ASTK Initial observations - bittersweet?

[Crustysnow]

My CAK has a small bend in the tang - but the handle slabs were actually cut to accomodate that, so the WHOLE of itself is actually straight. thus, when chopping it cuts perfectly straight. so for me, it's a non-issue, and reminds me that it is indeed handmade.

Yes, I have noticed the same with these handle slabs - to an extent - as well.

 

[FuriousFist]

My CAK has a small bend in the tang - but the handle slabs were actually cut to accomodate that, so the WHOLE of itself is actually straight. thus, when chopping it cuts perfectly straight. so for me, it's a non-issue, and reminds me that it is indeed handmade.

Mines exactly the same; the handles been made to fit the tang. One thing that puzzles me, why is the tang so much smaller than the rest of the blade compared to the ASTK yet the CAK has a Pry-bar use warranty?

 

[wildmanh]

Those new pictures really help show the twist in the handle. thanks!

I have a ASTK that I've used to chop logs for trail clearing and to feed camp fires. Have also slived up plastic bottles filled with water. Got to handle a friends at last years Annual Spring campout. They are very versitile Khukris that can handle processing wood for the fire/house then go to war when need be. Or is it the other way around?

I hope yours works out for you and if it doesn't, let me know. Breathing new life into messed up Khukri's is a hobby of mine.

 

[Svashtar]

Mines exactly the same; the handles been made to fit the tang. One thing that puzzles me, why is the tang so much smaller than the rest of the blade compared to the ASTK yet the CAK has a Pry-bar use warranty?

They are just different designs. The CAK has been HI's flagship "bulletproof" khukuri for a decade or more. Both the CAK and ASTK have the same level of warranty, which terms I can't keep straight. I think the term "pry-bar" is just a superlative indicating the toughness of the blade; the ASTK is also categorized as a heavy use knife. If you actually use either one for a "pry bar" then personally I think you're a bit bent and so will your knife be when you're done. Also personally, I think HI should just keep it on the "toughest" list and remove that pry-bar reference because sure as heck someone someday will try and lever up their engine block with it and complain if it bends!

As to the warranty itself, YMMV, but there's no way I'm not going to do occassional heavy chopping with my Jange and Samsher and Dui Chirra and Tin Chirra, and those are certainly not "brush clearing" knives (a 20" 48 oz. Samsher for cutting vines? I guess it will be OK. ) But I understand the warranty and why it's in place.

Norm

 

[Ryan M]

It looks to me like most of the handle lines up with the blade just fine, it's just the bell that's a little twisted. Since the bell is generally only going to be used with a hand-and-a-half grip, or if the knife starts to slip, I'd say it's not an issue. If it really bothers you though, all you really need to do is get a file, some sandpaper and some wood finish. File and sand the handle until the outside parts are straight, and ignore the tang. I just checked a few of mine, and they all have asymmetrical tangs, with the scales modified to fit them and create a straight handle. One has a very slightly twisty bell/buttcap, but that one actually has the tang slightly twisted in one direction, and the bell/buttcap twisted in the opposite direction! But the rest of the handle is straight.

It's really just part of owning a truly hand-forged knife. Making perfectly straight, perfectly parallel surfaces is very difficult, and most of their attention goes to making the blade and edge as straight as possible. And like I said, it's very easy to "fix" for yourself, with some basic tools. The balance may still be a tiny bit to one side, but very very few khukuris will balance perfectly.

 

[Toxie]

For the sake of discussion, the better shotgun stocks have a few degrees of "cast" to allow quick instinctive pointing. Would this be a part of the khuk's design?

For those left handed, this would suck more then a little and potantially be unsafe. If they're not asking you what hand you swing it with, I doubt thats the case.

 

[Crustysnow]

Sorry, could not get out this weekend to 'test' this kuk out - flu bug is in da house. I did harvest one sapling approx. 2.5-3" dia. of black ash and it bit deeper than the 16" Bonecutter I had previously. Hoping for this coming weekend.

 

[Crustysnow]

Send the ASTK back to HI and I will refund your money including the shipping cost. These days my Knives inventory are very low to send replacement.
Thank you

Upon field testing this khuk, I have concluded, to my satisfaction, that the twisted handle on this Khuk will not be an issue for me. Sorry Auntie, I'm keeping this one and I am happy about it.:-D

 

[Crustysnow]

OK, So, I went out and chopped up some green hardwood, some dead-soft hardwood, some hard dead hardwood and really had no issues. There was some vibration when whacking on the hard dead hardwood, mostly when swings were perpendicular to the wood. I had a few glancing blows due, I believe, to low/acute angle of swing in relation to the wood. The green wood was all approx. 3 inches dia. The dead wood was approx. 5 inches dia.

Thus, I'm very happy to say 'it's a keeper':thumbup: Sorry, no pics this time around, but if someone REALLY needs to see pics of the wood, I will glady venture out again to harvest some more wood.

Crusty

 

[Jaymo]

After reading this thread, I had to go and check my Bonecutter and Tamang. I noticed a tiny bit that only appears to affect the pommel. I never noticed it when chopping/cutting with them. I use the Tamang for small stuff and the Bonecutter for big stuff.
The thing that really bothers me about my HI knives is the fact that I don't get to use them nearly as much as I'd like.