A question from the kamis about the Cobalt Special

Bill Martino

Bill Martino

Joined
Mar 5, 1999
Messages
34,096
I faxed the print of the Cobalt Special to Kami along with some instructions. He looked over the print and understood what we wanted. He made a copy of the print along with some comments of his own and headed to the bus station.

He found a fellow taking the bus that would be passing by our shop down in SE Nepal. He asked the fellow to drop off the print and comments at a tea shop where the bus stops not so far from the shop .

The owner of the tea shop gives the fellow a few rupia for delivering the message. The tea shop owner sends a boy over to the shop with the print and comments.

A question came back from the shop: Why do you want a staight blade Ang Khola? A khukuri will work better than this knife.

We need to send a reply. What shall we tell them?

Uncle Bill
 
Quite simple, to compete with the ever so popular fixed blade knives in America. Fixed blade knives still have their advantages for cutting lightly using the entire edge, etc. Stabbing is also an advantage of a fixed blade, especially in the ice pick motion.
 
Bill, send them this messege also. "To answer you question, answer this question for me. Why do straight blades outnumber bent blades in the world?" You will then have your answer.
 
If I tell them that we will not get our Cobalt Specials. Think of something else.

Uncle Bill
 
Tell him (politely) that when splitting watermelons lengthwise, it's easier to do this if the entire blade length can be brought to bear on the cutting board.

David Rock

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Never carry a knife shorter than your schnoz.
 
Perhaps the question from the kamis should be interpreted as, "What do you want to use this knife for?" They may be motivated by a sincere desire to make the best tool for their customer, and to do so need to know the uses to which it will be put. It seems an entirely reasonable question.

I had similar thoughts on first seeing the design. If the desire is for chopping power, the traditional khukuri design will probably be superior. If not for chopping, why such a heavy blade? Is thrusting with the tip important? Is this a dueling weapon like the Bowie, a utility knife, or both?

I suspect what is wanted is a multi-use tool. If so, you might wish to tell the kamis specifically what types of tasks it will be asked to perform.

For instance, an example (but only an example) list of tasks with rationale might say:

slicing vegetables and food preparation - this is easier and quicker with a straight edge
stabbing ability - to cut through the ice when icefishing.
retain some wood and bone chopping ability - the thick blade will still give durability and weight for chopping. The blade will be expected to cut and split wood for fires and dismember and chop through bone on big game animals.
Etc.

If they understand the intended uses they will probably be able to create a product that will perform well in those situations. Of course, it may not look like what you asked for.
 
Bill, actually you can tell them that it's nice to have some straight friends in the middle of all your crooked friends.
 
I remember seeing Gurkhas thrusting or stabbing with the khukuri while holding the blade flat in a WW2 film.

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I am not so sure that straight blades do out number bent blades in the world Cobalt.

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heehee! You gotta admit, the visual image of a Kami taking a look at this thing with a quizzical expression and thinking "what's that crazy American thinking..." is priceless.

 
Jay, I would bet on it and I'm not a betting man. This is not to say that they are better, just that they without a doubt outnumber bent blades. Look in your kitchen, and unless you are some kind of freako, most of your kitchen knives are straight. Look at the military issue knives for almost any country and they will be either utility straight blade or dagger straight blade.

 
Hey, my last post just gave me an idea. A khukuri Kitchen Knife set in a wood block. Different sizes for different chores. I guess I'm the freako!
 
I`m not sure of the wisdom of asking the kamies to do other than that that they know.It may pollute the purity of the khukri,and I offered an idea as well.I`m reconsidering the wisdom of bringing new ideas to an ancient art.It could have a deliterious effect.Perhaps we should leave well enough alone and take our foreign ideas ellswhere.

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Ghost, I think your Idea was a good one also. By the way ae you going to buy the BUCK smachette?hehe
 
Cobalt - Most homes in the USA don't have bent blade kitchen knives. - What about all of the other countries around the world? I am not some kind of freako, and certainly hope you are not also. I consider this forum very unique, and commend everyone for their great respect and excellant idea's. The knife you have designed is totally awesome, and I want one so bad like you don't know, but I agree with Ghost. Also, I'd love to find an original British Smatchet too.

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[This message has been edited by JAY H (edited 10 April 1999).]
 
Jay, I was joking about the freako, except for me of course.

The same design that makes the khukuri so effective at slicing and chopping hinders it in stabbing. As for general utility, well, you can make any knife work at any chore, but lets face it a straight blade has more useable edge than a bent blade. Now of course when it comes to slicing or chopping nothing can match the khukuri, not even an axe.

So for general utility I say the straight blade is better due to the straight and useable edge, for chopping and slicing the khukuri is better. These designs are for different uses.

As for what knives outnumber what, I think it would be hard to proove that bent blades outnumber straight blade, and this includes other countries, that I have been to.
 
Jay, I was joking about the freako, except for me of course.

The same design that makes the khukuri so effective at slicing and chopping hinders it in stabbing. As for general utility, well, you can make any knife work at any chore, but lets face it a straight blade has more useable edge than a bent blade. Now of course when it comes to slicing or chopping nothing can match the khukuri, not even an axe.

So for general utility I say the straight blade is better due to the straight and useable edge, for chopping and slicing the khukuri is better. These designs are for different uses.

As for what knives outnumber what, I think it would be hard to proove that bent blades outnumber straight blade, and this includes other countries, that I have been to.
 
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