Just trying to get things started
This one's been with me for 11 years now and it will likely be sharp long after I'm not.
Here, I had just gone through a bunch of stuff for a big batch of chili.
The acidic juices from the tomatoes etched it quickly, but any sort of patina never stays after splitting a few logs.
It's big and heavy, but it's my goto around the yard and car camping.
This is my most used big knife, what's yours?
This one was made in Nepal by Anil from Himalayan Imports. Bought it around 2012 from Auntie Yangdu.
Khukuris are my favorite type of big knives too. I have several, but the one I use the most is a Himalayan Imports Kumar Kobra.
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It's very light for its size, but still has weight our front where you need it. I've also been pleased with how well it holds an edge.
My other favorite big knife is a Jerry Fisk designed Camillus Southwest Bowie.
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The blade is over 11" long, but the balance makes it feel weightless. It handles like a blade a quarter its size.
Nice Himalayan Imports one made by Kumar.
Probably a Kumar Kobra?
Sorry about that, I thought the names would show up. (I just edited my reply.)
You are correct. And you must be familiar with them to identify the model from that picture. I have two Kobras, one 18" and the 20" above. They are both excellent. The 18" has concave fullers in the outer part of the blade and is startlingly light. I prefer the 20" for chopping, but the 18" is a terrifying weapon.
I don't have a Kobra, but I have a small JKM-1 with the same 6 pointed star mark from Kumar.
It's also my second most used knife.
I've been following the shop's bladeforums, but sometimes it's a tempting to get them all, so I come and go.
The JKM-1 is an interesting design. It looks versatile. How do you like yours?
I try not to look at the HI site too often. I already have three of their khukuris and don't really need that many. (The third is a 20" Sirupati.)
It's simple and functional.
It's also something that can realistically fit in a pocket, unlike most of my HI blades.
I really like the leather sheath that comes with it, it's lined with a white cotton or felt inside and it's snug enough to stay in upside down, but still easy to draw.
It doesn’t have the usual metal chape at the tip so it doesn't destroy pockets either.
I like the grip, there's a very slight curve and it doesn’t slip much even though it's polished horn. Short enough that your thumb naturally pushes against the butt in a reverse grip.
The tip of the blade has enough of a belly to slice when pushing straight. Good control in a small package.
Honestly, I mainly used it at the office to prep lunch; I'm now at home full time and kept the habit.
Probably overkill and I do have kitchen knives, but no-one else touches the HI ones so it's aways clean and available.
The full tang means I'm not scared to use it as a small prybar if needed.
It finds it's way into my backpack when on a trail.
Very nice! It sounds like a great general purpose workhorse. Thanks for the review!
I also have a couple kukris. One is my camp knife, the other one is by my bed. There used to be a Canadian company that made bespoke, higher end kukris - that's my camp knife. The other looks just like yours and came from India.
I really need to get a khukuri. I have 1 custom fixed blade in 3V that I use for a lot of wood processing. Otherwise a couple Mora's are always around for a variety of tasks.
This one is 16.5", 30oz of steel from a truck leaf spring, so likely 5160. It's differentially hardened so it keeps an edge, but the blade can take a beating.
With a 3/8" spine and a full tang, it's not indestructible, but close enough.
Somewhere between an ax and a knife.