Introducing myself & pics of HI khuks - some old, some new

Now that I think about it...


Hey Sta94, looks like your M43 has a nice long handle on it.

IMG_4045.jpg


Looks great to me!

The only M43 I have any experience with is the one I bought my brother for xmas a few years ago. I really like the overall design but the handle feels a bit "stubby" to me.

My brother's M43 compared to my 21.5" Chitlangi, both made by Sher:
HPIM0770.jpg


Does anyone know if the shorter handle is a later development or was it just the way Sher made this one?

Because if the longer handle is the way most M43's are made, I'm definitely in for buying one. :cool:
 
He might have smaller hands, too. ;)

Nice pics, and welcome back.

The R-10 is definitely my favorite HI knife, and one of the best knives out there, period, IMO.
R102.jpg

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Thanks for the kind words, guys. Yes, lots of family crises at the moment, personal, as well as family business.

Yes, this M-43 does look like it has a pretty long handle, although I must say I DO have pretty small hands too :) I'll post more pics and measure it later today.

As for the FF, I just asked Aunty Yangdu for one with a traditional wood handle, did not realize it would come with this all-leather sheath and super-karda. Was pleasantly surprised when it arrived.

Yes, that old Kobra looks like a pretty unique piece, think I'm gonna hold on to it! I like its pointy tip.

And yes, this R-10 is one stout, hefty beast of a lil' knife.

Glad to be on here again!
 
Welcome back! Are you Uncle Bill's old source S___m for questions regarding Gurkhas and their traditions (e.g., official army training in the martial use of a khukuri)?

I like your Hanuman better than the newer ones. The newer ones are definitely stronger, but they are too overbuilt IMO. Yours is just right. One of my regrets was that I never picked up one like yours when I had the chance.

BTW I don't think your "Garud" khukuri is a Garud model. From what I remember, the Garud had an Ang Khola blade. Yours has what looks like a Gelbu Special blade. HI did have a limited run of Gelbu Specials with snow leopard handles, I think your knife is one of those.
 
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Hi Kamagong, yes, I'm pretty sure that's me. Back then I did post quite a bit about Gurkha military traditions, etc., including comments about the lack of an official martial arts training for khukuri usage in the Indian Army Gurkha units - I remember that wasn't received too well by some folks, and that was my very first post too!

Also recently I was going through the HI web site and was taken aback to see that a rough write-up I'd done about the Indian Army Gurkha Regiments - unit breakups, rank designations, etc. - is still on there!

And you're probably right about the 'Garud' - that head is definitely a cat head, snow leopard sounds about right, and yup, that's a Gelbu Special blade, now that you mention it. I think a 'Garud' was what I had wanted and ended up getting this one, so the 'Garud' stayed in my head - it was all quite some time ago :)
 
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For the guys that were discussing the M-43's handle length, I just measured it and it is coming to a little over 5.6 inches or almost 14.5 cms. I measured the handle sideways, just the horn part of the handle - from where the bolster ends, to the center of the pommel - hope this is the universally accepted method to measure handles!

Comparatively, the FF handle is around an inch shorter than the M-43, measuring to around 4.6 inches or 11.8 cms, again measured sideways, only the wood portion, bottom of bolster to center of pommel.

Another photo, hope it shows the size difference between the two handles better:

IMG_5260.jpg


And couldn't resist posting more photos ... Here's the M-43 .. coming at you!!!

IMG_5285.jpg


Last one - hopefully you can see the layers of leather on the FF sheath:

IMG_5257.jpg
 
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Wolf_1989 said:
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Does anyone know if the shorter handle is a later development or was it just the way Sher made this one?
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Click to expand...

Hi wolf, this M-43, FF and R-10 are all recent buys - got them around a month back. Hope this helps in your decision. It's a GREAT big blade!!!:thumbup:
 
sta94 said:
Hi wolf, this M-43, FF and R-10 are all recent buys - got them around a month back. Hope this helps in your decision. It's a GREAT big blade!!!:thumbup:
Click to expand...

Thanks. That's good to know. I'll keep my eyes open for an M43 on a DotD that looks good to me and I'll try to get it.:D

With the measurements you gave me, 14.5 + the bolster, yeah that's a good bit longer than the handle on my brother's M43. His has a handle length I'd guess from memory to be about 12cm + the bolster. Like I said, it's a bit stubby. I love the M43 design, I just need a longer handle. I'm 6'5" and the Kamis would probably think I'm part Yeti.
 
Here's a way to compare it:

HPIM0770.jpg



I measured the handle on the Chitlangi in this photo. It's about 15cm long, not including the bolster.

Sta's M43 handle is about 14.5 cm, not counting the bolster.


So yeah, 12cm + bolster sounds about right for the handle on my brother's M43.
 
On the topic of handles ...

sta94 said:
Foxy Folly with traditional handle, 17” OAL. Love everything about this khukuri! The handle fits my hand perfectly – I special-ordered this traditional wood handle as I preferred it to the more modern handles seen in recent FFs, and am very glad I did.

...M43... Although the handle is a little too big for my smallish hands, it still feels very comfortable to hold.
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I too have small to medium sized hands and find most of my HI grips to be on the big size when overall length exceeds 15inches, with the exception of a 18 1/4inch Sgt. Khadka traditional styled Khukuri. :D

Did you request a specific grip diameter on the FF?

I am a fan of the M43 but have yet to find the right one and I was wondering what 'comfortable to hold' translates into when using the M43 for chopping if you have had the chance to do so yet i.e. does it fatigue your hand a bit more than a smaller grip and does it ever feel that you may loose blade control?

Thanks for the photo's and the informative thread.:thumbup:
 
b.c. molin, I just asked for a traditional wood handle and did not specify grip diameter.

Haven't gotten the chance to do any chopping with these khukuris yet. Been too busy with work. All I've done is play 'ninja' with them :) So when I say the M-43 handle is 'comfortable to hold' it's just that - comfortable when I swing it around, with my wife looking on disapprovingly!

I AM planning on using them outdoors. However, I'm a bit of an amateur when it comes to outdoors/woodcraft stuff so when I do get around to handling these blades heavily, my descriptions will probably be on the amateurish side as well!

Glad you liked the photos and info, guys, maybe I'll stick around this neck of woods for a bit ;)
 
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