An exhaustive (and exhausting) look at khukuri shapes and sizes...

Daniel Koster

www.kosterknives.com
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Oct 18, 2001
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**NOTE: you will probably want to maximize your browser to catch all the images - 22 in all, but only around 150 Kb total.



Ok, I think I have really outdone myself this time.

This represents probably about 20 hours work - don't ask where it came from.

Hopefully, this study will prove to help those having a tough time deciding which khukuri to buy.

Some of you may be familiar with my analysis methods already, so have patience with me while I explain for the rest of the crowd.

***NOTE: All drawings were created in AutoCAD based on various photographs of khukuris and from several collections. This is not meant to be a comprehensive or complete set of any/all khukuris offered by Himalayan Imports. I chose these particular models based on what khukuris I would reach for if I was to set out into the woods. I have included the tiny Kagas Katne as well as the massive Janawar Katne as extreme reference points. I specifically avoided the Kobra, Tarwar, etc. because they are considered swords and not primarily tool-knives. I also avoided models that are "done-up" versions of plain khukuris such as the Garud, Hanuman, etc. Lastly, I left out extremely fancy khukuris like the Kothimodas which (I hope) would not really be used out "in the field".


Also, it should be noted that the khukuris in these drawings may differ from yours depending on which maker created them. For this study, all khukuris have been rotated to sit as if both the blade and the handle were resting on a countertop. This is to create a datum - or, in other words, a consistent line of reference.


This study will try your patience at first because there is a lot of information and it requires careful attention to details. If you are willing to sit and stare at your screen for a minute or two (I guess if you got this far, you must be at least interested...) I think you'll find this information fascinating and valuable. I will try to post a copy of this eventually in an HTML-friendly format on a webpage somewhere. Until then...


Let's get started with an overall drawing of the models included in this analysis (all from Himalayan Imports):

study06.gif
 
The first study is really just an overlay of a grid on top of the khukuris. It is pretty basic, but already you will begin to see differences that are otherwise not so obvious. Perhaps it is a slight slant in the handle. Some khukuris' handles are in a straight line with the blade and some are not. Some curve, some are straight. Have a look:


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A more advanced analysis can be used to further distinguish the knives by looking at the white space around the outline of the khukuri - that is, the "negative space" (for you artists out there). I draw a distinction between space above and below the handle because the varying shapes and sizes of the blades can sometimes mislead you into thinking one blade has more or less bend in it than another. Look carefully and compare the space beneath the khukuri to get a good handle on the effective striking angle of the knife. A larger area usually means more bend. Also, the area can be weighted to the front or the back which makes a huge difference in the hand.


study21.gif

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This study is more of a demonstration for the last part of this analysis. I drew lines on the khukuris centering on the handles and blades. I tried to keep it simple, using a maximum of 4 lines. Even where the knife is curved, it can be expressed by 2 lines (2 for the handle, 2 for the blade). This will make sense later. But, once you read the last part of the analysis, you will surely want to flip back and forth to these drawings and that's why I included them.


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Here's the meat of the analysis. A comparative look at final bend and effective striking angles.

* Final Bend = the last bend of the knife
* Effective striking angle = a line drawn from the end of the knife to the end of the handle.

**Note: the purple lines from the drawings in the former post were aligned together in this study so that the first line in the handle is perpendicular to a specific datum - in this case, the green line. The reason for this is so that a true bend angle can be compared (this makes a big difference when comparing the M43 which has a curved handle and an AK which has a straight handle) and in this way account for handle differences as well.


study41.gif



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There are hundreds of comments I could make on these images alone. Instead of babbling on anymore, I'll let you all take a look and maybe deduce a few conclusions of your own while I take a much-needed rest.

Dan
 
Wow! I am not sure what you have going here, but it's interesting.

You are close to capturing the presented edge angle at the sweet spot. That would be a combination of the blade angle and the direction of motion of the blade.

n2s
 
Wow again, this is very interesting. Thanks for putting it together!

This also gives an excellent checklist for collectors!
 
Are we allowed to post here now? :)

Those is some pics. Now, how do you draw those exact curves in Autocad?
 
This represents probably about 20 hours work - don't ask where it came from.
As long as it's not my tax dollars... ;)

Hopefully, this study will prove to help those having a tough time deciding which khukuri to buy.
Not me. I just buy them because they look cool.
 
Originally posted by BruiseLeee
Are we allowed to post here now? :)
Bruise - glad you noticed...since I put it there specifically for you - no kidding. :p :eek:

I know you love interrupting multi-posts with your super-fast replies...so, thanks for waiting. :D:D

Dan
 
Absolutely incredible. I was totally fired up (really useful information) until you got into Physics. I knew I should have paid more attention to that class. But really, I have found myself going from picture to picture to get an idea of shapes and sizes. This does it for me. Be sure to save the illustrations for any future publications.

bt
 
Nice work Dan, but y'all please tell me I'm not the only one tempted to print out the first illustration and use it for a shopping list/inventory sheet. Let's see, hmmm, I don't have one of those, or one of those................:eek:;)

Sarge
 
Originally posted by pendentive
I know you love interrupting multi-posts with your super-fast replies...so, thanks for waiting. :D:D

I also love to skim through posts in order to reply quickly, so be glad I actually saw the line. :)

Now if I could get an Autocad drawing of my hand...
 
Sarge, funny you should mention printing it out...I already did and have it in a plastic sheet in a three ring binder...just didn't want to admit it.

bt
 
Thanks, Dan. Now every time I see pictures of kamis I'll hear them having this imaginary debate involving moments of angle, blade cross-sectional density and force vectors.
 
Pen - maybe we could incorporate this into a webpage at the official HI site? Nice stuff, and seems like a lot of work and perhaps deserving of a more permanent home?

B.
 
Pendentive-- thanks very much for posting this. Very good info, and it obviously took quite a bit of work. Your images are definitely worth studying, especially for a newbie like me.
--Josh
 
Doing stuff like this really does help with some of the simptoms of HIKV. I don't know or have AutoCAD but I have some little MS Word tables with weights, lengths, etc for different types. Gives me an idea of how light or how heavy a particular model could be.
 
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