Condor Khukuri failure

M

moogoogaidan

Joined
Feb 21, 2009
Messages
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I understand that machetes aren't made for batoning, but after reading so much about how many on this forum would choose a machete as a survival tool rather than a large knife, small knife for axe, I wanted to put my Condor Khukuri through its paces. In fact I also heard that several people HAVE successfully used their machetes to baton. I guess I just wasn't so lucky on this not particularly knotty piece of pine.

I hear so much about Condor quality, and I don't doubt it, but I for one will not choose a machete over a stout, large knife for survival. Your mileage may vary, of course. Cheers!

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As expected, right at the weakest point. With that much leverage on that narrow piece of metal, something had to give. Such is one of the reasons that Khukuris have never impressed me. That big imposing blade is only as good as the point that it narrows down to.
 
Maybe you got a bad one. But I have to ask, how were you batoning? Some catastrophic failures during batoning result for the misapplication of force on the handle while trying to stabilize the knife. It's the most common mistake while batoning. The larger the knife, the easiest to make the mistake. From the photos it looks like the machete broke from the cho up, which would fit. Could this be the case?
 
Using a Khuk Machete for batoning is ridiculous, of course it broke. That blade design is superior for what it's made for chopping into vegatation, softer materials, etc. Using a Khuk Machete design to baton with is like taking a Ferrari to a Rally Race then complaining about it's lack of traction.
 
A real khuk is quite thick at the ricasso, cho area. A khuk shaped khuk is thin all the way through and the cho area will be a potential weak point. A khuk shaped machete should have no cho.

Andy
 
Preacher Man said:
Maybe you got a bad one. But I have to ask, how were you batoning? Some catastrophic failures during batoning result for the misapplication of force on the handle while trying to stabilize the knife. It's the most common mistake while batoning. The larger the knife, the easiest to make the mistake. From the photos it looks like the machete broke from the cho up, which would fit. Could this be the case?
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I agree.
 
Buy another one for proper machete use and chalk it up to learning experience. You could have chopped small dead limbs for a fire but if you need a chopper get an ESEE Junglas or one of the many others like Fehrman, Busse, Scrapyard etc...:)
 
I was using my Condor Inca stainless short machete this weekend for only the second time. A few hits removing small branches from a fallen limb. I look at the edge and see a big fold. That wasn't my first disappointment with Condor.
 
I baton my Condors frequently and have never had a problem. That being said, I know the first few batches of the kukris had a bit of a heat treatment problem, and regardless are of a design that is a poor choice for batoning. First things first, though--contact Rick Jones at Condor. He'll get a new one shipped out to you pronto. If you want a machete to baton, go with one that's a little bit on the broader side, and without any stress-inducing zigzags like on the kukri model.

I do agree that including the cho on a kukri machete is a bit of a flaw in the design, though. If it's not going to be a traditional thickness, it doesn't need the traditional cho either. :o
 
Sad. They'll replace it no questions asked. I can't believe how much stress I've put on that inch and a half piece of steel without any trouble. I don't typically baton my khukri, just chop like a madman, but as often as I baton machetes in general I have yet to break one.
 
Thanks all for your interest and replies! No, I totally understand that machetes aren't made for batoning -- really, I would feel like a villain if I tried to get a replacement for my abuse. Like I said, I've just heard that some people do, in fact, baton with their machetes, but maybe the shape and design of this particular KLO makes it a particularly poor choice.

I don't think it was my batoning technique, as I tried to keep the machete as perpendicular to the wood as possible (albeit trying to orient it perfectly perpendicular to the wood is tricky since it's curved). The cho, in this instant, is a liability, but for those who took the wrong message out of my experience, let me interject: PLEASE do not expect a real khukuri to fail like this because of the cho. Khuks are great designs and can take an insane amount of abuse (not that I make knife decisions based on his findings, but not even Noss from knife tests wasn't able to break the blade of an H.I. khuk).
 
moogoogaidan said:
Khuks are great designs and can take an insane amount of abuse (not that I make knife decisions based on his findings, but not even Noss from knife tests wasn't able to break the blade of an H.I. khuk).
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Knife Tests rates the HI Kukri 4.5 blades and there wasn't much left after test 5 actually - but the blade DID NOT break! The Cold Steel Kukri Machete $18, got 6 blades. I hope to never use a fixed blade like Noss demonstrates but it does let you know what you're getting. ;)

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I never did care much for Khuks, but some people swear by them. They look like they might be good for cutting brush, but they don't look like they are the best choppers out there.
 
I best if shiva's trident wasnt there it wouldnt have broke
 
Shiva IS the god of destruction, after all. :D

Seriously, though, moogoogaidan--don't feel bad about contacting Rick at Condor. They'll want to take a peek at it for quality control purposes, and the information they get out of it will certainly be worth more than the cost of a replacement machete.
 
Khuks are excellent choppers, i just question their functionality at machete thickness.

cziv: Don't get too distracted by that rating system. That site assigns equal ratings to the BK9 and Mora Clipper. Without even mentioning common sense, I can personally tell you that obviously the BK9 stands up to tougher tasks than a Mora Clipper. That rating system seems to be just based off how he's feeling that day or how shocking he thinks his ratings will be.

EDIT: I also just remembered reading one of my highly esteemed colleagues from the H.I. forum heaping high praise on his Condor Khukuri as a chopper. Then I guess i should rephrase that I question its functionality at batoning -- but not completely yet because it was indeed an early run and as resident machete expert FortyTwoBlades mentioned, there were batches of bad heat treats when first released.
 
A 1/8" thick piece of steel properly hardened shouldn't have any trouble like that batoning. There was something amiss. Either technique or a bad blade.
 
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