pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Oct 11, 2021 21:40:10 GMT
In the Gurkha Kukri Knife video Easton was smoother than in his Mk3 review. I think part of his problem with that one was that he was wearing it on his right waist. When he showed the kukri somewhere in the mid-video I thought it beautiful. The lines all flowed together and graceful. I thought it to be the most beautiful khukuri I’d seen and was wondering who made that, then he announced it was an antique. I suspect somebody refinished it.
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Post by Simpleman on Oct 11, 2021 22:22:41 GMT
Its both resharpened and refurbished. Restoring antiques is a great topic, and using them additional one. Perhaps you should more look into the antique and vintage market?
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Oct 12, 2021 1:53:18 GMT
Perhaps.
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Post by aldarith on Oct 13, 2021 19:32:24 GMT
Well the Kailash blades arrived today to some mixed first impressions.
They are light as hell, beautifully made and balanced.
They also don't easily fit in their sheaths (one barely fits half-way in) and both have rust and blemishes that I take a little exception to. I'll have to do a full writeup.
That said, they did scrub the engraving and re-did the one bit I had them leave extremely nicely but I am not sure that makes up for the other little issues.
I want to be happy with these but I am not sure that I am.
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Post by Simpleman on Oct 13, 2021 19:54:49 GMT
Excellent first impressions! I think everyone here can understand having mixed emotions, I know I would after what you told us. Let some time pass and see what lasting impression your ordeal will leave you in.  When you can, put up some pics if possible. I am especially curious about the ill fitting sheath and the scrubbed engraving. |
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Post by aldarith on Oct 13, 2021 20:03:41 GMT
Sure thing, took photos as I unboxed so they are very 'amataur' but I'll throw em right up. Ignore the unwashed dishes  |
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Post by aldarith on Oct 13, 2021 20:09:47 GMT
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Post by aldarith on Oct 13, 2021 20:28:30 GMT
It's extremely hard to show the rust in this lighting but you can see it a little. The black flecks are all rust and not dust. The inscription first (which I think looks great):  This rust was really hard to capture so I ended up using some flash. Everywhere that you see a little yellow or orange is actually some active red rust.  Black flecks = rust spot   There is also some rust on the logo and a long streak of rust near the middle of the blade.  |
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Post by aldarith on Oct 13, 2021 20:30:57 GMT
and last but not least the handle is a little damaged and is fuscia instead of the asked-for redbrown.   I can get this one almost down to 1", but it takes a little wiggling. With force I'd consider excessive I can get it in to the hilt now.  |
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Post by Simpleman on Oct 13, 2021 20:32:32 GMT
Thanks, just as a first impression they both look good. How they feel and act only you can tell. How the scabbards look and work I am curious about, you have to show us more later. Take you time. You are not alone having unwashed dishes. |
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Post by aldarith on Oct 13, 2021 20:36:09 GMT
Here's the mutiny, a number of small issues as well. The scabbard maker ran out of leather at the tip and slapped a bunch of glue on to fix it. The stitches look like they will tear through with any kind of real use.   There's a hole in the leather under the frog (the frog is amazing btw, absolutely zero complaints about the custom frog they made me.) Rust on the blade.   other side:  I start having trouble putting it in the sheath here:  I literally cannot get it in further than this. A huge disappointment because of the two, this is the blade I was thinking I would keep, now I am just frustrated.  |
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Post by aldarith on Oct 13, 2021 20:47:22 GMT
Thanks, just as a first impression they both look good. How they feel and act only you can tell. How the scabbards look and work I am curious about, you have to show us more later. Take you time. You are not alone having unwashed dishes. Oh yes, and there's an entire kydex sheath missing from the order. The blades themselves, rust aside, look and feel amazing. I paid extra for the sheaths though (upgraded from default) and to have one just entirely missing is pretty aggravating on top of the other things. Independently these are small beans, IMO, but when you add them all together is makes for some degree of nuisance. |
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Oct 13, 2021 21:13:31 GMT
I can feel your frustration, but be patient. I see no issues with the rust. #000 steel and WD-40 should take care of that without leaving a trace. If you don’t have them handy try aluminium foil from the kitchen and water to see what happens. Both of the Aitihasiks I received were rusted, more than yours but not pitted. The quality of leather work with the hole and glue issues would. As for the kukri/scabbard fit be patient and play with it for a month or so to see what happen. I didn’t think I’d get my GI4 in the scabbard. After acclimatizing and many draws and returns I couldn’t ask for a better fit. Having been down that road more than once I specified a one hand draw on the last one. On receipt the kukri literally feel in and out and a shim took care of all. The Aitihasik that I received in error and don’t mess with other than inspections and a photo session is a fight with both hands in both directions. Maybe with use that will change but as it’s not mine and I’m trying to sell as new I reluctant to fool with it much. In fact I find it a bother I hope to pass it along soon.
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Post by Simpleman on Oct 13, 2021 21:19:10 GMT
Now I see you have posted additional photos, lots to say indeed. First thing is that customs is pretty much what Kailash does, so that should be their strength. They are one of the more liked companies out there. But there are a few things to address, the fitting of the sheaths I would wait to judge until they have adapted to your climate, wood and leather are very much alive. It looks like the blades and scabbards were separate, so a lot of things could have happened during storage and transport. Hopefully the fit will be better, there are methods for doing the scabbard bigger. But one doesnt really want to do in, it shouldnt be necessary. The rust should have been avoided by oiling the blade better (or storage). Its not a difficult thing doing that. The hole in the leather under the frog shouldnt be there. The scabbard of the mutiny should have been better done. Was your idea that the MK1 should have a handle resembling wood in colour? They could still be very good khukuris, but there are to many things (small beans) to just take it and be happy. Missing Kydex sheath.. Its a lot of things that goes on in the head when waiting and looking forward to something, and it turns out wrong. Contact them and describe whats wrong and that your expectations werent met. Andrew seems like a reasonable guy, I think he will try and make you satisfied in the end. |
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Post by aldarith on Oct 13, 2021 22:10:34 GMT
Thanks for weighing in. I gave a reference image of red-brown russian bakelite for the handle, they said it was 'no problem' to mimic. The first iteration was dead wrong and it was done in beige brown desert camouflage. I reported as much, they corrected it and this did indeed look red-brown in the low-res photos I was sent. It is definitely fuscia though  I have e-mailed Andrew with the tally and also with a few compliments for the things that went right to balance it out, but yeah I think these small beans have sort of arrived at a fistful of beans over the course of the project. The thing is that if these aren't going to be as I imagined them and if I can't resell them because they are too weird for the market or the scabbard doesn't straight up fit and is defective, I am a pretty unhappy guy I will let everyone know what Andrew says. I am sure it will be something helpful and useful, I just hope it's not as inconvenient as shipping things back-and-forth because that is going to be tedious and expensive. |
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Post by Simpleman on Oct 13, 2021 22:29:30 GMT
I know exactly the colour you were looking for. It may be difficult but just hold on, even with your fistful of beans. I understand you being unhappy, khukuris in that category arent cheap. Its a lot of money putting forth, perhaps not for everyone but I would think so. Only time can tell, but I think Andrew will take good care of you. |
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Post by aldarith on Oct 14, 2021 0:19:12 GMT
Khukuris in that category arent cheap. This is the big one for me. I am glad the smiths are fairly compensated and happy, that means a lot. I'm happy to pay the price for the good stuff, I just want it to come out as described. I'll let you know how the aftercare goes once I hear back. |
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Post by aldarith on Oct 14, 2021 3:13:28 GMT
 Just took the frog off of the Mk1 Kukri... another pretty big gap. |
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Post by soulfromheart on Oct 14, 2021 6:24:53 GMT
Maybe it will reassure you but of the three Kailash I received, scabbard fit was way too tight on arrival too but it became a lot better one or two weeks later (time for the wood to acclimatize) and I don't have any issues with them now. |
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Post by aldarith on Oct 14, 2021 15:46:03 GMT
Maybe it will reassure you but of the three Kailash I received, scabbard fit was way too tight on arrival too but it became a lot better one or two weeks later (time for the wood to acclimatize) and I don't have any issues with them now. That is pretty assuring indeed, thank you. Been in touch with Andrew. We agree the handle is fuscia and not the requested colour (red-brown). We agree the kydex sheath is missing but we don't know why as it seems to have been made. He gave me some scabbard tips, mostly 'have you turned it off and back on again' type things but explained nicely and well. None those seem to help. He's unsure whether the holes and gaps on the sheaths are normal. Thing is, I dunno if that worries me or not. It seems in both cases like the hides had imperfections or were too small and the craftsman tried to make them work when it might have been better to use a different hide. Discussion is ongoing, anyways. |
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When you can, put up some pics if possible. I am especially curious about the ill fitting sheath and the scrubbed engraving. 
