Villager "Lucky #7A" Merciless Scans :)

J

James Mattis

Joined
Oct 3, 1998
Messages
3,264
Got my Villager #7A "twin" today.

About 14 1/2" along the spine, 17 ounces. Feels handy, haven't tried chopping yet. Artistic impression - in a farmer's khukuri? - anyway, there's nothing wrong with a fairly uniform "satin" finish, especially if the smith would do the surface finishing before installing the handle - notice the way the grit goes at a right angle there. The woodwork is on the rough and ready side.

<A HREF="http://www.chaicutlery.com/HimalayanImports/14inchVillager.jpg" TARGET=_blank>
14inchVillager-medium.jpg
</A>

Here's a look at the difference between Bir Gorkha work (18" Kumar Ang Kola in this case) and this particular "Village #7A" khukuri. The Bir Gorkha khukuri with the Himalayan Imports guarantee costs more, of course. Sometimes this is an orderly universe.

<A HREF="http://www.chaicutlery.com/HimalayanImports/KumarAngKola-and-Villager.jpg" TARGET=_blank>
KumarAngKola-and-Villager-medium.jpg
</A>

And sometimes it's a not-so-orderly universe when I have to go in and edit a post for the 9th time because the coding won't work!
confused.gif


We'll look at the pommels in the next post.

- JKM
www.chaicutlery.com
Good tools to sustain life, or at least make life more convenient


[This message has been edited by James Mattis (edited 08-23-2000).]
 
Here, from the digital camera, are the butt-ends of the two knives. You can see that the pommels of the Bir Gorkha khukuri is a lot thicker and better finished than the Villager's, and the tang seems to have more "beef." What you can't see is that the edges of the Villager's pommel are asking me to zip around it with a 220-grit belt so it won't bite, because I do not have the hands of a Nepali farmer.

<A HREF="http://www.chaicutlery.com/HimalayanImports/KumarAngKola-and-Villager-pommels.jpg" TARGET=_blank>
Kumar-and-Villager-pommels-med.jpg
</A>

Another thing you may notice is that the pommels are not on the same axis as the blades. In the Kumar specimen here, the top of the pommel is slightly to the right of the center of the blade spine, and the bottom is slightly to the left of the edge. In the Villager, the twist is in the same direction, but much more pronounced. Maybe people who have done more chopping than I have can tell me if this is ergonomics or just asymetry.

KumarAngKola-and-Villager-pommels2.jpg


There are weeds that need abating!
smile.gif


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- JKM
www.chaicutlery.com
AKTI Member # SA00001



[This message has been edited by James Mattis (edited 08-23-2000).]
 
:
James the butt cap on the one by Kumar looks like you've done my trick with a corner of a good file?

I almost always file a small groove at the juncture of the butt cap and the handle. That takes care of any shrinking the handle may have done and removes the burr from the butt cap where it was finished flat to the handle. That's when I round off the sharp point on the cap as well.
Perhaps Bill can post a pic of one of mine that I have finished off that way for the edification of some of the new members we have. Since I have done that I haven't had any scrapes or digging into the hand by the pointy butt cap.



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&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;---¥vsa----&gt;®

"There's no trick in being a humorist when you have the whole government working for you."

...............Will Rogers......

Khukuri FAQ
 
Both khukuris are "as-issued." It looks like Kumar has heard that some of us foreigners don't like sharp corners digging into our palms.
smile.gif



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- JKM
www.chaicutlery.com
AKTI Member # SA00001
 
Here it is after a couple of minutes with the 1x42 belt sander - 120 grit and 220 grit belts.

Villager-ModifiedPommel.jpg


Villager-ModifiedPommel-scan.jpg


I gave the butt end a new 1/8" - 3/16" bevel all the way around, so only obtuse angles meet the palm of my hand, and no sharp metal edges. Much better!
spiny.gif


Some weeds have already given up the ghost to the as-issued edge. Now to go the the Sharpmaker and make it vorpal!
biggrin.gif



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- JKM
www.chaicutlery.com
AKTI Member # SA00001
 
I think maybe the "twist" does help me make a horizontal "harvesting" cut to the right, parallel the ground, or even angled up to the right. Chopping straight down also comes naturally. Any cut to the left of my right arm wants me to turn my body in that direction first. Basically it wants to do all its work to the right of my right foot. Maybe it is ergonomic after all.
smile.gif



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- JKM
www.chaicutlery.com
AKTI Member # SA00001
 
James, no wonder you are the sweetheart of the knifeworld and I am the ogre.

You were sorely missed by all of us this afternoon and evening and if you are absent next time you can count on a dozen wild Indians appearing at your doorstep and carting you away to Reno, or Fl, or even Nepal!!!!!!! The kamis want to meet you and get some personal instructions!

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Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

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