My first khukuri: HI 18" Chainpuri w/pics

S

stickfred

Joined
Nov 6, 2009
Messages
803
After getting the khuk bug from looking at the CS offerings I searched the net a little and found HI and KHHI (and their various offshoot sites). Trying to be frugal, I inquired to KHHI and after many weeks I finally got a total price. During the communication with them I joined this forum to get more info on HI and you're stuck with me now. Needless to say I realized that Yangdu's DOTD were the way to start out. She posted a 21" Chainpuri on 11.10.09 and I was already smitten with the sleek Chainpuri. Yangdu's response to my email was that the offered khuk was gone but she had another if I was interested and I told her that I'd prefer an 18" if she had it. I'd never held one and figured 18" would be a good size to start with. Two days later I received my first triangular box from Nevada and inside was a beautiful Sher made Chainpuri. I held it in my hands and the HIKV ramped up. (I'm only recently able to calmly sit, watch and wait for a khukuri that I want.) I got my tape out for measuring but had to go back to the spine and measure again 'cause it seemed bigger than the 1/4" I had mentally noted and sure enough I had misread the 1/2" measurement. Craftsmanship, beauty, spirit, functionality, quality and service - all the words of other forumites in their reports/reviews and I can't add to them but now with my own handmade HI khukuri in hand I understood. I took it outside and used it to chop an old Norway maple limb and it did a fine job of it. The edge came chopping sharp and was still that way when I was done. Hopefully I'll get to put it to more use now that warmer weather has arrived and my sister may need some clearing done at her place.

Thank you Yangdu for your kindly and excellent service. Thanks to the kamis at BirGorkha for the sharing the fruits of your skill. Finally, thanks to Blade Forums for harboring this HI niche. This forum is an excellent fit for me to help keep my head in the right place while the outside world seems to flail. The helpfulness, respect and consideration found here is a good example for all that we share the planet with. Take a bow.

OAL-18.5"
Blade-12 5/16"
Handle-6.5"
Belly-1 9/16"
Spine-.5"
Point of Balance-3.5" from bolster
Weight-25 oz
Chainpuri Rig.jpg
Chainpuri Measure.jpg
Chainpuri Thick.jpg
Chainpuri Handle.jpg
Chainpuri.jpg
 
Thanks for the report, Rick. Nicely done.
Don't look now....but you have HIKV. :D
 
stickfred said:
I guess so, what with 18 of 'em now. I knew I had it for sure after gettin' that first one.
Click to expand...
I doesnt get easier the more ya buy, does it......
My only saving grace is a perpetual empty wallet. I don't think theres anything that stops the drooling.
 
I've read that the term Chainpuri is actually the name of a small village in Nepal. I've seen lots of knife shapes that carry the name Chainpuri, the common denominator being that the blades tend to be on the narrower side. Was this blade designed for a specific use? My guess would be for cutting smaller diameter plant growth such as vines and reeds?

At any rate, it looks like another fine example of Kami Sher's work.
 
That is the one I asked about in your group picture, right? I really like it. I have a lot of beefy ones and sometimes the situation just calls for something a little more elegant. I also like the way that one looks overall, the handle carving and shape and the little embellishments on the Karda and Chakmak are really nice.
 
Yowza - that is a nice piece. I'm starting to think that it's a rarity to see a Sher-made kukri with anything less than a 1/2" spine.... my 15" AK by him is 1/2" thick (despite the standard being 3/8") and my 18" Vojpure is actually a hair over 1/2" - probably around 17/32" :)
 
Correct about the naming of the blade for the area it came from. The form of the blade probably had a lot to do with the vegetation in that local. Vines, reeds, smaller trees and saplings. I imagine it was used to clear trails, cut vegetables and meat, build shelters, agricultural uses and defense. The blade shape can vary depending mostly, I believe, on the kamis understanding of what the Chainpuri is - but always a slender blade. When Jag & Prem first made Chitlangis and they were shipped to Reno, Uncle Bill was listing them as "Dui Chirra Chainpuri".

This is the one that you had asked about warty. The khuk originally cam with two chakmas and Yangdu sent me the karda you see in the photo. It was a little too big for the ring but it has since cut the ring and fits just fine now. I just have to remember to keep the sharp edge from pointing to the scabbard. Thanks for your offer warty but this being my first I don't think I'll be selling it. I'm actually looking for another 18" Chainpuri that weighs a little less - akin to Rusty's that I think was around 17" and weighed 15 oz. The recent Sgt. Khadka Chainpuri were in that range so there's hope yet.

I was surprised by the beefy Sher construction but not put off at all. I know its well made and it will chop. I've acquied a fair number of Sher's work and without looking at my spec sheet can honestly say that anything in the 15-18" range will have a spine of at least 7/16". I'm glad I didn't get one of his early standard models after his initial break-in run of Kagas Katnes. I think the term "Sher crazy" was used.

You're right, Karda, nothing stops the drooling. I have been able to hold back a little. But I was on at the right time to shark that 15" Salyan on the Memorial post. Wouldn't you know it, another Sher.
 
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No, no, no...not rubbing it in. I'm not like THE DUCK - not holed up in a cave obsessively collecting Durbas or Shers.
 
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