M-43 by ! Kami arrives

ArchAngel

ArchAngel

Joined
Feb 13, 2000
Messages
2,688
I have wanted an M-43 since I first saw them and just recently grabbed one of the blems from this past week. It is made by the ! Kami. I like his work!:D This blade feels very lively in the hand. It sort of dances like my Kesar 18" GS does. This was a blem because of some rust spots. The rust spots that were mentioned were small and not deep so a little attention with some 320, 400, 600, grit paper with oil, and they were gone. The sanding always seems to show the hamon on the blade for me. This blade has a very nice and HARD sweet spot. It perfectly fills the sweet spot on the blade! I then went to the buffer and polished the blade up nice and smooth. I find that a blade is less likely to rust once I put a high polish on it. I have just started to work the handle over. I have applied one application of boiled linseed oil and acetone to start, more will follow.
As mentioned earlier, this is a very lively blade. It feels nimble in the hand and balances about 3" ahead of the Cho. I love the feel of this khukuri. ! did a very nice job on the fit and finish of this blade. It has a wonderful distal taper to it and the curve of the handle makes it strangely comfortable to move around in the air. I have yet to go out and chop with it as I have been rather busy at work. I took a few minutes to take some pictures of it though to show my new baby to you all!:rolleyes:
I want to thank Yangdu and Bill for a great deal on what is proving to be a very nice khukuri. I look forward to putting it to the test soon and reporting back to all of you. BTW the sheath with this blade is one of the best I have gotten in some time. It seems perfect in all things I look for at least.
Now for a couple of pics.:cool:
 
Sort of reminds you of the saying that if a plane looks good it'll fly good.And it's true, mostly.

Then along comes the A-10 Warthog. Not pretty, but impressive nonetheless.
 
Hi Rusty,
Yes, this M-43 sure does soar!:cool: It is strange. I tend to like the overbuilt, heavier khuks that some others dislike. My Foxy's Folly is a pleasure to use. (Not for real long though)! I tend to usually like tanks is all. In my few years of collecting some 20+ khukuris, my tastes have drawn me towards certain things in khukuris. First, I love well made fullers!! Second, I am finding my eye really likes that constant curve design blade that Yvsa speaks of. Not to the exclusion of all others though. I have an 18" GS by Kesar that is perfect in all respects. This new M-43 is one of the leanest khukuris that I own, coming in at .300 thick at the bolster and swelling out to .350 towards where the back of the sweet spot starts, then a constant taper to the tip. This is a light and lively blade. I find this khukuri gives me the sense and feeling that it wants to become my constant companion. It seems to say I am here to defend you and yours. I don't know how to better describe it. Most of my khukuris say lets work, this one is different somehow. It will get tested out in the woods, then I think it will become my travel companion, with my Kimber. They are in the nightstand as I write this, gettting aquainted.:rolleyes: The more I handle this baby, the more I like it!!:D :cool:
Khukuris are so much fun to expolre. There always seems to be another one to investgate and explore. I forsee needing a room to display them all in someday though!:eek:
 
NICE BLADE and REALLY NICE PICTURE TOO!!!

I also like the partial self-portrait in the blade:D
 
Hi Rob,
Good to see that you are out and about. I hope all is well in your life. Have you picked up any new khukuri items since we last spoke?:D Thanks for the compliment on the photo. I do love that M-43.:cool: It has that certain something about it.
 
It is 17 9/16" OAL, 1 3/16 at the bolster, and 2 1/4 at the widest part of the sweet spot.
 
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