New M43 handle

[Misanthropia]

Around Christmas I intended to order a HI M43, but recently I've been searching around the forum and have seen pictures of more recent M43's having a longer handle with three pins, as opposed to the apparently older two pin shorter design. I know there's a certain amount of expected variation between Kami's, but has this new handle become standard for all M43's? This might be a deal breaker for me, I think the new handle looks sort of goofy, and I'm looking for a kukri that's equal parts show and utility.

 

[Quiggifur]

I bought my M-43 after they had started doing the longer three-pinned handle, but (luckily) mine came with the old-style. I'm almost positive that even if there were none of the old-style in stock, you could do a special order.

 

[Boywondered]

I picked up a villager finish M-43 by Tirtha back in April, and it has the 2-pin handle.

Here are the dimensions:
OAL is 18.5"
Handle (without bolster), 5.5"
Handle (with bolster), 6.25"

I think if you asked, you should probably be able to get one. And as was mentioned before, you could always special order it as well.

 

[blinky bill]

I'm pretty sure the three-pin handle was a short lived version of the HI M43. My M43 (received in June) is two-pin.

 

[jdk1]

Most now seem to be two pin. The handles are shrinking somewhat as the design evolves. As I understand it, the first HI M43s were thinner, lighter, and had shorter and more curved handles. Due to requests/complaints from customers, the model was "Americanized". Nepali people being a bit smaller in stature and hand size than the average American/European made most Nepali khuk handles too small for HI's customer base. Customers also wanted a khuk which could not be destroyed by normal means. I wasn't around at the time, but this is what I gather from the archives and from folks who are still around from those days. The M43 grew bigger and heavier. For a while, we were seeing M43s near 40 oz., as opposed to older versions going from a light 23 oz. to a heavy 27 oz. It seems they may be slowly moving towards the proper proportions. I must say that while the longer and less curved handle may not be as appealing to the eye, it adds the ability to utilize several different gripping options, which is nice in use. My M43 is certainly not of the traditional MkII/M43 size and proportion (it was a custom), but I love it and it has a great feel. Also, HI does custom orders all the time, since all HI products are handmade anyway. Email Auntie with what you want and see what she says. You won't find a nicer person or better customer service. She just returned from Nepal though, so she's probably backlogged on emails right now. Good luck.

 

[wildmanh]

I used to own the 6th M43 that Uncle Bill Sold back in 2001 or 2002. I compared pictures of it to jdk1's M43 that I'm working on... His has a longer handle then the older ones and the newer style bolster. I like the newer bolster, but prefer the shorter handle. The M43 that Boywonder posted has the right shape, but IMO the handle is way to long for the length over all. The Proportions are way off. The old M43's (WWII and some HI's) had about 4" handles. 4" to 5" handles on an M43 are more visually appealing and IMO feel better to me in hand.

If you don't have really wide hands, try to get an M43 with a shorter gently curved handle and spine. The Straght handled M43's should be called WWII/M43 Hybrids or just Hybrids and not M43, because the gentle curve to the spine and handle is part of what makes an M43 an M43. So Same profile as Boywondered posted, but with a shorter handle and you are good to go. Gives you more edge, but more importantly IMO the handle feels better in my medium palms with long fingered hands.