Busse Khukuri

[PeterPHWS]

Instead of specifying the thickness it might be better to specify the maximum overall weight.....ultimately the knife needs to be a "carry" knife which can be on your belt and tabbed with all day....I think maximum weight no more than a NMFBM ....so 28-30 oz's (?)and with the same rounded grips. Personally I like a spine with a true right angle for ferro rod "bite" as opposed to the rounded NMFBM spine or give it a small clip as per Jerry's top drawing.

If the fullers help on weight I think they would be worth it for many but for me I prefer a flat blade as it is easier to ensure the blade is properly clean and sterile....some saps on jungle trees are hugely toxic....even saps on European trees give problems...the fullers could be a "trap" area for residue....you don't need much for bad stomach cramps....it depends on whether you have just the one knife on food prep.

On that front although you could do an aftermarket job on the knife...I would prefer Hex fasteners so the handle slabs can come off to boil the knife out and stay on top of any corrosion.

Ultimately the feel and handling of the knife is the key to making it perfect though....all these other points can be tailored in after you have it.

 

[thefifth]

I love this design and would definitely be in for one. For me minus the choil. I don't really think this knife will be doing much finer work, and I would prefer the extra cutting surface on this one. Also I think it just looks better w/o the choil. Also, isn't a khukuri supposed to be quick and nimble? It is a jungle knife. .32 inches thick? That would be ridiculously heavy ie. not quick and nimble. I think .22 at the thickest! Just my thoughts...

This is The One we can call it NEO
I like the Busse choil!

Go to Himalayan Imports.com and check there specs 16.5 at .32 would be just about perfect.
Khukuris are for chopping.

The Ang Khola Family :
20 inch, 5/8 in. thick,3 to 4 pounds
18 inch, 1/2 inch thick, 2 to 2.5 lbs
16.5 chiruwa, 1/2 inch thick, 1.75-2+ lbs
15 inch, 3/8+ in. thick, about 1.5lbs
12 inch 3/8 in. thick, about 1.0 lb

I want a 16.5 at .32 and a 20 at .32.

OK maybe just a 18 at .32.
Hell one of each and a spare for the safe.

 

[Brendan]

I love this design and would definitely be in for one. For me minus the choil. I don't really think this knife will be doing much finer work, and I would prefer the extra cutting surface on this one. Also I think it just looks better w/o the choil. Also, isn't a khukuri supposed to be quick and nimble? It is a jungle knife. .32 inches thick? That would be ridiculously heavy ie. not quick and nimble. I think .22 at the thickest! Just my thoughts...

I like the choil now it's been tweeked but I do think the knife flows better without it! That being said it would be a Busse and that choil makes it look like a Busse, an overall length of 19inch would provide more than enough cutting surface. The above design looks very traditional and I think the choil has many meanings so having one on the design would be meaningful and faithful to proper khukuris (unlike the CS kukri). I also agree there won't be much finer work being done with that knife - that's what the karda (traditional piggyback) is for We need to design one of those as well !! Defo with you on the thickness .32 would be too much, althought khuk's are traditionally very fat,they needn't be and .25 would be fine !!

 

[Brendan]

This thing looks so good. Give it hand-shaped slabs and that's pretty much the knife I've been waiting for. :thumbup:

hand shaped would increase the costs, reckon mags would be fine !!

 

[Brendan]

Instead of specifying the thickness it might be better to specify the maximum overall weight.....ultimately the knife needs to be a "carry" knife which can be on your belt and tabbed with all day....I think maximum weight no more than a NMFBM ....so 28-30 oz's (?)and with the same rounded grips. Personally I like a spine with a true right angle for ferro rod "bite" as opposed to the rounded NMFBM spine or give it a small clip as per Jerry's top drawing.

I agree !!

If the fullers help on weight I think they would be worth it for many but for me I prefer a flat blade as it is easier to ensure the blade is properly clean and sterile....some saps on jungle trees are hugely toxic....even saps on European trees give problems...the fullers could be a "trap" area for residue....you don't need much for bad stomach cramps....it depends on whether you have just the one knife on food prep.

The fullers in the photoshop would be good for a combat grade but to be honest I think the design is better without them. That being said, it is a nice point of difference ! From a practical point of view the above comments are indeed wise !!

On that front although you could do an aftermarket job on the knife...I would prefer Hex fasteners so the handle slabs can come off to boil the knife out and stay on top of any corrosion.

Althought corrossion is not a real issue with INFI I think hex fasteners would be a great idea. To save costs on finishing and thus make the knife available to a wider audience the hex fasteneres would enable folks to strip the knife aftermarket and give it their own satin finish !

Ultimately the feel and handling of the knife is the key to making it perfect though....all these other points can be tailored in after you have it.

I hope this knife gets made - it's as close to perfection as it can be without tweeking an actual model !!

 

[paua]

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=595840

Second, anyone who's seen my posts on the HI or WS&S forums knows I consider a 20" kukri to be just right, and anything under 18" to be flat out disappointing in performance. If one cannot bear to carry the weight of a large kukri, then buy a different blade, a small one will not live up to the legend, and IMO is a waste of time other than as a novelty.

I think Busse Combat Knife has being making knives distinctly Busse. In my opinion that's something, probably excessively sometime, big and strong. FBM would be a good example. Most people will tell you it's way too thick and heavy for any practical purpose. You will be better off with a thinner and lighter blade. But this is exactly why we love those big and thick blades for they are Americana at its best.
By the way, don't you feel that this Busse Khukuri project has become some sort of Babylon tower? We are trying to build something great but we already start speaking different languages.

 

[Brendan]

problem is everyone's taste differ. I think the design we have (pre-fullers) is about as good an all round khukuri as you can get while still being of traditional design but with modern materials. Show that drawing to a Kami and will recognise it as a khukuri but ask him to make it and you would get something completely different !!

Again, that's just what I think, others will disagree !!

 

[PeterPHWS]

You make a good point here paua....getting something on a group buy would need standard specs though...it depends on what everyone wants.

For me I have a need to be able to carry the knife without the weight being unduly heavy.....when using it I need it to be light enough not to be a fatigue issue....guys who want them to be solely chopping machines have a different goal in mind....

The HI Imports are using lesser steel...Infi will be as tough or better in a thinner stock blade....personally I reckon .22 to .25 and a weight at 28-30oz would do all anyone would expect or ask for.

However, you don't know this sort of thing until you have a knife to work with.....the balance and feel are the most critical issue for the knife to be "brilliant". Too heavy and it is not going to work for me.

 

[PeterPHWS]

Elen just posted that a custom shop price can work out at $100 an inch so a 20 inch Khukri could be a $2000 knife.....too rich for my blood.....but let's wait until Garth can come back to me.

 

[Brendan]

use your brit charm when you speak to Garth sir !!

production run - what type of quanitites do they normally do ??

 

[paua]

This is why we are gathering together instead of moving ahead with each individual's own desire and flavor. We need the buying power of each other to bring the price down, though there seems to be no similar case before. Theoretically there is no reason why we can not pull this one off even we all know it will not be easy.

 

[Brendan]

what changes would people see and what's the spec that the majority will be happy with ??

I'm for this:

Spec:

Overall Length : 17 or 19 inches
Thickness : .25
Finish : Competition or coated
Handle : Mags with hex screws

Wouldn't want :
Serrations


Wouldn't mind :
Swedge
Fullers (CBT)

 

[paua]

How about 17 at .3? Just have a look of the NMFBM. It's still an excellent knife but does not carry that chunky look FBM has. Yet if most of the people here want slender Khukuri, for the health of my credit card, I can play along.

 

[PeterPHWS]

I am happy with the same spec's as Brendan at 19 inches....width .25 because at .3 I think it would be too heavy. Let's see what others want......

 

[Brendan]

coup, can you extend the blade length by half an inch and keep the same belly but extend the tip with length extension !! think it has a tad too much belly !!

 

[Cpl Punishment]

I think Busse Combat Knife has being making knives distinctly Busse. In my opinion that's something, probably excessively sometime, big and strong. FBM would be a good example. Most people will tell you it's way too thick and heavy for any practical purpose. You will be better off with a thinner and lighter blade. But this is exactly why we love those big and thick blades for they are Americana at its best.
By the way, don't you feel that this Busse Khukuri project has become some sort of Babylon tower? We are trying to build something great but we already start speaking different languages.

Depends on who you talk to and what they want.

I admit I'm opinionated, and this is going to sound that way:
If a person is worried about weight, then they need to stay away from kurki (and FBMs ). Yep, there's a lot of that "Busses are just sharpened prybars." sentiment going around. Doesn't seem to bother Jerry much, or slow his sales.
There's also the "I only like small kukri (12" OAL) because big ones are too heavy." bug going about. Well, sure, I have a 20" custom AK (ang Khola) I ordered as my first and favorite, that's over 3.5 pounds (which I asked for). It also chops like crazy. When you ask for something that big made of steel, it's not going to be light. If it was light, it wouldn't work as well. I have a 22" Dui Chirra which is much lighter and 3/8" thick, and doesn't chop nearly as well, but is much livelier in hand.

So, do you want a woods tool or a weapon?
Thicker and heavier is better as a woods tool. Thinner and longer is better as a fighting blade. Look on the HI site at the Kobra and Sirupate kukris for what is considered a fighting kukri. The ones people order are usually between 25 and 30 inches from what I've seen.

Again, IMO, if you're going to get a small kukri (12-15") you'd be better off with a more conventional knife, which is where the Battle Mistress family comes in.

But, just my opinion, and seems to be greatly in the minority. Although I am interested to see what comes of all this. And if it's too thin, I might be able to pick up a CGFMB at a good price from someone cratching up funds for Hogzilla. . .

 

[GregS]

Although I am interested to see what comes of all this. And if it's too thin, I might be able to pick up a CGFMB at a good price from someone cratching up funds for Hogzilla. . .

I would like to see an LE, like Coupchoux has illustrated so kindly for us:thumbup: with a .40" to .50" thick spine, once you go fat you never go back. And a CG with a .25" to .320" spine. Both being huge at over 15" in length. Theres no doubt at .50" thick it would earn the title "HOGZILLA".

 

[Brendan]

GregS, with all due respect my friend. You are mad !!

 

[Silas]

Oh WOW!

I have hoped for a long time now, and still hope, that Jerry will make a Khukri and some of you want to ruin it by putting fullers/corrugated bevels on it. :thumbdn:

Please don't trash this design by asking for those.

 

[wildmanh]

Hi Wildmanh,

Try to show me a pic.

I took some pictures of my 16.5" WWII model from H.I. It has one fuller per side and the spine tapers from the shoulder to the edge. Specs to follow:

Left side:

Right side:

Left side different angle:

Edge shot:

Spine Shot:

Specs:
Length over all: 16.5"
blade: 11"
Handle: 5.5"
Spine at shoulder: 7/16" thick
Spine at edge grind: 3/16"
Weight: 24oz
Tang: rat tail (enclosed tang that goes all the way to the butt cap)
Kami (smith): Bura

As you can tell it has a very thick spine but doesn't weigh so much. Thats partly do to the tapered spine, fullers and Rat tail tang. The Khukuri is also very sharp and quick in the hand.

I think the Busse Khukuri should have a skeletonized handle to reduce the weight also tapering the spine from the shoulder to the edge will help. Would love to see the single fuller on each side but it might be hard to grind it. Hope the pictures and specs help show what I'm talking about.

Heber