Damascus Khukuri

[Skyler R.]

"It is said that when Damascus-made swords were first encountered by Europeans during the Crusades, it garnered an almost mythical reputation—a Damascus steel blade was said to be able to cut a piece of silk in half as it fell to the ground, as well as being able to chop through normal blades, or even rock, without losing its sharp edge." -Wikipedia

Personally I'd like to see this stuff in action!

That Wikipedia article is a little inaccurate...

 

[nagod]

the only problem i see with a good quality damascus khukuri being made is i cant afford it.probably..

 

[Nasty]

This is an example of how *you* move threads as users. Clearly...out of the HI forum and into chitchat with other makers involved.

Things like this happen all the time...just thought I would point it out.

 

[ferguson]

Since the thread has been moved into the cantina, here are pics of an older khukuri that looks to have more than one type of steel forged together. Almost a "hairpin" lamination. Almost.
Steve

 

[H2OCutter]

My apologies for the posting faux pas.
I like that one ferguson, nice handle as well.

 

[Phil Brown]

"It is said that when Damascus-made swords were first encountered by Europeans during the Crusades, it garnered an almost mythical reputation—a Damascus steel blade was said to be able to cut a piece of silk in half as it fell to the ground, as well as being able to chop through normal blades, or even rock, without losing its sharp edge." -Wikipedia

There are too many myths about khukuris (and Gurkhas) to count. Put the two together, and there will be stories floating around about them being used in Nepal as surface-to-air missiles.

 

[C.S. Graves]

That Wikipedia article is a little inaccurate...

I believe the story concerned a little contest between Richard the Lion-hearted and Saladin if I'm not mistaken. To see whose blade was sharper, Richard cleft a heavy iron chain with his sword, and Saladin tossed a bolt of silk in the air and sliced it cleanly in two. I think the report of the legend may be accurate, but the veracity of the legend itself... well, it's scary to think of anything being that sharp! A macuahuitl might do it though... the silk, not the chain anyway.

 

[kronckew]

let us not forget that the word 'damascus' is really referring to just a city where fine swords used to be made, the metal involved varied considerably. what they referred to as 'watered' steel in the past was likely imported indian crucible steel, or 'wootz' that produced the fine watered steel blades of legend. what we call 'damascus' now is pattern welded steel where a series of different steels are forge welded , twisted and reforged to combine them. persians also made wootz, but that was considered inferior to indian. russians also made (and still make) wootz (called bulat). both forms were better than any other steel in their day, modern metalurgy has to some extent eclipsed them tho not as decoratively and as yet not imbued with the same feeling of
legendary performance that pattern welded and wootz engender.

wootz:

pattern welding:

 

[Svashtar]

T. Kardin also has a damascus Khukuri.

Gorgeous. Looks like a stag handle to go with it. Wonder how it would hold up to heavy use?

Norm

 

[mohd]

Gorgeous. Looks like a stag handle to go with it. Wonder how it would hold up to heavy use?

Norm

These are the details:

Blade Material : Damascus
Blade : 10.25 inches
Handle : 4.5 inches
Thickness : 5 mm
Weight : 650 gr
Handle Material : Stag
Carve : Jawa
Price : US$ 255

My guess is that item was not made for heavy use! It looks sort of SEA (South East Asia) version of presentation knife which is more intended as a wall hanger!

The general view in SEA is that nobody going to limb branches and fell trees with USD $255 (i.e. MYR 867 in Malaysia or IDR 2,263,857 in Indonesia) piece of blade Actually USD $255 is a lot of money down here in Malaysia and futhermore in Indonesia!

The last time I brought along to my village my 25" lightweight Sirupati special made by Bura to clear some thick bushes and when I told some of my fellow villagers that it cost me about USD $125 (i.e. MYR 425) then they just stared at my face with a blank look as if asking me a sort of questions that sound like: "Are you mad? Why don't you just buy a local golok priced USD $10 (i.e. MYR 34) for this type of work? Why don't you just keep that USD $125 item at home as a wall hanger?"

 

[xinel]

I believe the story concerned a little contest between Richard the Lion-hearted and Saladin if I'm not mistaken. To see whose blade was sharper, Richard cleft a heavy iron chain with his sword, and Saladin tossed a bolt of silk in the air and sliced it cleanly in two. I think the report of the legend may be accurate, but the veracity of the legend itself... well, it's scary to think of anything being that sharp! A macuahuitl might do it though... the silk, not the chain anyway.

From what I've read that is just a story, the only time Richard and Saladin would have met is when they formed the treaty of Jerusalem. I doubt they would have played games then.

 

[Dave Rishar]

While it's not technically a khukuri, Kanetsune makes a [Active link deleted]KLO featuring a damascened blade with an Aogami core. I'm very curious (but not quite $250 curious) about how such a thing would perform.