Greetings, One and All, After a slight work induced absence (2 weeks in Chicago) I'm home for 4 days, and I've just got finished testing out my new lightweight AK. What an excellent Khuk!
The horn handle with the repair done by durba is quite nice and fits my hand wonderfully. The horn texture is tactile enough to provide a good grip and the repair looks pretty darn integral with the horn. It doesn't scream, " I've been fixed"

!
The Blade is all that I'd hoped it would be:
18 1/4" long, 3/8" at the spine, 2 1/4" belly. The fullers are nice and even. I can see only the very faintest of hammermarks on one side, I should say, hammermark, since there was only one about 1/8" ! Man what those boys can do with a hammer!
The point of balance is 1 1/2" up from the cho. It is very light and agile in hand. My wife, Heidi, summed up it's balance by saying that it takes no special effort to hold it or swing it. She thought my malla "felt" heavier.
The edge was pretty darn sharp, so I commenced "Operation make Toothpicks" in the shop. It really tore through well seasoned 2 x4s with realitive ease. It don't reasonable expect it to rival my GRS as a lopper due to it's light weight, But it'll definitely do a good days' work. The Karda and Chakma are up to HI's usual high standards.
It is overall my prettiest Khuk so far. True they are all pretty in their own right, but fullers are eye candy.
Thanks for all the valuable info on becoming a "horn" dog, Yvsa, and thanks for the input on the Ak by everyone. I can now see why this style is the favorite of many of ya'll. I'll keep the further adventures of AK-MAN coming!
I have a lot of catching up to do, man, you miss two weeks, you miss a ton. especially Sanu's Jewel. Nice catch Dave!
Uncle and Durba have done me proud once again...Hey, this could be habit forming....
-Craig