M43 - different touches with different kamis

H

hunglvq

Joined
Jun 8, 2008
Messages
232
Hi,

One time, I read in this forum that the M43 is made by different kamis. And with each kami, it has a little difference due to the taste, style of the kami.

I need your kind sharing if you guys have a chance to compare these differences.

This is a great design and I really love it. The more I love it, the more I hate the Customs in my country. I'll find all possible way to get one soon.

Thanks,

Hung
 
I seem to be unusual, in that my M43, was made by a fellow named Get, rather than Sher or one of the more familiar ones.
I only own the one, but here are a couple of pictures:

In my hand.
3868570954_e1f7a60402.jpg



The DOtD picture I got it from (far left).
8-26-09%20001.jpg


STATS:
OL - 18 9/16"
BL - 12 3/4"
HL - 6"
Weight - unknown, but fairly heavy
 
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hunglvq said:
One time, I read in this forum that the M43 is made by different kamis. And with each kami, it has a little difference due to the taste, style of the kami.
Click to expand...

Well this can really be said about almost every blade in the HI line-up. Just about all designs are made by more than one kami and each blade is unique (even ones made by the same person). Some kamis are known for added certain properties to their blades though (like Sher the tiger is known for thicker, overbuilt kukris).

Oh and here's my M43 by Young Sher:
P1020330.jpg
 
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Here is mine by Sher The Tiger Kami which I'm looking forward to receiving soon:

HIAntlerhandleM43175inch27ouncebySh.jpg


ps. Nicholas, my first Khukuri was a 20inch/40ounce CAK made by Get Kami. It is one I have no intention of ever selling. :)
 
Thanks a bunch for sharing, mates!

Besides Get, Sher, Sgt Khakda, what are other kamis that also work on the M43?

I'm looking for one with thinner (but not weak) bevel, with optimum weight/performance index (which means to reduce all the possible weight but still keep the same performance level). So, which kami should you guys recommend?

@b.c.molin: I really like the look of your knife, both the red scabbard and the elegant white handle. Let me call it "sweet lady in red". :) What is the material for the handle? I assume it must be deer horn.

I have a piece of elephant leg bone, naturally died in the jungle with the outer layer erodes like bark of the tree. Been keeping this bone for so long and dont know where to use. I'm thinking of sending over to the kamis to make the handle for my M43, my most precious knife ever to be handled down to my grandson...

Have a nice day mates!

Hung
 
hunglvq said:
I have a piece of elephant leg bone, naturally died in the jungle with the outer layer erodes like bark of the tree. Been keeping this bone for so long and dont know where to use. I'm thinking of sending over to the kamis to make the handle for my M43, my most precious knife ever to be handled down to my grandson...
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Sending a piece of elephant bone a few countries over might be problematic I'd imagine...Customs would probably assume the worst and keep it from reaching the kamis, I don't know. :confused:
 
C.S. Graves said:
Sending a piece of elephant bone a few countries over might be problematic I'd imagine...Customs would probably assume the worst and keep it from reaching the kamis, I don't know. :confused:
Click to expand...

Agreed - you'd have better luck (and probably save money) by asking for a do-it-yourself-handle M43 and having someone within the states make the handle for you
 
Thanks for your sharing.

You are totally right C.S. Grave! Thinking carefully, I see I'd better not sending the bone. There is no-one in Vietnam to make a handle for me. The norm is the cheap rat tail tang plugged in the wood when the steel is hot. And I dont want that at all...

It's good that I can work on the handle myself. Been working on some project so far and I'm quite confident with handle making.

Sending a D-I-Y handle blade is also a good idea. It reduces the impression of weapon on the Customs.
 
I have two. One by Bura and one that I thought was Sher, but may be Santosh instead.

Both have very excellent thin bevels. Of the two the Bura made blade is the finer.

If your real concerned then I'd go with Bura. However form what I've seen most all the Kami's do a fine job on that knife.
 
b.c.molin said:
ps. Nicholas, my first Khukuri was a 20inch/40ounce CAK made by Get Kami. It is one I have no intention of ever selling. :)
Click to expand...

I'll say one thing: I was impressed by the grind he put on it, the way that the grind hollowed out as it went into the recurve. I'm no smith, but that looks tricky.
The edge has taken plenty of punishment, too.
 
hunglvq said:
You are totally right C.S. Grave! Thinking carefully, I see I'd better not sending the bone. There is no-one in Vietnam to make a handle for me. The norm is the cheap rat tail tang plugged in the wood when the steel is hot. And I dont want that at all...

It's good that I can work on the handle myself. Been working on some project so far and I'm quite confident with handle making.
Click to expand...

Good luck with it, and let us know how any such rehandling projects turn out! :thumbup:
 
hunglvq said:
@b.c.molin: I really like the look of your knife, both the red scabbard and the elegant white handle. Let me call it "sweet lady in red". :) What is the material for the handle? I assume it must be deer horn.
Click to expand...

Excellent name for it, and I will refer to 'her' by that name. The user name of the gentleman who sold me the M-43 is "sweet" ... interesting choice Hung, a very interesting choice you made indeed.

The Sweet Lady In Red has an US Elk antler handle.

Good Luck with getting a M-43. I truly believe the right one will find you.;)
 
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