Danny, I'm behind you on this one; bamboo is a legitimate sword target in some cultures...one of which uses long, thin swords that were optimized for slicing (not chopping) and weren't known for the high quality of steel that was used to build them. I've actually been considering trying some dry bamboo, never mind the green stuff. It is a challenging target from what I've been told, though, and I've heard stories of very fine swords losing to the bamboo.
I'll admit that I get a little carried away sometimes but I have high standards. A sword is not built to chop wood, but depending on the culture and design a sword may have had to take on things even worse than this. If you ever get the chance, take a look through the Codex Wallerstein, Ringeck's (or Lichtenauer's) material, or any of the other
fechtbuchs. A German longsword was expected to cut, stab, deliver "murder strokes" (swinging the sword by the blade, using the guard as the head of a hammer), and strike opponents with the pommel - all without breaking or losing too much of the edge to be able to cut. (I'd expect some blunting on hard armor, but not excessive blunting. It still has to cut afterwards.) We're not talking longswords here, granted, but these were not twenty pound sharpened crowbars either. It can be done. It
was done. And, it seems, in Nepal it's still being done. I appreciate this.
It's important to remember that stress-testing sharp objects, much like stress-testing firearms, can be a lot like rocket science - if you do too much too fast without understanding what's going on, there will be an occasional explosion on the launch pad. I'm probably being a bit irresponsible with my videos; I'm seldom wearing protective gear, I'm doing things that constitute gross abuse, etc. What you don't see is that I've already done the test several times in the past (and
know that I'm not exceeding the design limitations) and I'm prepared to eat the cost of the product if I take things too far. Manufacturers who offer excellent warranties can do so only if their customers are responsible enough not to make unreasonable demands. If I destroy a khukuri by chopping bricks with it, I would not ask Yangdu to pay for it. I'm going to pay for it, because khukuris are not made to chop bricks and I can reasonably be expected to know this.
It is nice to know that it can be done, though.
It's also worth noting that damage that would worry some doesn't necessarily bother me. If you chop on things that are harder than the blade you will damage it, period. Even if it's softer, if the edge isn't properly presented you will again damage it. Dings, nicks, rolls and the like don't concern me - the next time that the blade is on the belt sander, they will be gone. If I had to hone all this stuff out by hand I'd be a whole lot more careful about what I was swinging at.
Look at it this way: I do these things so that no one else has to. Your HI swords and khukuris are made well and are very nice. They don't deserve to be treated like this.
Sams, whether you're talking to me or not, I won't take offense to it. You're right, after all, and it's worth mentioning.
I should report this to the Nepal Better Business Bureau!
Better get someone patenting the Foxy Folly.... Can you patent the idea of adding fullers to a blade? Or is their patent pending just on that particular design...