can you chop real heavy with non-chiruwas?

[cognitivefun]

The chiruwa has the pins to the tang...can you chop real heavy with non-chiruwa khuks? I'm sure you can, just wanted some reassurance...

 

[Josh Feltman]

Yes, you can.

 

[wildmanh]

I have chopped 3 days worth of wood with a standard tang Khukuri. That was in the spring of 2002. The khukuri is still going strong at a friends house. Here is the review if you like: Godzilla - 25" AK review.

My 15" AK has been used to limb Cotton wood, Oak, Pine and Quakys on campouts. The horn handle has always held up great. Used my 20" Wood handled Sirupati to cut a trail threw 30 feet of Scrub oak, maple and the like. Never once had a problem with them. Standard handles are great!

Heber

 

[yiterp]

sure you can with no worrys at all--i have tryed out all my HI's on different jobs and as always they are excellent--have no worry and chop away

 

[ferguson]

Yes.

That's the short answer.


The long answer is, whenever you get a new khuk (or any other knife that you are going to use) go out and chop with it. I don't mean mistreat it, but use it hard. Then take it back in and pretty if up if you need to. But use it first. You'll be sure that you can depend on it.

Steve

Oh, one caveat. On the partial tang khuks like the Berk special (dui chirra) and others with no buttcap, Yvsa recommends drilling the tang behind the bolster and epoxy a 1/8" brass pin, just to be certain. The Nepalis have used partial tangs for hundreds of years, so they should still be ok.

Edited. 3 perfectly correct replies while I was typing. Don't know if I type too slow, or think to slowly. :footinmou

 

[cognitivefun]

Yes.

Oh, one caveat. On the partial tang khuks like the Berk special (dui chirra) and others with no buttcap, Yvsa recommends drilling the tang behind the bolster and epoxy a 1/8" brass pin, just to be certain. The Nepalis have used partial tangs for hundreds of years, so they should still be ok.

Thanks. In fact, today I just received my oh-so-lovely Dui Chirra and I am in awe (yet again). I read some old threads and one mentioned being careful with this one because of the partial tang so that got me to thinking and posting...(well, truthfully, mostly posting as I don't think very much as I am not capable of it )

 

[munk]

I just went out and cut some small logs with my Malla. More than handle, if the cho is deep, or if the blade is very light, as a Kobra, that is a restriction.


munk

 

[Yvsa]

Yes. That's the short answer.

The long answer is, whenever you get a new khuk (or any other knife that you are going to use) go out and chop with it.Steve

On the partial tang khuks like the Berk special (dui chirra) and others with no buttcap, Yvsa recommends drilling the tang behind the bolster and epoxy a 1/8" brass pin, just to be certain. The Nepalis have used partial tangs for hundreds of years, so they should still be ok.

Steve has it right. The reason you try out a new khukuri no matter where you purchased it from is to insure that it is sound and will not break under safe and secure conditions.
And this applies to the chiruwa as well as the stick tanged khuks.
IMO, In My Opinion, one is as strong as the other, I prefer the stick tangs for several reasons.
The reason is that every once in a great while, usually around Dasien, the kami will get in a hurry or sloppy and splash water on the tang instantly hardening it.
Hardened tang = Breakage! It's not a matter of "IF" it will break but a matter of "When" it will break and break it will!

When testing a new khukuri bang it and bang it hard from every direction!!!!
This is of Great Importance!
Hit it from both sides and with the spine. Hit the good extremely solid test object as hard as you can and hit it several times!
Another good idea is to anchor the blade and do a stress test by trying to bend the khuk.
Use common sense in that the lighter the khukuri the easier you need to go on these tests. Any knife will fail if you over stress it.
Be aware while you are testing that at anytime during the test that the khukuri may break!
That's why you are testing it.
A severe testing will insure that the khukuri is sound and that you can trust it too never fail you in an emergency.

The two antique khuks I got from Atlanta Cutlery seem as sound as the day they were made but if I were going to test or put them to any severe use I would pin them first to insure the partial tanged handle wouldn't fail.
I'm sure the khuk itself wouldn't since they have seen action and have already been well tested in that capacity.

I think it was Lion's Roar that used the partial tanged Hanuman for a good many years unpinned without failure in spite of Uncle Bill advising him not too.
Partial tangs have been used for hundreds of years, as UB says, "Blades are forever. Handles are replaceable."
But if you pin them then you don't have to worry.

 

[Dave Rishar]

Not only do I chop with non-chiruwa khuks, I went and took on some dead standing wood and misplaced pines with the Tulwar today. Full tang, but hidden.

It was not designed to do this - it's a sword. You're not supposed to take on trees with swords. (Not that that stops anyone...) Some people will probably get on me for doing this. However, its eventual task will be as an extra-heavy duty machete and it needed to be tested. I can't trust something until I've thrashed it.

Result? It's basically fine. The edge got a little misaligned on an extremely bad hit. (Not mine, I'll have you know.) I took a hammer to it and pounded it pretty much back into place. It still shaved afterwards but I gave it a stropping for my own peace of mind. The misalignment concerns me but does not worry me, as it will be pushed to the limit several more times before it takes its place with the others. I'm not expecting any problems...I haven't had any yet, chiruwa or no chiruwa.

 

[munk]

Satori, the way you use Khuks you're in the same company as Hollow, myself, Yvsa, Heber, Raghorn and others.



munk

 

[hollowdweller]

Here's a link to some pics of some chopping I did with a Ganga Ram Villager that has a stick tang. It was a pretty good size tree and the khuk took it apart without problems:

http://ramanon.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28575

 

[arty]

It looks like the villager Ganga Ram is about the same length as the regular model, but with a shorter handle and longer blade.
Is the picture an accurate reflection of this?
Are the other villagers likely to come with shorter handles?
I like the proportions, and that is why I ask.

 

[Dave Rishar]

Satori, the way you use Khuks you're in the same company as Hollow, myself, Yvsa, Heber, Raghorn and others.

Hey, they're made to be used. If you consider how many "good" production knives I've trashed over the years finding my way here, HI has actually been a money-saver for me. Or at least, that's how I'm rationalizing it this week.

 

[hollowdweller]

It looks like the villager Ganga Ram is about the same length as the regular model, but with a shorter handle and longer blade.
Is the picture an accurate reflection of this?
Are the other villagers likely to come with shorter handles?
I like the proportions, and that is why I ask.

Somewhat. The standard has a very long handle. I'd rank the Village at about normal. Also notice the Villager has more of a point. I like the blunter tip better actually. I like the shorter handle, but not it's thickness. This one was a blem and I plan on replacing the handle cause there's a chip in it anyway. This villager is a little heavy. Almost 2 lbs and 18". The standard is 17 and 23. I like the standard better although this Villager was probably better for chopping the trunk of the tree cause of the weight. I'd like to cut the cho creep out of it, de habaki the bolster, and put on a new handle and it would be about right

Re doing it is still on my list but I got another villager Ganga a while back that is the lighter model and I have been using it so much that I haven't felt the drive to work on the other one.

It's the best all around of the 3 I have. Here's a link to the review of it.

http://ramanon.com/forum/showthread.php?t=32470

 

[Rusty]

Fom where i stand, the hidden tangs are called elsewhere " rat tail " tangs. Here on HI they should be referred to as " kangaroo tail "!

To me the chiruwa's limit the degree they can be used because of handle shock transmitted. In other words ths standard tang can be used harder without the shock being transfered to the hand.