Opinions Please

J

John K

Joined
Feb 22, 2005
Messages
175
I've been contemplating a Dui Chirra with all the accessories that can go with it. A flagship for my growing collection if you will. However, I'm uncertain which kami I want to keep an eye out for. I have blades by both Bura and Sher. Bura makes a more graceful blade in my opinion, but I like very much the no nonsense heftiness to Sher's work.

Any and all comments would be most welcome!

john k
 
I only have two khuks, and my first was a wood-handled 15" AK by Sher. All I can say is that I absolutely love it. It feels like it was made for my hand - the handle is absolutely perfect.

When I etched it with a pineapple, I found the temperline to be nice and even, and I also discovered that the first centimeter of the tip had been hardened as well.

There's just a tiny, tiny bit of wobble on the fullers which really drives home the fact that this blade was made by hand. I also find that the weight is just perfect - I wouldn't want it lighter or heavier. It's not too heavy to feel clumsy, but it does have a nice heft which gives a real feeling of confidence when it's in your hand - you know it's up to any task you put it to.
When sitting in front of the computer, watching an episode of something, I'll just leave it sitting in my lap. I was reading in bed the other night, just chillin' with it sitting on the bed. I've had it for more than a month, and I can't stop pulling it out just to hold it. The fit to my hand is perfect.

Here's another perspective on how satisfied I am with this knife - I bought it through the website, at full price, and had to add on the extra $25US for shipping it to Canada. That's a total of $150US, and I'm still a poor student, one who's planning on going to graduate school next year... therefore no real paycheque for another two years (or 6+, since I'll probably do a PhD).

Now here's the important part: last week I saw another 15" wood-handled AK by Sher on the DOTD, for something like $68. For a moment, I thought 'Damn! Could've saved a lot!'.... but then I gave a mental shrug. I don't care that I paid more for it, despite being on the poor side. I like it that much.

PS - Norm, in case you're wondering, my tax refund paid for the GRS ;)
 
I've got a couple of Buras. A GRS and a Badune Special. They're nice. My favorite is my Kumar Chiruwa AK. I love Kumar's work. His handles are MUCH nicer than those I have from Bura. I have a karda by Sher and it is one sweet knife. Unfortunately I don't YET have a Sher khuk. I'd go with Kumar. His signing is widely considered to be done the best too.
 
There is no answer. When Kumar feels like it, he has a wonderful line as well. And Sher can make a blade fancy if he wants.

Get the one that calls to you.


munk
 
If you're getting the tools with it, I'd consider Sher, because in my experience, he has provided me with the nicest and most useful sized tools with the knives I received from him. I was going to start a thread once that started, "Do all the other kamis get mad at Sher for using all the steel?" with the tools that came with one of his blades (and some others), but the pictures didn't turn out. I think he does some really gorgeous carving too, so if it's a carved-handled dui-chirra, I'll be racing you for it. :) (Someone really should jump on that carved AK in todays DOTD). And, as Munk said, he can make a fancy blade as well.

I wouldn't read too much into the initials thing. Kumar makes nicer initials most likely because of the fact that both his initials and symbol are composed entirely of straight lines. (And on a few of mine, even those aren't clean.)
 
I'd like a happy medium, the knife by Sher and the handle by Kumar.:thumbup: :D Sher's handles are generally just a tad too large for me, some of Bura's as well but Bura is still the top flight kami IMO and it's only occasionally that his handles are too large for me.;)
 
SASSAS said:
If you're getting the tools with it, I'd consider Sher, because in my experience, he has provided me with the nicest and most useful sized tools with the knives I received from him.

Good point-I hadn't thought of it in quite those terms but Sher's kardas and chakmas are larger. His chakmas are usually hard enough to use in the field to maintain an edge without getting nicked.

john k
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top