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Kesar question !!
- Thread starter Brendan
- Start date
Hi Brendan,
I have khukuris made by both Kesar and Bura. They are all great. Bura's khukuris tend to be a little more "polished" as if more time was taken making them.( In my opinion.) But all hold an outstanding edge, look great and have yet to (if they ever will) fail in any way. I really don't think you'd be disappointed.
Take care!
Mike
I have khukuris made by both Kesar and Bura. They are all great. Bura's khukuris tend to be a little more "polished" as if more time was taken making them.( In my opinion.) But all hold an outstanding edge, look great and have yet to (if they ever will) fail in any way. I really don't think you'd be disappointed.
Take care!
Mike
- Joined
- Oct 12, 2001
- Messages
- 1,028
Every khuk is different, but my several by Kesar are all excellent. He was one of the most consistent performers back in the '01-'02 time frame when I started. The khuk in my collection that I would pick as the best "now there's a proper HI khukuri" khukuri is a 18" WWII by Kesar. Not flashy, just perfectly to specifications.
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2001
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- 5,946
Kesar = good stuff...
On average he made his handles a little smaller in diameter than the other guys.
The tempering is probably not as hard as Bura's. Easier to sharpen.
Edges are more rounded (filleted) as opposed to Bura's 90 degree ones. I liked this feature. It gave the khuk a softer, gentler appearance.
My favorite 15" AK is by Kesar.
On average he made his handles a little smaller in diameter than the other guys.
The tempering is probably not as hard as Bura's. Easier to sharpen.
Edges are more rounded (filleted) as opposed to Bura's 90 degree ones. I liked this feature. It gave the khuk a softer, gentler appearance.
My favorite 15" AK is by Kesar.
yeah, if Bura is at a R60, Kesar is at 58. 57, 59... something a tad less, but not much. Just enough to make it easier to sharpen. His blades were good in the field.
He doesn't usually provide the polish of a Bura but when he does it is every bit as good. I always thought of him as a workingman's maker. When I first got here some of his stuff was being left alone..a rap was going out that the Blade failures were Kesar's...We found out that wasn't entirely right- Bura had some breaking too!
We missed him when he left. I have a 19.5" Chitlangi by him, and gave one of my best friends a Kesar WWll. Raghorn has one of the few M43's done by Kesar, and I liked Kesar's slopes better than Bura's. My Chitlangi's lines aren't very precise, Bura would have creamed that. But you can't have my Kesar. Someone really made it.
munk
He doesn't usually provide the polish of a Bura but when he does it is every bit as good. I always thought of him as a workingman's maker. When I first got here some of his stuff was being left alone..a rap was going out that the Blade failures were Kesar's...We found out that wasn't entirely right- Bura had some breaking too!
We missed him when he left. I have a 19.5" Chitlangi by him, and gave one of my best friends a Kesar WWll. Raghorn has one of the few M43's done by Kesar, and I liked Kesar's slopes better than Bura's. My Chitlangi's lines aren't very precise, Bura would have creamed that. But you can't have my Kesar. Someone really made it.
munk
- Joined
- Jan 26, 2002
- Messages
- 2,737
As I recall, Bill used to call him old faithfull, or something similar.
The first four khuks I bought were made by him. I still have three--15" AK, 18" chit, and 18" Gelbu. They all have the "feel", as well as close to a convex edge. Perhaps not as refined as the two khuks that I have by Bura (Especially K&C) but they are not the first ones I'd part with.
What about the fourth by Kesar? That was a "YCS" that didn't meet specs, and had a soft edge, produced at one of the "bad times".It had the feel, but didn't hold up. I often wish that I hadn't returned it, and upscaled to a GRS produced by another Kami produced at the the same time, and instead had sent Kesar YCS to Art, who had just showed up. The GRS paid Art a couple of visits. On the other hand, sometimes I'm glad I made the trade, otherwise I might not know what a GRS is.
The guy cranked out a bunch of khuks, and as long as they were traditional models that he understood, I don't think that you can go wrong. He got a bit of an unfair bad rap at the time, for trying to make some thinner blades like the YCS, and it's not even clear that it was his idea.
Any of them can have an off day, and the blem 20" siru I have by Bura shows that. On the other hand the UBS I have by Bura is a true gem, though it is very thin at the edge, and not convex. Bura does seem to be able to make a thin edge work when the other Kamis have difficulty with them.
On an AK, I don't think that you can go wrong with something made Kesar, unless it was made when the Kamis were scared out of their socks, or slacking off a bit before holidays. However, that's true of all of them.
The first four khuks I bought were made by him. I still have three--15" AK, 18" chit, and 18" Gelbu. They all have the "feel", as well as close to a convex edge. Perhaps not as refined as the two khuks that I have by Bura (Especially K&C) but they are not the first ones I'd part with.
What about the fourth by Kesar? That was a "YCS" that didn't meet specs, and had a soft edge, produced at one of the "bad times".It had the feel, but didn't hold up. I often wish that I hadn't returned it, and upscaled to a GRS produced by another Kami produced at the the same time, and instead had sent Kesar YCS to Art, who had just showed up. The GRS paid Art a couple of visits. On the other hand, sometimes I'm glad I made the trade, otherwise I might not know what a GRS is.
The guy cranked out a bunch of khuks, and as long as they were traditional models that he understood, I don't think that you can go wrong. He got a bit of an unfair bad rap at the time, for trying to make some thinner blades like the YCS, and it's not even clear that it was his idea.
Any of them can have an off day, and the blem 20" siru I have by Bura shows that. On the other hand the UBS I have by Bura is a true gem, though it is very thin at the edge, and not convex. Bura does seem to be able to make a thin edge work when the other Kamis have difficulty with them.
On an AK, I don't think that you can go wrong with something made Kesar, unless it was made when the Kamis were scared out of their socks, or slacking off a bit before holidays. However, that's true of all of them.
wildmanh
Part time Leather Bender/Sheath maker
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2000
- Messages
- 7,764
Firkin is correct, Kesar was called Old Faithfull. He consistantly made a good khukuri even durring the holidays and was the first Kami to Join HI. IIRC he had the fewest failures out of just about all the Kamis. There were some problems with some YCS's and a few other newer designs, but the M43 I had by him was Perfect. He made a quite a few M43s when he was still around.
My two favorite Kami's are Kesar and Durba. I've never had a single problem with any Durba or Kesar and really like their style. Brendan, I'd jump at the chance to own another Kesar. IMO He and Bura made the best M43's.
My two favorite Kami's are Kesar and Durba. I've never had a single problem with any Durba or Kesar and really like their style. Brendan, I'd jump at the chance to own another Kesar. IMO He and Bura made the best M43's.
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2002
- Messages
- 3,674
I have a Chiruwa AK and an M43 by Kesar. Fit & finish are not quite what you'd find on a Bura - the chiruwa is downright homely. I had a difficult time sharpening the chiruwa because the edge was so hard. I carry it in my ranger bag at work and have used it for everything from planting trees to taking down wooden structures. Jump on it Brendan, it's a great opportunity.
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- Feb 13, 2002
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- 3,679
Right - now Im screwed !!
Ive been offered one by kesar, one by Bura. Bura is a blem, Kesar is old tooled scabbard !! Lovely fuller on Bura (could just be pick). Otherwise quite similar in shape, I slightly prefer the lines on the Bura.
MAnnnnnnnnnnn, I wish someone would offer me a wodd handled Bura and there would be no probs !!
:grumpy:
Ive been offered one by kesar, one by Bura. Bura is a blem, Kesar is old tooled scabbard !! Lovely fuller on Bura (could just be pick). Otherwise quite similar in shape, I slightly prefer the lines on the Bura.
MAnnnnnnnnnnn, I wish someone would offer me a wodd handled Bura and there would be no probs !!
:grumpy:
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- Oct 18, 2001
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- 20,978
I've now heard the word "homely" a few times to describe a knife.....what's the intended meaning?
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- Sep 7, 2001
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- 5,946
pendentive said:
Look at my avatar.
Raghorn- I hear from you too rarely these days and when I do all it seems we can discuss is your Kesar M43. Won't you consider someday selling it to me?
I might trade you straight across for a Kumar Hanshee M43- very rare. So curved if you took the handle off it would be a boomerang.
munk
I might trade you straight across for a Kumar Hanshee M43- very rare. So curved if you took the handle off it would be a boomerang.
munk
It's funny how many people remember that blade- Berkeley or some collector- Powel? I'm not sure- but right after I got it, and I paid full 150 price- he said; "Bill, that's it. That's what I want. Just like that one. Let me know and I'll do whatever neccesary". In a forum of sharks, the hanshee was my one true score beyond the rest of you meateaters.
I've never mastered nor worked much with it. It has had slight chopping for testing. The edge is very hard. The horn slightly shrunk despite hooflex but never CRACKED. With this type of blade there is a slash/hack/pull and twist flip of the wrist possible. I'd done it right a few times. It is devastating. Little effort accomplishes much. Technique is king here. The blade only weighs 24 oz, I think. You could carry it all day. I think you could saw off someone's head so fast they wouldn't know what happened. (Sorry, the Sam Peckingpah in me took ahold)
munk
I've never mastered nor worked much with it. It has had slight chopping for testing. The edge is very hard. The horn slightly shrunk despite hooflex but never CRACKED. With this type of blade there is a slash/hack/pull and twist flip of the wrist possible. I'd done it right a few times. It is devastating. Little effort accomplishes much. Technique is king here. The blade only weighs 24 oz, I think. You could carry it all day. I think you could saw off someone's head so fast they wouldn't know what happened. (Sorry, the Sam Peckingpah in me took ahold)
munk
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2002
- Messages
- 3,674
Dan - The Kesar chiruwa AK was a blem Uncle Bill sent me to replace one that I broke. Without going into details it was the ugliest HI khukuri I'd ever seen, homely was a polite term for it. It's also the most-used khukuri that I own and I wouldn't trade it for anything. It's as much a part of my field gear as the binocs and digital camera.
Munk, I've been laying low online lately, a combination of being too busy to get into deep discussions and an aversion to the level of conflict that's been blowing through the forums over the last four months or so. I'll be sure to get my email correspondence back on track.
And yes, I would definitely entertain the idea of the trade you mentioned.
Munk, I've been laying low online lately, a combination of being too busy to get into deep discussions and an aversion to the level of conflict that's been blowing through the forums over the last four months or so. I'll be sure to get my email correspondence back on track.
And yes, I would definitely entertain the idea of the trade you mentioned.
Yes Raghorn, I'd arguably lose a real collectable- but you've turned out to be the real collector, and in a sense, this would circle around us- You gave me the other chiruwa AK you recieved in replacement. You have more than one M43? I'd have to think about it too. This Kumar is really neat. Bill called it the finest khuk he'd seen in a year. I'd always miss it.
As for the other- conflict isn't neccesarily a sign all is doomed. Sometimes it means things are getting better- but we don't know it while we pass through. The last few weeks have reminded me to be kind.
take care
munk
As for the other- conflict isn't neccesarily a sign all is doomed. Sometimes it means things are getting better- but we don't know it while we pass through. The last few weeks have reminded me to be kind.
take care
munk
- Joined
- Oct 18, 2001
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- 20,978
I must not do enough reading, I suppose....I have no idea what y'all are talking about in terms of "forum conflict". (other than BF the troll)...
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- 5,946
raghorn said:
I'll try to be less abrasive in the future.
wildmanh
Part time Leather Bender/Sheath maker
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2000
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- 7,764
munk said:
LOL, Thanks! But it's not mine anymore. I sold it about 2 years ago and it's changed hands so many times I'm not sure who has it now. Sure do miss it though. It was about 18" long with Brass fixings and a rosewood handle which I did a Tung oil finish on.
It does have some some interesting history FYI. U.B. had it up for sale in the Fall of 2001. I claimed it then let Kmark get it. a few months later we did a trade and I ended up with it. Then about 6 months later I sold it to Mike L.. Some time later it passed to Spence and I'm not sure what happened to it after that. Do a search for "M43" and user "wildmanh" for pics and it's story.