Blade Tip Off Center--Try to Fix or Leave As-Is?

J

Josh Feltman

Joined
Feb 12, 2001
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4,501
I was looking at my 25" AK the other day, and I noticed when I look at the spine of the blade, the tip region seems to curve a tiny bit to the right of center over the last few inches of blade length. It's pretty minor, maybe 5-7mm off the centerline. I guess this is a pretty minor variance in a blade this size, particularly one forged by hand. This is a gradual curve or bend off the centerline, not a bent tip. I'm pertty sure that it was forged that way, because I don't think I've done anything that could have bent it. It doesn't seem to have affected the performance of the blade at all. Should I try to bend it straight by putting it in a vice or something, or just leave it as-is? I'm not sure that I could bend it even if I tried. Does anyone else have khukuris that aren't perfectly straight, and has it affected the performace at all?
--Josh
 
Josh - for heaven's sake - don't put it in a vise :eek: :eek:

Tell ya what, do about 100 yds of tree limbs, branches, trunks, etc. and look at it again.

I bet it will either straighten out or be bent the other way...:confused:

The tips are soft and meant to move around.

If it doesn't bother you that much, let it be.

You could always grind it down later with your new grinder.
 
Ok, I think I will leave as-is. Pendentive-- it's not the very tip that's bent, but rather a gradual curvature over the last five or six inches of the blade so that when you look at the spine you can see that the tip is off the centerline, but it's not like the last 1/2inch or inch got bent over to the right. I hope that makes sense. It's kinda hard to tell what's going on right around the tip by looking at it because there are two (i think) fullers, and they come all the way up to the spine, so the spine viewed from the top looks kind of wobbly because you can see the depressions formed by the fullers. God, I wish I had a digital camera. When I lay the khukuri on a flat surface on its left side and then its right side, I can see more of a gap between the surface and the tip when the khuk is sitting on the left side, so the tip bends to the right. It's no big deal, I was just wondering if the curve would put added stress on the blade during use which could lead to failure. I worry about my khukuris too much:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: .
--Josh
 
Send it to Bruise for straightening. He's got a vice and a 12 pound sledge and can do the job in 30 second.
 
Send it to Bruise for straightening. He's got a vice and a 12 pound sledge and can do the job in 30 second.
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hehehe...I bet Bruise could also make your 25" khuk into two 12 inchers in about 30 seconds as well, though theyd look kinda funny with one having an itty bitty blade, and the other no handle:D ;) :p
 
If the edge is straight in the sweet spot who cares?

If it isn't what can you do about it except anneal, re-forge and re-heat-treat?

Don't worry, be happy.

:)
 
Originally posted by firkin
If the edge is straight in the sweet spot who cares?

If it isn't what can you do about it except anneal, re-forge and re-heat-treat?

Don't worry, be happy.

:)
Click to expand...

The edge is very straight in the sweet spot, and even looks straight at the tip-- you can only see the curvature if you look closely at it from the top/spine side. I had the knife for around three weeks before I even noticed it, so it's pretty minor. Since annealing, re-forging, and re-heat treating are beyond my capabilities, I think I'll just call it good. If all else fails, I'll send it to Bruise for repairs:)
--Josh
 
to chorus; I had a blade like that and it was fine. The trees never knew they were destroyed by the imperfect. It took your eyes a while to find, didn't it? Kinda funny. My eyes could destroy the Holy Grail if we ever found it. **** vision is like that.



munk
 
Ok, I feel like a total idiot now. I went home last night and used a string pulled tightly along the center of the spine to see how far off the tip was. Interestingly enough, the string hit the point when I pulled it tight. The blade is pretty much straight. :rolleyes: I guess it's just the slight irregularities in the fullers and edge hammering when viewed from the spine in indoor lighting that make the tip look off. When viewed from above, the left side of the point goes back a bit further, but the actual point is in line with the center of the spine. My apologies to Kumar for suggesting that one of his blades was a bit off, as well as to all the cantina members who responded to this post with reassurances. What's that old saying about measuring twice, posting once?:footinmou :rolleyes: Sheesh, I feel like a moron, but at least my AK is ok.
--Josh
 
I wonder what would happen if we sent a doorknob to Bruise (for sharpening)... :D :eek: :eek: :D
 
Josh's AK could have been self-centered.>> WF

Hee.

Just as well, as is there any evidence that Bruise could swing a 30 pound sledge?





munk
 
Originally posted by BruiseLeee
I'd probably make it duller. :(
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Bruise with such skills as those, you should enter the baby proofing industry. You could make a fortune dulling down all the sharp edges in new parents homes.:D :p
 
Originally posted by WrongFriend
Does an AK have a character?
Josh's AK could have been self-centered.
Click to expand...

Satoshi-san it's good to have you back along with your sense of humor!!!!:D
You've been away for much too long and you've been missed!!!!:)
 
I still maintain a mental image of Bruise fixing the loose bolster with vice and 5 pound sledge -- always good for a chuckle.
 
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