Terry Siscos Wooden M43 kukri model Example

K

kukrifan

Joined
Jan 3, 2013
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Just wondering if this model made it into production and if any forumites have one.?
Sounds like the M43 Ive been dreaming about!
 
Yes, it happened back in 2001, if I remember correctly. For the first few years of production, the M43's followed the pattern really close, sometime later, they deviated. Every once in a while, the Kami's make an M43 based off the wood pattern. Actually one came up recently. Bet you could search for M43 and find it.
 
i knew it existed thanks wildmanh. i wonder if anyone has a picture of the beauty?
it sounds like what i am hunting for!
Hopefully Auntie can hook me up
 
I agree whole package is beautiful.
I love the smaller handle and the sweet curves of the kukri is sings to me!
If enough people were keen do you think Auntie may do a spaecial run of the Terry Sisco M43?
 
I would definitely buy a "light" or "TS" version of the M43, without a doubt, HI can do it for sure, with all the new stuff coming down the pipe I would not be shocked to see this make its way back in.
 
Rose&Thorn said:
As in Stuart Branson of Victoria?

Also, could you give us the specs on the m43? Pretty please?
Click to expand...

One and the same. Here are the specs.

- Weight 28 oz.
- OAL (assumed to be 18") 17 1/2"
- Blade length 11 1/2" from cho to tip
- Handle length ~ 5" from buttcap to bolster
- Spine thickness 3/8"
- Handle dimension at the first rivet (vertically and horizontally) 1 5/16" wide & 1 1/8" thick
- Handle dimension at the second rivet (vertically and horizontally) 1 3/16" wide & 15/16" thick
 
I've got an 11 inch (blade) World War II and the M43. Both are beautiful. But the M43 is quite heavy. Much heavier from what I've learned than those typically used in the World Wars. But that continuous curve along the top of the blade puts the M43 ahead of the "World War types" aesthetically in my opinion. Their handles are much more comfortable as well, for my hands at least. From what I've gleaned a typical World War M-43 would have had a blade between 12 and 13 inches long and it would have run 19 or 20 ounces or even a bit less. I'd like to see something that would split the difference with a blade running between 11 and 12 inches with the Kukri running around 24 ounces (same as my World War II model). So the blade would perhaps be a tad shorter than what was commonly used in the World Wars, but not as thin. The result would of course not be quite the work horse the present M43 is, but thicker in the spine and therefore a bit more substantial than what was actually used in combat.

Let me put all this in perspective. I have recently obtained two bowies, one from Kukri House. It's called the Alamo style bowie and mine was one of the first batch of 25 and so engraved. It's really a nice piece and very formidable. It's got an 11 inch blade but it actually exceeds 1 kilogram in weight and might even outweigh my M43. But a couple of weeks ago, after a year and a half wait I got a custom bowie from Mark Morrow which he calls an Arkansas Fighting bowie. It weighs a bit less than 20 ounces and has a 10 inch blade. There's no doubt that the Nepalese bowie will take a head or leg off with a single blow or quickly chop up firewood for that matter. Southern (American) Civil War soldiers armed themselves with such bowies but it didn't take long for them to discard them because they were just too heavy to be carrying around all day long when a bayonet or rifle butt used like a club would do the same job in hand to hand combat. The Mark Morrow bowie is a different story. It's too light to be a good firewood cutter but one could easily pack it for self defense or an auxiliary weapon. In the 1830's to 1860's, it was made for one main purpose and that was for killing people.

Pictures I've seen of the old M43's showed blades that more on the lines of a machete's to my way of thinking. But they were eminently packable and therefore suitable for military use. It would be interesting to see something gorgeous come out of HI that would split the difference.
 
We tried to get something like this going a few times, this being one: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/839104-The-Great-MKII-Kami-Challenge!/page3 It didn't materialize. The specs are out there and below are the specs on two I believe represent the Mk. II/M-43 khukuri at their best. They are light enough to be fast, but heavy enough to be great woods tools. Some war time production versions were upwards of 26+ oz., but many Mk. II, and all M-43 in my experience, tended to be at or under 24 oz. Since the linked thread, I've come to appreciate even lighter khukuri. I have a Mk. II copy at 21 oz. which, as far as I'm concerned, is ideal. I believe the legendary HI M-43 Wildmike used while living for several years in the woods was a Bura at 24 oz. I'd say 17.5" OAL, with a 12.5-13" blade, at 24 oz. would be a sweet spot for an ideal general purpose khukuri for many people. As I said, I actually prefer a few less ounces, but realize I'm in the minority:). The key is a short, but long enough for western hands, handle, and a distal taper. My period M-43 is about 1/4" at the bolster and shoulder, while my nicest Mk. II is about 3/8 " at the bolster, tapering a little to the shoulder, and thinning from there. Both handle very nicely, though I do prefer the constant distal taper. That removes the forward heavy balance many like for chopping, but adds greatly to the handling IMHO. I believe they would sell well. Good luck.

M43 Variant Mk. II

OAL – 17.5”/44.5 cm
Blade Length – 13.25/33.65 cm
Weight – 23.1 oz./654.8 grams
Handle Length – 4.5”/11.4 cm
Spine Width: @Bolster – .264”/6.7 mm
@Shoulder in front of groove/Sword of Shiva – .243”/6.2 mm
@Tip – .122”/3.1 mm
Tang Width (middle between rings) - .165”/4.2 mm
Handle Width: @First Pin – 1.29”/32.7 mm
@Second Pin – .994”/25.2 mm
Belly Depth – 2.3”/58.4 mm

M-43 on bottom with a 1943 Pioneer Calcutta Mk. II on top. BTW, the Pioneer Mk. II's were Ok, but a little rough. They seem to have been a common WWII Mk. II.
MkIIM43002.jpg



WWI Ringed Mk. II (M.I. II)

OAL – 17.25”/44 cm
Blade Length – 13“/33 cm
Weight – 23.89 oz./677 grams
Handle Length – 4.5”/11.5 cm
Spine Width: @Bolster – .311”/7.9 mm
@Shoulder in front of groove/Sword of Shiva – .3 ”/7.6 mm
@Tip – .125”/3.2 mm
Tang Width (middle between rings) - .12”/3.04 mm
Handle Width: @First Pin – 1.02”/25.9 mm
@Second Pin – 1.028”/26.1 mm
Belly Depth – 2.367”/ 60.1mm

RingedMkII004.jpg
 
Here are some pictures of the H.I. M43 that I had back in 2001. The one that kamagong posted is closer to this one, then the modern M43's.

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I agree with JDK1, lighter, more traditional M43's would sell. :)
 
wildmanh said:
Here are some pictures of the H.I. M43 that I had back in 2001. The one that kamagong posted is closer to this one, then the modern M43's.

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I agree with JDK1, lighter, more traditional M43's would sell. :)
Click to expand...

I'm not surprised. Mine is an oldie as well, made by Kumar in 2002. I got it on Uncle Bill's birthday. :rock:
 
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