La :Leche Leage approved.

[Rusty]

The Monday Special I managed to grab arrivived today. This was the one sent back because the customer said it had a bent or curved blade.

I inspected it closely and found the spine from bolster to bend had been slightly overpolished on the inverted V on top of the spine. So the top of the inverted V on one side does look a little bowed. A mill bastard file could fix in five minutes to perfect center and then a few minutes with wood backed sandpaper in maybe 3 grits to bring it back to mirror finish. Rest of blade looked fine. Checked handle ( horn ) and noted several very small incipient cracks. They weren't really noticible unless in full sunlight. What was noticeable to me by feel was the horn shrinkage at buttcap and bolster, which led to finding the incipient cracks forming,

Like I said it was one of the Monday 7/14 deals. Bura 18" Sirupati, at 21 ozs. for 60 shipped. Upper part of blade on both sides is beautifully if just barely fullered. Sword of Shiva is one of,if not the best examples of very well done engraving I've seen. Thickness and depth of blade say it won't cut like an AK, nor WW2 18", but that it should be a close second to a 16.5" WW2 in chopping ( longer lighter blade means increased tip velocity ). This 18" Sirupati is a light but still substantial blade.

So now we get to the La Leche League bit. I like this khuk, it's special and I'm not letting it self destruct. So I go to the baby section I haven't stopped at for 17(?) years, get a 2 oz. tube of 100% Pharmacetical grade lanolin for $9 bucks. Brand name on it is Lansinoh and is endorsed by the La Leche League in large letters. Plain generic USP stuff behind the counter is probably $3 bucks.

As soon as I get a feel for this sirupati, it gets slathered and left in the sun for a time each day to absorb the Lanolin for the next week.

If you have any milsurp rifles in cosmolene now is a good time to take them out, get it off the metal, and leave the cleaned stock in the sun to sweat more of it out. I've seen some dealers clean them with spray on oven cleaner, and it left the wood full of holes.

 

[Bill Martino]

Thanks for report from the field.

 

[Kohai999]

Rusty,

As I said to Uncle Bill, I am used to looking at large blades for bends.
I have been studying a form of Japanese Swordsmanship for four years, and we cut. When you cut, you bend katana blades, which you subsequently straighten.
There IS a bend in the 18" Sirupati, I did the counter trick just to confirm that my eyes were not off. The 15" Kumar Sirupati was not bent, neither are the BAS that Sanu made that I got two years ago, and lastly the Amtrack M43 that I got is perfection, and told Uncle Bill as much.
No, I don't expect "perfection" in a blade coming from Nepal, just that it be straight. Especially when it is supposed to be from the "best kami in Nepal", who I think was just not having a great day when that Sirupati was made. I have a Vince Evans Khukuri, forged and ground that IS perfection, that I can show anyone interested at Blade West, here in CA, for a comparison. He also does exceptional leather work.
If you like the 18" Sirupati from Bura, then I am really glad for you, and glad that it found a home. I like the 15" Kumar made Sirupati significantly better, and IMHO, it is a substantially better knife.
(BTW, I used to work for GT knives, and have access to all thier equipment, belt sanders, buffers...if I need to do mods, I get to do it on better equipment then the kamis have access to)

Regards,

Steven

 

[dhuff]

Rusty, thanks for the tip. I never would've thought to go to the baby section of the drug store for lanolin - but it made perfect sense once you mentioned it

 

[Rusty]

Kohai999:

Day before yesterday I was up into the early hours getting a couple things done to ship. So short on sleep. Then I picked up the box at the Post Office took a glance at it, and stayed on the run til about 7 pm.

This morning I read your post and in morning light I think that I see what you meant. If you spend your time looking at other big blades for straightness, I can accept your eyes being better calibrated than mine. I haven't used a lathe or mill for years. Then I tried the table test. Didn't find significant bend to me. Apparently I'm not the one to ask. Sometimes I see it, sometimes I don't.

It wasn't up to your expections. So you sent it back.quite properly so. I on the other hand got it for half price and expect a bobble here and there like with the oriental carpets that deliberately incorporate a small flaw to remind us no one is perfect besides God.

To each his own, and Thank You for giving me the opportunity to grab it at that price. I'm happy and I hope what Uncle Bill does to tesolve the situation leaves you happy also.