- Joined
- Feb 4, 1999
- Messages
- 5,786
Yet another review of yet another Himalayan Imports village model...
This khukuri measures in at 13.5" OAl with a blade of 8.5" and a handle of 5". The blade is 2" wide at its widest point, but it looks REALLY wide due to the shorter length. Thickness is 7/8" with a lot of belly and a fairly blunt, almost spear-point-like tip. There is a thin, carved "blood-groove" (more like a line) along the flat near the spine on both sides. This khukuri is well-forged and quite straight. The edge is relatively sharp and runs very straight from tip to choil. Very well made in this regard. This knife sold for a song due to a forge line which is about 2.5" long and runs parallel to the carved line on the right face of the knife. There is another forge line that is about 3/4" and runs longitudinal with the knife along the spine. Whoops! And ONE more forge line that runs along the flat up by the spine from the forward curve for about two inches! This may be a record breaker! The bolster is well-attached but slightly messy. Good polish, though. The wood handle is absolutely
gorgeous, and feels like it was custom-made to fit my hand. More grippy than the horn handles, too, and IMHO, a lot more character. This knife has the flat buttcap which is attched very nicely and is polished like a mirror. I'll be surprised if this one goes loose!
The chakma and karda are unexceptional. Very small, even by village standards, but still usable. Edge on the chakma needs to be finished, but despite their ugliness they'll serve the purpose. One interesting thing to note is that the karda has a wood handle while the chakma has a horn handle! The last village model I got had a horn handle with wooden handled chakma and karda, but this is a first with two different materials! I like it.
The sheath has nice leather that feels thicker and has more texture than usual. Fit is perfect and although the brass end ins sloppily glued, the rest is VERY nice. A sheath like this alone would cost twice what the entire package ran me if I bought it from an American maker!
Overall this is an exceptionally nice knife. I like it's small size (for a khukuri, mind you) and the balance is great. The handle feels very nice and the edge is nice and sharp. To me the forge lines add beauty to the knife because trhey are visual proof of forging, and they are like veins in marble. I think it adds to the khukuri's looks. A handforged knife this size and with these materials paired with the two small forged accessry knives and the sheath would sell for $500+ if a Westerner made it. Well done, again!
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My Custom Kydex Sheath page:
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/1298/knifehome.html
Palmer College of Chiropractic
On Two Wheels
This khukuri measures in at 13.5" OAl with a blade of 8.5" and a handle of 5". The blade is 2" wide at its widest point, but it looks REALLY wide due to the shorter length. Thickness is 7/8" with a lot of belly and a fairly blunt, almost spear-point-like tip. There is a thin, carved "blood-groove" (more like a line) along the flat near the spine on both sides. This khukuri is well-forged and quite straight. The edge is relatively sharp and runs very straight from tip to choil. Very well made in this regard. This knife sold for a song due to a forge line which is about 2.5" long and runs parallel to the carved line on the right face of the knife. There is another forge line that is about 3/4" and runs longitudinal with the knife along the spine. Whoops! And ONE more forge line that runs along the flat up by the spine from the forward curve for about two inches! This may be a record breaker! The bolster is well-attached but slightly messy. Good polish, though. The wood handle is absolutely
gorgeous, and feels like it was custom-made to fit my hand. More grippy than the horn handles, too, and IMHO, a lot more character. This knife has the flat buttcap which is attched very nicely and is polished like a mirror. I'll be surprised if this one goes loose!
The chakma and karda are unexceptional. Very small, even by village standards, but still usable. Edge on the chakma needs to be finished, but despite their ugliness they'll serve the purpose. One interesting thing to note is that the karda has a wood handle while the chakma has a horn handle! The last village model I got had a horn handle with wooden handled chakma and karda, but this is a first with two different materials! I like it.
The sheath has nice leather that feels thicker and has more texture than usual. Fit is perfect and although the brass end ins sloppily glued, the rest is VERY nice. A sheath like this alone would cost twice what the entire package ran me if I bought it from an American maker!
Overall this is an exceptionally nice knife. I like it's small size (for a khukuri, mind you) and the balance is great. The handle feels very nice and the edge is nice and sharp. To me the forge lines add beauty to the knife because trhey are visual proof of forging, and they are like veins in marble. I think it adds to the khukuri's looks. A handforged knife this size and with these materials paired with the two small forged accessry knives and the sheath would sell for $500+ if a Westerner made it. Well done, again!
------------------
My Custom Kydex Sheath page:
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/1298/knifehome.html
Palmer College of Chiropractic
On Two Wheels
