Near Perfect YCS

WEll, Well. Guess what I got in the mail today? The YCS that Uncle had up as a UBDOTD , and boy is is beautiful. Don't know why I waited so long to get this one. The Kardas are all that you could ever need and strong as oxes, wish the handle on the big one was a tad bit longer, but overall great. ( I have big hands and play percussion in a recording band which accounts for swelling most of the time) No time to actually take it into the field for testing today, but looking forward to it. All tools great. The only dissapointment was the weight and balance. Quick weigh in at 1LB 14oz. versus original 1LB 6oz I was expecting. Balance seems to be head heavy, but as I said I will take it into the field to test and report back. Blade by Durba. His work reminds me of sher, as the first angkhola I ordered was made by him and very head heavy, and unbalanced (IMHO). Thanks Bill for the deal. Still a great buy.
 
Bill Martino

Bill Martino

Joined
Mar 5, 1999
Messages
34,096
Many thanks, Krem. Durba is doing fine work but still has not adjusted to making anything but "thick blades don't bend or break, thin ones do," basic kami philosophy.

It's the detail work done by apprentices that is lacking but the basic rig is very high quality and quite sound.

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Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ
Himalayan Imports Archives (33,000 + posts)
 
:
The 2nd YCS I got weighs in at 1Lb 12 Oz so it's not to far from your's
KK. But mine's made by Sanu who made the original. The awl weighs exactly 2 Oz and when added to the scale it comes out the same as your's, not a lot of difference.
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I had to rework the handle just a bit on this one to move the ring around the handle down just a bit and rounded it off as well. I find that if I put the ring between my pinkie and ring finger the balance is much better and that's where I tested it at and got the very pleaseing results at.
The balance and the weight makes it chop like a much heavier model the same as the original. It's still light enough to be able to get more speed out of it or at least that's my expereince.
I hope your's works out well for you and that after some use it will be very satisfactory for you.
A new khukuri is a lot like a brand new pair of shoes in that a person has to get used to them before they're completely comfortable.
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>>>>---Yvsa-G@WebTV.net---->®

"VEGETARIAN".............
Indin word for lousy hunter.
 
Thanks Bill and Yvsa. I appreciate your encouragement and information. I did not want to give the impression that I disliked the work, just that it was a litte heavier than what I expected in addition to the balance issue I mentioned. I guess I've just gotten spoiled on Bura and Sanu's sense of balance which is apparent in their knives, the only knives I have owned till now. We'll give it a few weeks and I think things will be fine. Took a little bit to get used to the Angkhola as well. As I said, I'll give a report. Thanks again Bill and Yvsa.
 
Yvsa --- how's the 2nd YCS look like and what's it's defference with original YCS? I am really tempted to have it you know ...
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!

Pakcik Bill --- How much is the 2nd YCS?

wa-(A)llaahu-aa'lam!

[This message has been edited by mohd (edited 03-14-2001).]
 
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Mohd no one as yet has got a YCS-2, but it will be as described above and below.
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Bro what do you think the YCS-2 with the standard YCS tool's, no inlays, and steel mounted khukuri and scabbard is going to cost?

And if there were only 2 ways to get it wouldn't it save a lot of confusion?
It seems everyone wants the standard YCS tool's with no inlay anyway and, knowing what they are, expect to pay a little more because they are getting more.
I know I am; as too me half the YCS rig is the small tools and extra work gets extra pay.


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>>>>---Yvsa-G@WebTV.net---->®

"VEGETARIAN".............
Indin word for lousy hunter.

[This message has been edited by Yvsa (edited 03-14-2001).]
 
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That sounds like a more than fair price to me!!!!
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>>>>---Yvsa-G@WebTV.net---->®

"VEGETARIAN".............
Indin word for lousy hunter.
 
I just got my YCS today. Yvsa's right, the little tools are half the kit. Both kardas are knives in their own right. I don't know what to do with the awl though, as it is so blunt that I don't know if I can rightfully call it an awl. Those kamis sure are funny! The inlaying is superb. I know Uncle is picky, but this time he may just be nitpicking. I couldn't find anything wrong with it. The blade itself is another thing though. This one was made by Durba. He may be very good, but he has a long ways to go before he reaches Sanu's or Bura's level of mastery. He may have hardened it up pretty well, but I'll never know as I'm sending this one back to Uncle. His work is just not in the same league as Sanu, Bura, or even Kumar. I have khukuris by all three and the edges on them are all smooth, continuous, and graceful. By contrast this blade by Durba seems kind of rough. The best analogy I can think of is handwriting styles. Bura's and Sanu's blades are elegant examples of a practiced hand, like the signatures of our Founding Fathers. The YCS by Durba that I received reminded me of a child who is first learning to put pen, or rather crayon to paper. The ideal is supposed to be a graceful S, but the result is more jerky and disjointed than smooth.

Sorry if this post seems kind of negative or if it seems that I dislike the YCS. Quite the opposite. I love the YCS. It felt great in my hand. The only thing is that I don't know if Durba is qualified to be making them at this time. He may have potential, and even the skill, but until he learns to make blades according to the HI requirements of robust beauty, I think he should be limited to making standard items, not works or art like the YCS.
 
Thanks for input.

The reason the awl is blunt is the tip got broken off the wood model and the kamis are following the model. I've emailed and asked them to stop this and make the awl sharp. But it is not a tough job to put a point on the awl and I probably should have done that right here in retrospect.

Durba has a couple of staunch fans so I'll put this one back up as an UBDOTD for them. To be honest I was more concerned with the cosmetics than anything.

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Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ
Himalayan Imports Archives (33,000 + posts)
 
Just got this email which I thought I'd stick in here in defense of Durba.
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Uncle, once again I'm blown away by the work that I see here. This is my first blade by Durba and it is better than I thought was possible in this design. To be honest my first impression upon viewing the BAS on the website was that it was too skimpy to be of real use. It should be noted that this was before I'd ever handled an HI knife. I decided on it for the value of it and because I've learned to trust that I'll be happy with any one of the Khuks that these masters of the forge can come up with. The karda and chakma are a bit rough, but that something I've come to look for as a reflection of the philosophy of the people who put them to use. The big knife is simply a masterpiece, it's like an AK without the "false spine" and it is the most cleanly fitted and finished handmade knife or sword I've ever seen! It's got a smaller handle, which fits me perfectly, and the overall rig is the tightest and most solid I've yet to own. An absolute 10/10, if not better, in my book! If I were permitted by my everyday life to wear a khukuri everyday, this would be it. I really need to go use it, but there is a huge storm rolling in right now. Of course, I'm not all that fond of the furniture
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Yes Uncle Bill, this will tide me over(I hope) until my tin chirra arrives
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Speaking of which, did you ever get confirmation from Gelbu on that? My thanks to he and the rest of Birghorka for the incredible quality of their work. My thanks to you for showing that quality work does not happen without even higher quality people.
Take it easy,


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Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ
Himalayan Imports Archives (33,000 + posts)
 
:
Bro I will volunteer to sharpen any of the awls on the YCS's that come in with the blunt tip
_free of charge_ and will
_even pay the postage_ back to whomever the knife belong's to, or yourself so that you can send them on to the rightful owner.

Or anyone getting a YCS that can't sharpen their own awl can send it to me and I will do the same deal, but just on the continental USA.
I don't want to get confused on international orders and I think you and everyone else can understand why.
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Yvsa,
just trying to be helpful.
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Uncle, I think what Kamagong is saying is not in itself a negative reflection of Durba as a person or even a forecast of his future work. In fact I wouldn't even characterize it as a total statement on his present work. The comment stems from the work that he has been exposed to just like me. It is just as I stated earlier in my post, that his work as far as I have been exposed to it does not meet the same level as sanu or bura, and I believe these are heart felt estimations and for me the first minor dissapointment ever fo me, but it is only minor.

I Did some light chopping with my YCS yesterday and did not get the kind of penetration and "Bite" that I expected. I must admit that it wasn't a full field test as I don't have time right now to do so, and I will concede that I did not compare it in fair light since I used a sanu made Angkhola on the same piece of wood , but the behaviors of the two knives in the same task were quite different and there was no comparison. Also, I don not fool myself into believing that th YCS is meant to do the kind of intense heavy chopping that the Angkhola does. In terms of the inlay, I surely noticed the flaws, but they were inconsequential to me. I like users and that is just what this will be. I say lets give Durba some time and I'm sure he will shine like all the other Kamis at Birghorka. I have to admit that I am in agreement with K in terms of comparative quality of work. I do intend to keep mine though. For the money and the tools (Not excluding the knife itself) this is a heck of a deal even at full price and I would readily admonish anyone to purchase this awesome khuk. I found yesterday that I did have to change my technique a bit in relation to this Khuk using more wrist and snapping the blade into the wood. This created a more effective chop for me atleast. Amazingly enough, the blade now does not seem as top heavy as I originally thought. What a difference a day makes.
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Well I for one think that durba is an incredible kami. I now have at least three of his knives (including his first knife at Birgorgkha) I think that he is right up the with Sanu and Bura. Everybody makes thier knives differently.

I have a number of knives from Bura, Sanu, Kesar, Kumar, Sher and now Durba.

Durba makes a fine heavy knife (which is what I love. I think that Durba and Sher have a similar style in the way they produce knives. I have no complaints about any of the knives from him or any other kami for that matter.

Kukhris are like women, all a little different, why chose love 'em all
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Yvsa,

Looking at the profile of the YCS I noticed that it looks a lot like the khukuri in Farwell's "The Gurkhas." You know the one in the illustration where the Gurkha is testing the sharpness of his blade. The YCS even has a triangular cho like the one in the picture. Was the YCS influenced at all by this picture?
 
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Kama the YCS was based on some old fully curved khukuris and the kamis got it about 98%.
The model had a more curved handle which is very difficult to do and quite a fancy full radiused cho with the blade side of it a little higher and very sharp, also difficult to do.
The pic you mentioned had no influence on it.

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>>>>---Yvsa-G@WebTV.net---->®

"VEGETARIAN".............
Indin word for lousy hunter.
 
:
Tsimi needs the heavier YCS done up by Durba, ainnit?
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And notice that Tsimi mentions 2 khuk's and a Tarwar!!!
Now I may be able to see this *research* situation if it was limited to the khuk's like Tsimi has always claimed, but a Tarwar?!?!?
No Way!!!!
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------------------

>>>>---Yvsa-G@WebTV.net---->®

"VEGETARIAN".............
Indin word for lousy hunter.
 
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