can any1 comment from experience on the vibrations felt w/the AK Chiruwa vs 15" AK

S

Snarlin Stef

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May 2, 2003
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just curious if there is truly that much of a significant vibration difference btwn the 15 inch AK and the AK chiruwa?

also are there any other differences worthy of note (comfort, performance etc)?

i guess i should have asked these questions earlier. but now is as good a time as any.
 
I own many khukuris and have used most of them, at least to test them. Whenever I have work to do, I grab my trusty 16.5" Chiruwa AK by Bura. While others have said that they can tell a difference, (and I believe them) I have not experienced any unpleasant shock. Now if make a bad blow and the blade glances off without biting, it does "sing" a little bit. If I go slowly and don't swing too hard, the chips fly and she eats wood like a piranha.

Steve
 
thnx for the replies...

bill... you prob have the most experience... im sure you can comment as well... so if you dont mind.. whats your take on the chiruwa vs the 15 AK
 
I have a few chiruwa blades, ranging from the 16" AK Bowie, and the 27" HI Falcata. No shock problems.

Shock from a blow is not transmitted to the hand if you strike the target with the Center of Percussion (CoP). Also called the "Sweet spot", this refers to the area that transmits the force of the blow all into the target. If you hit north or south of this area, you will feel the shock that was meant for the target go to your hand. The blade is actually bouncing and vibrating, giving that stinging feeling.
If you're getting that feeling, evaluate your cuts and see where you hit most often with the khuk (the marks and abrasions on the blade from cutting will tell the tale). If you're not hitting 75% or more with the belly, then you need to adjust your distance to the target.

It is true that non-chiruwa khuk handles can suck up some of this shock, but that will not correct the real issue, which is hitting with the belly of the blade, not the tip or recurve.

Keith
 
i havent had any vibration problems YET bcs i havent recieved my knife yet. But in the reviews that I have read on the Chiruwa vs some other blades, vibrations seemed to be an issue.

when i do get my chiruwa i will keep yalls advice in mind. Essentially it seems that the chiruwa is less forgiving and requires better technique than regular HI AKs.

i appreciate the honest answers thnx
my UPS guy camed tday at 8AM. missed him... he had my chiruwa... BAH now i have to wait till monday. awe well. At least the weather up here in Connecticut is good enough to start grilling out... my friend's father buys whole goats and pigs and also eats his hunted deer. I cant wait to bust out the kukri on these carcases b4 we eat them.
 
I have a collection of about a dozen khukuries. They are all beautiful but my heaviest (29 ounces) and best to date is a 16 1/2 inch chiruwa AK. It is by far the best chopper I have and when the grip is the one used by Duvon in Bando it is very nearly as fast as my lighter blades. It just oozes confidence. I know there are forumites far more experienced than I with the khukuri, maybe I was just lucky, but I have felt nil vibration with mine and it has been tested fairly thoroughly on the hardest of timbers now.:)
 
It probably doesn't matter as much with all you young fellers without traces of carpal tunnel syndrome. I feel the vibration even if I hit with the sweet spot.:(
I much prefer the standard tang.:)
 
I agree with ferguson and Glenn Jones. My 16.5" Bura chiruwa is my favorite of the several K's I have. It feels right and eats wood. The length and weight are about perfect for me. I rarely have felt handle shock or other discomfort with it.
 
Well, I feel handle shock when things aren't right. I honestly wonder if I could tell the difference between a chiruwa and reg, if they weighed the same.

I lean towards Yvsa's version that the regular handle is the one proven by hundreds of years of use for good reason. I think two halves and visible tang is western.



munk
 
Enjoy the chiruwa alot. Would outdo most if not all the "Tactical Knives" being raved about in magazines these days. Most of those are "full tang" and subject to "vibration". Have used some of those and have wailed away with my chiruwa and didn't notice any uncomfortable vibration with the chiruwa. Good strong knife. Can abuse this one immensely and really like all the more!
 
I'm agree with Yvsa. There are more vibrations with chiruwa's model than with standard tang. Not uncomfortable vibrations, but more vibrations. It's just an habit.

Regards,
Stephen.
 
Because of the number of different opinions about vibrations in chiruwa khukuries, I have a few questions for those who have had experience with many of the chiruwa style handled khukuries. Does the amount of vibration felt vary from one style of chiruwa khukuri to another, what is the effect of the weight of the khukuri on the vibration (ie do light chiruwa khukuries vibrate more than heavy khukuries), or are there other variables that you think may cause more vibration in one particular chiruwa khukuri over another.:confused:
 
im definately not one to talk YET... as i just recived my 2 chiruwa blades.

but i will say this... the Kami that makes the blade makes a difference in the way it feels. I think that handle size has a lot to do with it. I have one chiruwa made by Kumar and one by Bura.

Bura's handle is horn and has a smaller diameter than the Chiruwa handle made by Kumar (whos is wood)

Personally I think the fatter the handle the more tork you can get on the blade so it gives the illusion that its a lighter blade. *kinda like holding a fat handles skrew driver in your hand vs a normal handleskrew driver. You simply get more tork with the fatter handle)

i have no idea about shock yet as i have not tested either of them yet. But i will say this. I like the feel of Kumar's better than Bura's right now... of course ill ultiamtely keep the one that chops the best.

I have small hands (defiantely below avg size)... and im of an athletic build 5'9 and 170 pounds so i definately aint no "giant" <--- just as a point of reference to my body size as im sure that differnt size people like different size blades
 
**I posted this same reply in another thread comparing the two chiruwa that i just recieved.. but those wanting to know about vibrations... these are my findings thus far**

ok i chopped up a very very old drafting board... with each of the knives. (AK chiruwas one by Kumar and one by Bura)

first i must say that they both made very quick work of the board with minimal effort... the blades weigh so much that you hardly have to use any army force to make the chops... simply let the weight of the blade do the chopping for you. kinda like a golf swing in that my arm is very relaxed and lose

I did not feel any vibration that is worthy of note with either of the blades.. but i must admit that this drafting board is not hard wood by any means.

overall... despite what I said in the openning remarks about one blade "feeling" faster than another. it was false. both blades are within reason just as fast. both chopped really well.

as far as comfort (for me) i liked them both. I really cant decide anymore.. and i think its gonna come down to pure asthetics (and i must say that being able to chose one blade over another simply for asthetics is pretty good option to have). Both blades seem amazing as far as utility.

Vibrations... hmmm.. i dont feel any that id view as "negative" they both choppped really solidly with little to no vibration from what i can tell. However, I am very curious to test the standard full tang vs the chiruwa model simply to find out what this vibration talk is all about. Bcs I dont feel what id call "bad vibrations" at all with the chiruwa (given its a softer wood)

all i feel are "good vibrations" < those beach boy boy fans will know what i talk about.
 
I think the engineers here would agree that the tapered tang is going to dampen out more vibration than the full tang. How much? You'd have to intstument a couple of models and compare.
 
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