YCS Questions

Brian_T

Brian_T

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Oct 7, 1999
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I just saw the pictures from the 9/17 DOTD thread with the YCS and I'm blown away. That's a great shape on the khuk and the accessories look like real users too.

Are all YCSs so fancy or can they come with plain handles too?

Are the two blades and awl standard accessories for this one?

How do they compare size-wise to the M43? (This is the one I've got so I can better visualize how big/thick a YCS would be.) :)

Thanks,

Brian
 
The YCS has been made in different sizes and weights; I own a 20-inch / 51-ounce YCS, which is at the upper end of what I'd ever feel comfortable using. All the ones I've seen had decorated handles, either carved or inlaid. I recall seeing a post by Yvsa, who designed it, saying that even though it's decorated, the YCS is intended to be used. See the Himalayan Imports Web site Khukuris - page 2 for more information about the "standard" specs.
 
I snagged that DOTD and it is definitely a user. Chops better than my M-43 :eek:. The blades that come with it are super handy as well. I used one today to make some fuzz sticks to start a fire when my son and my little lady and I went out to the woods. Nothing wears out a 4 year old quite like having them splash around in a river for a few hours and then poke at a fire with some "poking sticks" as he calls them. Mine is 21 inches and 40 ounces, near as I can tell. From spine to edge, it's much wider as well. If you check one of my earlier posts about breaking in the YCS, you'll see my review on it. I'm going to post some pictures in a bit on there.
 
Excellent. When you post pics can you please do one with the M43 in it so I can compare size, curvature, etc.?

Your thread is what sent me digging for the 9/17 DOTD thread in the first place as I really wanted to see what the YCS looked like. :thumbup:

The companion knives are much bigger than the karda/chakma in a "regular" khukri?

Thanks,

B
 
About double. Going to have my camera back from the parents tomorrow. Will have some pics up by noon central time!
 
YCS kardas a very large and usable as knives in their own right. But it does make a big package in the scabbard. Overall they are excellent knives and my favorite non-standad HI big knife. I have not yet picked up a 20", originally thinking it was the wrong size and a bastardiation of the original. But I thought that about the 17" Pen Knife, and that turned out to be an interesting blade too.

Crappy photo and description until real ones arrive. These are all 17"-range:
4-YCS.jpg

Rightmost knife is standard YCS by Sanu, one of the last normal ones that came out in 2001ish, before they stopped making them for a while. Since this pic it has been worked over by Dan Koster, there are some more pics on his site. It's now one of my main users. People are surprised when I tell them it's the least fancy of the four YCS I'm lucky enough to own.

Right-center was one of two that came over in late 2002, the first we saw in chiruwa form. Bigger handle and thicker blade, but incredibly well balanced and swingable.

Left two are from the YCS special buy that was put together in 2003ish. The checkerboard has an incredible handle, all those inlays are perfectly fitted. The leftmost has an osage orange handle, I believe it may be unique in that. On both of these the handle is getting larger still, but still very usable.
 
There sure is a discernible 'evolution' in many of HI's blade profiles or patterns.

The above photo's of the early models testify to this in regards the YCS and so too does the photo of the YCS on the HI web site.

This same evolution appears to have taken place with regards the Berkeley Special/Dui Chira going by recent pictures.

Now I'm well aware this is not an issue with the more popular HI models such as the WW2, C.A.K, Chitlangi and many others.

But the evolution issue does raise the question of what specific style of profile is the blade YCS or Berk Special you can order direct from the HI shop web site?

Its hard enough trying to get a DOTD 'special' but is this really the only sure way to get the Khuk one wants by buying from the DOTD photo's? :confused:
 
No, you can special order and request specific lengths. They'll even come fairly close if you specify a weight. But do remember that they are hand made and will vary from spec somewhat.

I think part of the trend with the bigger kukris is that they put bigger handles on them that fit Yankee hands better, so we tend to buy more of them. Maybe Yangdu needs to have a talk with them to tell them to make a certain minimum size handle? I dunno.
 
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