- Joined
- Sep 22, 2003
- Messages
- 13,182
I dropped by the PO and picked it up this morning. I'd like to report that my efforts to unwrap it did not result in a trip to the ER this time 
Now of course I haven't had time to chop anything with it, since I am not in my cubicle
, so the jury is still out on tempering, but MAN! This thing KILLS!
Where do I start? First the handle. Nothing, I repeat nothing needs done to it. It is shorter like a traditional khuk, but not too short. Wide flare at the butt for the pivot when chopping. Tapers from the bolster to the ring and is the perfect diameter. Also the ad said Chandan handle, and in the pic it looked like the same reddish wood that my YCS is. Must have just been the light because the handle appears to be a very fine grade of rosewood and finished to perfection. I can't say enough about this handle. I wish whoever did it did the YCS handles.
Working our way up the bolster is non habaki and very short, maybe a little over a half inch. Oh yea, the bolster, buttcap and chape are all silver, which I like better anyway. The Cho is perfectly positioned and close to the bolster.
The blade is not shaving but very sharp, and has the nice curved arc shape like the old ones. The whole knife is very well finished. Karda and Chakma are not that special but are finished well.
The sheath is like about 50% better than typical HI. First there are 2 leather bands around it to kind of hold the flap on the back that goes over the chakma and karda area, then the frog is made out of thick leather and set lower on the knife than your typical hi. That makes the top of the belt loop set just a tiny bit above the top of the sheath. One complaint I often have against some khuks is the belt loop is so long that the khuk dangles too much. Not so with this one. Also there is a solidness and quality to this sheath that outshines all but the Terry Sisco I have. The leather also appears to have some sort of wax? on it. Gives it this water repellant look and shiny but not shiny in a cheap way.
The knife is pretty heavy, but with the smaller handle the balance is such that although it is more in the chopper weight range it should machete ok.
The edge retention and tempering as well as chopping is still up in the air, but I can say if that is ok this may end up being one of my top 2 khuks. It incorporates a lot of the things we all say we want in a khuk, especially Yvsa and I who seem to have real similar preferences.
If any more of these come around jump on them . WELL worth the $$
Now of course I haven't had time to chop anything with it, since I am not in my cubicle
, so the jury is still out on tempering, but MAN! This thing KILLS! Where do I start? First the handle. Nothing, I repeat nothing needs done to it. It is shorter like a traditional khuk, but not too short. Wide flare at the butt for the pivot when chopping. Tapers from the bolster to the ring and is the perfect diameter. Also the ad said Chandan handle, and in the pic it looked like the same reddish wood that my YCS is. Must have just been the light because the handle appears to be a very fine grade of rosewood and finished to perfection. I can't say enough about this handle. I wish whoever did it did the YCS handles.
Working our way up the bolster is non habaki and very short, maybe a little over a half inch. Oh yea, the bolster, buttcap and chape are all silver, which I like better anyway. The Cho is perfectly positioned and close to the bolster.
The blade is not shaving but very sharp, and has the nice curved arc shape like the old ones. The whole knife is very well finished. Karda and Chakma are not that special but are finished well.
The sheath is like about 50% better than typical HI. First there are 2 leather bands around it to kind of hold the flap on the back that goes over the chakma and karda area, then the frog is made out of thick leather and set lower on the knife than your typical hi. That makes the top of the belt loop set just a tiny bit above the top of the sheath. One complaint I often have against some khuks is the belt loop is so long that the khuk dangles too much. Not so with this one. Also there is a solidness and quality to this sheath that outshines all but the Terry Sisco I have. The leather also appears to have some sort of wax? on it. Gives it this water repellant look and shiny but not shiny in a cheap way.
The knife is pretty heavy, but with the smaller handle the balance is such that although it is more in the chopper weight range it should machete ok.
The edge retention and tempering as well as chopping is still up in the air, but I can say if that is ok this may end up being one of my top 2 khuks. It incorporates a lot of the things we all say we want in a khuk, especially Yvsa and I who seem to have real similar preferences.
If any more of these come around jump on them . WELL worth the $$
