This KLO is 18" or so long and weighs a little over 22 ounces. It has no cho, the area is ground flat for 2 full inches from the traditional bolster until the edge of the knife emerges abruptly 1/2" out. The base of the blade is about 1 1/4" wide before this, and about 1 3/4" wide for the entire length until about 3 inches from the tip, where it tapers. This gives the Sher Special a business look, utilitarian and even formidable. The tip has an upwards cast, and martial artists will find this appealing because it offers more fighting options. The spine is almost 5/16" thick. A machette on steroids? Kind of, but different too. The forward curve of the blade is gentle, without the abrupt change as in so many khuks, and more like a Hanshee or Yangdu special. It forms a single smooth seamless line. Very appealing. It is not a sharp angle though, about like a Sirupate.
The Sher 'attitude' design comes with no small tools, no Karda or Chakma. The sheath then is very slender, significantly more so than other Khuks offered by HI.
Try 1 5/8" vs 2 1/3" for my FF and 2 1/2" for my Chiruwa AK.
At 22 ounces I wondered how it would cut. 18" length gives it leverage, but still, it only weighs 22 1/2 ounce. Outside in the woodpile there were many seasoned Ponderosa Pine logs. I went to work. Chop chop. Chips flew. It chops. I thought, 'Gee, this might cut better than the slightly heavier FF." But I was wrong. You can't suspend Newton's laws. The Sher Special cuts about like the FF. I brought the Chiruwa out for comparison, and there wasn't much; the lighter blades will do the work, the heavier Chiruwa does it better.
The proof test of swinging hard, as if I were planning on cutting through the entire log, showed no deformations of any kind. The edge held.
I then attacked the Chokecherry shrubs in the yard. This blade cut them clean and easy. The inner curve seemed to bundle the 1/4" to 1" stems and wouldn't let them escape, as can happen in the larger, wood chopping specific khuks. So this blade then both chops wood and defeats shrubbery. It would help Satori in his war against the Blackberries. Another thing- it wants to swing; I didn't want to put it down. I had to stop cutting in my yard so I'd still have Chokecherries next year, but will visit a thicket later today. Some khuks are like this- they want to be used.
The handle is straight grained wood with the lines and check markings found on the Chitlangi. The end swells like the Chitlangi. The handle is not thin nor thick around. It has more material near the thumb and forefinger, tapers towards the middle, and swells outward once again at the bell. People who think some HI khuks have fat handles that are too big will like this one. People who think some HI handles are too thin will like this one. This is about as good to a 'one size fits all' that you can get.
Lately I've been experimenting with backpacking and hiking khuks. There is a tradeoff in size and weight, and if you go too small the khuk won't chop very well. This blade will chop, and it will clear trail or backyard of vines and shrubs. I like this.
The blade is versatile. It is light enough to carry and in a slender package. I'm going to be reaching for it when I hike with the family. It's hard to see how you could find a better all around outdoor blade.
I think Yangdu will come by shortly and post a picture.
thanks,
munk
The Sher 'attitude' design comes with no small tools, no Karda or Chakma. The sheath then is very slender, significantly more so than other Khuks offered by HI.
Try 1 5/8" vs 2 1/3" for my FF and 2 1/2" for my Chiruwa AK.
At 22 ounces I wondered how it would cut. 18" length gives it leverage, but still, it only weighs 22 1/2 ounce. Outside in the woodpile there were many seasoned Ponderosa Pine logs. I went to work. Chop chop. Chips flew. It chops. I thought, 'Gee, this might cut better than the slightly heavier FF." But I was wrong. You can't suspend Newton's laws. The Sher Special cuts about like the FF. I brought the Chiruwa out for comparison, and there wasn't much; the lighter blades will do the work, the heavier Chiruwa does it better.
The proof test of swinging hard, as if I were planning on cutting through the entire log, showed no deformations of any kind. The edge held.
I then attacked the Chokecherry shrubs in the yard. This blade cut them clean and easy. The inner curve seemed to bundle the 1/4" to 1" stems and wouldn't let them escape, as can happen in the larger, wood chopping specific khuks. So this blade then both chops wood and defeats shrubbery. It would help Satori in his war against the Blackberries. Another thing- it wants to swing; I didn't want to put it down. I had to stop cutting in my yard so I'd still have Chokecherries next year, but will visit a thicket later today. Some khuks are like this- they want to be used.
The handle is straight grained wood with the lines and check markings found on the Chitlangi. The end swells like the Chitlangi. The handle is not thin nor thick around. It has more material near the thumb and forefinger, tapers towards the middle, and swells outward once again at the bell. People who think some HI khuks have fat handles that are too big will like this one. People who think some HI handles are too thin will like this one. This is about as good to a 'one size fits all' that you can get.
Lately I've been experimenting with backpacking and hiking khuks. There is a tradeoff in size and weight, and if you go too small the khuk won't chop very well. This blade will chop, and it will clear trail or backyard of vines and shrubs. I like this.
The blade is versatile. It is light enough to carry and in a slender package. I'm going to be reaching for it when I hike with the family. It's hard to see how you could find a better all around outdoor blade.
I think Yangdu will come by shortly and post a picture.
thanks,
munk