The BT Special -- or why it pays to have a wood model. Pix.

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Here's an interesting piece that was made at BirGorkha from a good, detailed wood model. I didn't want to put up a pix of the model until I saw how the kamis did with this one. It has an edge on the topside that runs about half the length of the blade from the tip and then turns into a rounded edge. I wasn't sure how the kamis were going to harden the blade but whatever they did seems right and the knife appears to be about 95% true to the model. I think the nephew who ordered this one is going to be a happy camper. I rate it as a 10/10 effort, including the scabbard. The kami with no name took on this project and did it justice.

The knife is 17 inches tip to tip with a blade of about 10 inches and it weighs in at about 2 and a quarter pounds.

If anybody is interested in getting a knife like this let me know. If we can drum up a half dozen takers or so we'll make a run. Price will be $175.

We are calling this knife the BT Special -- initials of the designer.

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Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ
Himalayan Imports Archives (33,000 + posts)
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CCOOOooooLLllll!!!!!
Now that looks like a real slicer and dicer!!!
And when Dave K sees this one he is gonna be wondering where his Katar is for sure.
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Yvsa.

"VEGETARIAN".............
Indin word for lousy hunter.
 
SamuraiDave

SamuraiDave

Joined
Apr 6, 2001
Messages
2,632
Another one to add to my wish list. I have a hankern' for a real Nepal style kuk right now... but I like it and I am up for one later.
 
Uncle, was this the knife everybody was thinking up a name for not too long ago? This one should be a ma's dream!

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"To Know and to Act are One"
 
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I keep coming back and looking at this knife and I got to thinking that this could be a very good example of some of the old early mountain man knives.
A lot of people don't know that at one time the _double edged blade_ was the knife of choice for a camp or large hunting knife.
There were also some smaller ones made as well and they could run from around a 5" to 8" blade.

One edge was sharpened for chopping and the other edge had a nice thin edge for skinning and or slicing.
An all around using blade for the people who knew what it took to survive anywhere they went.

Then I believe (my opinion) due to the laws enacted against the carrying of Bowie Knives the large double edged blades fell out of favor as well.
Just another example of freedoms lost and the influence of people who are afraid of their own shadow and wanting other people to protect them rather than protect themselves.
It's really a shame because the large knives like this had a lot going for them. I like the idea of having 2 edges for different purposes.
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The more I look at this model the better I like it!!!!
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And I really like the way BT designed the handle.
It looks really comfortable and that swell at the guard is what I am hoping for the Southwestern Style Bowie when I ever get it finished.
This one just might go on my wish list after an UBE.
My younger Bro Finn has gotten me to thinking about the UBE an awful lot.
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But everything is on hold until the new computer is bought an paid for.


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Yvsa.

"VEGETARIAN".............
Indin word for lousy hunter.
 
I told you the memory was going. This is, indeed, the HIKKS and not the BT special which is yet another special order in the works. Too many special orders and too little memory.

In looking over the old thread on this I find the following interested folks:

Snipehunta
Doc
Fausto
Rkenny
beezer
orion
Matt Maheny
eda-koppo

So, is everybody still in? I hope so because I've placed an order for 8 more after seeing the job they did on the model.

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Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ
Himalayan Imports Archives (33,000 + posts)
Himalayan Imports Shopping Site
 
Hey Yvsa-

The "mountain man" knives you mentioned- Were they asymmetric (bigger-bellied on one side, like the KKS) or more like a smatchet?

I used to like double-edged knives, y'know, the scary-lookin' dagger type. They couldn't do any heavy work and heaven help you if you stuck the tip in anything remotely hard. I got disgusted with 'em; switched over to the ol' fashioned clip.

Still, I did wonder if a smatchet might make up for some of the disadvantages, but hybrid knives usually wind up with all the disadvantages of both parents.

Case in point . . . anybody seen Junglee's "Tactical Gurkha" knife? Good for a laugh. If anybody can find a use for it other than as a tent stake I'll shake your hand & pay you a dollar.
 
I was kind of confused when you named this BT special. Glad to see that the KKS (else known as YETI) is as good looking as we expected it to be.
I'm still in for one, I'll work out the best address in the States and let you know.
Ciao
Fausto
 
Uncle, I am in. When do you think they will be ready so I know to set aside some dollars. I don't want to get caught with my pants down when they get here. I am still working on a model for a large Toothpick. Another large double edge knife. And a double sided hatchet. It is taking longer than I thought because I am so busy, but I figure you are sort of backed up right now anyway so there is no hurry.
 
Hey, that one looks nice! Not only the knife, the scabbard also looks good.

Yvsa, there's a knife which has exactly the same feature you were saying about old mountain man knives. It's called "umegai" in Japanese. They were carried by people called "sanka", the Japanese mountain man. Umegai has symmetrical double edged blade, one for taugh tasks and the other for more delicate tasks. I've got a pix of it from the back cover of a book about Japanese forged blades. But don't know how to post it...
 
Good to see you posting again, Jelly Fish.

Bob

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The Milk Snake: Beautiful, harmless, good-natured, eats venomous snakes for lunch.
 
Yvsa, thanks for the history refresher Bro. It's growing on me too! I got a Smatchet (since traded) from Col. Rex Applegate way back when he had Buck do a special production run of them to his specs. According to Rex, Buck had an awful time executing the double edge geometry on a large knife. He ended up having Al Mar do the next project. I really did like the knife with it's balance, and choice of edge profiles. The belly is what made the design work well, I think. The large double edge blade has always greatly appealed to me on a lot of levels.

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"To Know and to Act are One"
 
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