- Joined
- May 18, 1999
- Messages
- 15,395
:
:
Yep,the femailman knocked on my door this morning with a long plain brown box.
I opened the box and was in anticipation of opening two paper wrapped bundles.I opened the little one 1st.Withdrew the blade and.... You just wouldn't believe this little Khukuri.It is not a miniature.It is a real Khukuri!
The fit and finish is very nice.The handle has some nice hatch marks between the circles.
It was hair scraping sharp out of the box and the cute little karda and chakma are very well made for a knife this size. I took both out back and was surprsed at just how well the little one chops.I think it will be ever bit as good as my CS Trailmaster when it is properly sharpened,maybe even a little better,becouse I don't believe it will hang up as much.
Scabbard is Very nicely done.The frog is a little thin,but more than ample and it is just thin,because of what the frogs are generally made from.We are going to be very happy together.
I have to say overall it is a lot nicer than what Shop 2 first put out.More on that next.
The most amazing thing is that it does balance on Its' Edge no less just at the beginning of the curve.
The Gelbu Special was next.Oh! WoW.Mine has the cho that the Dove has two eyes.It is beautiful and I am more than satisfied!
Pala is exactly right.It won't chop like an Ang Khola,but it will make a good work knife and a very good weapon.It is a good 1/2 Lb.lighter too.Unless Shop 1 has improved a whole lot,then I have too say that Shop 2 has caught them in fit and finish.This one is exquisite! The fuller runs from just at the cho the full length of the blade.This is one of the finest examples of hammer work I have Ever seen.
The blade has the best polish yet that I have seen from either Shop.
Then to top it off a very nice heavy 7 pointed star on top of the flat butt cap.
The karda is also fullered and both it and the chakma are of a nice size.The blades actually a tad longer than what came with my 18"AK.The Khukuri edge edge was chopping sharp due to a burr.once the burr was removed it would scrap hair.
The scabbard is also very good!
I took the Gelbu Special out with the litte one and checked it out as well.It works as well as the 15" AK for me,but then it is about the same weight and has a thinner edge and I was expecting about this kind of performance which is very good indeed.
I will try to do a better report later on performance.
I think that about covers everything except why I started this new thread.
The Stamps......
The little one is stamped NEPAL on the right side.
It is stamped just below the bolster in letters about 1/8" tall except the "P" which is about 3/16".I think it kinda gives it a nice touch,a little more decorative than just NEPAL.It is also stamped from spine to edge.
It is fairly even and straight although it isn't square with the blade.I don't find it offensive.
Neater and straighter would be what to strive for.
If this isn't all one stamp I have to commend the Kami who stamped it.Sngle letter machine stamps are damn hard to get straight and even! I know!!
Even getting two letters like "AK" neatly stamped together with single stamps is a virgin.If it was the other it would be easy!(VBEG)
Now...The Gelbu Special.
It has the larger H.I. stamps in Devengari(sp?) which I prefer,because they are clearer and more pronounced and of course on the right side.
I didn't like the smaller ones and I think maybe Pala or Uncle Bill didn't either and they were changed.How about it Pala and Uncle Bill?
On the left side in front of the cho it is stamped
"MADE IN NEPAL" in 3/16" letters
the length of the blade.
Again I have to commend the Kami.It is a damned nice Job!!
It does run uphill a tad,but...
Then the serial number is stamped
edge to spine "SN 138" again a nice job.
The stamps have a way of making it "look" sort of OFFICIAL.
If the Serial numbers have to remain couldn't just the "S" be used?
I believe it would look nicer.
I have to totally agree with Jeff when he said in the other thread that he didn't care about who made the Khukuri and what number it was.
He said it much better than I could anyway.
My opinion would be to use the smaller 1/8" stamps on any blade.
I would take everything away except the NEPAL which has to stamped if that is all that would be needed.
I think the spine _might_ be the best choice,But I am not so sure after seeing this little one stamped by the bolster.It might be best to see what everyone prefers and take it from there.It may even look nice just above the H.I.stamps along the spine.
One last thougt on this.I believe a Fancy cursive font would look nicer and perhaps wouldn't be so critical on the line up of the letters.
If the cursive could be used then I think the 3/16" letters would look nicer because they wouldn't run together as bad.
Comments anyone
------------------
>>>>---¥vsa---->®
Cornbread ain't s'possed ta be sweet!....Dagnabit gurl,whut did they teach you way up north in ....
[This message has been edited by Yvsa (edited 18 September 1999).]
hehehe.