blade thickness

K

Knife Dork

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Hi Im new here and have a few questions about HI kuks,
I loved my ka-bar kukri, but the handle gave me hot spots and the blade was too thin. So I was wondering how thick some of the standard kukris are(im not very familiar with their models, what im asking for is basicly model names, thicknesses, and possibly PICS!!! maybe compared to a mora or somthing else.
Thanks,
Carl B.
 
From my limited understanding it depends on the blade type and the Kami making it. On the HI Storefront it usually lists the average thickness of any particular Khukuri type.
 
The HI kukris seem to vary between a little under half an inch to a little over and generally taper towards the point... that said, I'm in the same situation as you actually - I ended up buying a Kabar kukri machete before knowing that HI had DoDs.

I actually like the Kabar kukri machete and think it's a great tool so long as you judge it by machete standards and not kukri ones. The only complaint I have about it is that they put a hollow grind on it despite it's being a chopping tool - pretty much ends up getting stuck in everything. I spent about 2 days with a file and sandpaper/mousepad giving it a convex grind and have loved it ever since.

I'm still considering buying an HI kukri and seeing which suits my usage better. I know the HI community will probably chastise me for comparing a mass produced blade to an expertly hand built one, but I'm not 100% sure that a 1/2" blade would benefit me in my intended application and for me, that's what it all boils down to.
 
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Only the larger kukris are that thick, particularly the Ang Khola series.

Others like the WWII, Dui Chirra, etc are 3/8" thick.

The Kobras even go thinner than that.
 
I looked over the whole series that I could find but couldnt find an R-10 Ive heard this mentioned before anyone have a pic or a link?
 
Knife Dork said:
I looked over the whole series that I could find but couldnt find an R-10 Ive heard this mentioned before anyone have a pic or a link?
Click to expand...

This is my R-10, purchased as DOD 12-19-08:

12-19-08%20016.jpg

12-19-08%20017.jpg


10 inch 10 ounce R-10 by Dil Bhadur kami. Dharan antler handle. 10/10 Knife at $75.
Click to expand...

Blade 5 3/8", edge 5", spine 3/8" at the handle. Robust knife. Had another R-10 the same length, spine 1/4" at the handle, 7 oz. It felt a little livelier in my hand, but I gave it as a wedding present and kept the heavy one. I'm a sucker for any kind of white antler.
 
I really like the r-10 but I couldnt find it on the HI site. where can I order one?
EDIT: a link preferably
Thanks,
Carl B.
 
kronckew said:
just measured my 20" kobra, it's got a 0.428" upper spine at the bolster. :)

(Kami Shankar Kumar Bishwakarma)
Click to expand...

You've got to be kidding me!
The lightest kukri is almost as thick as my 20" CAK?

Knife Dork said:
I looked over the whole series that I could find but couldnt find an R-10 Ive heard this mentioned before anyone have a pic or a link?
Click to expand...

R102.jpg

R101.jpg


Knife Dork said:
I really like the r-10 but I couldnt find it on the HI site. where can I order one?
EDIT: a link preferably
Thanks,
Carl B.
Click to expand...
You have to wait for a deal of the day, or email Yangdu at HIMIMP@aol.com
 
The thing to keep in mind when looking at how thick khukuris are, is their geometry is different from many of our western knives.

By that I mean if you look at a big bowie knife which is .25" thick, it's thickness remains so until it gets to the edge bevel.

Khukuris on the other hand taper from the back of the blade to the begining of the edge bevels, and on top of that they usually have fullers which in some models are pretty deep. They're literally sculpted into shape by the kamis.

What this means is you have the strength benefit of a .5" blade but the thickness would average out to more like .25" or a hair less if you equaled out the differences in thickness found in that geometry in order to compare it to a western, flat-bladed knife.
 
Wolf_1989 said:
The thing to keep in mind when looking at how thick khukuris are, is their geometry is different from many of our western knives.

By that I mean if you look at a big bowie knife which is .25" thick, it's thickness remains so until it gets to the edge bevel.

Khukuris on the other hand taper from the back of the blade to the begining of the edge bevels, and on top of that they usually have fullers which in some models are pretty deep. They're literally sculpted into shape by the kamis.

What this means is you have the strength benefit of a .5" blade but the thickness would average out to more like .25" or a hair less if you equaled out the differences in thickness found in that geometry in order to compare it to a western, flat-bladed knife.
Click to expand...

Very true. My M-43 is near half an inch thick at the base of the spine, but thins out considerably toward both edge and tip, making it surprisingly lively for such a large, heavy knife.
 
My 18.5"/ 28oz. WWII, an old Kumar make, is just under 1/2" at the spine but is thin enough at the edge it will go through a free standing dandelion with a lazy swipe. And I am by no means a sharpening guru.

Frank
 
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