Question for Yvsa and M43 and Chiruwa owners

P

Psalm 150

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Oct 8, 2003
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First, I have a question for Yvsa, then I will get to the M43 and Chiruwa.

Yvsa, you said in a post in 2001, (quite a while ago, I know, but I search the archives often) and I quote:


I use a trick when taking the handles all the way off and then epoxying them back on.
I clean all the laha off I can get off and out of the handle.
Then I carefully slide the handle and bolster down the tang placing it carefully where I want it.
Then I take masking tape and carefully wrap the bottom of the bolster in place being extra careful to get it sealed around the bottom.
The masking tape properly applied will hold the bolster very
steady.
Then mix the epoxy and pour just a little bit into the well cleaned bolster.
Then slide the handle down the tang and center it in the bolster.
If you put too much epoxy in the bolster you're gonna have a mess because it will run out around the handle.
Usually the handles are quite a bit shorter than the lip on the bolster, but it pays to be careful here.



It sounds like you’ve done that a lot. Are those Himalayan Khukuris that the handles are getting loose on that they need to be epoxied?

If anyone wants to know, that post is found here:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=179960&highlight=handle+pin

Now, I have a question for M43 and Chiruwa owners.

About the full tang, from pictures I’ve seen, it looks like the tang on the Chiruwa gets a little thinner in the handle than the ½” it is on the spine behind the blade. Could anyone who has a Chiruwa tell me about this and maybe post some pics? I would really like to see a good pic of each side of the tang in the handle.

Also, what about the M43? Could anyone who owns one of those tell me about it and post a pic or two? I am wondering about the thickness on an M43. How thick is it at the blade and in the handle? And would the M43 make a good chopper as the Ang Kholas do?

I know everyone thinks the rat tail, stick tangs are as strong as anything, but I just feel more secure with a full tang. I don’t care if the vibration is harder in the hand during chops. I’m pretty tough, so that doesn’t bother me. What I want to know is, what does everyone think the strongest Himalayan made is? Even though they’re all strong of-course.

Any and all info and pics would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Shane
 
I felt the same about the full tangs before I owned any. Now I prefer the stick tangs. The handles are much more comfortable and the hand shock is very minimal.
On my M43 the tang is 1/4 to 5/16" thick for 80% of the length, then narrows to 3/16" at the buttcap.
My WW2 and Gelbu Special feel just as solid and are more comfortable to chop with.
To each his own- you won't go wrong with a Chiruwa AK (mine is in the trunk, or I'd measure it for you) or an M43. But don't discount the stick tangs, they are quite substantial.
 
There's lots of variation. One khuk may be 1/4" thick, another in the same pattern might be a full 1/2" or more. The chiruwas I've seen have had the tang substantially thinner than the full blade width at the bolster - don't have one to measure, but I'd guess about half as thick.

If you want the absolute toughest HI khuk, get something in the 16-18 inch range, with a wide blade (AK, Ganga Ram, maybe an M43) and ask Uncle Bill to pull out the thickest / heaviest one he has in stock. Buras tend to be thinner, Sher used to be pretty bulky but has slimmed some, I have a Shankar 16" AK that is a total tank.
 
Have a few chiruwas to compare and the tang is a little thinner than the blade and tapers to the buttcap. Have pounded these and stick tangs into solid material and noticed no difference or weakness with either design. The beefiest one is this chiruwa AK by Kumar that is 16.5" in length and about 9/16" thick. A real sharpened crowbar but though as a tank. Still kinda thick for anything other than beating the trash out of something. Will shave so it's sharp just a bit thick. Don't have to worry about cashing in on Uncles warranty with this one. Just might want to think about comfort and weight with the thick ones the weight will wear you out quicker. And the thickness won't really matter unless you are perhaps a professional powerlifter and might not then.
 
Sher M43 here and it's 3/8+ and then narrows to about 3/16 in the tang. I only have a couple full tang models and a lot of stick tangs. The sticks are the same thickness as the blade, and if they're tempered properly I can't imagine one breaking. Take it out and chop a couple times to make sure all is well, and you'll be good to go. :)
Don't have a picture handy...However, there are some nice pics of Brendan's M43 here.
 
I have an M43 that was a little thinner than the usual HI blade, but with deeper belly. Evens out to a nice useful weight.

But there were two things about the handle thet distressed me. I felt the handle should continue the blade curve like a Hanshee. Just my personal opinion, but a strong one. So I took a file to it until it looked and felt like a hanshee. The upper curve was an extesion of the blade's curve, and the lower grip tighter to lock my fingers together.

Then as I had become used to the usual rings around the handle, sanding douwn those on oversized handles in front and behind the raised ring. Then I cut ththe e diameter of the handle behind raised ring smaller to be gripped better by the last two fingers. Also I moved the rings forward of the raised ring so my index and forefinger ( and thumb knuckle ) when the handle was gripped tightly laid atop the rings. Beautiful lines, and a repeatable automatic perfect index for my hand. Oh yes, the rings are cut into both the wood and the steel all the way around.

This maybe doen't answer your questions but I really wanted to describe what I'd done.
 
Hey, thanks ya'll.
I would still like to hear about the Khuks that Yvsa had to fix, and if anyone else has any input, please put in.

I definitely would like to know what is the fattest monster of a tang Bill has in stock, but he's not feeling too well today, so sometime when he's feeling better maybe he can check that out for me.

Hey Hoghead, you said you had a chiruwa AK by Kumar that is 16.5" in length and about 9/16" thick. I like the sound of that. I just bought a 18" AK blem with a superglue fixed crack in the handle that came in yesterday, so it's brand new, I just decided I want a full tang though. Would you be interested in trading your Chiruwa for my AK? I don't know if Bill might go ahead and honor the guarantee for us if we switched, especially because mine is new, but it probably doesn't matter anyway since we'll never need it, but it would be cool if he would do that.

I'm looking forward to hearing from some more of you.

Thanks much! Shane
By the way, if anyone wants to E-mail me, please use this address:
shanewomer@hotmail.com
:p
 
Psalm 150:

Maybe interesting trivia for you, but early christian rosaries had 150 beads on them ( bead coming from an earlier word "bede" meaning prayer ). Monks and Priests were supposed to pray the Psalms ( all 150 of them ) each week.

Did I mention that you'll find the Cantina to be an institute of higher; lower; and irrelevant learning?
 
Originally posted by Psalm 150
First, I have a question for Yvsa, then I will get to the M43 and Chiruwa.

Yvsa, you said in a post in 2001, (quite a while ago, I know, but I search the archives often) and I quote:


I use a trick when taking the handles all the way off and then epoxying them back on......
Snip.........


It sounds like you’ve done that a lot. Are those Himalayan Khukuris that the handles are getting loose on that they need to be epoxied?

If anyone wants to know, that post is found here:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=179960&highlight=handle+pin

Now, I have a question for M43 and Chiruwa owners.

About the full tang, from pictures I’ve seen, it looks like the tang on the Chiruwa gets a little thinner in the handle than the ½” it is on the spine behind the blade. Could anyone who has a Chiruwa tell me about this and maybe post some pics? I would really like to see a good pic of each side of the tang in the handle.

Also, what about the M43? Could anyone who owns one of those tell me about it and post a pic or two? I am wondering about the thickness on an M43. How thick is it at the blade and in the handle? And would the M43 make a good chopper as the Ang Kholas do?

Snip......

Thanks, Shane
Click to expand...

Shane I have repaired one tang that broke due to Dashien and I have replaced a couple of cracked handles for a couple of guys. I have also made my own handle for an as forged blade I bought.
I have one more to go when I get around to it someday.:)
Nothing to be concerned about.

A far as the M-43 versus an 18"Ak, closest size I think?
If you are that tough it doesn't matter what you get. It will chop as good as you can deliver.
If your not really that tough then the AK will make the better Heavy chopperIMO.
Some of the lighter kukris like the 18"GRS, or as I like to call it the BGRS, chop like a heavier kukri and will leave you less tired at the end of the day.
The 21"+ Chitlangi is another kukri that cuts like a heavier one without the extra weight.
A lot of the decision behind the choice of whioch kukri depends on what you are gonna do with it.
If it's a macho thing and you just want the biggest and strongest go for the AK line. If it's finesse and ease of work then another kukri will be better suited for you.:)

As far as the Chiruwa handles......... They have their place, just not on my kukris!!!!:rolleyes: :p I have thought about getting rid of my M-43 just because it is a Chiruwa tang, but I haven't fully decided yet, other than that it's a really nice kukri and well hardened.:rolleyes:
I hate Chiruwa tangs!!!!:p ;)
 
Yvsa, I could be persuaded to compensate you for that M43, if it ain't too dear.
 
Yvsa, if you ever decide to part with the M-43, let me know. I've become quite fond of the chiruwa style tang. Providing that I'm not financially handicaped at the time,I could provide a loving, but working, home to it.

Bill
 
Better to pull the slabs and then reduce the tang to make it into a concealed tang and rehandle. ( And make it more curved, too ).
 
i dont recomend the chiruwas... the handles are really uncomfortable and you cant modify them at all (or rather.. its a pain in the arse to modify)

i recomend the regular handled blades... lifetime guarantee is lifetime guarantee... id rather go with a more comfortable handle

also the chiruwa is so heavy when you hang it on your hip that its uncomfortable (at least for me)
 
Ok, everyone that doesn't like their chiruwa tang khuks, send them to me.:D :D
I love them. After a bit of sanding and filing to make them best fit my hand, I have not noticed any excessive hand shock. And what better way to bond with your khuk, than a bit of work, to infuse some of your own spirit into it? JMHO

Bill
 
I've got a good shot of the handle on my 18" chiruwa Ang Khola here. Personally I love the chiruwa handle, although this is my only one thus far. I don't know yet if the decreased vibration I noticed was due to the finger grooves or the chiruwa tang, I guess I'll just have to get a regular chiruwa tang to find out.
 
Wow Roadrunner!
That is some awesome testing. I would definitely feel comfortable with a Chiruwa having seen that.

I especially liked the part where you hit a cement block with it 12 times. That didn't seem to hurt it, so I don't think the handle is ever going to come off of that baby.

Thanks for the review, Shane
 
Shane, it was my pleasure. :) The cement block test had zero effect on the handle, or on anything except for the edge as a matter of fact. Honestly, I think any HI that wasn't flawed would have fared as well or better, chiruwa handle or no. I prefered it for comfort reasons only.
 
Roadrunner:

Is that finger-groove Chiruwa of yours a Kumar product?

Pretty impressive testing.
 
cliff, it is. Hopefully other reviews and impressions of it will be posted soon, I sent it out on a pass-around a few weeks ago and it should be going to the second participant soon.
 
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