Uncle Bill vs the Sirupati. Pix. Cliff, these pix are for you.

Bill Martino

Bill Martino

Joined
Mar 5, 1999
Messages
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The green-yellow you see in point close up is a reflection of the trees in the magic mirror finish of the blade.

There it is. A perfect Sirupati put to the destruction test by 190 pound, St. Mary's rehab staff certified "extremely strong in upper extremities" Uncle Bill. Full swing from over the head into the concrete patio, striking laterally.

This is the 1/4 inch "thin" Sirupati and I think it held up very well to such a blow. Now I wish I'd hit it in the vertical rather than lateral but as most know I was not thinking -- not at all -- during the test.

I don't think it would have bent in a vertical blow and now that it is too late I would like to know what the blade would have done in response to such a nasty impact against concrete.

I have literally destroyed lesser khukuris with such a blow, putting pronounced bends in the blade, breaking AND bending tip, and bending the tang so badly it split the handle almost beyond regognition. This Sanu Sirupati deserves some praise. It did well.

This knife at his request is on the way to Dan K. along with his GRS for evaluation and repair. If I know anything about knives and Dan I am betting he is going to bring this knife back to perfect condition and I suspect we will be hearing about the progress along the way. He has the facilites and the skill to do it.

Cliff, you are not the only guy around who can do severe testing!

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Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ
Himalayan Imports Archives (18,000+ posts)

[This message has been edited by Bill Martino (edited 09-03-2000).]
 
Uncle Bill, I know Cliff must be proud of you! Next thing you know, you'll be taking up Cliff's new hobby -- chopping up chain!

[This message has been edited by Steven F (edited 09-03-2000).]
 
Pix are disturbing, but as Uncle Bill points out, this khukuri held up better than most knives....

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Harry
HI Khukuri Range Safety Officer

[This message has been edited by Kozak (edited 09-03-2000).]
 
Bill :

Cliff, you are not the only guy around who can do severe testing!
Click to expand...


Nah, I am just the most handsome. Ask Bill I sent him a picture once to prove it of me and my dog and I had to clarify which one I was. I am slightly less hairy.

Good job by the way, serious blades from serious people. It reminds me of when I was discussing sword making with a maker from Malyasia and asked him how he determined if the swords was fit for use.

He replied that after trying a new technique or metal, he would bash the sword into a concrete wall/floor to see how the edge held up and then do full overhead smashes with the flats striking an anvil until the blade was mangled.

Serious guy, I think we are related. I asked him about the Gurkhas and he has a deep respect for the blades and the people.

-Cliff
 
A little superglue into the crack, followed up with expoxy, and I'll bet you could do a lot of weed-abatement with that blade as-is. My Finnish billhook is pointless by design.

Hmmmm .... a Bir Gorkha billhook .... mind wanders in strange directions.


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- JKM
www.chaicutlery.com
AKTI Member # SA00001
 
I just checked the weight on this Sirupati and it is 21 oz. Yangdu was busy getting ready for shipment another 20 inch Sirupati made by Murali so I tossed it on the scale -- 2 pounds 4 oz. and 1/2 inch thick -- a Chiruwa style. I doubt that I would have been able to put a bend in that one.

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Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ
Himalayan Imports Archives (18,000+ posts)

[This message has been edited by Bill Martino (edited 09-04-2000).]
 
Uncle Bill,
I offer this pic of the remains of my 17" Village Himali sirupati
View

to prove the following propositions:
1. James is right - light blue paper & lots of brightness makes a good scan.
2. 1" galvanized steel pipe works quite as well as concrete for destructive testing when contacted with sufficient force.
3. One should always be aware of what lies just beyond the brush one is cutting.
4. There is much truth to the old saying - "There was never a hoss that couldn't be rode, and never a cowboy that couldn't be throwed!"
SIGH
redface.gif

Berk
 
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