Balance Model Review

M

munk

Joined
Mar 22, 2002
Messages
15,742
This fine khuk weighs 29 ounces, is 18 1/4" long, the blade narrowing to 1 3/16" above bolster, 1 15/16" from end of the Sword of Shiva, 2 1/8" at the working end of blade. Handle from bolster to endcap is 6": 5 1/8" of that being solid antler for your hand. And it is a large diameter; a string wraps all the way to 4 5/8" around, and the caliper says 1.555" across. My WWll has a handle 1.446". The very few full size Balance models I've seen also appear to have large handles. And this is the full Balance, what Norm and a couple other seized upon as a great endeavor: why not make a Balance model that can really chop wood? (spine is 7/16" near bolster and narrows gradually all the way to the tip where it hits 1/4")


We should've had this brainstorm sooner. The Balance likes to chop, and it does very well. Our impression, the Kid's and my own, is the Balance out-chops a WWll of the same size and weight.

There's a fallen Pine around the corner from my house I've been whittling on with khuks. The Balance ate into it easily. 2 1/4" from bolster is the balance point on my fingers. My WWll balances also, but at 3 1/4" from bolster.
This means the blade pivots from my wrist well, it wants to swing, and should lesson some of the strain associated with end heavy khuks.

I don't know if it will 'outchop' a like sized AK. I don't have one. But it sure feels special, and I love it.

I didn't mention that it looks beautiful, but there you go. The Sword of Shiva has brass inlays, and the Balance just has a certain class.



munk
 
The Kid is working on posting picts. If it doesn't happen, I'll need a volunteer to email the picts to; you know, someone who is friendly, knows computers, and can do this task that 200 million other Americans can do that I can't!!!

munk
 
I'm doing pics myself Munk. Just send 'em on and I'll post them ASAP if you like.

Norm
 
Thank you, Norm. Just sent them. Pretty exciting around here; I'm barbecuing chicken, the tiniest kid wan't me to make juice and put batteries in a toy, The Kid is watching TV after just finishing the khuk test and picture attempt.

munk
 
No sweat! Here's you go: (Just got the one so far...)


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That's the loggette we dragged from the slope and worked on in the yard. The balance made fast work of it. Chips flew, and the Kid had a blast.
Thanks Norm! More coming!


munk
 
BTTT with the last pics:


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I lined up the happy kids and let them pick away on the log. NO, this is not the way to cut wood, and as a safety problem having that many people that close is not advisable. They had a great time. The almost 4 year old was so insistant I caved in and let him have a Bilton. Carter keep whittling away with a WWll and almost got through the log. Taylor used the Crow knife. That knife holds up. Yangdu has asked a couple times if I'd care to test it to destruction so we could learn more about it. But I like it too much to do that. It was evident as a straight design it could not compete with our beloved curved blades.

There's a chop down I caught on film that is blurred, and you can see the progress the Balance is making on the log. The Kid loved it.

A good afternoon. The Kid came up to me later.

"You really get exicited about those blades, huh?"
"Yes, I do."
"It shows. Your eyes."


Balance model very well liked here.

Thanks again to Norm. Wish he'd been here this afternoon.


munk
 
Looks like lot's of fun. Is that an M43 there in the 2nd pic?

I would hate to ruin that big Crow knife. I can tell you an etch shows my 13" model is very oddly hardened: most of the bottom tip and the first 3" of edge or so is hardened, hardly any hardening on the last 3" or so of edge, but big splotchy areas hardened right at the very middle and towards the tang. I pounded the flats though as hard as I could and it is holding together so am sure he didn't get any water on the tang.

So far I have reground the blade and changed the flats of the handle around and made the guard oval. Just need to finish up with some file work and I'll post pics.

I was hoping to get one of those big crows for comparison, but now I think I just might hold out for one of these Chit Bowies instead.


Norm
 
I was afraid the Chit bowie would push the Crow out of the picture. The Crow knife is a good and worthy knife. It is appealing. I know there will be a rush for the Chit Bowie, but I hope after it subsides we don't lose the Crow knife.

I wonder if the Balance model would be easier to make, to balance close to the hand, if the handle were a chiruwa style?


munk
 
Great pics!! Looks like a fun day was had by all! I love the pic of all of the kids choppin away at that log. It is great to see them learning bladecraft early on. That balance looks like a great chopper. You can just tell by looking at that model that it is born chopper. I need to snag one of those someday.
 
The family that chops together... :thumbup: I'd like a smaller Khadka balance model someday.

There's a guy in THR whose sig reads, "The family that shoots together, has interlocking fields of fire." :D That just cracks me up. Kind of a post-apocalyptic "The Waltons" comes to mind.


Mike
 
munk said:
I was afraid the Chit bowie would push the Crow out of the picture. The Crow knife is a good and worthy knife. It is appealing. I know there will be a rush for the Chit Bowie, but I hope after it subsides we don't lose the Crow knife.

I wonder if the Balance model would be easier to make, to balance close to the hand, if the handle were a chiruwa style?


munk
Click to expand...

I think their will always be a demand for the Crow, if it's done right. I hadn't been tracking that one too much but I know there have been at least 3 sizes, with the 15" being in the middle. I would like to get a 15", but don't want to work on it they way I did this one, and hope that it would be hardened the entire edge of the blade (the big ones may be already coming that way.) The handles on those are great, very comfortable and give it much of its appeal. If you don't like the square guard it's easy to shape it any way you like.

I guess we did not think about the Balance model actually "balancing". But yes, it would balance a lot closer to the hand with a full chiruwa tang.

Still, I don't know that I would like it as much. It would lose much of its blade forward feeling that the big downturned blade gives it, and the chiruwa handle would transmit a bit more vibration. It would be nice to experiement with one I suppose and see just what it would be like, but I am so pleased with mine as is that I can go either way.

Norm
 
I'm pleased with my Balance model also. I think with the point of equilibrium actually being closer to the hand, it is either easier to swing, or gives the impression it is easier to move.



munk
 
Munk, thanks for the review.

The family pine-whittling session must have beeen a great fun.:thumbup:
It is nice to see a new generation appreciating fine blades.
 
Oh great review Munk, and the pics too. I loved the one of the family gone-a-chopping. Couldn't sit on the ground like that down here. Redbugs (chiggers). Nobody wants to get a crotch full of those... Right Dan??? LOL.

Oh say can you see
Any red bugs on me
If you do
Pick a few
and we'll have red bug stew.


I've turned into a goober just like my old dad.
 
Hey Hollow, and et al; is there any way to post pictures to the forum directly from my computer? Must all picts be first loaded to a intermediary place, like a photo web site or whatever?


munk
 
I THINK you have to do it from a remote source unless you are a paid super duper member or something.

Munk, who is the girl? I thought you just had boys?

Edited to add: Munk you can go to www. photobucket.com and sign up for a free hosting acct and do it yourself then.
 
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