Zen_Hydra
Moderator
Born with a heart full of neutrality
Posts: 2,631
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Post by Zen_Hydra on Jan 13, 2020 4:03:11 GMT
I've seen kora swords with no distal taper at all, and some with 50% taper. I think, historically speaking, kora-hilted kukris are more common than kukri-hilted koras. Then there are the Indian ones, with tulwar hilts or other similar Indian hilts. Here's an unusual (because knucklebow) and nice kora-hilted kukri: www.swordsantiqueweapons.com/s121_full.htmlDidn't you post about ordering a kora a couple of years ago? Did you ever get it? I did get one, and it might as well be a dumbbell. It has no appreciable distal taper, and has horrible handling. It looks cool...but that's all it has going for it. I've thought about trying to add some distal taper to the blade, but there is a lot of material to remove, and it has copper inlays and file work which would complicate my efforts. It's pretty much a wallhanger for me. I don't care if what I want is ahistorical in this instance. I want something khora-like, but I want it to be nimble, and have a comfortable handle which allows for different grips comfortably.
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Post by Timo Nieminen on Jan 13, 2020 23:01:30 GMT
How heavy is your dumbbell kora? My 800g one with 50% distal taper is fightable with. Not really what I'd call nimble, but certainly adequate. Hard to say how much taper would give nimble, since the tip region is hollow-forged/ground. A weight between 600-700g would be nimble if that weight came off the distal half of the blade. My 1.36kg one without distal taper would be at least most unpleasant to fight with. Photos and measurements: www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=15458
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Zen_Hydra
Moderator
Born with a heart full of neutrality
Posts: 2,631
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Post by Zen_Hydra on Jan 14, 2020 4:54:15 GMT
How heavy is your dumbbell kora? My 800g one with 50% distal taper is fightable with. Not really what I'd call nimble, but certainly adequate. Hard to say how much taper would give nimble, since the tip region is hollow-forged/ground. A weight between 600-700g would be nimble if that weight came off the distal half of the blade. My 1.36kg one without distal taper would be at least most unpleasant to fight with. Photos and measurements: www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=15458It's been a while since I weighed it, but it's around 4.4 pounds / 2 kg. It's very tip heavy, and not very long. I was very disappointed when I actually got it in hand. I imaging it could do an adequate job splitting firewood.
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Post by Timo Nieminen on Jan 14, 2020 5:07:04 GMT
2kg sounds really nasty. Even a well-balanced one-hander would be brutal to use at 2kg.
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Post by MOK on Jan 14, 2020 5:51:25 GMT
2kg sounds really nasty. Even a well-balanced one-hander would be brutal to use at 2kg. Great for a workout, though...
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Post by Timo Nieminen on Jan 14, 2020 9:29:42 GMT
If anyone can forward me to a antique piece with that level of distal taper please let me know. That's normal for the old Nepalese military ones. About 50% distal taper from the spine to 2-3" short of the tip, and then continuing to taper to the very tip. Typically, the broader bladed ones have more distal taper, so I expect that the military sirupates (long leaf) will be less tapered (the spines are thinner at the hilt). Even more extreme distal taper on the extra-wide "budhume" kukris - about 10mm at the hilt, 15.5-16" blades, and averaging about 850-900g. For some examples (alas, without measurements of distal taper), see about 1/3 of the way down on chinesemartialstudies.com/2012/11/05/identifying-and-collecting-the-nepalese-military-kukri/If you're after one, Atlanta Cutlery still has then listed as in stock: www.atlantacutlery.com/bhojpure-traditional-kukri
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Post by Timo Nieminen on Jan 14, 2020 20:05:17 GMT
The SGAK is what AC sells as the Bhojpure. Their "WW1" is the chinesemartialstudies "Late Gurkha Army Kukri". The two types are of similar size and weight, and it's easy to tell the difference: the LGAK has 3 fullers, and the SGAK has 2 fullers. The one in the video has 2 fullers, and I assume the AC Bhojpure.
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Post by Eric Bergeron on Jan 14, 2020 20:44:06 GMT
I love my kukri's, I own like 5 or 6 HI, AC and I am just waiting for my Kailash historical kukri to arrive and I have a KH kukri as well coming.
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Post by markus313 on Jan 15, 2020 14:08:29 GMT
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Post by markus313 on Jan 15, 2020 20:34:57 GMT
It says four to six weeks on the German website I ordered from (swords-and-more.com). Also can’t imagine they send the nicest ones to us folks over here. No “hand-select”-option on this website either. We’ll see.
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Post by Vue on Jan 17, 2020 10:26:09 GMT
I got one from Atlanta Cutlery a while back as well, I went with the [handpicked] version and they're great - imgur.com/a/YK2NDrq
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Post by paulmuaddib on Jan 17, 2020 13:10:00 GMT
I got one from Atlanta Cutlery a while back as well, I went with the [handpicked] version and they're great - imgur.com/a/YK2NDrqDid you make the sheath or have it made? I’ve been in ACC store several times and I’ve never seen that sheath. Looks nice. Also, in the picture of the spine does the end of the blade curve to the left or is that just an optical illusion? Thanks Edit: just wanted to add that I hope things are better for you guys down under after those rains. Know it’s not solving everything but hope it they helped.
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Post by Timo Nieminen on Jan 17, 2020 13:33:29 GMT
This is the most interesting one of these old military kukris I have: It has a deep cut between notch and hilt: Many of these kukris have dings, chips, etc. from banging together when thrown into piles, boxes, whatever, but this cut is much deeper than that kind of thing will do. Many weapons out there have notched blades from people playing "sword fighting" with them. This cut is rather too forceful, and not in the "safe" part of the blade for that kind of play. Thus, it looks like real battle damage. Putting a piece of paper into the bottom of the cut, you can see how far a straight blade would have reached when inflicting this cut: Ouch!
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Post by paulmuaddib on Jan 17, 2020 13:47:58 GMT
Ouch indeed Timo. Looks like they might have lost a finger or two, or at least some damage to them. Thanks for sharing.
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Post by Vue on Jan 18, 2020 5:16:08 GMT
Yeah the sheath is my own creation, it was quickly made just to house the blade.
That's certainly an interesting blade you got there Timo, a conversation stater for sure.
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Jan 18, 2020 18:18:25 GMT
I blame YOU all to make me order a Bhojpure (and a CS Royal Kurkri machete to get a sheath)! Shame on you!
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Post by randomnobody on Jan 18, 2020 18:41:32 GMT
I've been debating one of the ACC antiques for years, and it looks like they're on closeout now. Alas, I'm broke.
I'll just life vicariously through you lot, I guess.
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Post by paulmuaddib on Jan 18, 2020 19:33:04 GMT
Yeah the sheath is my own creation, it was quickly made just to house the blade. That's certainly an interesting blade you got there Timo, a conversation stater for sure. Damn vue, if that sheath was put together quickly I’d love to see what you could do if you took your time. That’s professional quality. What kind of sewing machine do you use?
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Post by Vue on Jan 19, 2020 4:58:21 GMT
Andi - Hahaha nice one, they're even better in hand so you've made the right choice. I mean where can we get antiques in that condition, with that pedigree/ history and at that price...it's a bargain imo.
Random - I do recall ACC had a sale not to long ago, maybe wait for the next sale to grab one...I know I will :)
Paul - Thanks buddy, it's just hand welted as I don't have any sewing machine that can sew that thickness. The original sheath is nice to have but the wood is probably all rotten and not ideal to store the blade.
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Post by paulmuaddib on Jan 19, 2020 13:26:39 GMT
Andi - Hahaha nice one, they're even better in hand so you've made the right choice. I mean where can we get antiques in that condition, with that pedigree/ history and at that price...it's a bargain imo. Random - I do recall ACC had a sale not to long ago, maybe wait for the next sale to grab one...I know I will Paul - Thanks buddy, it's just hand welted as I don't have any sewing machine that can sew that thickness. The original sheath is nice to have but the wood is probably all rotten and not ideal to store the blade. Had to look up hand welted. What I can tell it means you hand stitched this? Wow that some major patience and skill. Went back to look at it. Can see some places that look hand stitched but most of it looks machine sewn. Like I said earlier, wow. You need to sell them. ACC does run sales occasionally. The two best are their warehouse sale in May (20% off in stock items) and Black Friday sale (20% off + 10% with sbgvip code and this last year on Black Friday itself was 25% +10% sbgvip code). Don’t know if they will do same next thanksgiving. Saving up for it though.
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