it, or, as usual, it depends on the kami, and the hour of the day, etc.

I like villagers better, myself. Never worry about dulling the finish by chopping some seasoned wood. I know how to put the mirror finish back, but I never do.

GREAT first khuk, btw.

Read the safety thread, regardless of the khuk.

Welcome to the club. It's only downhill from here.
 
it's a great khukuri. Now get some Ballistol to keep the blade and the handle and the cardas and the water buffalo leather all nice.
 
I got the same for my first kuk as well from Christmas deal day #5. It's beutiful. I can't wait for Christmas so that I can play with it for real. Personally, I like the satin finish as well.

Merry Christmas,

Mark
 
Welocme:)

A BAS-like villager by Kumar was my first khuk a few years ago. I think it will serve you well as a lighter jack-of-trades khuk. However, and I hate to tell ya this, soon you'll find yourself wanting a longer, heavier one for chopping like an 18" AK, or a faster martial blade like a 20" Kobra, then you'll want to try out some of HI's other knives like the Sarge, the AK Bowie, and maybe a Trisul. It never ends;)

Once again, welcome...read the safety thread or you'll make fellow forumite Kismet sad.

Jake
 
Dont forget the JKMs and YCS kardas. Those are also great Christmas gifts and everyday carry tools.
 
kgriggs8 said:
It is The 15 inch 17 oz. villager BAS by Bura. Horn handle. Anything I should know about this?
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Well first of all Kgriggs, Welcome to the Cantina/Psycho Ward.:thumbup: :D
Any HI Khukuri you get is fine and well worth the money.
However a 15 inch 17 ounce khukuri is on the small and light side for really serious chopping, but then it also depends on how big and strong you are.
It will make a fine trail and camp knife though.

kgriggs8 said:
Anyone know how the "villagers" compare to to the regular ones in terms of quality?
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It doesn't matter whether standard line or village model HI's khukuris are all of equal quality.
The standard line is generally of museum quality in terms of fit and finish.
Doesn't mean that the villagers lacks on fit though, all are put together with equal care and if a person has the proper equipment they can take a villager to the standard line's level of finish.
The extra work and care in the final finish is what makes the difference in the price between the two lines.

I have my share of the standard line of HI Khukuris but I also have a load of the villagers as well, have given several away to friends and family.:thumbup:
Actually I love the villagers as it's easier to make the first cut with them.
There's a lot of folks here that think many, if not all of the standard line, are too pretty to use and especially the fancy ones.;)

You're gonna love your new HI and will think it's a big knife, but as you pick up a few more then you'll be acclimated and start thinking of most other knives as dinky.;) :p :D
 
I thought 15" was big as it is the same size as my Cold Steel Trailmaster. I am plenty big and and strong enough to handle a larger Kukri but I had to take what I could get. Like I said, it took me about two months to score ANY HI special and when I saw what I considered to be the standard Kukri, I thought it would be a good one to start with.
 
kgriggs?

You will be DELIGHTED.

(Keep in mind that these guys have thousands of HI khuks lying around the house, in the bathroom, glove compartment, kitchen cabinets, etc...so they have a tendency to think a 15inch knife is on the small end.)

You did good. I prefer villagers, generally speaking. Enjoy it, play with it, read the damned safety thread for my piece of mind please, and then consider any additional uses you might want to use such a blade for that the BAS doesn't perform to the level you want.

Dan Koster's "dynamics" post, showing the blade angles and such stuff can give you an idea, but nothing like the handling of your first khuk.

Nice work. Merry Christmas.
 
dang. this thread made and went me weep and seek out the HI webpage.

dammit :)

what are these specials i see referred to in hints and bits in posts?

i wonder how one of the HI goodies will compare to a reinhardt kukri... i see a few of those floating around for sale as well.

back to the kukri porn :}

bladite
 
I too had a trailmaster. Well, I still do actually...somewhere. It was my first "real" knife, ya know the kind you can only get if you spend over 100 dollars:rolleyes: I liked it, but once i tried my first HI, i never again used for anything other than taking up space in my trunk o' knives. The trailmaster is a great knife. a real brute of a bowie...well it was until I got my AK bowie;) Somehow that 5/16" width spine doesn't quite hold a candle to the 3/8"+ spine of the AKB.

"what are these specials i see referred to in hints and bits in posts?"-- Bladite

DOTD (Deals of the day) are specials that Yangdu (the runner of this here ship) puts up a few special items usually 2 or 3 times a week in the early to mid afternoon. They are either blems with cosmetic imperfections like a little bit or rust or a handle that has cracked a tiny bit. Nothing that actually hinders the knife, nor its lifetime warranty. Also, some one-of-a-kind type things show up. Stuff that you can't find on the website. Usually you can get a khuk for about 20-50% off:eek: You gotta be quick though...the "sharks" like to snap them up as quick as she puts them up for sale (myself included in that group;)).
Welcome! And good luck! Yangdu is taking a well deserved vacation until the 29th or so. So no deals for awhile. However, that probably means that she'll put up some AWESOME deals when she gets back. That wonderful lady takes care of us;)

Jake
 
kgriggs8 said:
I thought 15" was big as it is the same size as my Cold Steel Trailmaster. I am plenty big and and strong enough to handle a larger Kukri but I had to take what I could get.
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Kgriggs8, khukuris gives one a whole new perspective as to what big and little "is";) no reference to past president Clinton.:D :o
When I first came here I also thought my CS Trailmaster was a big knife and I absolutely loved my CS LTC Khukuri, now I just think of it as a bent machete.;)
 
Yvsa said:
Kgriggs8, khukuris gives one a whole new perspective as to what big and little "is";) no reference to past president Clinton.:D :o
When I first came here I also thought my CS Trailmaster was a big knife and I absolutely loved my CS LTC Khukuri, now I just think of it as a bent machete.;)
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LOL!!! Yvsa you crazy. :D :D :D

Edited. Enjoy your first purchase. You WILL be happy with it. Go ahead and make room in the back of your closet for your other knives. My first was a Chiruwa AK at 16.5" by Kumar (my favorite, hope you're getting better Kumar, smoke). When I got it I thought, "Now THAT's a knife!" Then I got an 18" GRS by Bura. He makes a wonderful piece too. GET AN 18" KHUK!!!! After I got my first one I went around my house chopping everything I could think of. My trees are trimmed extra high this year. I just got a 20.5" Jange by Bura. It's so light and fast, and the blade rings when you steel it. SWEET. Look around and make yourself at home. There are guys here who can answer any tech questions you may have. Study the convex edge, and get a strop and some compounds while you wait. MERRY CHRISTMAS.
 
aproy1101 said:
LOL!!! Yvsa you crazy. :D :D :D
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NDN? Was that what you were gonna say? Guilty as charged Andy.:D ;) If I were a Lakota Sioux instead of Cherokee, Osage, and possible Creek some folks would have called me a Heyoka. I am indeed a thunder dreamer and dayumed glad I'm not Lakota Sioux.;) :D :cool:

You can probably Google "Heyoka" if you're not familiar with the term.:p ;)
 
Excellent replys, thanks. I read the safety thread and it makes sense. I have used machetes and axes often so most of it just makes sense. I can't wait to try it out. I'll be sure to let everyone here know what my results are after giving it a few chores to do. I am planning on a learning curve since it is quite different than a machete or ax so I will have to give it some time.
 
Honestly wasn't thinking that. I was doing a southern black mammmy accent in my own head at the moment, but I like that you called me out!!!:p I get along best with people with a personality so I do appreciate it. ;)

OT. I love Christmas and havin fun even though I'm sore as hell and cant hardly turn my head to the left at all. The muscle relaxers my doc prescribed are helpin with that though I'd bet:D .
 
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