need help w/ kuk identification

O

olpappy

Joined
Dec 6, 2004
Messages
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I recently traded for a 25" HI kuk signed by Kumar with a slender blade, flat spine and keyhole shaped cho cutout. The blade was listed a Gelbu Special, however the blade doesn't appear to be forged in a "hollow grind" profile as the GS should be, at least not that I can see.

Pictures can be viewed here: www.angelfire.com/hi/tiare/new/kukri.htm

It doesn't have the decorative brass inlay or V-spine of a sirupati, is not slender enough to be a kobra and doesn't have the three raised buttcap bumps that kobras do.

The HI website describes the Malla as having a flat spine and round cho cutout, but the cho pictured is different from this kuk, and the Malla usually has 2" wide blade, on the heavier side. The blade of my kuk is only about 1.75" wide. It does have a narrow fuller or groove just below the spine, similar to the Malla pictured on the HI shopping site, unfortunately it can't be seen well in the photo I took.

Can anyone help identify which model this is? Thanks...
 
Olpappy I'm not sure all Kobras have the three point butt cap construction. From what I can tell by the pic it looks Kobra like to me.

Any way to get a better pic?
 
Could be a very light Sirupati, but Yvsa's guess is as good as mine.

You just can't rule out a kami doing just about anything when someone's not looking over their shoulder.
 
I'm guessing it's an anorexic Sirupati...treat it like a Kobra.
 
25" Malla.

Svashtar has one in wood- I think one of each was ordered, this horn one (if I'm right) was a UBBB. Dunno who got it but I always thought 25" Malla was a good idea.

Svashtar? Am I right?

Ad Astra
 
Looks like a long, lean Stretch-Malla to me.

Nice.

"variation happens"

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I must jump on the Malla bandwagon also. It looks to have a flat spine and the Cho looks like a Malla Cho.
 
Ad Astra said:
25" Malla.

Svashtar has one in wood- I think one of each was ordered, this horn one (if I'm right) was a UBBB. Dunno who got it but I always thought 25" Malla was a good idea.

Svashtar? Am I right?

Ad Astra
Click to expand...

You got it Ad! That's the twin to the 25" Kumar Malla in wood that I ordered. I have to tell you the workmanship was so fine on mine, that the next day I emailed Yangdu and asked her to hold this one in horn as I wanted a matched set and these were the only 2 made. Think they were $175, but this horn one may have been slightly less as it was an UBBB for two days but did not sell. Uncle Bill got me a 25" Malla and a 25" Chitlangi in one order somehow.

Yangdu promised to hold it for me, but the next morning I came to my senses and realized that if I was going to get twins of everything I would be broke forever, so I emailed and canceled the order. I already had twin 19" Mallas and figured that was enough.

In retrospect I wish I had gone through with it. I know only a little about khuks but I have always thought that the Malla was a perfect candidate for a larger size and these two blades completely back that up. The 25" balances like a dream, better than both the 25" and 30" Kobras or 25" or 30" Sirupatis. Only the big Chitlangi is as good. The blade on mine is mirror polished and the blade was scary sharp out of the box, which was an enormous surprise as I was used to butter knife sharpness on most of my khuks. The scabbard was also perfectly done. Kumar really went out of his way to do an excellent job, and I should have sent him a bonus, it was that good.

I had a choice of wood or horn and finally went with the wood as I felt it might hold up better on a big blade, but that horn is beautiful.

Wherever you got it, it's a nice snag. Last I saw it was back in Uncle Bill's unsold bin, as he couldn't get anyone interested in it as an UBBB.

Regards,

Norm
 
Hmm, thanks Norm. I just wish I had one of these. 25" Malla has to be a super blade. I'm very pleased with my reg.sized Malla- my first Kumar, and I was impressed. The wood grain is really nice saatistal- lil' black flecks in it.

I did have the chance at one of these biguns, but was short of funds :(
Probably the first year of HIKV is the worst.

Since you ordered it special, I wonder if we'll see one again?

Never miss a chance- I guess you could always sell the khuk if you change your mind- or collection gets too large!

Ad Astra
 
First of all, many thanks to everyone for the assistance with identification. I never dreamed that the friendly folks here in the forum would not only identify which model, but recall seeing the exact same blade before! You guys really do have serious HIKV!

I was really lucky to accidentally snag this one, however I personally am not into the larger kuks, this one is actually bigger than what I wanted. In other words, she's available. If interested, please email me at josferi@fastmail.fm
 
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