A Newbie's First Khuk

[cheftothestars]

Its 2am and im trolling the forums! must sleep......

Just came across these amazing blades.

I checked out the website and love the WWII version...is this a full tang?

 

[kronckew]

i think the use of 'rat tail' is unfair. the tang is not the typical low carbon steel threaded rod welded (usually badly) to the blade like you find in el cheapo chinese fakes. 'hidden tang' would be a better term. the substantial tang is forged along with the blade, never welded on, it is peened over the pommel as most proper swords and knives have been for millennia. no one would say a randall fighter is not acceptable because it has a hidden tang. (even tho it's not peened. : japanese swords and knives usually have a hidden tang, frequently only held on by a bamboo peg, no one criticises them for it & asks for a full tang (unless they do not really know what a japanese sword is).

the typical tang is shown in a recent DOD 'project knife' (top), note: ww2 models, chiruwa full tang left, plus the 'project' knife villager. right is a chiruwa ang khola model. the ww2 can come in either, like the ang kholas.

with a hardwood, epoxy* filled, grip and peened end, that knife will last as long at the 'full' tang models. it also, according to some, is more comfortable and definitely allows for more customization if desired.



*- or himalayan 'epoxy', laha, a resin, horse fibre thermally set cutlers cement.

 

[Kenny H.]

Proper Japanese Katana have a full tang, yes it's a hidden tang but it still runs the entire course of the handle and is normally pinned by at least two bamboo pegs.

I'm not saying that rat tails are bad, I just don't feel safe using them, whether it's poorly made chinese cheapotanas or my KaBar, they just don't feel safe to me; I like having the security of a full piece of steel running the course through the handle. It's just personal taste.

 

[Corruptor]

Its 2am and im trolling the forums! must sleep......

Just came across these amazing blades.

I checked out the website and love the WWII version...is this a full tang?

The version I got is full tang, I'm not sure about normally though. I haven't handled any other HI's but you can definitely tell that the full tang adds a healthy bulk to the handle. I definitely love it ! I have some pictures of the tang and handle, but I neglected to get a picture of the whole tang due to my cellphone camera being wonky. Anyway, here they are...

 

[Kenny H.]

I love it, there's just something about a full tang and big fat pins in the handle that gives you a big feel of security.

 

[warty]

I would imagine Kenny if you ever had the opportunity to handle one of the HI's without a "full tang" you would see and feel they are just as solid. If however it is the only way for you to know and if you are never going to have the opportunity, then you will be missing a number of the more wonderful geometries of the khukuri blade unless you special order one with a "full tang".

It is just a matter of giving something new a shot since, when you look at the "stick" or "rat tail" HI product you can easily tell just how rugged and robust the knife will be. Between the wide "V" of the tang and the way the Kamis sandwich it all together with the laha (native glue), then peen the last tip of it over to really secure it in place, you would have to be trying to break the knife to do so... Some of them are even warranted as prybars to show just how strong they are...

In any case, you'll be happy with whatever you get, no doubt about it. HI is the shizzle for sho'!

 

[Kenny H.]

Rrrrg, you people and your convincing. I'll order a regular Ang Khola when the time comes.

 

[Corruptor]

In any case, you'll be happy with whatever you get, no doubt about it. HI is the shizzle for sho'!

Amen Warty! I just got my first and already I'm looking forward to getting another. Damn, I'm just waiting for a bowie to show up on the dotd! The truth is that I didn't realize my khuk was full tang until I got it (had no idea what chiruwa meant), so it was a cool surprise.

 

[Khuku'nut]

I've said it before, HI doesn't have rat tail tangs, they have dinosaur tail tangs.

 

[kronckew]

caution, severe thread veer in progress:

Rrrrg, ....

y'all remember it's only 2 months to TLAPD (talk like a pirate day) on Sep.19th, so that should be Arrrrrh! so belay that an' start a practicin'. and remembers ter sharpen up yer sharp pointy things.

...and me mateys, i don't mean them slimey bilge rats what slinks off'n the coast of somalyer either. they gives us real sailors a bad name.

[youtube]2cKCkbWDGwE[/youtube]

this has been a test of the emergency pirate broadcasting system.
If this had been an actual emergency, you would have been instructed
where to tune in your area for news and official information.

we now return you to your regularly scheduled program.

 

[warty]

Rrrrg, you people and your convincing. I'll order a regular Ang Khola when the time comes.

My work here is done.

 

[KRBurke]

Just leave a silver bullet on your way out there, Ranger~!

 

[Cpl Punishment]

Here's how Yangdu defined things when I asked her, and I'll take this as the definitive ruling in this forum at least.

ALL HI kukri are "full tang" -- meaning the tag goes all the way through the handle and is peined at the end.
Now, I remember in my younger days, this was always what was referred to as a "full tang".

The Chiruwa-style is an EXPOSED tang blade. This used to always mean a full tang that was exposed. A few years ago a maker (Bark River, IIRC) made a run of knives that the first third of the handle (coming from the blade) was exposed and the rest was not. But, in general terms, an exposed tang is going to also be a full tang.

As for HI, yeah, the tang on their full tang versions have more steel in them than most knives have in the whole blade.

I prefer the Chiruwa style for two reasons:
My handle making skills suck. I have little hope of being able to properly mount a handle on the standard tang. But making two slabs, pinning them in place and then shaping them I can handle.

Second reason is I think they look better.

Both reasons, of course are subjective.

 

[GRIM 62]

That food prep video was very convincing.I had no idea how useful a Khuk could be in the kitchen.Although,the guy did have some mad skills ! I can picture either one or two of my fingers laying on the cutting board going at it like that guy was.But it is great to know how versatile a Khuk really is.