Pix: M-43 variants

Rio Jim

Rio Jim

Joined
May 11, 2004
Messages
112
I’ve always liked the M-43. Now that I finally scored on an HI, here’s a pic of a few of them (top to bottom):


  • WWII ATD-43 (Army Traders Dehra Dun), w/ scabbard dated 1943 and the Brit broad arrow. 17 ¼”, 23 oz, ¼” spine.
  • HI M-43 by Amtrak. 17”, 26 oz, 3/8” spine.
  • Tora M-43. An off-spec model, 18”, 13 oz, 1/8” spine (normally, about 23 oz, ¼” spine). Mine is a light, fast martial arts blade, not a tree chopper.
  • Two of the short, fat, officers M-43 variant. A number of U.S. servicemen carried these in the CBI theatre in WWII as survival knives. 15”, 16 oz, ¼” spine. One had been blued. Nice little khuks!
 

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looks like a pointier Pen Knife...

There must be some different specs for the M-43 between HI and the Torah folks. Seems the Torah m43 variants I've seen have a much longer handle. The shorter (and more accurate, at least in comparison to the original M-43 I have to compare to). Kohei kinda dinged the HI m-43 on this issue, which I write off as "its what yer used to". I'd love to see a pic of the M-43 that they use to replicate from.

I have seen a number of m-43 variants, so I do know there is some leeway with the model...

Keith
 
Hello Jim,

I like the bottom one, that shape appeals to me.
Thank you for sharing.

Kohei
 
Hello Keith,

What do you mean by "dinged"?

Ferrous Wheel said:
Kohei kinda dinged the HI m-43 on this issue, which I write off as "its what yer used to".
Keith
Click to expand...

I agree, it is what you are used to, but what you are used to is different to what someone else may be used to. I prefer a smaller handle myself as I have little hands, my HI M43 is a good fit in my hand. Everyones hands are different so what feels good to one person may feel completely different to another.

Original M43's/MkII kukri were made for Nepali sized hands, the modern versions are made for westerners hands which are generally much bigger.

Leanne ;)
 
"Original M43's/MkII kukri were made for Nepali sized hands, the modern versions are made for westerners hands which are generally much bigger"

True dat, but I guess I prefer my repros a little closer to original spec to get a feel for what the model really has to offer.

For instance, there are a lot of "viking swords" out there that are perhaps influenced by that historical model, but are unrealistic in weight/length or edge geometry...If I want a viking sword that functionas in the hand like the same, I'd take say the A&A Shifford Viking over the CAS Iberia one.

Keith
 
Has anyone ever seen a m43 style with fullers like an AK? That would look so cool.....


What about the Albion Next Generation Viking sword... YOWZA!
 
Hey sorry I was looking at the pix again, did they cast the bolsters right onto the blade? I've seen them like that before I always wondered how it was made. Its not ground or forged into that shape is it?
 
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