I just arrived home (DC, capital of the infidels) from my latest assignment. Waiting for me was a long, skinny package.
In it were a 20" Kobra and a 12" Sirupati, which I picked-up at a very low price thanks to a bunch of Maoists. (I suppose that I should be grateful, but at this point I think we're all hoping that our little-red-book reading comrades will take a Great Leap Forward from some appropriate spot in the Himalayas).
Re: the Kobra, it's fantastic. It carries a crescent moon mark (the moon looks like it's made up of many small dots - Bura?). The fit and finish on the piece are high quality, with the only blemish being a little laha that seems to have seeped above bolster - no skin off my nose. The scabbard matches the blade - it really is beautifully done. My only complaint is that it doesn't hold the chakma securely. I'm sure someone has dealt with this issue on the forum, and I'll see if there's a fix out there.
I think that Bill describes Kobras as the "quickest" khukuris. That's an understatement. This thing screams. Moves. Flies. The funny thing is that this khuk has really increased my appreciation of my first HI purchase (a 20" Sirupati acquired in December of last year). The Kobra definitely lacks the elegant blade-shape of the Sirupati. The Kobra also has an odd butt-plate with three knobs across the surface, rather than the simple stepped butt-plate design of the Sirupati.
Speaking of Sirupatis...the 12"er is a pretty little thing. With the emphasis on "little". I bought it because I was looking for a khuk that would be easy to carry with me on the road. However, after holding it a bit, I find myself agreeing with jim_l_clifton (btw does mentioning his name mean that he'll appear?). Given the fact that my had extends above the bolster on this blade, I don't think it will be of much use to me. Still, it is nice to look at.
S.
In it were a 20" Kobra and a 12" Sirupati, which I picked-up at a very low price thanks to a bunch of Maoists. (I suppose that I should be grateful, but at this point I think we're all hoping that our little-red-book reading comrades will take a Great Leap Forward from some appropriate spot in the Himalayas).
Re: the Kobra, it's fantastic. It carries a crescent moon mark (the moon looks like it's made up of many small dots - Bura?). The fit and finish on the piece are high quality, with the only blemish being a little laha that seems to have seeped above bolster - no skin off my nose. The scabbard matches the blade - it really is beautifully done. My only complaint is that it doesn't hold the chakma securely. I'm sure someone has dealt with this issue on the forum, and I'll see if there's a fix out there.
I think that Bill describes Kobras as the "quickest" khukuris. That's an understatement. This thing screams. Moves. Flies. The funny thing is that this khuk has really increased my appreciation of my first HI purchase (a 20" Sirupati acquired in December of last year). The Kobra definitely lacks the elegant blade-shape of the Sirupati. The Kobra also has an odd butt-plate with three knobs across the surface, rather than the simple stepped butt-plate design of the Sirupati.
Speaking of Sirupatis...the 12"er is a pretty little thing. With the emphasis on "little". I bought it because I was looking for a khuk that would be easy to carry with me on the road. However, after holding it a bit, I find myself agreeing with jim_l_clifton (btw does mentioning his name mean that he'll appear?). Given the fact that my had extends above the bolster on this blade, I don't think it will be of much use to me. Still, it is nice to look at.
S.