The Movie Model Isn't Just For The Movies

Big Bob

Big Bob

Joined
Oct 13, 1999
Messages
1,731
Yesterday my young brother had the itch to use his ax, chopping down a six inch thick Maple and leaving it in the driveway at mom's house. :grumpy: I didn't find out about the tree until I was halfway over there, khukless. Dad had used the ax to remove the smaller limbs in order to clear the driveway. He thought that the tree had blown over until I inspected the trunk. We were more bemused than angry. On the plus side, this was the opportunity for me to put my Bura Movie Model to the test. I had though about using my Durba 18" AK, but wanted to see how the MM compared to my 21" GS; both weigh 25oz, my MM *exactly*.

Flash forward to today and 30 minutes of sweat, woodchips, and a few blisters later seven logs were in the burnpile. My MM threw chips and chopped practically the same as I remember my GS doing last spring. The MM can definitely do some work. I had worried about the ringless handle twisting in my hand, but didn't notice any. The handle was a bit roughened so that might have helped some. My hand did tend to gravitate down the handle to the buttcap during chopping though. As far as the edge it came out unscathed, as expected when dealing with green wood. My only concern was that the blade was a bit prone to bouncing when chopping at a low angle, but it didn't happen more than a few times. I did a bit of impulse flexing with the blade secured about four inches from the bolster. The small amount of bend that I managed from the 5/16" spined MM didn't faze it a bit.

I don't have any pics of my tests as mom took the digital camera on vacation with her. I had wanted to take a pic of my MM to post in the Bura khukuris thread, but such is life.

Bob
 
Cool! People think of it as just a display knife, but it can definitely do the work. It has a nice long reach to it. Personally, sometimes for hard work a smooth handle is nice, especially if you're not wearing gloves.

Is yours horn or wood?

Thanks,

Norm
 
Norm- I thought I've been watching closely but apparently I haven't. I thought all Movie Models had horn handles. A wooden one would be awesome.

<<<Is yours horn or wood?>>> Norm

This is precisely why I love having collectors share openly with the forum. People are constantly noting details I've forgotten. i


My 20" Movie Model by Bura is supreme. I think it weighs 29 ounces.
It sets very nicely in my hand, feels good and balanced. Bot it and the Uncle Bill Especial work hard. Not just clamour boys.





munk
 
Norm, mine is horn. I'm not positive, but a few of the villager MMs might have had wooden handles.

Bob
 
My Bura Movie Model has a walnut handle, so it does come with wooden handles. I've kinda gravitated toward wooden handles on my khukuris - I enjoy the look and the feel.
 
I think Bura was having fun when he made the Movie Model.
I passed the UB Special by for many years. When the computer took a nose dive one summer, there was no way to get to HI forum. When the new computer arrived, I returned, and the first thing I saw was a sale thread with the UBE on it. I wanted it. I saw it, I liked it at last, and I got one. When the Movie Model came out I got it too. They are brother blades, and very neat. The Movie holds and balances like no other khuk, and the UBE is a great all around tool. You even have the forward thrust, should the Pine tree you've been chopping suddenly turn on you savagely.



munk
 
Thanks for your input Wesley and nice to see you drop in. :)

For the last few months or so I've been trying my hand at the Walosi method of woodchuckery. I'm actually starting to wish that more of my khuks had wooden handles.

Bob
 
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