Bonecutter warranted for cutting bone?

J

Jaymo

Joined
Jan 17, 2009
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Well, i have a good warranty question. Is the Bonecutter warranted for use as a meat cleaver, ie: chopping through bones? I'm trying to decide whether or not to use mine(when it comes in) for butchering big game such as deer and feral hogs.
 
You would think so by the name but then I don't know. The one I have, an 18" Sgt Khadka, would certainly take care of such duty I would think but I have never had opportunity to try. :)
 
Jaymo said:
Well, i have a good warranty question. Is the Bonecutter warranted for use as a meat cleaver, ie: chopping through bones? I'm trying to decide whether or not to use mine(when it comes in) for butchering big game such as deer and feral hogs.
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Well I think it would depend on the level of damage... some bone can be quite hard and I can see a khuk (and any well built knife for that matter) taking a dent if it hits an especially dense section - especially if the contact area isn't the sweet spot. I wouldn't see this as a fault in the kukri's construction and hence wouldn't consider it covered by the warranty - it would also probably be fixable with a bit of elbow grease... If however, the kukri chipped instead of denting, I would consider that a fault of improper heat treat and think it should be covered.

The best thing to do is test out your kukri with a file as well as chopping on hardwood (preferably seasoned) before you consider taking it up against bones. That way, you can judge for yourself how well it will fair :)
 
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As KC stated some bone is denser and harder than others and the use of a khukuri would not be the wisest choice. This is what hatchets and Bone saws are for.
 
True meat cleavers are used for chopping through meat and bones. I think it should be able to chop through deer and hog bones with ease, if it's truly worthy of the name bonecutter. After all, it's not called the wood cutter.
I'll ask Auntie. Always best to get first hand information, and we're on good speaking terms, so I may just give her a call and see if I can indeed use it for that purpose.
If not, I guess I'll have to make the ultimate meat cleaver from a piece of tractor trailer leaf spring.
 
Jaymo said:
True meat cleavers are used for chopping through meat and bones. I think it should be able to chop through deer and hog bones with ease, if it's truly worthy of the name bonecutter. After all, it's not called the wood cutter.
I'll ask Auntie. Always best to get first hand information, and we're on good speaking terms, so I may just give her a call and see if I can indeed use it for that purpose.
If not, I guess I'll have to make the ultimate meat cleaver from a piece of tractor trailer leaf spring.
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I'm way ahead of you Jaymo, I've already asked her. To be sure she wants to consult with Sgt. Khadka before giving her reply. For contacting her email is best, especially since her father is visiting.

The term bonecutter was originally meant for human bone, i believe. If you are looking for a cleaver type, why not an H.I. cleaver or the Munk chunk cleaver?

So as not to piggyback on another thread of a different topic, I have split this from that thread to make it it's own topic.
 
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Well, I don't plan on cutting human bones with it. I ordered it for a good wood chopper, and big game butchering tool. I got it because it is strictly chopping too and not a weapon. Nothing against khuks that are weapons. I just wanted a real B.A. mofo of a chopper for wood and game.
Plus, the BC looks so cool.
The only human bones likely to get cut with it are mine, so I obviously don't want that to happen.
I'd like a Munk Chunk Cleaver, an HI Ultimate Cleaver, an AK Bowie, a Tarwar, and a Chitlangi Bowie, among many others.
Just don't have the money right now.

I happen to have some pickup truck, golf cart, and tractor trailer leaf springs on hand that I plan on mostly making knives out of.
The pick 'em up truck spring should make an impressive meat cleaver, indeed. It's about 3/8" thick. The tractor trailer spring is about 5/8" thick, tapering down to about 3/8".
A couple of leaves from the pickup truck spring, I plan on using to make my own junkyard power hammer. 2 elbow surgeries have left me unable to do heavy forging by hand for any length of time. A power hammer would solve that problem.

Oh, and, thanks for asking Auntie for me. I love talking to her, but I never know if I'm interrupting anything. I think she's too nice to tell me even if I did.
Several phone conversations with Auntie helped convince me that she is someone I want to do business with.
 
This cuts bone no problemo....

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UD's Cleaver is on my list. :)

OK, I have a couple of Bonecutters myself... this one is the smaller one @ ±15" (Murali)
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and the other one is the 22" Villager (Sgt Khadka)
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i thought they were named 'bonecutter' as they are based on the ones the nepali butchers use:
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kronckew said:
i thought they were named 'bonecutter' as they are based on the ones the nepali butchers use.
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You are mostly correct, kronckew. From what I've gathered the Bonecutter is primarily used during festivals to process goats, while this sometimes entails cutting their bones, i would dare say that cutting large bones of any animal be it goat, deer,cow or such would be somewhat of a chore for even the best properly HT'ed khukuri.
I seem to remember (Back in the days of the no nonsense warranty, from the archives) that a member tried to cut thru large leg bones of a deer or cow and chipped his bonecutter pretty badly. It was not a HT quality issue, but a case of the bone being too thick and hard to be cut. Due care and proper reasoning should be observed when cutting anything with any khukuri.
 
i agree, small goat, deer* rib cages and bones etc. are a lot different from cow knee bones and other hard objects. a bit of common sense is required. my dogs can crunch raw turkey bones & pig ribs but i wouldn't give them anything larger. they're not warranted for that. :)

weapon grade khuks may cut thru human bones, but at that point a chip or ding is not the uppermost thing on your mind. (assuming you are not a cannibal & were using it for combat ;) )

*- i guess that depends on the size of the deer :) that big trophy buck or elk, moose (all deer) may have bones that are too big. a situation i've unfortunately not run across :(
 
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I rolled the edge and chipped a piece of my 15 AK years ago on a deer foreleg. I fixed it, and never, ever, did that again.

Should NOT be warranteed. Khuks aren't made for it.

That's why they make bone saws.
 
Maybe it's just me, but I've found deer bones exceptionally hard. Kukri, hatchets, etc all roll or chip the edge on them. But then, I usually don't cut the bone anyway, Most I do is use it to pop a leg out of joint to separate it from the body and whatnot.
 
Cpl Punishment said:
Maybe it's just me, but I've found deer bones exceptionally hard. Kukri, hatchets, etc all roll or chip the edge on them. But then, I usually don't cut the bone anyway, Most I do is use it to pop a leg out of joint to separate it from the body and whatnot.
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:o:o:o

I was showing off for myself. I agree.
 
Even old time butchers did not use cleavers to cut thru heavy bones, they used them to separate pieces at the joints, they used saws as others have said to cut bone, a bone cutter should be used no differently.
 
I've helped neighbors butcher cattle and hogs for years and I've used my 20" AK numerous times.

The thing to remember re: chopping bones is leg bones, especially femurs, tend to be the hardest and densest bones on an animal. You can test this for yourself on turkey bones. You'll be able to snap just about every bone on that bird with your bare hands but find the thigh bones very difficult. With non-avian animals who do not have hollow bones, the strength and density of the femurs is a great deal more so.

Know your bones :cool:
 
HARPERSGRACE said:
Even old time butchers did not use cleavers to cut thru heavy bones, they used them to separate pieces at the joints, they used saws as others have said to cut bone, a bone cutter should be used no differently.
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There we have it. Cut the joint, not the bones.

Now, I wonder if the Boomerang is guaranteed to return if I throw it? :D
 
C.S. Graves said:
Now, I wonder if the Boomerang is guaranteed to return if I throw it? :D
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LMAO!..... It is not warranted for IFO purposes or against damage by this practice.
As for the Bonecutter, I have heard your opinions on this matter and have recommended to Auntie that she not warrant it for cutting Bone. However....in the end it will be her decision.
 
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