Opinions on the UBE?

B

bloodwraith

Joined
Apr 10, 2007
Messages
66
Hey guys,

I am a martial artist looking to add a unique blade to my open handed techniques, I was just looking at the UBE and it doesn't seem to "belly out" as much as some of the other khukuris, is this one well balanced or is it blade heavy? A little bit blade heavy is o.k but anything that is too blade heavy wont work so well. I was also looking at the sirupati and the kobra which has the tag serious martial artist pay attention of something like that. Which is the best khukuri for doing martial arts and tameshigiri (cutting practice) with?

Any opinions appreciated.

'Wraith

P.S: There are far too many beautiful blades on this forum to make being decisive easy :P
 
Well, sir, you obviously need one of each.

The UBE was one of the last models that I bought (not the last khuk, just one of the last models. Bought MANY since then. "Hi, I'm Joe. I'm a khukaholic"). Resisted for a long time because the shape was, well, odd. Now, I love the thing. It's the only one for which I ordered a custom scabbard from T. Sisco (shameless plug). It's very nimble for its size, and chops MUCH better than I expected. The handles seem to be made for large hands, which I have.

I can't make any comment regarding its applicability for your purposes, because my approach to martial arts is a large knife or a gun. Obviously, no training in MA.

Where are you located? I'll let you try out my UBE, if you're interested.
 
I'm in Australia :P

I can only really afford one of them, which is why I haven't grabbed all three. I would imagine that the deeper the belly the harder it would be to use for my purposes which is why the UBE looks good. I wish I could try yours out but like I said, i live in Australia and chances are you aren't Australian, thank you for the offer though, it is appreciated.
 
tameshigiri is for testing a katana's ability (and the owners ability) to slice cleanly through flesh-like objects.
Khukuris aren't really designed for that as much as chopping deeply.. I'm not sure that test cutting a khukuri in this way would be fair. Let's say that if you do test it that way, that you dont guage it's ability by whether or not it can cut the same way a katana can..
I have been known to chop down bamboo with mine. (I bent my blade, but it was a clean cut.)
Then again, who knows? It might work like a charm.
 
bloodwraith said:
I'm in Australia :P

I can only really afford one of them, which is why I haven't grabbed all three. I would imagine that the deeper the belly the harder it would be to use for my purposes which is why the UBE looks good. I wish I could try yours out but like I said, i live in Australia and chances are you aren't Australian, thank you for the offer though, it is appreciated.
Click to expand...
Chances are REAL good that I'm not Australian. I'd still loan it to you, if you're pretty certain that customs wouldn't confiscate it. In either direction.
 
Appreciate the offer but i can't guarantee that customs wouldn't confiscate it as customs can be dodgy, especially here. A customs that would cut the leather off of an albion to check the wood is capable of anything. That is an amazing offer mate, it is very much appreciated :)
 
Ad Astra said:
Consider the Movie Model... they are amazing. :thumbup:


Mike
Click to expand...

Seconded:thumbup: I have a Sher Movie Model which is much more of a chopper than the Bura version. However, either one would work well. A khuk, by and large, is going to tend to be more blade heavy than not. About the most balanced "martial" blade from HI that I have is a 20.5oz 20.5" kobra. The handle is a tad longer than they usually come but it makes the knife balance just a few inches in front of the cho.
 
"Well, you know, it's a toolbox, I don't care. You put the tools in and do the job, that's all."

Robert DeNiro as Sam, "RONIN",(1998)

mark

(bloodwraith,
please don't take this post as smart aleky, I just feel the quote applies to many martial and life pursuits. I also have a hard time liking one khuk over any other as I love the entire line, and they all have specific purposes and yet can all do some of each others work when called upon. I look at them as a true force multiplier tool. If you need a good weapon to practice a long kata everyday, then the kobra or sirupati are light,fast and still dangerous. If you have to chop down a heavy wooden castle door and fight heavily armed knights, I'd go with the Ang Khola, and a big one at that...have to get through a 9 month tour in the 'Gan or some other dirt hole, the WWII will take you through. Best of luck and have fun with whatever you go with. mark). Oh and the UBE, it is what drew me in many,many moons ago. I can't answer your query as I don't own one, but it is what drew me to Grok this line.
 
Greenwoods: I didn't take it as smart alecky mate, I took it as it was meant. Ronin was an awesome movie, my understanding of HI khukuri goes something like this, whatever khukri I ultimately choose I won't be disappointed and it won't let me down whether i am fighting dragons and knights or whether i am just going through my kata quietly in my backyard.
 
Hi BloodWraith,
if one of the HIs "speaks" to you - perhaps you should just pick it up and try to adopt techniques that suit it's strong points. I have seen pictures of Ghurkas with smaller Kobras up through the larger WWII styles - each operator must feel comfortable with what each one offers...
Having said that, my UBE just arrived today and HOO-BOY! - It is one big honkin' piece of steel art. It makes my 15" AK feel [almost] feeble by comparison. Mine balances about 1.5 inches in front of the Cho, and once it's moving, rapid changes of direction are not really in the program. It is heavy - and I love it. If you want to whip something around with blinding speed - the UBE is probably not it, however. Also, personally, I do not find the handle overly large - and I have smaller hands.
Many on this forum talk of the "magic" in these knives - I agree that every one of my growing collection from HI is something special - but the magic doesn't stop there... Yangdu must have a very special relationship with the Gods of shipping. I have NEVER received anything that I have purchased online as quickly as items from HI.
Thanks so much!!!
 
I like the UBE and the Ultimate Fighter because the recurved blade makes them somewhat resemble an Egyptian khopesh.

The Movie Model is a yataghan with a Nepalese flair, as the HI site says it was inspired by a sword seen in one of The Mummy films; the sword in question was a yataghan. I like it overall but I don't like the double edged tip.
 
Ted: yep, they did, they also don't know how to handle a blade properly, it got to him with fingerprints on the blade and little patches of rust from someone sweating on the blade or something, maybe it was drool? Albion's are beyond beautiful and one day I shall have one.

I don't like the double edge tip either as it makes it annoying to draw and customs will go "oh teh noes, it arz a double edgeded daggerz" (apologies for the l33t but that is how i think customs officers actually think, no offense to any customs officers on the forum :) ) I really want a movie model as it appeals to me most, price appeals to me as well. The kobra looks like a good middle of the road, maybe later i might be able to get a movie model with purpleheart handle specially made for me by HI.
 
The only problem with the gelbu is that it doesn't have the same shape as the movie model and that shape has always been one of my favourite shapes, I've always wanted a yatagan and that is the movie model to a T. The hollow grind also worries me somewhat as I don't want the edge to roll on me if I am doing cutting with it.
 
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