Pen-Knife Arrives!!!!!

raghorn

raghorn

Joined
Feb 23, 2002
Messages
3,674
My Pen-Kinfe was waiting at the post office today after work. I've barely had time to examine it, but I'll provide some quick & dirty observations for now.

I'll start with a few specs with comparisons to 12" AK for reference -

Pen-Knife: OAL 12-1/2", blade length 7-5/8" from tip to bolster, 3/8" thick at bolster, 2" deep at belly, tip drops about 7/8" from spine at bolster. POB 1-3/4" from bolster, approximate weight one pound.

12" AK: OAL 12-1/2", blade length 8-1/8" from tip to bolster, 7/16" thick at bolster, 1-5/8" deep at belly, tip drops about 2-1/4" from spine at bolster. POB 2-1/2" from bolster, weight one pound.

Pen-knife observations: First of all, I was expecting a lot more rust on the blade. Just a couple small spots near the cho and some teeny specks near the tip. Karda and chakma are very rusty but I normally remove the finish from them anyway. The K&C are substantial, with wide, nicely-done handles.

The brass buttcap on the Pen is about three times as thick as any other one I've seen, combining with the bolster to lend symmetry to the handle. This makes for a great looking knife.

The slimmed-down handle profile is extremely comfortable for a big-handed guy like me. There are no points or edges anywhere. The knife handles like a 16" bowie. :D

The blade is very well executed and rather sharp. Looks like someone may have dropped it once, leaving a tiny ding on the edge of the sweet spot.

Scabbard and frog are typical outstanding work. The leather has a brownish-black matte finish that I really like, I'll just give it the requisite Sno-Seal treatment. The chape was also done differently, the design reminds me of an inverse-cho.

My hat's off to the designers and to Bura for making their ideas a reality. This knife has the makings of a great trail and hunting companion, I plan to put a lot of mileage on it this year!
 
I too have an affinity for the straighter blades for everyday purposes.
 
Pen Knife arrives
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Excellent description, thanks, I can almost close my eyes and picture it in my hand. Sounds like a well thought out design, well executed. Can't wait for mine to get here so I can polish it up, hone it up, and start trying it out. :D

Sarge
 
Sarge, this knife cries out to be used. It reminds me a lot of the UBE because it feels so light and handles so easily for its size and weight. I'm looking forward to your review.
 
Aaaarrrghhhhh...(jealousy pains) :eek:

Hope mine shows up soon (that's what I get for living on the East Coast - but I should get mine before Sarge gets his...!! :eek: )
 
Delivered today, looks pretty good! Mine has a bit more belly than the one shown in the New Arrivals thread, a seemingly blunter point, but I did some penetrations of the box and it doesn't seem to mind at all. Good balance and good and straight, no hammer marks. Mine has about an inch of rust at the tip and a few odd spots, but nothing that won't clean up. I love the handle, it is on the small side since it is a small knife, but the curves are perfect and the heavy brass butt should be on every HI khuk.

All in all, I like it much better than my 12" Sirupati. It feels more like a small knife (:eek: ) should feel. Thanks to Pen, Uncle, and Bura!
 
mPisi I agree, it outshines my 12" siru and AK as well. My wife appropriated the 12" AK the day after it arrived so the's not a problem. ;)

Yesterday I slathered the handles in hooflex and left them to sit overnight, and put a heavy coat of Sno-Seal on the scabbard. Those are my standard new-khuk treatments.

This morning I addressed the rust problem. Karda and chakma got sanded with 220# sand paper followed by coarse, medium and fine sanding sponges. Minor pitting is still visible but they look real good and shiny now. On the knife I used the medium and fine sponges only. They easily removed all of the rust and left a nice, satiny finish, which I doused with WD-40.

The edge was pretty sharp and had no burr, so all I did was burnish it with a VERY hard blade (courtesy of Art Swyhart) and strop it for a few minutes.

I used the knife to clear a bunch of black locust saplings up to 2" and blackberry canes. Normally I use a Gelbu Special for this task.

The knife really does handle like a larger bowie. It chops and slashes very efficiently. The sweet spot maintained its edge, even where it appeared to have been dinged back in the shop. I did have to resharpen the tip and recurve afterward, but given the nature of the work I expected that.

During the work I managed to accidentally strike a glancing blow on a steel fence post. There was no visible indication of it on the blade.

The handle is longer than the one on my 15" AK or BAS. Even so, it's shorter than those I consider to be ideal. Pen and company really hit it on the head when they slimmed down the butt and rounded off the corners. If they had not done so, this handle would have been a serious biter. As it is, I found it quite easy to work with - no bites, no blood blisters.

The knife fits loosely in the scabbard but does not rattle or want to fall out. I tried wearing it on both sides. This one, like my others, felt best on the left (crossdraw) side, and in this case I discovered that I can easily draw the knife from this position with either hand. I like that! This particular leather is the best I've seen so far.

The knife is now cleaned, sharpened, oiled and sitting on the desk before me. I have replaced the karda and chakma with what I call the "Art Swyhart Super Karda." It's a small, very hard, very sharp knife that performs well as both karda and chakma. I plan to put an awl in the pouch along side it. :D

Once again, my hat's off to all who had a hand in making this knife a reality!
 
raghorn = thanks for the great review. It's nice to hear that this will be a good user and not a dust collector.
 
You guys are killing me:grumpy: :)
Between my KK, JKM, BAS, and WWII, I've already replaced all my machine made, non-rusting, knives. Based on the excellent descriptions, and test reports, from mPisi, Raghorn, and Pen, I'm going to have to make room in my ruck for my BAS to make room on my belt for you-know-what. When the ding dang thing finally gets here:rolleyes:

Sarge
 
Funny that it had to cross the ocean twice to get to you.
 
well thats two delivered, has anyone else got theres yet ?????
i am eager to see the different opinions of this swell lookin knife. and field tests and reports.:) MAKE THAT THREE got mine today in australia, talk about fast delivery.:)
 
I expect this knife will really shine as a hunting belt knife and camp blade. It seems perfectly suited tasks such as food prep and field dressing large game. It will never replace the chiruwa or M43, but I think it has its own special niche.

(plus I'll have braggin' rights at elk camp when we compare blades and tell stories about them... that is, unless Yvsa shows up) :D
 
yep my penknife arrived today what a beuty,its like a feather in the hand,but feel the power that could be let loose with this little blade,penditive this is one lovely little knife=khuk an it was made by bura,his good work even when he was so sick.
what a treasure, cant wait to test it out on my trip to tasmania.
heres a copy of the email i sent bill as soon as it arrived:) :) :)

hi again bill the penknife arrived.NO NOT THE CHITLANGI
bill you can tell by the workmanship on the penknife compared to buras other khuks that he must have been ill when he did these.
BUT i could not even approach the quality he has managed even if i tried for 10yrs.
the penknife it self i LOVE it, its like a feather in the hand,just a nice size, cant wait to try it out on my trip to tasmania. thanks bill.
;) :) :D
 
I keep on checking this thread, waiting for Pen's report on the knife he conceived, designed, had modeled, and then arranged to be made.

(Pen? Ever see the poster of the two vultures on a branch, with the caption: "Patience hell! I'm gonna kill something." ?)

Hang in there.


Kis
:rolleyes:
 
I'm holding out for Sarge. He's got dibs on the first official test.
 
Originally posted by Kismet
Pen? Ever see the poster of the two vultures on a branch, with the caption: "Patience hell! I'm gonna kill something."
Click to expand...
Sorry, Kis.
The only vultures I'm familiar with share this as their only dialogue:

"Well, whadda we gonna do...?"

"I dunno, whaddaya you wanna do...?"

:D :D :D
 
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