My new Sher 18" horn AK replacement

[shao.fu.tzer]

Well after informing Yangdu of the chip in the Bura AK (my first kuk), she was kind enough to send me a brand new replacement. I will now attempt to compare the replacement with my original and share the pics with my fellow forumites and share my thoughts about my new kuk. I hope to gain some insight on the questions that burden my mind.

I immediately ripped into the package like an angry otter might rip into a salmon. After extracting my steely prize from its paper womb, I immediately noticed that it felt much lighter than the AK it was replacing. After weighing it I discovered it to be only 1 oz. lighter. Now, either I'm the human scale or this new kuk has a better balance to it. The spine on the Sher kuk is noticeably thinner which is a bit dismaying as I enjoy the look of a hugely thick spine on my kuk.

The handle is a bit longer however, and fits my hand much better. Overall, the finish of the handle is much nicer on the replacement. One area that concerns me if the irregularly shaped cho. It seems just a bid odd.

Could someone please advise me on the effect this may have on my kukri as a weapon or tool? I would like to know if it's a weakness.

The overall shape, fit and finish besides the cho is excellent. As I mentioned before, the balance in my hand makes it feel airlight. I've yet to do any chopping with it although I'm sure it will perform well.

I only wish I didn't have to give up the other AK . Even with the chip, I prefer the blade on it immensely. I know I need to send it back, but I can't find a box large enough to contain it and the original shipping container needed for the insurance claim.

I've applied a liberal amount of hooflex to my kuks and they handles now look absolutely brilliant. I can't wait until I have enough money to but another kuk. Hopefully a wood handled one next. Something in the 3 lb. range. These little kuks are childsplay!

Shao

 

[munk]

Fine looking cho....Really; the cho of an AK is not going to effect the performance of the blade.



munk

 

[shao.fu.tzer]

Thanks Munk, I just didn't know if that was normal or not. I really like the blade. Sher did a great job. My HIKV now knows no limits. I need to get a 20" AK next I think. All my kuks are too small.

Shao

 

[Fiddleback]

If you are into the thick spine then you are certainly headed in the right direction with the 20" AK. But you should also think of a GRS. It is the other mighty chopper, and the spine of mine was the thickest I had (till I gave it to my dad). Unbelievable chopper. That big wide belly is a dayum perty sight too.

Glad you like the Sher. I don't have one of those yet.

 

[Steely_Gunz]

Looks great, Shao

Andy is right about the monster GRS. If you want to split wood, then i'd go with the 20" AK. However, if you are going to be felling wood...man, the 22" GRS is hard to beat. I really enjoy mine. Everytime I want to feel like He-Man or a barbarian, i take the GRS out and swing it around a bit. It's a "man's" khuk to be sure

Jake

 

[Spectre]

I'm a big little man...or a little big man? Anyway, I like powerful manual weapons, but the 22" GRS was just too much for me. My 17" is much more my speed.

John

 

[JimmyJimenez]

Only judging by your photos of the spine area of these knives (which was nice of you to share with us), I'd say that visually it's a toss up, IMO.

The "Bura" specimen obviously has the thicker spine, while the "Sher" has the more evenly done spine grinds and better final polish (at least in the areas shown).
So visually speaking, they both have their advantages, IMO.

To me, the cho looks nicely shaped. The only thing that I noticed that I do not care for too much, is the slimness of it's center post. No biggy either way, just my personal preference for it to be at least a bit thicker

Your full photo of the Sher AK seems to show it having a bit of a satin polish to it, instead of a high polish, is that more because of the way the photo turned out, or is it really satin polished?

Thanks for sharing, photos are always good, IMO

 

[shao.fu.tzer]

I think I'm going to have to keep buying these things until I get one that's perfect. Apparently I had few beers too many when typing that post since I referred to my current kuks as being somehow related to childsplay. I'd like to retract that comment. I would like to replace the whole last line with:

"I really love these 2 pounders, but what I'm really itching for is something in the 42-50oz range!"

The Sher AK is growing on me more every day. The balance really does makes it feel much lighter in hand than it is. I hope its performance doesn't lag behind its good looks. I've been too afraid to take it out. There are a few scratches in the finish - but I wouldn't call it satin. I've recently become obsessed with polishing metal. My movie model needs polishing badly so I actually broke down and bought a bench grinder in the hopes of eventually purchasing some buffing wheels and compounds so I can polish it myself. If anyone knows of a place to buy buffing gear cheap on the internet, please let me know. Maybe I should take that question to the knifemaker's forums.
Thanks for the purchasing advice guys - it's definitely between a GRS and 20" AK - but more realistically it will be whatever I can get on the next DOTD. I'm going to take my AK out to chop on some particle board. I'll take some more pics and post them in a new thread.

Shao

 

[Roadrunner]

I think you'll find that the thinner spine won't give up any chopping performance. It's all about the edge and the balance. I have a BGRS with a fairly thin blade which outchops bigger blades by a fair margin due to it's amazing balance and edge. The thing gets sharper with use, it's crazy.

 

[Astrodada]

"I really love these 2 pounders, but what I'm really itching for is something in the 42-50oz range!"

Shao

Shao....I think you must be quite big in order to handle one of those.....

 

[Svashtar]

Shao, 2 things: It's going to be a full time job to keep them polished if you use them at all. Esp. to equal the factory polish. Most of mine I just rub out to a satin finish after using them for a while. Looks very nice and is quick and easy to maintain. You can do it easily with just oil and a scotch brite pad. Also the satin finish holds oil much better, so IMO those blades are less subject to rust.

Secondly, as I have mentioned to several other forumites, sadly the cho is seriously over ground and the resulting fractal stresses are going to cause the knife to fail. Send it to me and I will dispose of it properly. (One of these days someone is going to believe me!)

Seriously, it's a beauty. I love that handle, and the cho for that matter. I'm a stickler for detail, and can't stand crooked handle rings, and those look flawless. I have an older wood one, but it does not look nearly so nice.

Regards,

Norm

 

[sogguy]

"I really love these 2 pounders, but what I'm really itching for is something in the 42-50oz range!"


Is your real name Arnold or do you have a pet that is named "Babe" and is BLUE?

Dick

 

[Bladite]

"I only wish I didn't have to give up the other AK . Even with the chip, I prefer the blade on it immensely. I know I need to send it back, but I can't find a box large enough to contain it and the original shipping container needed for the insurance claim."

well, don't fix it, keep it, beat the crap out of it

the USPS should have a large style poster box very much like the shorter one that yours came in, if you do send it back take your old box, flatten it, and then fold in half lengthwise, put in new box, put in well wrapped kukri, off you go, no problemo. the boxes dey is free. who do you have to ship it to for the claim? take lots of pictures of your blades, issues, the box, and your packing - evidence in case. good luck.

bladite

 

[Rich_S]

Looks great, Shao

Andy is right about the monster GRS. If you want to split wood, then i'd go with the 20" AK. However, if you are going to be felling wood...man, the 22" GRS is hard to beat. I

Interesting statement. What is it about the GRS that makes it ideal for felling trees as opposed to splitting wood? I currently have an 18" AK and am in the market for a second khuk. The big GRS is certainly on the list of ones to consider. If there's something unique about it, I could use that as ammunition for when my wife asks why I need another one - "but honey, the first one is designed for chopping wood, THIS one is for cutting trees down in the first place, they're different, THAT'S why I need both."

 

[Steely_Gunz]

Interesting statement. What is it about the GRS that makes it ideal for felling trees as opposed to splitting wood? I currently have an 18" AK and am in the market for a second khuk. The big GRS is certainly on the list of ones to consider. If there's something unique about it, I could use that as ammunition for when my wife asks why I need another one - "but honey, the first one is designed for chopping wood, THIS one is for cutting trees down in the first place, they're different, THAT'S why I need both."

Hey Rich
You'll find that, for the most part, the big GRS' come with a pretty thin edge that will bite deeper than the thicker edged 20" AK's. The GRS also tends to have quite a belly on it so it will really bite with each swing. Personally, i find the GRS more to my liking than an AK. Since I have reshaped the handle, I can swing the 3lb monster pretty easily all day.

Jake

 

[Yvsa]

I think I'm going to have to keep buying these things until I get one that's perfect.

Shao

Then you're going to be buying HI Khukuris for a damned long time Shao!!!!
They are after all *Handmade Knives* and although they do approach perfection if a person looks at one hard enough they can find some little something that isn't quite perfect even on Bura's work and usually his is the most perfect ones made.:thumbup:
As to the cho, once again it is a *Handmade Knife.*
Just because the cho is off a little doesn't mean weakness.
The best way to look at the imperfections is that they are part of the kami's artistic ability and shows that indeed they are handmade and therefore have a soul compared to the lifeless offerings of manufacturers such as Cold Steel who's knives are as nearly perfect as a machine can make them but without a cho they are not really a khukuri.
And they truly don't have the warm feeling a handmade knife has nor the soul that a handmade knife has.