- Joined
- Mar 25, 2014
- Messages
- 2,010
The kuk fairy did it again! Another triangle box came walking up to the front door this morning bearing gifts for far off lands. Mrs. Martino took my order a while back for a custom M43, and she has definitely delivered the goods! Bravo! The khukuri was eyeballed through a fine tooth comb to see if there was something about Kumar's craftsmanship I was unhappy about. (That was a couple of hours ago and I'm still looking for the first one!) This particular kuk is not as pretty as my Curved Spine, but it is just as large. Solid, my word, it's great. The handle is ample for my pudgy fingers and its already split a 12 inch 4X4 about 2/3rds the way down, so it chops pretty dern well in my book and that makes me happy. There were only a couple of custom features asked for and I got'em. One was to make it a bit different. The other to make it stand out from the pack...and do I ever like it! Here are 5 pics and you can decide if I got my monies worth or not, but you can mark me down as satisfied & content. Thank you,Kumar for a most excellent piece of craftsmanship and thank you, Mrs. Martino for graciously accommodating my request.
P.S. Bawanna and Gurkha Berserka: you can look, but don't slobber all over it!
[/URL][/IMG] Here she is in one fine rig. Brought her two kids along, too.
[/URL][/IMG] A 15 inch ruler is laid along side to give you a better idea how large this gal is. Yes, Shavru, I often talk sexist. Something us old curmudgeons can get away with!
[/URL][/IMG] One maker's cartouche coming right up! The brass bolster was the first item I asked for because most of the other M43s are decked out in German silver, a.k.a. white metal.
[/URL][/IMG] This is the one custom feature that was foremost in my mind. An engraved spine of some mysterious writing. Ain't it grand? I love it, I love it, I love it! It's somewhat akin to engraved spines sold on an antique arms website and that's where the idea for the engraving came from. Seeing the engraving and the entire kuk, it looks most impressive.
[/URL][/IMG] Just a cheap shot of the M43 hanging in the shop. Look closely and you'll see a Keshar Lal hanging from a thong in the background. Must get a sheath for it one day.
P.S. Bawanna and Gurkha Berserka: you can look, but don't slobber all over it!
Bawanna Sharp Eyes, yes, there are two keepers on the brass butt plate as you thought. I think we was Siamese twins and I got thrown out with the junk when it was all over. Got adopted by wharf rats over Cincinnati way and brought up by a weasel for a Godfather. Used to rob gas stations on Saturday nights because they had more money in'em than banks do. Judge told me I had a choice, go to reform school, go to Vietnam, or go donate my body to science. While I was making up my mind, I ran away from home when I was 14 and ain't never looked back and here I am! How does Brother Bawanna Bookie sound? Oops. I forgot. Doctor Brother Bawanna Bookie. That sounds more gooder, eh? Thanks for the kind words, guys.
