Just picked up my custom YCS today. Well worth the wait.

M

mobileninja

Joined
Mar 17, 2011
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It's been almost 2 months in the making but it finally arrived. Well worth the wait. Just wanted to share! I still can't stop staring at it. It passed the whack test with flying colors. The Chiruwa style handle in white horn feels as if it was carved specifically for my hand. It definitely feels like a worker. Someone in the forum spoke of "the one". Of all the khuks I own, this one IS the one.

Thanks Kami Tirtha and of course Yangdu! I'm 100% pleased and grateful.

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Tirtha has always turned out a great knife judging by my DOTDs. The tools included with it look good too and I like the brown leather.

What are the specs on it?
 
heinlein said:
What are the specs on it?
Click to expand...

Villager Fit and Finish
Measures 17"
Spine 3/8"
weight ? (slightly heavier than my other YCS with stick tang. It's definitely more balanced)
white brass bolster and buttcap
Tools are also full tang using the antler. The longer of the kardas has a thicker tang almost double that of the shorter. The poker is unpointed.
White horn or antler grip. I have to look up what horned animals are native to the region. Also possible the antler/horn material was imported from elsewhere to do the work.
I'm going to do a more detailed comparison between both of my YCS when there's light tomorrow.
Already I can say the spine of this new one is thicker up into the tip of the blade than that of the old which was slightly over 1/4" with heavy taper closer to the tip.
I read an older review comparing an YCS made by Tirtha to one made by kami Sanu. The comparison is surprisingly similar when I set the two side by side. Ironically the two I have are both made by Tirtha with the newer one made at my request.
I want to do a better inspection of the fuller work on both.
I thought my stick tang YCS was field worthy. This one however looks and feels even more like it.
I'll try to post pics of the comparison later.
 
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So comparing the two YCS by Tirtha Kami I noticed the antler blade's fullers are less pronounced than that of my Neem YCS. It appears the heavy taper I noted earlier towards the tip of the blade is actually due to the fullers starting at the tip. The bevels are very noticeable all the way down mid blade.

The antler YCS bevels at the tip are barely noticeable and even then the fullers themselves when shining against the light do not show as deeply as the neem YCS.
I wonder if this was done for a reason.

Regardless of the fullers I think the antler blade was made to be used. It looks less delicate than the neem YCS which I've used many times already and it's still as sharp as the day I received it. It's spine is also considerably thicker which I think offsets the lack of pronounced fuller. It also explains the extra weight even though the length of the blades are almost the same. I need something to chop. It's still "the one" maybe until I can get my hands on an M43..
 
Beautiful pix and knife, thank you for sharing
 
Thanks for the comments all and my pleasure Yangdu. I wanted to do a better comparison and review just haven't had the time. My collection is building to the point where I feel I need to at least give some input about my HIs. I wouldn't be doing them justice without. What I need is a good camping trip to really make use of these tools to feel and see what the differences are between them.
 
I'll say again the YCS is possibly the most beautiful of HI khuks. I've always loved the look of stainless guns with ivory(ish) grips and this khuk captures that look to the tee, much like Bmolin's antler M-43. I'm sure you'll love a future M-43, but don't be so sure it'll steal the lime light. That YCS looks awesome. As for the fuller difference, HI knives are handmade and I've noticed the kami's all have a personal touch or preference. I have two 16.5" WWIIs and they are quite different, but both great. I think this is one of the things which makes HI khuks so fun and interesting. They are NOT cookie cutter! Thanks and take care.
 
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