Keshar Lal Villager Utility Knives for 9/21

[Yangdu]

L to r

KLVUK #4
Overall lenght --16.5''
Weight --19 oz
Spine thickness --1/4''
White metal bolster and buttcap
Asare wood handle
$65 *SOLD*

KLVUK #5
Overall lenght --16''
Weight --19 oz
Spine thickness --1/4''
White metal bolster and buttcap
Horn handle
$65

KLVUK #6
Overall lenght --16''
Weight --17 oz
Spine thickness --1/4''
White metal bolster and buttcap
Asare wood handle
$62 *SOLD*

KLVUK #7
Ang Khola
Overall lenght --16''
Weight --24 oz
Spine thickness --1/4''
White metal bolster and buttcap
Oak wood handle
$65 *SOLD*

KLVUK #8
Overall lenght --15.5''
Weight --15 oz
Spine thickness --1/4''
White metal bolster and buttcap
Asare wood handle
$60 *SOLD*

Email to himimp@aol.com to get any or all
The Asare wood came from Narayanghat Nepal and according to Kamis and Pala it is strong wood
Those of you who miss today's dotd becasue of work and international time different then simply email me and I will get you one for your collection
Have a great weekend!

 

[Shinook]

The photo isn't working for me...

I'm curious about the oak and Asare wood looks like.

 

[Karda]

Picture should be working now.

 

[pyro_1]

Email sent for 7 and 8

 

[Steely_Gunz]

Those are so cool I might have to shark one of those one day. It's kind of Zen to purchase a knife that is designed to be used and you don't feel bad scratching it up. I can also say that the scale-on finish is VERY durable...Plus it looks cool I'm glad we're seeing it more often.

 

[Shinook]

I agree, very cool. I especially like the looks of the new woods being used. I like the idea of a beater khukuri with an oak handle.

 

[ElCabre]

The no # 5 is tempting ! ! ! just check the funds , running low maybe next time .

 

[Browning A Bolt]

Can someone explain why the blade is black? Does it have anti-corrosion qualities? Can it be removed with polish? Just wondering in case I ever get to buy one of these. Thanks.

 

[Steely_Gunz]

Can someone explain why the blade is black? Does it have anti-corrosion qualities? Can it be removed with polish? Just wondering in case I ever get to buy one of these. Thanks.

It would actually be pretty tough to remove, but would end up looking really cool and mottled now that I think about it. The finish is a pre-polished "scale on" finish. What you are seeing is bits of in-the-rough scaling that normally gets hammerd, ground, and polished away. It has somewhat of a corrosion resisting property as it's basically a form of stable dark rust. It's a really cool look. Plus if you scratch it, who cares. It's on the blade deeper than any coating, so it's not likely to wear away with heavy use. I have a couple of HI knives like this, and I think it looks really, really cool

 

[Browning A Bolt]

Thanks, SG. That was very helpful.

 

[Yangdu]

 

[sweetcostarica]

Those are so cool... I can also say that the scale-on finish is VERY durable...

Yes, this strong lasting black coating or unfinished blade is great. Most knives I get in the USA with black coating or a colored blade do not last long at all. Makes you think.

 

[theAntihero]

Interesting, i like the whole its-a-tool feel of unfinished knives. They do seem a little lighter than the average kukri though.

So i take it these are gonna be more where these came from in the future? I might have to pick one up.

 

[Karda]

There will likely be more in the future.

 

[sweetcostarica]

They do seem a little lighter than the average kukri though.

theAntihero you should get one of these as they are pretty close to pure Nepali. I mean less western and more eastern. I am no expert but their weight's are pretty "spot on". Most of them are neither too heavy nor too light for a villager Kukri. They are beautiful :thumbup:.

 

[theAntihero]

theAntihero you should get one of these as they are pretty close to pure Nepali. I mean less western and more eastern. I am no expert but their weight's are pretty "spot on". Most of them are neither too heavy nor too light for a villager Kukri. They are beautiful :thumbup:.

I probably will, i like knives for work and not for show. It just seemed that 1/4 inch spine and the weights were a bit light to me, but i would use them more for chopping than anything else.

 

[sweetcostarica]

Yeah, I too use my knives for work and not for show (there's two or three safe queens though). The picture below from Nepal will give you an ideal of what Nepalis use today on the farm/village. The sickle is the most widely used.

Generally speaking in the USA and other western nations a bigger, heavier tool is used and preferred. But I love traditional tools.

 

[ecos]

Yes, this strong lasting black coating or unfinished blade is great. Most knives I get in the USA with black coating or a colored blade do not last long at all. Makes you think.
View attachment 303021View attachment 303022View attachment 303023

Most black knives are just painted, and thats why it wears so fast. The black on these blades is firescale, which is a byproduct of the forging process. Its basically a thick ceramic layer so it holds up a heck of a lot longer than paint. The main downside with it is carbon is removed from the steel in that area, and often you can only go so thin with the bevels before heat treating or else they will warp/crack. Thats why the firescale is typically along the spine and not near the edge...you have to thin the bevels post heat treat and remove the decarb. I've seen (and made) some with the firescale on the entire blade but then the edge bevels usually have to be ground farther back....

Its also why you almost never see it on stainless blades, since they usually aren't forged. If you use an oxygen rich atmosphere when heat treating you can turn them gray (which usually isn't desirable), but it won't be as thick as forged knives.

 

[Browning A Bolt]

So how should one maintain the black blade? Should we oil the black portion of the blade?

 

[sweetcostarica]

Thanks ecos. You said "Most black knives are just painted" so for carbon blades most western knife manufactures remove the firescale and then color the knife or leave it shiny. That explains that but why do they do this for carbon knives? I'm thinking must be to save money. Maybe to have a prettier product at the cost of durability?
Many custom knife makers leave this scale on their products and their knives are way more expensive. Of course there are other factors for their cost but like I said it makes you think .