Manakamana Special: Divinity Incarnate

[Steely_Gunz]

Once again, thanks to Yangdu's wormhole technology, I found the ever coveted USPS Priority Mail package waiting for me on my desk long before I expected it to arrive. I have to tell you, I've been having an absolute stinker of a day here at work, so finding an eagerly anticipated package ahead of schedule did a great service of lifting my gloomy mood.

Inside I found my new newspaper mummy-wrapped Manakamana Special as well as a really cool and very well constructed navy blue "Himalayan Import" tee shirt with crossed Manakamana Specials on the front of it. Very awesome shirt, and appears that it will fit my size XL shoulders and size large chest pretty well I'm really happy to have some company branded swag to wear out and about. Previously all I had was a tee shirt from a Khuk Kon that I didn't get a chance to attend back in '04 and a really cool brass crossed khuk pin that I wear in the collar of my motorcycle jacket (but as I don't have a bike these days, it doesn't get out that much). Anyway, I love the shirt I'm going to have my wife wash it tonight so I can wear it this weekend for Father's Day.

Now, on to the knife: Disproportionately unexpected grace is the only way to describe it. It's an 18" khuk that wields like a 15" one. It has the feminine lines of a first rate slasher yet has mass in all the right places to win cleaving contests well outside of its weight class. The MS is like a strong leggy farmer's daughter who is not only easy on the eyes but could also probably blacken them in a dust up. A jaw-dropper in a sun dress but feels more at home in jeans and a tee shirt. A natural beauty with an easily perceived hard and dangerous edge. Simply beautiful to hold and swing about...er, I'm talking about the knife now. That's not another personification

I haven't actually had the chance to test the knife out as I just opened up and started to write. However, here are a few measurements:
Overall length: 18.25"
Weight: 32oz
Handle length: 6.25"
Blade length: 12"
Balance point from bolster: 2.5"
Balance point from butt of grip: 8"

This is a very, very balanced knife for being 2lbs of horn and steel. It's 3/8" thick at the spine and feels like a super beefy Siru. I have no doubt that it will be equally at home splitting kindling as it would be blasting through thick vines. The long grip of the MS give it a very 18" WWII feel to it inasmuch as when you choke up to the cho, it's very easy to do fine work with the knife. I was able to easily sharpen a pencil with the area just ahead of the cho as the knife's weight practically disappeared into a neutral balance.

The blade has what I would call a high-polish villager finish. It's not mirror, but it seems to be a step above satin. As I have no real feelings either way in regards to finish, I'll just say it looks really nice. To elaborate, the finish on this knife's blade is incredible. While there are a few hiccups here and there that are to be expected in a khuk, the edge is razor straight, the engraving is very clean, and the steel bolster is as perfect as it gets on a hand fitted piece. In short, it's a knife designed to be used. Care was put into all the right places as it is both incredibly balance and ruggedly designed. A slight boo-boo with the laha or a bit of filler in the butt of the horn do not bother me in the slightest. The Manakamana Special is a dependable and loyal user. The other lasses can stay at home powdering their noses. The MS will hop the fence, grab the calf by the horns, and hog tie it in the mud like the ornery critter that it is.

I can't thank Yandu and Raikumar enough. It's an incredible knife. It'll be the perfect large camp blade for the little camping trip my wife and daughter and I are taking at the end of the month. Now all I have to do is design and make a sheath for it to right high and tight.

Here's a couple of pics:
Here's just a basic shot of it. Purdy, ain't she


Here's one showing the tapered chiruwa tang


Once again, a huge thank you to Yangdu and the kamis for their excellent work and service. This is a real keeper, and has a place in any khuk kollection

 

[leebrewer]

Very nice. Cant wait to see the sheath. Thanks.

 

[Steely_Gunz]

I got started on the sheath this afternoon. It's cut and fitted. All I have to do is dye, drill holes, fit the belt loop, stitch, sand, redye, and seal....easy peasy

 

[JayGoliath]

The MS is like a strong leggy farmer's daughter who is not only easy on the eyes but could also probably blacken them in a dust up. A jaw-dropper in a sun dress but feels more at home in jeans and a tee shirt. A natural beauty with an easily perceived hard and dangerous edge. Simply beautiful to hold and swing about...

Jake,
I kept googling any MS with that description on top!

Anyway the MS looks like a hybrid of ASTK + WWI. Let's see how the chopping is done. I hope to try out my Nuwakote this week. It's been madness.

 

[bemo]

Jake, in your pic the nose doesn't look anywhere near as blunt as I thought. That tip looks very similar to my ASTK.

 

[Steely_Gunz]

Jake, in your pic the nose doesn't look anywhere near as blunt as I thought. That tip looks very similar to my ASTK.

Yeah, she's pretty pointy Actually, I would say the tip is almost as needlely as khuk gets. I still haven't figured this beauty out. Is she a worker that can fight or a fighter that can work. That's actually a good way to describe it. The overall feel of this is like a much daintier ASTK. Less broad in the shoulders and longer in the legs, yet retains the family nose

At any rate, this is a special one. As I don't have a sheath ready yet, I left her here at the office last night...I actually missed her The field sharp edge is toothy and very useful. However, I have a sneaking suspicion that with a little stone and strop time, I could get her shivering-sharp in no time. With a bit of work, she could look at you the wrong way and make you bleed

 

[arbiter]

I knew you'd like it Jake.It's as fast as most any 18"+ khuk I've had the pleasure to handle.BTW-I've done the edge refinement you speak of at the end of your review-well tempered steel and near surgically sharp.Just awesome.

 

[wildmanh]

Jake, thanks for the information so far. I look forward to hearing more about the Khukri when you get the chance to test it in the field.

 

[bemo]

So how does this compare to the venerable M43?

 

[Yangdu]

Great post, thank you for sharing

 

[Steely_Gunz]

So how does this compare to the venerable M43?

Totally different animal, Bemo. My M-43 is one of the much curvier varieties. It has a shorter handle that locks your hand into almost a hammer grip. It's very front heavy and when you swing it with a hammer strike the tip whips forward in a circular arch. It's a very martial khuk, IMHO. The Manakamana Special is very, very balanced. While it would lose to the M-43 in terms of brute chopping power, I think it would be less fatiguing to use in a slicing manner. In utility terms: The M-43 will probably chop wood better while the MS would make a better heavy duty machete. In combat terms: The M-43 is a lopper and a death-blow dealer. The MS is going to slash and stab 20 different ways.

I just remembered that my M-43 was hanging out in my truck, so I took a quick pic to compare the two:

To clear up a few things, the MS is heavier than the M-43 but its not as forward weighted. The m-43 is a full 1.25" shorter, but most that is in the grip. The actual blade length difference is closer to 1/4" and that's not even "straightening" the edge in regards to cutting surface. The funny thing is that the MS will actually fit into the M43 sheath and seat DEEPER all the way past the bolster where the M-43 fits in right to where the bolster crimps in on the blade.

 

[wildmanh]

That's one curvy M43 and I like the looks of it.

Looks like your MS has a little bit of a bend where the handle meets the blade, thats nice! Good looking handle too. I think this new Khukri has some nice lines.

 

[bemo]

Great pic Steely, helps a great deal and you gave a great explanation. Looks like the Manakamana would be a great all-rounder. It will be really interesting to see as time goes on which one you reach for more.

 

[Steely_Gunz]

Here's a quick update of my typical example of form following function sheath. While it's nothing to look at, I was really pleased with the level of fit I was able to get out of it. It's a quick draw sheath with no retaining strap allowing for a high and tight ride and a out and up strong-side draw. It clicks in and out like kydex, and I haven't even fire-hardened the leather yet.

Carries quite well for a 2lb knife.


I thought the Manakamana Special looked like a older design. I wanted an old distressed look to the leather to reflect that, so that's why it has that muted beat up look to it. I still have some sanding to do before it's 100%.

 

[leebrewer]

Oh, I like this sheath.

 

[Steely_Gunz]

Thanks
My work is always really rough as I'm not a details kind of guy I also like form fitted sheathes with very little bulk. Also, higher and tighter is what I prefer for discreet carry.
Not pretty, but the seams should hold.
Thanks for looking

 

[bargs]

nice blades,now i got to get me some leather and try a sheath,been looking up past posts,great job.

 

[JayGoliath]

For a weird reason the Manakamana decided to elude Cotherion and slip up to me. (No worry mate it's on the way to you!)
I guess the magnetic field of L’amour is too strong; Mr Singh couldn’t wait for the rendez-vous.

As you notice the Manakamana has a pronounced belly which makes it a little more efficient chopper than ASTK. The weight and balance of Mana are ++ for camping; ASTK has 1/2" spine thickness, Mana has 1/4".
Manakamana and ASTK are also the few that bears "U.B" in Devanagari.

 

[bemo]

Nice pics Jay, what's the weight on Manakamana and more importantly how's it feel compared to the ASTK. They look like they could be cousins.

 

[JayGoliath]

what's the weight on Manakamana and more importantly how's it feel compared to the ASTK. They look like they could be cousins.

Thank you.
ASTK is a lot heavier whilst Mana is balanced.
The weight of Mana estimated around 26-27Oz? I haven't weigh them but ASTK weighs around 38Oz, too heavy for routine chopping.