old stlye M-43 vs "new style"

lal chatri said:
hi all
just to show off my m43 by bura its 18 inches end to end with a 13 inch blade and 7/16ths on the spine and just over 2lbs in weight all handles are made from bone its had two owners before me last one was a fellow forumite andreas solomi so some of the old hands may know him
regards mick



click thumbnail for a bigger pic
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lal chatri, I must say you have quite a neat collection of khuks, from what I have seen so far. Really like this bone-handle M43, if one comes along with a smaller/shorter handle (like yours ;)) I just might have to grab it!!!

shortwinger said:
Sta,

Is that smaller MKII the one they call a pilots kukri? Nice! I have been looking for one of those for a while but can't find any for sale.

All of your blades are very nice. The pics show how much different the newer ones are with the larger straight handles.

Did you work on those handles or is that how they came? I like both the raw looking ones (first two) and the richness of the bottom two. The horn looks almost streaked in the pic!

Bill
Virginia
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Hi Bill, all I did with the newer two was to give them a rubdown with mineral oil around the time when I took these pics. The HI M43 has some lovely white streaks on its black horn handle (current owner can attest to that :)) The older two had just been cleaned and were in the process of being oiled, thus they look slightly dull and off-colour. Also, they're quite old and beat-up. And yes, the smaller of the two is what collectors sometimes call a Pilot's or Aircrew kukri as they were popular with the Allied Airmen in the CBI-theater during WW2, although I'm sure they weren't the only ones carrying these smaller blades.
 
shortwinger said:
Another important part of the design of the MKII/M43 happens right at the back pin. Just as the handle begins to flare out there is an additional curve downward. Not only is it curving more at the rear but, it flares more on the bottom than the top.

The bottom flare is full sized and curves down to catch your fingers and improves your grip as you strike. This gives you confidence that the blade is not going to slip through your hand. Top flare is shorter and angles "away" and therefore does not bit into the back of your palm as you strike! It actually meets flush with your palm just at the moment of impact.

It never fights the shape of your palm, it works with it. This is exactly why the MKII feels like an extension of your arm, instead of feeling like a tool in your hand... I think our British friends would say; bloody genius! :thumbup:

Bill
Virginia
MKII salesman :D
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You are talking about the "old" design... right?
I fully agree...it's much better than the "new style" with identical top & bottom butt halves and almost straight handle.
 
DanSmithy said:
You are talking about the "old" design... right?
I fully agree...it's much better than the "new style" with identical top & bottom butt halves and almost straight handle.
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Yes sir, the original military specs!

Bill
Virginia
 
sta94 said:
top to bottom: WW2-era smaller MK2/M43 variant, WW2-era regular-sized MK2/M43 (unmarked), modern version of MK2/M43 by another manufacturer (2009), HI's horn-handle M43 circa 2009:
IMG_7746-1.jpg
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Sta,

Wouldn't it be great to submit a drawing and specs of that pilot/aircrew MKII/M43 to HI to be re-produced? Imagine one of those babies in a custom Paul Long sheath in a baldric carry or a dropped thigh rig! :thumbup::):D

I would really love to get a 13 or 14 inch version of it but the 15" is workable. Plus all the proportions and dimensions are already worked out.

Bill Ahern
 
Beautiful older khuks there sta94. Curved handles and everything. I love the smaller variant's deep belly.:thumbup:

What I really love about those older khuks is how the handle size stays the same. No upsizing required, nor needed. More blade available. Of course, I only speak for myself and other small-handed freaks.:) I'm thinking it's time I talk about ordering a custom khuk...
 
I totally agree 7rip13a! I'd love to have an older style smaler, curvier handled M43 with traditional handle ring.
 
7rip13a said:
Beautiful older khuks there sta94. Curved handles and everything. I love the smaller variant's deep belly.:thumbup:

What I really love about those older khuks is how the handle size stays the same. No upsizing required, nor needed. More blade available. Of course, I only speak for myself and other small-handed freaks.:) I'm thinking it's time I talk about ordering a custom khuk...
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Thanks, 7rip13a, I've managed to collect a few neat older kukris, am hoping to collect more old military kukris, but lately the prices seem to be going up for these models. :grumpy:

Yeah, I'm of the same mind as you and some others here - would prefer an HI M43 of the same overall size but with a smaller, shorter handle, maybe a bit slimmer too, preferably grooves on the handle for a wee bit of purchase (and original looks) and hopefully a few ounces lighter than current ones. If they also get the pommel flare right then that's an added bonus! Of course, these are my personal preferences mainly because my hands don't seem to be big enough for the standard HI M43 handles.

All in all though, HI's M43 version is a great khukuri and rightfully very popular, be it in its older or newer format.
 
reusing some photos of a treasured variant: this is by lamp oil kami

979997591_X7Zjc-X2.jpg


979997542_H6AF4-X2.jpg



Bladite
 
I like those rivets... very nice look for the handle.

scabbard is sweet too..
 
warty said:
I like those rivets... very nice look for the handle.

scabbard is sweet too..
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from blade to handles to scabbard... they don't make them like than anymore.


Bladite
 
who knows though, maybe in time we will see something akin to it again with Yangdu's guidance.
 
Bladite, that's a super-neat M43 you got there! Really like those rivets, as well as scabbard, along with everything else about this khukuri - perhaps that kauri-notch could be a bit closer to the biolster???!!! Quibbling here now! BTW, what's its weight? Thank you for sharing these pics!
 
sta94 said:
Bladite, that's a super-neat M43 you got there! Really like those rivets, as well as scabbard, along with everything else about this khukuri - perhaps that kauri-notch could be a bit closer to the biolster???!!! Quibbling here now! BTW, what's its weight? Thank you for sharing these pics!
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17.5 inch 25.65 oz HI M43 circa 2002 by butter lamp kami

it's well balanced and very lively in the hand


Bladite
 
That is close to the weight of my Bura made M-43, also one of the older models.

Frankly can't be beat.
 
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