Neem- 14" BDC review; Trisul, Sher Attitude Special

Ad Astra

Ad Astra

Joined
Jul 30, 2004
Messages
3,833
Fellow khukuri junkies-

IMHO, as a tribute to HI's great knives and since each one is unique, posting pix is a way of passing around info of use to all. I know I like to see something from the DotD's again, especially in closeup.

First, must mention the neem 14" BDC from the other day's splashfest. At 17.2 oz., it is lighter than my old-school (2004) 14" antler BDC, which weighs in at 19.5 oz. It's about .33 shorter as well.



Came relatively sharp, with the sharpest karda I ever recieved. The "5 mins worth of rust" is a little black patch 1/10" by .25, maybe, on the reverse side. All that does is ensure that this one gets used :D and a satin finish soon.



Beautiful wood grain. Neem has a variety of smells, to me; this one smells almost like a campfire- very much a smoky smell.

Next, the BDC with a neem Trisul, also from last couple weeks.



Trisul has a great feel and that same smell. Grain has great streaks; really pretty. Atop them is a neem 18"/18 oz. Sher Attitude Special (SAS) from its IPO a few months ago. Funny thing, the SAS looks and smells different- it's turpentin-y, and has a finer grain. More and better smell; hasn't faded yet. The SAS is great cutter but to me, not a khukuri. A slicer, not a chopper. It's been sharpened but somehow I haven't (yet) ruined it's mirror polish.



Bunch of khuks, but while we're talking wood, my super-favorite villager 18" AK in pepperwood stands in for comparison. There's a closeup of it in the "pepperwood" thread but I think it's one of the nicest and most understated HI woods. This one is 18.5" and 23 oz., light for a 18" but it moves fast.

Enjoy the pix, and hope it gives some insight into HI's woods.

And please share your khuk photos, if you can- we'd all like to see 'em.



Ad Astra
 
Beautiful neem handles Ad. Love seeing your pics. You take gooduns. What is the red reflection in the pics. Its pretty cool and looks like blood.:eek: You didn't just get back from France did you?;)
 
aproy1101 said:
What is the red reflection in the pics. Its pretty cool and looks like blood.:eek:
Click to expand...

That's funny, Andy- I didn't notice. It's a reflection from a plastic gas can nearby.


Mike :foot:
 
Great pics, Mike:)
I really agree with you on the SAS. I dunno what to do with it. I think it would make a great knife for stuff that a machete would handle but would also take on the roughest stuff that would bend a thinner blade. I guess it gets to be a bushwhacker+. I like the way my Kobra feels in hand for SD purposes a little better. Anyway, it's a neat part of my collection. Kinda how I feel about my Munk Chunk. It's a great knife that excels in the kitchen and choppign wood, but for the weight I could bring along an 18" (maybe even a 20") khuk. However, i love it:)
I really need to get a BDC. I don't know why I always pass on them, but i need one:)
I love the look of that Trisul. Mine has some kind of wood that starts with a B:foot: Light sanding and a few coats of baby oil have resulted in a grain that really has a satin muted pop. This is a knife that is growing on me. I dunno what i'll use if for exactly, but I keep packing it around me. In the office, at home, in the garage. Hole poker+1:)
I need to get some time and go camping. I have some seriously under used khuks that want to be put through the wringer.

Jake
 
mmm, so very nice :)

tha neem BDC looks familiar :> look like ... MINE MINE MINE *cough* ahem. i lost fair and square :)

so nice

bladite
 
Ad Astra said:
That's funny, Andy- I didn't notice. It's a reflection from a plastic gas can nearby.


Mike :foot:
Click to expand...
Likely story! Someone get the LUMINOL and call the TV folks.:)

Dick
 
In a non-thread related showdown:

I just took the Munk Chunk Cleaver and the Trisul to the back room for a pool noodle showdown. I always test the knife's swinging grip and edge in this very non-scientific manner.
Basically, i take a tall weight box with about a 6"x6" opening and place a pool noodle down inside of it so that only the top 18" sticks out. Then i swing at it in a slicing slashing fashion with a knife or khuk to see how well the knife go through the material, if the box stays standing, if my technique is poor, and if the the knife wants to fly from my hand.
I was actually taken aback when the 32oz MCC cleaver out sliced the Trisul in that it cleared the section of noodle without knocking over the box and exited the material cleanly. I could do this all day long with my AK bowie as it is an absolute razor, has more curve to the edge, and weight a lot less than the MCC. However, the Trisul was no bum. It does not yet have the edge of the MCC nor does it have the weight. In upward slash cuts it would clear the noodle easily without knocking the box over. The main thing about this was that I was shocked that the MCC did not leave my hand when i swung. That thing is heavy. A lot of it has to do with taking the handle diameter down and contouring it a bit.
Kinda makes me want to make a custom "gun belt" and wear them on each him. Thunder and Lightning. One to hang your coat, the other help remove your hat. Manners would be common place lest you see their flash and hear their roar...ok, now i'm just getting silly:)
Thunder
MCC.jpg


Lightning
DSC00706.jpg


Sorry for the rehashed pics. The camera is at home:)
Jake
 
Also has a lot to do with your grip strength, HardbodyJake.


I'm thinking there's a SF movie in here somewhere:

ATTACK OF THE POOL NOODLES !!!!!!!
 
Mike, those are great blades and great pics! You have more one-off special cool knives that I would have loved to have scored than just about anyone I think, and that has got to stop! :p :D

I looked at that neem BDC and hesitated because I already have several of them and am holding out for an 18", but could kick myself now. Not that I would have outsharked you but I didn't even try.

That is some of the nicest grain I have seen. I also love that AK. I have none of that particular wood and it looks really nice. That is a classic blade with a great handle.

I know about the differences on some of the neems; as you said the neem on that SAS looks almost like a completely different species than the one on the BDC. My first neem knife from last year, a YCS karda was like that on the SAS and I wasn't too impressed, but then got a great chunk later and was a convert.

Thanks for sharing. Great snags for a great forumite. :thumbup:

Norm
 
sogguy said:
Likely story! Someone get the LUMINOL and call the TV folks.:)

Dick
Click to expand...

Yeah, damned straight, and I want the murder weapons when Mike is sent off to the pokey! ;)

What happened Mike, the Missus give you a hard time once too often about all those triangular packages showing up? :D


Norm
 
Ah, many thanks, Norm. Race you for an antler 18" BDC!

And neem has different smells... the BDC smells, no kidding, like the inside of a cab. Sort of sweaty- maybe like a soccer team's locker room.

The trisul smells smoky- like burning that team's uniforms.

But the SAS- I would sniff that before going into battle (as Andy suggested, like a psychotic/lunatic). Funky Fresh. :p

Svashtar said:
...the Missus give you a hard time once too often about all those triangular packages showing up? :D

Norm
Click to expand...

Timing is everything... but the mailman actually handed the BDC to SWMBO. Talk about busted!

Luckily I am forgiven- every day.


Mike :foot: :p
 
Man, you guys are lucky. My sense of smell is so weak. I have a couple of khuks with neem handles, but they are wasted on me. I have never had a good nose on me, but now that I work around chrorine all day...fuhgedabowdit:rolleyes: I even sanded the neem handle of my Sher MM with my dremel. Just smelled like smoking wood to me:)

Jake

edit spelling and grammar etc.
 
Nice pictures, Ad.

Steely, I like looking at that cleaver every time you show it.

I don't fully appreciate mine until it's in my hand. Has to be held.




munk
 
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