- Joined
- Jun 27, 2012
- Messages
- 151
Hi everyone!
So this is my first post on the forum. I'm hoping to be spending a lot of time here (and with any luck doing more than just lurking). I asked Auntie to pass along my compliments to the Kami's, and she suggested I posted a review on the forum. So here it begins!
Like most of you I've been a knife lover for as long as I can remember. And over the years one of the only knives I have never owned has been a Khukuri. I've sharpened almost everything out there, and I've made most kinds of knives under the sun - but I had never caught Khuk fever.
Until now.
I'm still not quite sure where it came from. Seemingly out of the blue I found myself with the craving for a khukri in my hand and the thoughts of them running through my head.
When I decided that I needed one, my search began.
I had been looking over the different Khukuri styles out there, and this forum for days, trying to decide the right shape and size for me. I loved the grace of the Sirupati, but the strength and toughness of the Ang Khola. But nothing quite jumped out at me as the 'right' one for me.
I wanted something that would be equally at home in the woods of British Columbia, helping me to set up my base camp and shelter. As a display piece sitting on the wall of my armoury. And in the worst of situations, as something to be called upon for defense.
Then I ran across the Bashpati. Whose shape appealed to me as it had a quality of elegance to it, but seemed to have substance to it that kept it from being willowy.
Now that I had the idea of what I wanted, I needed to find the right one to be my first Khukuri.
And thanks to Auntie Yangdu, I found my first Khukuri. And what's more, there happened to be a matching one that made an ideal gift for my best friend!
I was writing her yesterday, inquiring as to when the Khukuri's might arrive as I was getting excited to see them. When I got her reply 'They should arrive very soon'. I was left wondering about that as it was coming across border. Then I got home from work that day, I found a parcel waiting for me. This amazed me as it had only been 3 business days and it was shipped internationally.
Auntie must be magic.
Now I have beside me my beautiful 15 & 1/4" 20oz Bone Handled Bashpati by Rajkumar. The spine on her must be a full 3/8 of an inch, and yet she seems light and agile despite it.
My friend got the 15" by 20oz version. Both of them have lovely rawhide sheaths.
I would post pictures but I'm not apparently allowed to add attachments yet ( I assume I need more posts.)
So I'm afraid you'll have to settle for descriptions. (I'll add pictures as I am advised how/able.)
My Bashpati is beautiful. The weight of it is a comforting thing, and I find it wants to oh so gently rock down because of the forward slope. It reacts well for it's weight, and fits my hand almost perfectly.
The intricacies of the Kami's markings and the consistency of the gentle hollows to the blade amaze me.
The handmade nature of these blades are revealed in the subtle imperfections in it.
Such as a touch of darkness to the bone where the glue has stepped in from the pommel cap, and areas of imperfect polish, but rather than detract from the Khukuri these subtle imperfections just highlight how beautiful of a handmade item this is. It creates with it a kind of alchemy, and helps to reveal the character of this blade. And the grace with which it holds all of it's qualities, from the minor scratches to the stunning metal carvings in beautiful script, or the hand shaped distal taper that fits perfectly to the changing the curve of the blade, tells something about it's maker.
This is one I expect to have for many, many years. And it will, I have no doubt, be the first of many.
Now this is the part where I ask you fellow forumites for your input, as I know Auntie has so many things to do that answering all of my questions would take too much of her time.
Bashpati's - I've found very little information on the history/nature of the Bashpati design. I asked Auntie and she told me that it means 'Bamboo leaf', and it certainly has a resemblance. But I am wondering if anyone out there knows any of the history of it, as I am rather curious?
And whether or not it would fit my needs as I have described above?
Having never owned a Khuk before I don't have the experience on that account to judge, but I believe it will suit my needs quite nicely. But being a novice in this regard I would love some input from people more experienced than I.
There are so many Khukuri styles here on the forum that are never listed on the website or on the warranty list - probably because they're special runs/rarer. But I wonder where the Bashpati might fall. Would it qualify for general use? Field use? Or somewhere in between?
As always everyone, thank you for any input and advice you can give.
So this is my first post on the forum. I'm hoping to be spending a lot of time here (and with any luck doing more than just lurking). I asked Auntie to pass along my compliments to the Kami's, and she suggested I posted a review on the forum. So here it begins!
Like most of you I've been a knife lover for as long as I can remember. And over the years one of the only knives I have never owned has been a Khukuri. I've sharpened almost everything out there, and I've made most kinds of knives under the sun - but I had never caught Khuk fever.
Until now.
I'm still not quite sure where it came from. Seemingly out of the blue I found myself with the craving for a khukri in my hand and the thoughts of them running through my head.
When I decided that I needed one, my search began.
I had been looking over the different Khukuri styles out there, and this forum for days, trying to decide the right shape and size for me. I loved the grace of the Sirupati, but the strength and toughness of the Ang Khola. But nothing quite jumped out at me as the 'right' one for me.
I wanted something that would be equally at home in the woods of British Columbia, helping me to set up my base camp and shelter. As a display piece sitting on the wall of my armoury. And in the worst of situations, as something to be called upon for defense.
Then I ran across the Bashpati. Whose shape appealed to me as it had a quality of elegance to it, but seemed to have substance to it that kept it from being willowy.
Now that I had the idea of what I wanted, I needed to find the right one to be my first Khukuri.
And thanks to Auntie Yangdu, I found my first Khukuri. And what's more, there happened to be a matching one that made an ideal gift for my best friend!
I was writing her yesterday, inquiring as to when the Khukuri's might arrive as I was getting excited to see them. When I got her reply 'They should arrive very soon'. I was left wondering about that as it was coming across border. Then I got home from work that day, I found a parcel waiting for me. This amazed me as it had only been 3 business days and it was shipped internationally.
Auntie must be magic.
Now I have beside me my beautiful 15 & 1/4" 20oz Bone Handled Bashpati by Rajkumar. The spine on her must be a full 3/8 of an inch, and yet she seems light and agile despite it.
My friend got the 15" by 20oz version. Both of them have lovely rawhide sheaths.
I would post pictures but I'm not apparently allowed to add attachments yet ( I assume I need more posts.)
So I'm afraid you'll have to settle for descriptions. (I'll add pictures as I am advised how/able.)
My Bashpati is beautiful. The weight of it is a comforting thing, and I find it wants to oh so gently rock down because of the forward slope. It reacts well for it's weight, and fits my hand almost perfectly.
The intricacies of the Kami's markings and the consistency of the gentle hollows to the blade amaze me.
The handmade nature of these blades are revealed in the subtle imperfections in it.
Such as a touch of darkness to the bone where the glue has stepped in from the pommel cap, and areas of imperfect polish, but rather than detract from the Khukuri these subtle imperfections just highlight how beautiful of a handmade item this is. It creates with it a kind of alchemy, and helps to reveal the character of this blade. And the grace with which it holds all of it's qualities, from the minor scratches to the stunning metal carvings in beautiful script, or the hand shaped distal taper that fits perfectly to the changing the curve of the blade, tells something about it's maker.
This is one I expect to have for many, many years. And it will, I have no doubt, be the first of many.
Now this is the part where I ask you fellow forumites for your input, as I know Auntie has so many things to do that answering all of my questions would take too much of her time.
Bashpati's - I've found very little information on the history/nature of the Bashpati design. I asked Auntie and she told me that it means 'Bamboo leaf', and it certainly has a resemblance. But I am wondering if anyone out there knows any of the history of it, as I am rather curious?
And whether or not it would fit my needs as I have described above?
Having never owned a Khuk before I don't have the experience on that account to judge, but I believe it will suit my needs quite nicely. But being a novice in this regard I would love some input from people more experienced than I.
There are so many Khukuri styles here on the forum that are never listed on the website or on the warranty list - probably because they're special runs/rarer. But I wonder where the Bashpati might fall. Would it qualify for general use? Field use? Or somewhere in between?
As always everyone, thank you for any input and advice you can give.
