- Joined
- Dec 19, 2000
- Messages
- 186
I got to work today and there was a long triangular package waiting for me from Reno. Omigawd!
It's the Berk Special, this one made by Bura, and it is simply astonishing. At 22 inches, it's bigger than almost any other khuk I've handled, and at 35 ounces it's certainly HEAVIER. It's almost too much of a handful for me to think about using (except perhaps against bears!), but it's simply beautiful. Excellent forging, two fullers, and a lovely curve to the blade. There's no sword of Shiva engraved on the blade, but the HI initials are there in Devangari along with L.B. in English, plus his crescent moon mark.
The handle, which looks very much like east indian rosewood to me, is very well finished, and there's no metal pommel, just beautifully polished end grain. It looks as if he used less rouge than usual in polishing this grip, so I can't wait to get it down to the natural beauty of the wood itself. The carved ring in the middle is very prominent, however, which makes it uncomfortable for my relatively small hand.
The scabbard is brown leather, and it looks great -- so much nicer than the black, IMO. And those six tools are remarkable. Can someone tell me the purpose of the one with a small flat disc angled on the end? And the tweezers are a hoot -- so big, but still usable. (I guess one might be tempted to call this entire rig the Nepali version of the Swiss Army Knife -- if it weren't for the fact that there's another khuk that goes to Nepalese soldiers.)
At the time I ordered this, I didn't know that it was made by Bura -- but it's interesting that it is, because every khuk I've ever owned (not counting the kagas katne) is by Bura. I guess it was meant to be.
And I certainly wish Bura well and hope his surgery turns out as he would like it to. Whatever, this blade will always remind me of his skill and craft.
I've taken some pictures, and I'll post them tonight or tomorrow, as soon as I get to one of my adapters to get them out of the SD card.
It's the Berk Special, this one made by Bura, and it is simply astonishing. At 22 inches, it's bigger than almost any other khuk I've handled, and at 35 ounces it's certainly HEAVIER. It's almost too much of a handful for me to think about using (except perhaps against bears!), but it's simply beautiful. Excellent forging, two fullers, and a lovely curve to the blade. There's no sword of Shiva engraved on the blade, but the HI initials are there in Devangari along with L.B. in English, plus his crescent moon mark.
The handle, which looks very much like east indian rosewood to me, is very well finished, and there's no metal pommel, just beautifully polished end grain. It looks as if he used less rouge than usual in polishing this grip, so I can't wait to get it down to the natural beauty of the wood itself. The carved ring in the middle is very prominent, however, which makes it uncomfortable for my relatively small hand.
The scabbard is brown leather, and it looks great -- so much nicer than the black, IMO. And those six tools are remarkable. Can someone tell me the purpose of the one with a small flat disc angled on the end? And the tweezers are a hoot -- so big, but still usable. (I guess one might be tempted to call this entire rig the Nepali version of the Swiss Army Knife -- if it weren't for the fact that there's another khuk that goes to Nepalese soldiers.)
At the time I ordered this, I didn't know that it was made by Bura -- but it's interesting that it is, because every khuk I've ever owned (not counting the kagas katne) is by Bura. I guess it was meant to be.
And I certainly wish Bura well and hope his surgery turns out as he would like it to. Whatever, this blade will always remind me of his skill and craft.
I've taken some pictures, and I'll post them tonight or tomorrow, as soon as I get to one of my adapters to get them out of the SD card.
