Chiruwa vs rat tail tangs

Triquetra

Triquetra

Joined
Mar 7, 2002
Messages
759
I've really been wanting several of the HI models but with a chiruwa handle. I just personally have more confidence in the strengh, but has anyone actually had a handle failure with the rat tail tangs? I read somewhere that the Gorkas prefered a full tang but I think that I've also read somewhere on the forums or FAQ'S that it throws off the balance of the knife and causes more vibration to the hand. What's better or is there really any practical difference?
 
Have both chiruwa and rat tail tang versions. The chiruwa would definitely qualify for the toughest "Tactical Knife/Crowbar" very easily. Much of the general knife community has gone this way with their tactical knives. I haven't been able to destroy a knife by using it as a knife so have no experience as to whether there is really a discernable advantage to the chiruwa. I am sure it is stronger. The guarantee that Uncle Bill offers on the Chiruwa AK is unbeatable ( bend or bread one, get two free!). Practical experience in using both types of tang on general tree felling and wood chopping proves the rat tail to be the most comfortable. I do like the chiruwas though!
 
There have been handle failures, and tang failures due to "hurry up" heat treatment (when trying to build up stock ahead of the Nepali holidays). That said, they are a small part of the total Khuks in use, and fully covered by Uncle's warranty. The chiruwas may have an edge in strength, but to my hand, the rat-tail handles are more comfortable, now that I've learned to use them.
As you go through the Military section of Howard's FAQ, it is obvious that the "issue" blades are chiruwa. This may give the impression that they are preferred by the Gorkhas, but permission to use "Khukuris of their choice" as field knives and the fact that the field knives all come from "home" flies in the face of this. The military blades chiruwa handles are easier to mass-produce (usually by contractors in India and Nepal), and more a product of contract pricing than preference of the troops. If they had not expressed a continuing preference for their own blades over the years (and strongly - this IS the "army", remember :)) the personal choice would not exist. My own, (purely uneducated) guess is that rat-tail handles would be preferred by a huge margin, among the presonal blades.
 
I'd guess the rat tail outsells the chiruwa 100 to 1. In Nepal where they know a little about such things you almost never see a chiruwa handle.
 
Cuch this is a rather long standing argument among knife knuts of any ilk.
I have long been an upholder of the rat tail tang......
There's not much doubt that in the beginning the rat tail tangs were invented(?) to save on the so very precious iron.
I have heard it said that in the very beginning of what we call the
"Iron Age" that in many places iron was a whole bunch more precious than even Gold!!!!
I will concede that the chiruwa or full tang may be a tiny bit a very Tiny Bit stronger, but it really doesn't offset the comfort of a rat tail tang.
Besides the rat tail tang at the intersection of tang and blade is almost a full tang anyway and on a blade the size of a khukuri I can guarantee you it is plenty damned strong enough!!!!
And along with that, when was the last time you done any work on the handle end of a knife?
The full or chiruwa tangs are good if you plan on having a hammering base like the H.I. AK Bowie, but the ha'il of it is it would be easier to hammer with the spine side of the knife.
It actually has more area and you will be able to pound harder with the leverage.

I will stay with the rat tail tang wherever possible with the knives I use. Thank you very much!!!!;)
I think the only full tang using knife I actually use once in a while is my Busse E-BM and most of the time I would rather have one of my khukuri's than to carry the Battle Mistress.
The BM is a little better whittler and is the only reason to carry it, makes a pretty good drawknife too.
My Marble's Woodcraft and Fieldcraft, my 52100 ball bearing steel hunter made by my bud Ray Kirk of Raker knives, my Ronnie Foster hunter, 99% of all my khukuris (30 some odd) All have rat tail tangs!!!!
 
Sounds like the rat tail is the way to go but just to be safe I better get a few more Khukuri's to keep as spares just in case.
 
If you bend or break the tang we'll fix it for you or send you a new knife. Either handle style.
 
Yvsa?

I noted you had 30 khukris. I'm sure that it must create
a storage problem for you. My heart goes out to you. Really,
a tragedy of storage problems for you.

Because I have a generous spirit, I will happily store some of
your khuks for you. Out here in the country, in this old farm
house, they will be safe, and cared for. And I would feel so
much better, knowing that my self-less offer made life a little
easier for you.

Kis
:rolleyes:

(By the way, sometimes the mail coming in here is far more reliable
than the mail going OUT. So, getting them back may take a little bit
longer than one might expect. No worries.)
 
Tsimi done tried that one on Bro many, many moons past....You'll be lucky if you even get a big "HARRUMPH!!" out of him :D
 
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