- Joined
- Dec 24, 2003
- Messages
- 1,390
Dan is well known for refinishing blades, getting them incredibly sharp, taking great photos, the author of tutorials on sharpening, photographing khukuris, etc. I've traded more than a few e-mails with him, and have listened to a lot of his advice. Some I have a hard time swallowing, and some of his proposals I think, to be diplomatic, are silly... Here are just a few:
Koster "Signature Series" Khukuri... Instead of "Himalayan Imports" in Devangari, Dan will happily erase the script, and render it in Braille figures painted over with highly luminous phosphorous. Purpose? Got me on this one!
Koster "Fire Starter" Khukuri... Close to the tip of the blade, and in its center there's a 20 mm hole fitted with a precision German magnification lens which "out of the box" will ignite tinder with even the slightest amount of sunshine. The downside? Whilst cutting up some firewood, the shock transferred to the lens will shatter it, and leave you without any possibility to start a fire!
The "KKK" (Koster Kothimoda Khukuri)... The proposal is to try out new scabbard materials; mink, Russian ermine and porcupine are sugguested. I find the choice of hides patently absurd, and the porcupine entry was recently considered by Dan upon his recent move to Arkansas...
Koster "Kold Weather Khuk"... Heating coils underneath the hollow handle are operated by a powerful rechargeable battery. Made for expeditions to an extreme cold environment such as that encountered in Antartica. Warranty claims that user can cut firewood for up to 3 hours without getting frostbitten fingers. Problem here? Where the heck will you find firewood?
The "Kloster Kannister Khuk"... The hollow handle hides a clever high pressure stainless steel cylinder that can contain mace, after shave lotion, Windex, or even chigger spray. Real world question? What the heck would one want chigger spray for?
Kloster "Fruit Loop" Handle... 12-18 short sections of multicolored plastic "mother of pearl" and/or (!) Dymondwood are epoxied together to form a khukuri handle. I am as suspect of Dan's ridiculous selection of handle materials as I am in his "rainbow sense" of aesthetics. :footinmou
Kloster Koncealed Sword of Shiva... Instead of adorning the blade of the khukuri, Dan proposes that the tang itself be engraved. This option is for "customers who elect not to be ostentatious." Great idea, Dan
The K-MAK (Kloster Multi-Angle Khukuri)... A complex locking articulating ratchet allows one to change the handle to blade angle of the khukuri drastically within a few seconds. "Field" work at his 'factory' in Arkansas has suggested that this will be the wave of the future for a khukuri with different chopping cababilities incorporated in the same knife.
The Koster "Boy Scout" Khukuri... A hollow mirror polished stainless steel cylindrical handle with a screw top hides an astonishing array of goodies... A miniature compass, 3 water purification tablets, 2 fishing hooks, 3 meters of polypropylene line, a signal mirror, a Cap'n Crunch whistle, waterproof "strike anywhere" matches, antiseptic ointment, gauze, and 2 condoms. I've heard of the motto "Be prepared", but is this khukuri targeted toward inner city kids who grew up too quickly?
There's a few more that have escaped me for the moment... Anyway, some of Dan's other ideas will be implemented. Some might even be eventually categorized with the likes of the innovations listed above...
Koster "Signature Series" Khukuri... Instead of "Himalayan Imports" in Devangari, Dan will happily erase the script, and render it in Braille figures painted over with highly luminous phosphorous. Purpose? Got me on this one!
Koster "Fire Starter" Khukuri... Close to the tip of the blade, and in its center there's a 20 mm hole fitted with a precision German magnification lens which "out of the box" will ignite tinder with even the slightest amount of sunshine. The downside? Whilst cutting up some firewood, the shock transferred to the lens will shatter it, and leave you without any possibility to start a fire!
The "KKK" (Koster Kothimoda Khukuri)... The proposal is to try out new scabbard materials; mink, Russian ermine and porcupine are sugguested. I find the choice of hides patently absurd, and the porcupine entry was recently considered by Dan upon his recent move to Arkansas...
Koster "Kold Weather Khuk"... Heating coils underneath the hollow handle are operated by a powerful rechargeable battery. Made for expeditions to an extreme cold environment such as that encountered in Antartica. Warranty claims that user can cut firewood for up to 3 hours without getting frostbitten fingers. Problem here? Where the heck will you find firewood?
The "Kloster Kannister Khuk"... The hollow handle hides a clever high pressure stainless steel cylinder that can contain mace, after shave lotion, Windex, or even chigger spray. Real world question? What the heck would one want chigger spray for?
Kloster "Fruit Loop" Handle... 12-18 short sections of multicolored plastic "mother of pearl" and/or (!) Dymondwood are epoxied together to form a khukuri handle. I am as suspect of Dan's ridiculous selection of handle materials as I am in his "rainbow sense" of aesthetics. :footinmou
Kloster Koncealed Sword of Shiva... Instead of adorning the blade of the khukuri, Dan proposes that the tang itself be engraved. This option is for "customers who elect not to be ostentatious." Great idea, Dan
The K-MAK (Kloster Multi-Angle Khukuri)... A complex locking articulating ratchet allows one to change the handle to blade angle of the khukuri drastically within a few seconds. "Field" work at his 'factory' in Arkansas has suggested that this will be the wave of the future for a khukuri with different chopping cababilities incorporated in the same knife.
The Koster "Boy Scout" Khukuri... A hollow mirror polished stainless steel cylindrical handle with a screw top hides an astonishing array of goodies... A miniature compass, 3 water purification tablets, 2 fishing hooks, 3 meters of polypropylene line, a signal mirror, a Cap'n Crunch whistle, waterproof "strike anywhere" matches, antiseptic ointment, gauze, and 2 condoms. I've heard of the motto "Be prepared", but is this khukuri targeted toward inner city kids who grew up too quickly?
There's a few more that have escaped me for the moment... Anyway, some of Dan's other ideas will be implemented. Some might even be eventually categorized with the likes of the innovations listed above...
