WWII review and Himalayan Imports resale value

[Karda]

It also depends on what youre doing/chopping. But yes, the wrist flick is always the most common.
The little finger more or less guides the blade while the rest grips.
If the pommel is still prone to digging a small amount of filing and a little buffing usually takes care of the matter.
I've actually gotten in a couple repairs/refurbs that the point of the pommel was ground off or severely rounded.... which i took the time to put back on.

 

[wildmanh]

The top point on my 20" Sirupatis handle got damaged durring a move years ago. I filed and sanded it down so that it worked. Still had some point, but not as much and it is way comfy. I have not done that to any other Khukri's, I figure if I'm having pain from it, I'm doing something wrong. :foot: If I do get a Khukri where the bell is to sharp, I'll take out the sharp and call it good. Mostly I notice some sharpness on the Bell when a handle shrinks exposing more brass.

 

[kookery]

My WWII was a blem with a cracked handle. I bet it shrank just like you described. The brass isn't exposed enough to be a problem yet. If it doesn't shrink any more, it will probably be OK.

 

[wildmanh]

I agree with you! Now that HI's most vocal critic (me) agrees with you too, it should be pretty persuasive to newcomers that there's something over here that they should take a look at before they buy their next blade.

I found some old photos of me playing with my WWII, and there were enough of them that I could make some animated gifs to show the right and wrong ways to hold the handle to avoid the palm poker. First, the wrong way:

The right way:

I just noticed that right way balances a lot better, and you can see that in the animation. It's a lot less work to snap the blade my wrist. My grip is too tight on both of those animated gifs, though.

I have been liking this grip, with my thumb on the bolster:

Once again, my grip is too tight in that photo, but you get the idea. It's a bit dangerous that way for chopping, but for carving up fruit, it works. I like to choke up even further, towards the cho area. Maybe someday I'll grind out the cho and replace it with a choil. I wonder if there is an entymological relationship between the words "cho" and "choil"? If so, then maybe a cho is actually a choil?

Thanks for taking the time to post this. Though I think something needs to be added: Some Khukris will work best for most work with a Certain hold, finding that hold is key. I have some Khukris that I hold the bolster, others where I don't.

It looks like you've found what works for you with that Blade, Congrats!! BTW I too hold the bolster of my 16.5" WWII, kind of like you do. Though I hold my 18" WWII closer to the middle, most of the time.

 

[wildmanh]

My WWII was a blem with a cracked handle. I bet it shrank just like you described. The brass isn't exposed enough to be a problem yet. If it doesn't shrink any more, it will probably be OK.

My first 3 Khukris were all Blems, and I've bought at least one more since then. Great for handle mods, or just getting a good deal. . . . . It was the underside of the brass that rubbed my hand the wrong way do to the sharp edge on the underside. Sand paper and a file sure helped make it work for me. Gosh, I can't even remember which Khukri that was, it's been so long. LOL!!

 

[Steely_Gunz]

I have de-horned a few my khuks, but it was like Heber said the material had shrunk away from the brass and left a rough point. Literally two minutes with a few pulls of a file and light buff with some sand paper made a world of difference.

 

[Svashtar]

Some handles are perfect with the ring out of the box, and some aren't. I have found confusion and misconceptions about handles and tangs to be the single biggest issue when dealing with HI knives.

The fact is the Kamis traditionally were making knives for people that were not exactly large in stature, so made their handles accordingly. Over time Uncle Bill and Yangdu got them to make the handles longer for western hands, but it's silly to think they will fit every person.

Here's one tip when buying a used knife: find a kukri you like in your collection, with a handle ring, that really fits your hand well, and then measure 4 things:

1) The OAL of the handle, from the front of the bolster to the pommel (you can't measure just the wood or antler or horn because your hand doesn't magically stop at the bolster)

2) The distance from the back of the ring to the pommel.

3) The diameter of the handle in front of the ring.

4) The diameter of the handle behind the ring.

Write those down and ask for the measurements if there's any doubt in your mind as to whether a particular knive will work for you.

Now this ISN'T to suggest you ask Yangdu for this info each time she sells a knife, there is no way she has time to provide that information! But it's a different deal with a private seller if you're really concerned.

I have large hands and 95% of handles fit me just fine. The rare ones that don't fit are because the handle ring is too far back, so I remove it. If the handle is a pretty one with carving or inlays, then I keep it for a display piece or sell it. Also I have had handles where the top of the pommel digs into your hand, and that can be ground down as well. But if it's a Chainpuri or other knife with carving there, that's a sin to me, so see above on disposition.

For me the absolute best handles are the Chitlangi / Chainpuri styles with the pommel swell at the end, as the harder you swing the knife the tighter it gets in your hand. But I have other knives with handles people consider short that work great, so IMO most HI knives are fine as is, or easily modified to work for the individual.

Norm