M43 goodness

W

Wolf_1989

Joined
Mar 30, 2007
Messages
3,654
Well, it finally arrived, my first M43, and I'll have to say it's my first because I definitely want another one of these even though I haven't used it yet.

My brother's M43 is the old style with the wee stubby handle which didn't fit me too well. This is the new one, listed as a 19" 2.5 lb M43 of the new style with the longer handle.

The longer handle is "just right".

I measured it and it turned out to be exactly 20" long with about 14.5" of that length being blade. Which is how I like my khukuris - BIG.

(when I measure blade length, I include the habaki part of the bolster, if applicable, to the blade length. So without counting that, this M43 still has a hair over 14" of blade. Yum.)

It was listed at about 2.5 lbs. It doesn't feel that heavy. A lot of the blade's thickness is near the bolster with a good degree of distill taper towards the tip. It's very well balanced. Very quick for its size!

The kami mark is the madal drum. I thought that was another kami's mark, Maybe "Young Sher" is using that mark too.

Here it is:

M4312-21-09.jpg
 
Wolf,
Man that looks sweet, has some heft also. I see what you are talking about with the longer handle, looks good with some more wood there:thumbup: (no wood jokes pls):D:D:eek:. Enjoy and Happy Holidays to you.
 
Wolf,
Congratulations on that good lookin' khuk. If chopping is on your mind, you won't be disappointed with your M43. I recently got an 18' M43 by Young Sher that weighed in at 30 oz. Looks like he's gonna be a good kami. That kami mark is a "madal drum" huh? I was wondering about that. Enjoy, be careful and keep us updated.

(pugs-Congratulations to you, too. Didn't you just pick up a M43 yourself? Was that Bura's mark I saw on it? Let us know how you like yours, too.)

Rick
 
stickfred said:
Wolf,
Congratulations on that good lookin' khuk. If chopping is on your mind, you won't be disappointed with your M43. I recently got an 18' M43 by Young Sher that weighed in at 30 oz. Looks like he's gonna be a good kami. That kami mark is a "madal drum" huh? I was wondering about that. Enjoy, be careful and keep us updated.

(pugs-Congratulations to you, too. Didn't you just pick up a M43 yourself? Was that Bura's mark I saw on it? Let us know how you like yours, too.)

Rick
Click to expand...

Rick,
I did should be here in a day or two. The mark in the photo looks too be his mark, I will confirm when I get it.
 
I've been slowly convexing the edge by hand, which is how I've been doing it for over 20 years. It takes time but it's worth it. So far this khukuri is taking a vicious edge. Young Sher's edge hardening seems similar to me to that done by kami Vim. Pretty hard. Nice 'ring' to it.

I don't mind it being a bit on the heavy side. I'm used to larger khukuris. This is a 20" so the proportions seem more or less right. It's really thick near the bolster but tapers quickly.

THE TEST will be to see how it compares to the one and only Super CAK, since I now have an M43 in the same size class.
 
That is going to be quite a comparison, Wolf. My M43 is on a par with my 18" Hanuman.While the Hanuman has a 3.5 oz advantage over my M43, the M43 has a more forward weight distribution that seems to aid in chopping.

I am extremely interested in your sharpening technique Wolf. From what I've been able to pick up, convex is the way to go with these blades. So, if you wouldn't mind, I'm new to this sharpening thing and would appreciate your input.

Rick
 
I discovered it on my own about 25 years ago. I found if I slowly and lightly ground/polished my edge on with a fine stone, gradually changing my angle as I went, it resulted in a edge which was both very sharp and very durable.

These days I start out with a diamond hone, then go through a couple real natural stones, ending with a Surgical Black and finally a butcher's steel.
 
Sweet. The M43 is next on my list. Question, you said the handles are longer on the newer M43, do you happen to have a side by side comparison btween the new and old M43's?
 
Thanks for your info.

So are you honing a small area at a time, using circular strokes working toward the edge-thus changing the angle as you go? Start with fine diamond, to hard Arkansas and finally surgical Arkansas?

Rick
 
stickfred said:
Thanks for your info.

So are you honing a small area at a time, using circular strokes working toward the edge-thus changing the angle as you go? Start with fine diamond, to hard Arkansas and finally surgical Arkansas?

Rick
Click to expand...

I usually move the hone away from the edge, starting with a somewhat steep-ish bevel and slowly altering my angle until it's almost flat against the edge bevel, then I move back the opposite way to even things out. It often takes me days to get it right where I want it. That's before I put the finishing touches on it; the butcher's steel and super fine surgical black stone.

I have a 21.5" Chitlangi made by the old Sher. I took this process to the extreme, finally finishing it off with a razor strop. The result was I got it so scary sharp it's a bit intimidating to use :eek: I did that to see just how sharp one could make an H.I. blade... and yes indeedy you can get them as sharp as you want them to be. Maybe more so ;)

Young Sher made it easy this time because the edge on this M43 is a bit convexed right out of the box.
 
Yow! That sounds like one sharp edge on that Chitlangi.

Again, many thanks. I'm about to invest in various sharpening tools and all this helps. I've got a few of Sher's blades and a couple of Young Sher's so I can compare the two and hopefully educate myself on these edge differences.

The only sharpening I've done on an HI has been on a 20" Sirupati that had a dull spot for about 1.5-2" right on the hardened "sweet spot". After the chakma, steel and a file didn't seem to change the edge, I picked up an old Craftsman coarse/fine I've had for years and spent a couple of days working an edge onto it. At least it will chop now.

Although the chakma and steel help bring the edge back, I am noticing a little dulling on all my khukuris after test chopping on seasoned limbs and the need for sharpening. The need for me to learn more.

Truly appreciate your time and input Wolf_1989.
 
stickfred said:
Yow! That sounds like one sharp edge on that Chitlangi.

Again, many thanks. I'm about to invest in various sharpening tools and all this helps. I've got a few of Sher's blades and a couple of Young Sher's so I can compare the two and hopefully educate myself on these edge differences.
Click to expand...

So far I only have this M43 as my only piece by Young Sher and it's looks like good work. The hardened area rings nicely and seems to be almost on par with Vim's hardening, which is very good. Maybe ol' Vim has been giving the new guy some tips.

The only sharpening I've done on an HI has been on a 20" Sirupati that had a dull spot for about 1.5-2" right on the hardened "sweet spot". After the chakma, steel and a file didn't seem to change the edge, I picked up an old Craftsman coarse/fine I've had for years and spent a couple of days working an edge onto it. At least it will chop now.
Click to expand...

Others may disagree, but I've found that the diamond hone to be about the best tool for sharpening an especially hard khukuri edge. I've had files 'skate' on me, or bite too much on the edge areas which aren't hardened. The diamond file doesn't do that, and also it's a lot easier to control in use. I have a 20" Sirupati by Master Kami Bura which is my #1 pick as a defense khukuri for wild dogs or anything else I might encounter in the woods. It's wicked fast and took a literal razor edge.

Although the chakma and steel help bring the edge back, I am noticing a little dulling on all my khukuris after test chopping on seasoned limbs and the need for sharpening. The need for me to learn more.

Truly appreciate your time and input Wolf_1989.
Click to expand...

Sounds like some proper convexing will cure that issue.
 
Congrat's on the M-43! It sure looks good and if not for your measurements the photo's do not not show any elongation of the grip/blade ratio as have some other recent longer M-43's.

Thanks for your sharpening info ...what do you think about the JewelStik Professional 1-2-3 Sharpener specially for Khuk use?
http://www.jewelstik.com/pro123.html
 
b.c.molin said:
Congrat's on the M-43! It sure looks good and if not for your measurements the photo's do not not show any elongation of the grip/blade ratio as have some other recent longer M-43's.
Click to expand...

Next I need to get my brother to bring his M43 over and I'll take a pic of them together to compare. The new handle is significantly longer than the old one.

Thanks for your sharpening info ...what do you think about the JewelStik Professional 1-2-3 Sharpener specially for Khuk use?
http://www.jewelstik.com/pro123.html
Click to expand...

That looks almost intentionally designed for khukuri sharpening. :thumbup:
 
Thanks for the responses, Wolf. The convex edge is where I'm headed and it looks like I've got lots of work ahead of me. First I've got to spend as much as a khukuri to get the needed supplies. Then more khukuris so I can sharpen them, too. HIKV.
DMT also makes a multi-sided tool similar to the Jewelstick. Two diamond sides and one ceramic.

Rick
 
C.S.Graves-It is a big khuk and I like it alot. I'm a sucker for the curved blade. But Wolf_1989's M43 at 20" and 40oz (2.5lb) has it beat.

I am still amazed that 10 years ago the AK 20" model was coming in at 22" and 64oz (4lb). I'm sure it would chop, just don't think I could swing it for too long.

The DMT multi-sided tool is called a 6 in 1 Triangle Sharpener. The corners are counted as sides, in addition to the flats. They are ceramic and of different radii for use as a steel or for sharpening serrated knives or carving tools.
 
OK so far I'm finding the M43 in a 20" size to be just about right, especially with the new longer handle.

I'll need a few days to get used to it, then it's going to be put up against the Super CAK.

It's tough to call it ahead of time:

M43 - 41 oz
SCAK - 34.45 oz

M43 - wide edge bevels
SCAK - narrow edge bevels (because Sgt Khadka forged it with DEEP double fullers)

M43 - heavier & therefore harder hitting
SCAK - faster & more agile

M43 - more 'drop' to the blade curvature
SCAK - longer hardened zone on the blade


Because of the extra weight, this M43 has an almost CAK feel to it.

But the Super CAK, because of the lighter weight, has more of a 'weapon' feel to it, like, well, a standard M43.

I think it's going to be really close. Where they aren't similar, they each compensate for it somehow, somewhere else.
 
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