New Tora Service No. 1 Kukri

[sweetcostarica]

Just received a Tora BSI 1960's in the mail and here it is vs. a normal Khukuri House BSI.

Above (left): Tora BSI and next to it (right) an average Khukuri House BSI

Below: Khukuri House is the knife on top


Below: the Tora's (L) handle is larger and much more comfortable (IMO). I have XL hands though.


Specifications
Khukuri House BSI Service No. 1:

Length/Blade: 27 cm (10 1/2 in)
Length/Handle: 10.8 cm (4 1/4 in)
Length/Overall: 39 cm (15 1/4 in)
Belly width: 4.5 cm (1 7/8 in)
Spine thickness at point: 4 mm (3/16 in)
Spine thickness at belly: 9 mm (11/32 in)
Spine thickness at Bolster: 10 mm (.39 in)
Weight: 555 grams (19.60 oz)


Tora BSI Service No. 1:

Length/Blade: 29.2 cm (11 1/2 in)
Length/Handle: 12 cm (4 3/4 in)
Length/Overall: 41.5 cm (16 3/8 in)
Belly width: 5.5 cm (2 1/4 in)
Spine thickness at point: 3 mm (1/8 in)
Spine thickness at belly: 7 mm (9/32 in)
Spine thickness at Bolster: 8 mm (5/16 in)
Weight: 458 grams (16.15 oz)

The new 1960’s Tora BSI Service No. 1 when compared with an average Khukuri House BSI Service No. 1 seems to win in every department except for probably splitting wood. That’s where the thick wedge like spine of the heavier KH’s knife over powers the Tora.

So as seen in the pictures the Tora BSI is longer, has a wider belly, bigger handle, it is thinner, lighter, and has a much better hollowed ground blade.

I have also noticed the KH BSI has very bad balance and the Tora is so well balanced you would think it is 50 to 100 grams lighter. This good balance is common with the Tora Military Line.

 

[Ospreybucks]

Same here, my Tora kukri is probably the nicest to use amongst my other traditional looking kukris, Simon done a great job.

 

[sweetcostarica]

Ospreybuck these Tora Kukris amaze me in that such a small one man (and wife) operation can make tradition Kukris in their proper weight and balance. Khukuri Houses and even Himalayan Imports are making non-traditonal and overly heavy 2 - 3 pound monsters that are more axe like than real kukris.

It is a sad note in history that this production of crowbars with edges have contributed to the demise of the Kami trade. I support Tora Blades for their effort in holding Kamis to a higher standard and employing them to make real Kukris of old. Rant ended

 

[shortwinger]

Nice review as usual sweetcostarica, can't wait for the video!

The BSI was my first kukri, a NKH Jungle model. It has seen constant, nonstop, hard use since the day it arrived and if I spray some WD-40 on it and wipe it off it would look out-of-the-box new with a shaving sharp edge. I have a few other BSI's made by other Khukuri House's but the NKH has the best balance and feel and an edge that can compete with any kukri made.

My Tora "Pattern One" BSI is one of the sweetest blades (of any kind) that I have ever owned. As soon as you pic it up it feels warm and cozy and seemlessly blends into your arm. It is fast and light like the fighter it was meant to be, chops well and has a multi use edge and bevel that allows it to be the military utility tool it was intended to be. Fit and Finish are machine perfect.


This is what really sets the Tora apart from some of the big blocky poorly made BSI's on the marlet today. Those big thick spines make everyone ohhh and awww but in fact they hurt performance. The edge bevels are so sever they cannot do anything but split like a mall. An easy visual test of your edge and bevel is to try to cut a watermelon without having it bust apart. This is your edge telling you that you have a one dimensional tool and not the multi roll utility tool it was designed to be. In my mind the BSI should be a knife, a hatchet [all the way up to the roll of a small forest axe] and an all around camp tool. It should also be light and compact enough to carry with ease and, it goes without saying that the edge should be harded correctly.

Hope you enjoy your BSI as much as I do mine!

 

[sweetcostarica]

Nice review as usual sweetcostarica, can't wait for the video!

The BSI was my first kukri, a NKH Jungle model. It has seen constant, nonstop, hard use since the day it arrived and if I spray some WD-40 on it and wipe it off it would look out-of-the-box new with a shaving sharp edge. I have a few other BSI's made by other Khukuri House's but the NKH has the best balance and feel and an edge that can compete with any kukri made.

My Tora "Pattern One" BSI is one of the sweetest blades (of any kind) that I have ever owned. As soon as you pic it up it feels warm and cozy and seamlessly blends into your arm. It is fast and light like the fighter it was meant to be, chops well and has a multi use edge and bevel that allows it to be the military utility tool it was intended to be. Fit and Finish are machine perfect.
View attachment 298147

I have heard that the Khukuri Houses have made some really good BSI Service No. 1s and No. 2s and I believe if they wanted to they could do this consistently. But it seems Tora Blades is the only manufacture who will go that extra mile. This is one reason I buy their products and bought the 1960' BSI version. Looks like you have the modern 1995 to present Tora BSI. That one came out before this year's release of the new Tora Line. Your Kukri looks nice. As you describe your Tora Service No. 1 it sounds as if your holding mine because I feel almost the same way.
Video being worked on an should be really in about a month or less. That should be interesting.