Cho theory

[GoodStuff]

I have heard all the reasons for the Cho. most of which i don't believe are true. Blood stop, and blade catcher come to mind....

But i was thinking about a actual practical need for a Cho on a hand forged blade...

When you hammer an edge, at some place, that has to stop and then switch over to a thick edge for a tang.
At that spot, you will have a misshapen place, and likely cracks from the hammer making the last strike to thin edge from thick edge.

At this point, the kami just cuts out the problem with a notch. Notice the Cho is always located at the spot where the blade edge ends and the handle tang begins. As most of you know, any crack in steel is like cancer. It will spread and must be cut or filed out. Hence the need for the notch.

The cow hoof style "Cho" just grew out of that need, because it looks nicer than plain old notch.

Interested to hear what and experienced forgers and kuk experts think of my theory. I have not heard this explanation before, but to me it answers the practical reason for "why" that no other reason i have yet heard does. Think of where modern ground knives always seem to break. Right at the spot where the cho would be...
A coincidence?

 

[Gorog]

Unfortunately, I am not very gifted in bladespeak and blacksmith work, forging, and so on. I have not had the misfortune to have a knife break off right at the handle, nowadays, I only dabble in craft knives and wood carving implements...they break primarily at the tip, seeing as that...is where the stress is focused on the blade? I'm theorizing, much like you. However, your theory makes some good points...I cannot validate them, or begin to assert their likelihood of truth or falsity...but I can say that, while you make good sense, beware of generalizing and clumping facts into fictitious groupings (not to say you are certainly wrong in any respect, but a few questionable points hint towards an unintuitive leap of thought.) if I am right and you are mistaken in some points, or vice versa, know I mean no harm. After all, friendly discussion is friendly above all else. Peace.
David

 

[JayGoliath]

It's been analyzed via a simulation software as a measure of shock reliever.
Also not just khukuri itself but many knives out there has a cho- it makes your sharpening life easier.

Blade catcher? hm...it must be Matrix in the making..

 

[GoodStuff]

Interesting about the vibration dampener..Makes me wonder if wrapping the cho in rubberbands would dampen it further.
They use that technique on tennis racquets actually.

David, here are a couple of photos of knives with broken blades and handles, from a very quick google search.
http://www.knifetest.com/forum/showpost.php?p=13754&postcount=163
http://www.quartertothree.com/game-talk/showthread.php?t=29127
Blade and handle failure is something I have experienced too.

Pocket knives, carving knives and daggers break at the tip because that is where they are thinnest.
It is also the point-of-impact where they are designed to be used.

That is not the case for a kukri.

So, beware of generalizing and clumping facts into fictitious groupings...like knife designs that aren't the subject of this thread or theory.
And some questionable points...like the thin tips of carving knives that *do* break off...hint towards an "intuitive" leap of thought into...psychology and spelling mistakes.

I too hope you receive my friendly discussion points in the friendly, and helpful way I intend them.

Do you have anything to proffer regarding the subject under discussion?

 

[Gorog]

Well, very informative, I retract my former claims. Interesting though, I could be wildly speculative, but it seems as if I offended you.... Before we delve any further into aggression, know that I have many skills, but conflict resolution is exceptionally poor for me, as is socializing in general. If you wish to know more of me, I can tell you more than this, but let leave it that I have mild autism, seeing as this is your thread, not mine.
I cannot discern subtleties in conversation, particularly my own, so, if there is a problem, do not adopt a debating tone, tell me straight up what I did wrong, and I will do my best to mend the situation. However, if I did little more than tread upon the tail of a sleeping dragon, know I refuse to rise to faceless, nameless foes.
Help me understand if I wronged you, help me fix what I have broken without breaking things yourself, or know I will not rise to anyone's trickery. Good day, sir.
David