Rust Protection - Tuff Cloth

A

Arvind

Joined
Sep 30, 1999
Messages
227
I have a question regd' rust protection on a khukuri. Has anyone used Tuff Cloth on a khukuri and if so, how good is it for a khukuri?
 
I use Marine Tuf-Cloth on all my knives including the khukuris. It works very well. They can stand extended exposure to the elements. There is an easy way to verify this for yourself, just take a piece of iron and coat it with the Tuf-Cloth, leave it outside, and notice how long it takes to rust.

-Cliff
 
Thanks Cliff, I will try the test that you mentioned. Since I'm just starting out with knives, this will help in satisfying my curiousity. Btw, in going thru the forum threads, I noticed that in several of the reviews, there was'nt an indepth review of the WWII model, I just ordered the WWII model from Bill a little while ago and was curious as to how it stacks up in chopping and as far as quickness and speed goes? I'm waiting in anticipation for it and in looking at a number of the rave reviews HI khukuris have received I was a little curious about this.

 
Arvind,
Check out the thread called "(If) There Can Be Only One". Although there was considerable diversity of opinion (GASP! On Bladeforums?) there _was_ a strong consensus that the WWII was the best all-around choice, if a person were to be in the unenviable position of having only one khukuri (for some of us a purely hypothetical situation
smile.gif
).
Berk
 
Arvind, I don't own a WWII model. But based on the relative geometry to an Ang Khola and after discussing the matter with Will Kwan, I would say that the WWII will have better penetration, be faster in the hand and have a lower fatigue rate on most work. For more detailed comments drop Will an email.

-Cliff
 
Thanks Berkley, I did go thru a lot of the threads from the past however and was unable to find that particular thread. Could you point me to that particular thread? Also in going thru the threads I noticed a thread concerning the Sikhs and the Kirpan. I am a Sikh myself, and in reading Sonam's reply, I think he did an excellent job in explaining the history behind them. Btw, I dont wear a kirpan because I'm not a keshdhari Sikh and because of that it's forbidden to me. I think the HI forum in general has been extremely informative and I'm glad to be a newbie member of it..
 
Thanks, Cliff, I will email Will on that. When posting my question, I forgot to ask whether the test with the WWII was on an 18 inch or 16.5 inch. Guess that will have to go in the email as well.
 
Arvind: It is wonderful to find a Sikh on the forum. Perhaps Pala may even forgive you for refering to our crooked friends as "kokri"s ( at least that's how I saw it spelled in one of the Gatka references I've been searching on the net ).
 
Thanks Cliff. Rusty, thanks for the welcome.. Whoever made the spelling mistake in the gatka reference probably made it as a typo. Actually in some of my emails to Kaka Bill, I mispelled Khukuri as Khukri as well, but upon looking at Howard's faq as well as the web site for Himalayan Imports, I realized the correct spelling. Btw, I thought this would be of interest to everyone on here. In the Sikh museum inside of the Golden Temple, there is a showcase of the various types of weaponry that was used during the Sikh-Mughal wars, there are a number of khukuris. Basically during that era, non-Muslims were not allowed access to weapons and as a result, the Sikhs developed their martial skills with every weapon that could be had at that time and they found the khukuri to be extremely effective as well. I dont have pictures, but the khukuris I saw there had the tulwar shaped handles that Kaka Bill had shown pix of a while ago on here.
 
And on the line just above the post ^ you'll see the date and time posted, then 3 icons. The first, with face and question mark is the poster's profile, the second looks like the back of a post card, and has the poster's email address, and the third shows a letter and a pen, and clicking on it lets you edit your post.

On the WWII models, I think the consensus was for the 18" model. I've the 16 1/2" and a Hanuman with WWII blade from an 18"er. There is a spirit, a feel, a liveliness balanced with power, a rightness that I don't get from the 16 1/2". Being 5'4" tall, with size 8 shoes and proportionate hands, I notice one thing that gets forgotten is what size guy are you? Cliff is what...6'4"? He likes the 20" AK ( actually more like 22" )at about 4 lbs. I like the Chainpuri models that are even lighter than the Sirupatis. Cliff lives in Canada ( Newfoundland ) where there are WOODS, I live in a town that is an island in the middle of a sea of sagebrush. One thing about any of the HI khukuris is that if you spend time with them, they will teach you.

At almost 50, I'm becoming a child awed by all the things out there to wonder at that I never dreamed of before I found the net.
***Drop me an email any time***.

I'd be fascinated to find out where Sikh expatriates obtain their shasters and other gatka items.( And perhaps obtain one if possible. I don't mean to offend. I would certainly understand if it was inappropriate for non-Sikhs to hold/possess the real thing. ) Hand forged, traditionally made things seem to convey a history, a culture, and the soul of a people that mass production items.

You mentioned that you were a certain kind of Sikh that didn't carry kirpans. I never knew that before. I never knew to ask the question. Anyway, welcome, and I at least am delighted you showed up. Rusty
 
Rusty, No offense taken, rather I'm glad that you asked. Actually it's not really a question of me being a different kind of Sikh that does not carry a kirpan. A keshdhari Sikh is one who keeps his hair long and wears the turban. A lot of Sikhs especially here have had their hair cut. I myself was never raised totally in the tradition because my father had his hair cut when he was a child. He had to have that done because during partition, in Pakistan Sikhs were usually killed on the spot when they were caught and as a result in order to escape, that's what they had to do. Basically if a Sikh does not keep with the tradition, then generally he's forbidden to wear the kirpan. For women its a lot easier. My wife can wear the kirpan although she does'nt. As far as shastars go, I have'nt really seen any being sold commercially. But in Amritsar, near the Golden Temple there are a number of local shops that specialize in swords and in kirpans. However, as far as the swords go, I cannot vouch for how good they are because as Kaka Bill stated about inferior khukuris coming out of Nepal and India that were only for tourists, I've heard the same unfortunately about shastars as well. Most Sikh lohars (Steel Smiths) would like to keep the tradition alive and make good quality shastars but they also have families to feed and since they're fairly poor, they go with what their employers wish.
 
Interesting stuff.

Forgot, "Kaka" Bill is paternal uncle. Mama Bill is maternal. Since Yangdu is the Nepali most Nepalis call me Mama Bill. Indians prefer to call me Kaka. It really does mean Uncle.

------------------
Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html


[This message has been edited by Bill Martino (edited 07 October 1999).]
 
Wonderful information. Bless you for taking the time to answer. My mom was born in California's Central Valley, in Livingston in Merced County. Last time I was down there was 15 months ago to bury the Uncle who had stayed on the old family farm. ( I was very displeased at the funeral service but that's another story ). But there was a brand new Sikh Temple(?). And an aunt lives in Fresno where one of the 2 gatka schools I've found listed on the web is.

Anyway, I was raised on stories of "cowboys and indians" in the "Old West" and now the web lets me find out that Sherpa originally meant "cow protector" and that the Nepali kingdom was carved out of part of India, so now there's a whole new set of stories from the "Old East" about "cow protectors and Indians" and Nepal and Tibet, and Punjab, and on and on to listen to. Delightful!!!! And I hope I don't inadvertantly make fun of something very sacred to you and give offense down the road. I make fun of LIFE every chance I can. I plan to enjoy every day given me, whether I like it or not (VBG).

[This message has been edited by Rusty (edited 07 October 1999).]
 
Rusty, no offense taken, actually since you mentioned gatka, I could'nt help this image I keep getting of you practicing gatka with two 20 inch Sirupatis in each hand
wink.gif
 
Nice post, Rusty. As I have mentioned I was always getting myself into "situations" in Nepal due to my poor communication skills and lack of knowledge of local customs. You are correct in offering apologies beforehand. It is much easier than after the fact.

------------------
Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html
 
Just imagine me standing up straight with my nose hooked over the pommel of my 58 1/2" tall, 45" bladed two-handed sword.

And as a matter of fact, come to think of it, I do have a matched pair of 20" Sirupatis.

[This message has been edited by Rusty (edited 07 October 1999).]
 
Rusty, I take it that you named your matched pair of 20 inch Sirupatis "Bo" and "Hemian"?

Harry

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"Khukuris are my obsession and I'm late for therapy!"
 
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