kukris - rat tail vs full tang

I lost the Internet after the last post. A common occurrence.

Ya, that video had a wealth of info. I saw the sharpening, grip replacement, the various carry methods, tools, and more. I also saw links to other videos that I was going to view at first chance but you have provided two more that I’ll after I chow down. I’ve looked for videos of the Nepalese but have failed to find what I was looking for. That one had it.

I also ordered Windlass’ Mk3 Kukri. Not really sure of the motive but thought that in the long run I’d wish that I had. I’ve waited months for them to restock. I think that I can use that one as a knocker-around without much worry, not that I intend to abuse it. I’ve yet to get a Windlass knife that I didn’t like and think for the most part their knives a notch above their swords. I have an idea this will be a little chunkier than I’d prefer.

My new made kukris have stick tangs as well as full tangs. My two antiques partial stick tangs. All with stick tangs have a better feel handling. There are too many differences to make a direct comparison. The closest I can come the 15” budhume and 15” Mk3. The budhume is lighter with a longer PoB and feels like it has some life in it. The Mk3 feels indestrubible, heavier, and almost dead, for a lack of a better description. Both are my best combat knives, the budhume an all-time favourite. The budhume is more like those in the above video; softer metal making it easier to sharpen with a rock, would be easier to replace the grip, in short easier field maintenance. The Mk3 with a 55-57 HRC steel, riveted scales and full tang I think won’t be destroyed, but repairs will be more difficult and in a less affluent society not as attractive deal. I question if anyone in the video had $115 to spend on their knife.

Thanks for the heads up. The Aitihasik that I’ll order later this month has a stick tang. HKKI doesn’t say so but one photo sent in by a reviewer shows a butt plate that appears to be peened. I suspect that KHHI doesn’t take a short cut but I’ll ask. I’ve seen antiques with a butt plate screwed with two small screws. So the butt plate alone would not be the determining fact of the tang’s length.

Seems like a blem slipped through HI`s eyes, it wasnt a good Khukuri. While HI style in general isnt my style I think of them as a company you can trust in regards of honesty. Today they dont get that much attention because of competition, but for some years many considered them as the standard. Needless to say, all manufacturers can experience quality problems. As a matter of fact, I think they do in different ways.

Still I am glad you bought something genuine  , while many companies today are good and some make traditional designs. Its for the export market. Many nepalis just dont have the money to pay for expensive knives. 


Some more examples of "villagers", I am afraid I dont have the source for 2 of them. If anyone does, let me know and I will ad it!

 

Thanks again for the videos. They led to links that I’m engrossed in. The author of the one below has a series of life in Nepal of several groups. The one I referenced below appears to be of a poorer rural family. It’s Part 1 of at least 19 of the family and I’m up to 7. It brings back memories that I can relate to this family. In some respects they are better off than I’ve been at times. For example they have running water, a hose with one end submerged in a mountain stream, the other in an improvised faucet of bamboo and tubing. I can imagine how cold that water is. I had to cart the water buckets in from my aunt’s house. At least we could wash indoors with some heat. When I was an adult I had a house with a well to draw from. I washed in the river or showed by standing under the eve of roof in a rain storm. In the series I saw the daughter in the background sharpening a kukri and in another video the son was the subject sharpening one, both used a stone, part of the house enterior. I can go on but would stray too far from the thread.