The first Mallas arrive. Pix and an HI essay regarding loyalty.

BA
I have mine too.Have been unable to stay on line because of thunder storms.
My Malla is more narrow than Howard's and also feels light for being 7/16s thick almost all the way to the point.I will never chop with this one,even though as I say that,I struggle with the thought of just
taking it out side to;just look at it in the sun light,near a tree that I am removing a little at a time.

------------------
Ray
 
Rusty
You have been a big help to Bill and to HI.I would like to meet you too.

------------------
Ray
 
Ray,

I know what you mean about the chopping. I'm having the same internal debate. I know which side is going to win though. Eventually I'll get that first scratch and say goodbye to the finish, and hello to the fun.

**********************************

Beware, Malla owners. Yesterday I punched the tip of the blade through the back of the sheath, just where I was holding it. Take care, not only on the inside curve where the blade might cut through, but also on the outside curve where the sharp tip can punch through.
 
Howard
I did the same thing.The bend is tight and I always try to keep the edge from cutting out then the piont went through.I have it down now but must repair my scabbard.
It really surprised me I have never done that before.

------------------
Ray
 
First time for me too. I think the Malla design makes this more probable.

I did feel kind of dumb. Good thing I was going slow. The tip just touched the palm of my hand.
 
Howard
Do you think if they made the scabbards with a little more play it would help.
When Bill comes back we'll have to bring it up.These are beautyful khukuris it would be a shame if everybody's scabbards went that way.There is a lot of Mallas on order.

BA
If your out there have you had any close calls with this problem.


------------------
Ray
 
HOLD ON A MINUTE - bottom of page one of this thread, top of page 2 WE GOT SCABBARDS GETTING PUNCHED THRU?

SAFETY ALERT - BACK UP AND PAY ATTENTION OR GO PLAY WITH YOUR KHUKS CLOSE TO MEDICAL CARE.

------------------
John Moses designed it, I trust it, and that settles it.


Himalayan Imports Website
 
Rusty
Yes it happened.I have since been able to slide the K back with out a problem but I have a hole in the scabbard I have to fix.I was lucky my hand is samll and not in the way,that K just slide right through.
Water under the bridge.

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Ray
 
I just want to make sure we've done our part to keep our fellow forumites from getting the monniker "three fingers". One way, Im relieved you and Howard had the problem, as now no one can say they've been using theirs and know what they are doing.

In the firearms community the saying is there are two classes of people: 1) those who have already had a negligent discharge; 2) and those who will have a negligent discharge.

Reminds me of the story bout how the fbi sent a firearms instructor down to the Texas Rangers in the 30's and in the first class, the feeb saw an ranger with a cocked and unlocked 45 auto stuck in his belt - no holster. The feeb tactfully asked if that wasn't a bit dangerous to carry that way, and the Ranger replied: "Son, if that dang old thing wasn't dangerous, I wouldn't be carrying it!"

If a khuk wasn't dangerous ( sharp ) it wouldn't be useful.
 
Ray,

I've been thinking about causes. The tightness of the sheath may be part of it, but I think the blade shape also has something to do with it. I'm sure this problem was addressed and solved hundreds of years ago. Too bad they didn't find an ancient sheath with the old blade used as a prototype for the Malla. Perhaps the next stop should be at the Nepalese Museum, or HMG archeologists, to find out what type of carrying arrangements were used. I remember seeing one old "side break" sheath. I wonder if that would be better for a Malla?

The current sheath will work for me now that I know what to watch out for. It just takes a little extra care when returning the blade. This may have been the old solution. Perhaps the proper method of resheathing was understood and care was taken, similar to the care we take to avoid cutting out the inner part of the curve when drawing.

My blade only came out through the leather 1/8" or so. How far out did yours come? We should see about posting an illustrative picture here and in the safety thread. My picture wouldn't be very impressive unless I further damaged the sheath by sticking the blade out further, and I am reluctant to do that. The sheath will continue to serve in its present condition without repairs, but not if I damaged it further. Would yours make a more impressive photograph without further damaging the sheath?
 
Howard
The tip just came through on mine also but a piece of the scabbard broke off 1/4 wide and about 1/2 long.I can glue the piece back.The leather covers it and you can't see it but I know its there.
I have been looking at it,I think if the opening was a little more broad(width;back to edge).The blade point would not be channeled right to the back of the scabbard when first inserted.If there was a little more room then you could turn the point sooner to avoid the punch through.
The shape or opening of your scabbard my even be different then mine,my blade is just a little more narrow.There will be many Mallas out there soon and they will be just a little diffent than ours.The only solution may be just to be carefull,I don't know.

------------------
Ray
 
HOward and Ray,

I also had that problem!
smile.gif
I'm glad no one got hurt. I almost got stuck. The tip on my Malla cut an inch long section of the leather covering. My Malla came very, very sharp and the curvature is new to me. I also noticed a sliver of cardboard in the sheath that made the blade stick. I had to pull it out. Now, the fir is a little bit looser, and I have to slow down when I place my Malla back home. Great blade, but this one does have its own personality (strong, and independant)! Take care guys.

Ray T
 
Look again who had the problems: Howard, RayC, and Broken Arrow. All three are people that know what using knives is about even if the use is in different areas. They were "lucky" and didn't get hurt, they say. I'd disagree - I think their training, experience, respect for the blade and finally
commonsense safety practices was the "luck".

------------------
John Moses designed it, I trust it, and that settles it.


Himalayan Imports Website
 
Rusty.

Now I know why Pakcik Bill always says: I think the Sarkis who made the scabbards were sober!

Who owned UBEs? I think the tip of UBE Khukuri are more pointed upward than Malla's Khukuri ... but ... again I guess the scabbards were made by the sober Sarkis!

NEPAL HO!

NEPAL HO!
 
I happened to have the same problem as Ray C , Howard and Broken Arrow on my new Gelbu Special, so I don't think that it is exclusive to the Mallas.I have to wonder if this and other scabbards were made when the sarkis had one too many. Strangely, this is the first time in about 30 khukuris that I have had this problem.

I agree that it would be reasonable for Uncle Bill to raise this issue with the BirGhorka sarkis.

Then again, I think that I may just try to fix this problem myself or make a new scabbard.

Harry

[This message has been edited by Kozak (edited 07-02-2000).]
 
This is getin weird.
Then maybe;it's just the way the channel is cut no matter what knife it is.

------------------
Ray
 
This incident happened with my Malla, but all my other Khukuris (Gelbu Special and Special Chiruwa with three fullers) with a flare right at the bend tend to want to stick at the bend. My other Khukuris (20" Sirupati, 20" Chiruwa Sirupati, 19" Ang Khola, 25" Sirupati, and my sons' 15" Sirupati have no tendency to stick upon insertion into the sheath. The Malla just did what it wanted, I guess. At least no one got hurt.
 
I also punched the tip of the blade through the back of the sheath on the Kumar Kobra I bought about a month ago. Was holding the sheath the way were are instructed while reinserting the blade. No real damage done to the palm of my hand but it sure suprised me.
 
Bill should be back the fifth. The sheaths have already been giving him conniptions, and now this.

Last time I saw him he'd pulled someone's kumar kobra 25" out to let me fondle it, and then I had problems, and he had problems, and Yangdu had problems getting it back in the sheath. As I left, the khuk was half in and half out the scabbard and Uncle Bill was NOT cursing, but he was saying to Yangdu "What do we do? I can't ship this to ==== in this condition!"

Thanks for taking the problems in stride this way, guys. From one little problem here and there to a flood of the same things means now he should know how to set about cleaning house.
 
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