Anyone have a problem with HI Khukris being crooked???

Got a 16.5" WWII by RR a while ago. Right about when he first surfaced. Blade has a noticable curve to the left. Irritated me a bunch at first. Almost sent it back. It's now one of my favorites, after my UBE and 20" villager. Put a razor edge on it with a diamond card, refinished the handle with 15 coats of Tru-Oil. It's a beautiful knife, and feels good in the hand, very quick.

It was, by the way, bought as a blem. And it's the only one in about 50 khuks that I've bought, that is not truly straight. (Yeah, I started out with 1 khuk, too).

So, even if it isn't perfect, it may grow on you. Or not. Everyone's different.
 
Some interesting and funny stuff here. CK if you like crooked blades I'll forge one for you next time I'm in Nepal -- guaranteed to please.
 
John
No, no Website. I have a successful architectural business that keeps me busy these days. My forging is devoted to my sons first blades. Anything else I produce right now will be for students. We do jujutsu and Kenjutsu. The weapon work is Katori Shinto ryu to be exact. Oldest legitimate Koryu in Japan. Sword, two sword, short sword, spear, Naginata.....etc.
I own 9 acres of heavily wooded land backed up to 90 more. So we got to do a L-O-T of test cutting on trees. More than your average bear.
I have been forging and testing for decades now. Its what sold me on the kuhkri shape to begin with. Nothing like having men with experience cut with 30" Katana with two hands then walking up and matching them with a one handed cut from a kuhkri half that size. It tends to make Japanophiles (and there are a LOT of them) wake up and smell the coffee. Lots of cultures had excellent weaponry.
This notion of the Japanese sword being the best in the world is hooey.....always was...always will be. They are great don't get me wrong. I certainly love them, but stating you're the best in a history rich with excellent weaponry from many indigenous cultures is a fools game.
The Viking swords manufacture was actually MORE complex than the Japanese ones and they accomplished the same riddle of hard edge/ soft back in a different fashion that was just as servicable.
Then there is the Indian Wootz.............whole other subject


cheers
Dan
 
Dan,
Thanks for the reply. What an awesome thing, to be able to make your sons' blades! Perhaps I should start learning to pound metal. Then, when I hopefully have worthy children in 20 years...
Katori Shinto Ryu is certainly and old and respected ryu. Most of my weapons work has been Kukishin Ryu. I like kukuhuris quite a bit- I have four HI versions- but I need to get a good sword to practice with. Some of my kata won't translate well with a one-handed chopping "sword" like my large GRS!
I tend to agree that "best" is a pretty large claim; nice to hear a maker agree with me.

John
 
Uncle Bill made a crookie, pounded and maligned it
Uncle Bill sold the crookie, to the dummy who designed it

yours truely, crookie knife:D
 
John

Pounding metal? Don't do it.....run! Its the most addictive thing you can do. It's mesmorizing. You quickly find you don't mind the heat. I have been out in the barn till 2 in the morning not even stoppping to pee. Folding, folding....Its too much fun. I hope to retire early in a few years and I intend to do it as a part time job. Don't need the money- so it will be a labor of love.
Once you start down the Forging and smithing road you learn so much about the ignorance of the scholars who have written over the years. Even more so when you see the repeated misinformed source information from one bibliography to the next. Most smiths just try to get the word out to each other and to a reluctant public. It's sort of like watching the new rash of movies and hearing the si...iiing.....!!!! when people draw swords. Or worse yet, the sound effects you hear in movies like The Last Samurai; the scraping sound. Hollywood just can't cotton to a silent, smooth draw. I told a few people at a party that swords don't make that sound. One avid fan said "Of course they do! They all do."
It ended quickly when I said "How many swords do you own? How many have you drawn?" I then explained that the noise would be metal against metal. Hard to do when the the scabbards are wood!! Whats more the edge(s) meeting metal would mena they were being scraped off before the fighting began. Sword draws are quiet by design.

As for Old school Japanese arts-just as addicting. Nothing like being in a prolonged kata at a hundred miles an hour with wooden things wiping around your head. Beats the heck out of the gym or running. And talk about induced stress training......yee haw!


As for worthy children? Wait a few years and we'll talk. I'm still working on being a worthy parent. My kid is awesome! Very humbling road is parenting-good parenting that is. Ain't a day that goes by I don't thank the good Lord for my kid. HE changed ME.

Merry christmas

Dan
 
My kid is awesome! Very humbling road is parenting-good parenting that is. Ain't a day that goes by I don't thank the good Lord for my kid.
Click to expand...

May I be as fortunate. Merry Christmas.

Damn, I need to find a good uke!
 
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