18" Dui Chirra Sneak Preview

GregS said:
I don't get it either. Is the heat treat different (through hardened)? Is it the fullers? That thing is thick, full tang and heavy. If you can't chop with it, what is it's function?:confused: Ornamental?
Click to expand...
It's not that you can't chop with it, but that it isnt warranted if you break it while doing so. Like all of H.I.'s product it is built to last. This particular model was originally designed as a replica of an old khukuri as stickfred pointed out. It is meant more as a showpiece. It used to be that all H.I.'s were warranted unconditionally, but over time some unscrupulous buyers were intentionally breaking product to claim warranty and others were claiming warranty on blades that were clearly abused. It was decided that an unconditional warranty was no longer a viable option without costing this small company more than it could afford to absorb and still stay in business. The only other option was to raise the prices more to cover losses, which really wasnt a very good option. It was decided that only the robust actual working khukuri would be warranted for "Field Use" and the others would be "General Use" khukuri to be warranted for lighter usage.

I hope this somewhat helps everyone understand why the changes were made and the reasoning behind it. I'm sure Auntie would've liked to keep things as they were, but unfortunately the economy and cost of replacing khukuri when she really didnt have to, forced the change.
 
Here we go:
18" DC (my baby):
UB Dui Churi small.jpg


Original 19 century DC:
Dui Chirra Original1.jpg


and the mold:

Dui Chirra Original.jpg


Thanks to Berk and everyone at HI for preserving a piece of history and bringing me much joy in the process!:thumbup:
It's easy not to realize just how much effort goes in to this.

EDIT:
Only now, looking at the pic's side by side, I realized how different my model is.
I could not use the original for my intentions. go figure...
 
Last edited:
Wutta beauty. Most excellent.

Hey... whats the diff between a Dui Chiurra and a "BDC?" That stands for "Bura Dui Chiurra," right?
 
Ugly Duck said:
Wutta beauty. Most excellent.

Hey... whats the diff between a Dui Chiurra and a "BDC?" That stands for "Bura Dui Chiurra," right?
Click to expand...

Size, Handle shape, Blade shape, BDC has no tools. Just about everything is different.
 
OK...As promised, more action pictures.

Yesterday I went to a river that bursted it's banks in march this year. The water level increased by about 5meters (over 16ft) turning this slow moving river in to a raging torrent. As a result a lot of dead wood was washed ashore and some just got stuck in to other trees branches.
This is my take on one of those dead trunks in order to get enough fire wood for the night.

river1.jpg

river2.jpg


This was my first serious chopping session with my 18" Dui Chirra.
I know now why the kamis are modeling the handles the way they do!
IF the handle doesn't have the end-but prolonged the way it is, AND you are not gripping the khuk for it, there's a good chance the khuk will sometimes swing/twist/turn in your hand!
In other words holding the handle the "normal western" way IS NOT for chopping! Read CPL's explanation here: (No-8) http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=677524 : if you don't get it.
I'm planing on making a video about this...one day.

river4.jpg


I've spent about an hour chopping and was surprised how much more versatile and easy it was comparing to swinging an axe. The khuk gets in to places the axe could not, it needs less space around the log and in general I've spent less body work and energy! The khuk's design (although mine being not very curved blade) actually allows you to chop on the opposite side of the log and it needs very little space underneath it to be able to chop (a place you could not swing an axe to)
This particular dead tree was surrounded by 3 others each less than 2ft away.

river3.jpg


And here's the final result:
You may notice the marks on the blade where it was mostly used.
During chopping time, it actually got fairly hot to the touch.
At the end it had ZERO edge loss aside from being little dirty.

river5.jpg


The only "complaint" I have is that the bottom side of the but hurts the inside of my ring finger.
I'm actually planing on re-curving the bottom part of the but where the full-tang meets the but-cap in to a less sharp angle.
Has any one done this before? Is there a chance I will destroy the handle by doing so?

EDIT: Kind of like this:
handle1.jpg
 
Last edited:
stickfred said:
Dui Chirra origin post:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=184479
Click to expand...
Wow, as the deejays of my youth would have said, "a moldy oldie from the den of antiquity:D".
FWIW, the kamis took the mold of one side of the original kukri, which was in fact the full thickness of the original blade, and made it twice as thick.:eek:
2628ewk.jpg

In addition, the original (as copied on the first model and still on some I think) has only a partial stick tang, not a tapered full length chiruwa tang with a buttplate like the one beautifully pictured by DanSmithy.
As the original, half as thick and with a much less robust tang, has so far lasted only about 175 years, I wouldn't lose much sleep over the warranty coverage on the new one.
 
Last edited:
A "moldy oldie" it may be, Berkley, but there are many treasures in the older posts and worth directing the newer members to them if they are interested. Me, I like to learn new things.

DanSmithy, thanks for your pictures and commentary on your khuk workout. An excellent place to put it through its paces with all of that unnecessary wood everywhere. After all of that work your Dui Chirra is looking like you will have to wipe it down now. Aren't these great tools? As to your handle, Bill encouraged people to modify the handle how they saw fit so that it would be comfortable and make the khukuri their own. Just go easy on the sanding and check it often. I've heard that its harder putting the wood back on after it has been removed. Your proposed modification looks interesting. Let us know how it goes.
 
Nice work and even a bit of scenery, thanks!
So were you camping and did you make a fire later?

I miss Africa.
 
warty said:
Nice work and even a bit of scenery, thanks!
So were you camping and did you make a fire later?

I miss Africa.
Click to expand...

It was on the Vaal River downstream from the dam. They released the dam flood gates due to heavy rains and hence the carnage downstream.

Yes, ofcoarse I've made fire! lasted almost till the morning.:D
Will post a pic of the place when it's green...later

@ Stickfred:
I intentionaly did the pictures without cleaning the knife as to show which part of the blade should be used for chopping. I was thinking of doing a video too, but darkness set quickly and most shots are taken with the flash On, as you have probably figured out already. Ah well, next time.
 
I hope this isn't too sideways from the subject, but:
Here you go Warty: Magical place!

river6.jpg


river7.jpg


river8.jpg


You can just about see how much the water level was up:D

river9.jpg


Cheers:D
 
DanSmithy said:
The only "complaint" I have is that the bottom side of the but hurts the inside of my ring finger.
I'm actually planing on re-curving the bottom part of the but where the full-tang meets the but-cap in to a less sharp angle.
Has any one done this before? Is there a chance I will destroy the handle by doing so?

EDIT: Kind of like this:
handle1.jpg
Click to expand...

Mod it however you need. I'd use a half round file at first, or light passes with the sanding drum of a Dremel. Go slowly, you can't put material back on. Then smooth it with sandpaper and re-oil the wood and you should be fine.
 
The Satisal wood works down very easily with a file or rasp, followed with sandpaper.

As Corp said go slow and check the grip often it is amazing how little you have to remove to make a big difference in grip characteristics.

Looks like you had a great time. I was impressed the first time I used my M-43 ou choppin logs. I share your opinion Kuks are much more versatile than axes.
 
Thanks Dan, it really is a magical place and it has always had a special place in my heart. It is one of those places you have either been to and understand or you never really will. Africa in general is where it all began as far as I'm concerned, and is likely where it will all end. Too many resources for the world to not eventually go and try a big time war type take over of them. So far it has just been exploited and left on its own, the rich allowed to do as they please there... As resources become more and more scarce though and as those in charge there become harder to deal with, the industrialized world will eventually try to just go in and take what they want directly. That is when the poopie will hit the ventilator and folks will finally see what has been going on there. I find it amazing how completely uniformed people here are when it comes to some of the absolutely horrible crimes against humanity that occur there. One tribe trying to eradicate another with machetes, then when someone finally steps in to stop it, the revenge killings are even worse. Rwanda, Uganda, Nigeria, Liberia and the Coté de Ivory are in a state of near constant turmoil. When one settles down, the others erupt. It never seems to end. All because the French, Dutch and British failed to take into account the tribal lands when the decided to parcel it out. Just like they did in the Middle East.

OK, sorry, back on topic...
 
warty said:
..... When one settles down, the others erupt. It never seems to end. All because the French, Dutch and British failed to take into account the tribal lands when the decided to parcel it out. Just like they did in the Middle East.
Click to expand...

I don't remember who, but it was an "african american" actor that said:
"Why you white man always want to help us (blacks)? Did it never occur to you that WE don't want to be helped!?"

As for mother Africa...the chinese are quietly draining any resource they can put their hands on. There are african countries that in 5-10 years will have more chinese than locals. come "voting" time guess what's gonna happen.

'nuf said...or we goin' to the cantina:D
 
Last edited:
OK. Here's the handle and what I've done with it.

Top to bottom:
Before, After, After upside down.

handle3.jpg


It didn't took a lot of work and I only took off about 2mm from the handle/tang.
You can see the "almost flat" section at the bottom pic.
What this does, it gives my ring finger more space and more area when resting on it during impact. I didn't modify the top a lot. Just a bit of edge rounding off.

I haven't done a heavy chopping since, but initial tests are promising.
Amazing what a little bit of modifying can do for comfort.;)

Oh...yes and the famous balancing act: TADADA TA TADAAA:D

balance.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top