Distal taper at HI

Howard Wallace

Howard Wallace

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Observing one of the early GR khukuris produced by GR himself, or at least under his watchful eye, I notice it has a pronounced distal taper to the tip. This makes it lighter and more maneuverable than a similar GR without the distal taper.

Although this takes more pounding on hot steel, I think producing more knives with such a pronounced taper would bring more sales for HI. Apart from the khuks, I think the JKM1 and the kumar karda would both benefit a lot from such a taper.

Everything would not have to be renamed. A knife with a pronounced distal taper could have the regular designation with -DT apended.

What do you all think?
 
I always thought the kamis faught distal taper to make for more blade heavy choppers.

For a fighter, DT makes a knife lighter and more flexible.

For a chopper, DT removes weight from behind the chopping area.
 
For the general purpose of khukuris as choppers having more weight in the blade helps. However for something like a kobra or a sirupati (which is still a chopper) could be made more "lively" with more distil taper.

Does the manjushree or uddha(sp?) have much tapering? Those could use it more than a khuk.
 
There is no question you guys are correct about the distal taper reducing the forward weight on the blade. I also think you are right about many of the lightweight, thin khuks benefiting from DT. They would become even quicker.

Something like a JKM or a Kumar Karda is not going to see much chopping work and would still be plenty strong with a DT. They would also cut better.

However ...

I have two of the first run of GR blades that were produced when old Ganga Ram visited Birgorkha. The full size GR is a great chopper, equaling or exceeding a similar sized AK in chopping ability. One of those blades has a pronounced DT, the other does not. The one with the DT is the superior blade. It handles much better, is lighter and quicker. It is a devastating chopper.

The DT changes the weight distribution of the blade, as do all of the variations on blade shape and size. We know that each of these unique blades has a personality. In Rusty's unique idiom, blondes are cool, brunettes are great, but HI has been ignoring the redheads (DT) for too long!
 
Don't forget the raven-tressed beauties. Rusty always gives them special consideration. ;)
 
Howard Wallace said:
I have two of the first run of GR blades that were produced when old Ganga Ram visited Birgorkha. The full size GR is a great chopper, equaling or exceeding a similar sized AK in chopping ability. One of those blades has a pronounced DT, the other does not. The one with the DT is the superior blade. It handles much better, is lighter and quicker. It is a devastating chopper.

The DT changes the weight distribution of the blade, as do all of the variations on blade shape and size. We know that each of these unique blades has a personality. In Rusty's unique idiom, blondes are cool, brunettes are great, but HI has been ignoring the redheads (DT) for too long!
Click to expand...
I agree with you Howard and think it would be wonderful to have the distal taper brought back to the khukuri.
I would also like too see the real convexed edge, old style bolster, and no cho creep too return as well.

The speed gained from the weight loss because of a distal taper is equal too or greater than the amount of mass lost and so the knife turns out too be a better chopper as well as an all around better knife, period.

Most things that aren't broke don't gain anything by being fixed. The HI kami's need to take some lessons from the old timers.:rolleyes: :mad:
 
I'm not sure I buy one solution for every blade, just as I don't buy the ganga ram as superior to a like weighted AK.
Perhaps if the models were so standardized as to be like one another, with only small variations. This is not the case. I don't know of any one rule that makes a blade given this wide variation. Other than weight forward makes better chopping.

I question whether 'distal taper' would create a firestorm of sales.


munk
 
Here is a comparison of the JKM-1 and the Kumar Karda:

attachment.php


The JKM-1 has no distal taper whatsoever. The KK has a decent distal taper, but because the blade is so thick at the bolster, the spine remains wide down towards the tip.

This picture shows the same KK (below) alongside a similarly-sized Camillus pilot's survival knife.

attachment.php


The Camillus starts out about one third thinner at the guard. The distal taper is nonexistent until the final two inches of blade. Note that the tip appears more fragile than it really is because the knife has a sharpened swedge. It's fairly stout down the middle.

Now just build a Kumar Karda with the same proportional distal taper, but with the blade steel about a third thinner at the bolster and you will have an unbeatable knife.
 
I never thought I'd live to see another battle cry raised around here besides end the habaki bolster and bring back the full convex edge- but I see distal taper is coming, the Cry of Distal Taper will not be silenced, and is slated to become as well known to HI forum as Remember the Alamo is to Texas.



munk
 
This is just a thinly disguised plot to make me buy 1 more of each kind of khuk, but with distal taper.

Ok, bring them on.
 
I give a vote to distal taper on knives for chopping, although maybe not for splitting. The bowies that I have made that have distal taper do not stick as bad as those without when chopping. 2 cents from the gent with no sense ;)

Stevo
 
I am waiting for someone like Yvsa with vast practical experience to explain the theoretical advantage to distal taper on a chopper.

as we all know- that weight forward causes the prime cutting spot to curl around the cut- the extra forward mass keeps the momentum going. It is the cut- slice motion a khuk can do. Distal taper would change this, I'm thinking, though I will gladly listen to those more knowledgable. I think a lot would depend upon length of blade and what percentage of weight was forward of the curve. I'm betting Kamis know these things.



munk
 
Wellp, munk, kami's do know these things. Some of my old kukris have distal taper :p There is more than one way to increase the mass up front. You can increase the distance from the edge to the spine, since you are a gun nut like me, think of sectional density in a bullet. A 140 grain .265 (6.5mm) will out penetrate a .308 of even 150 grain weight because of this. But you are right about the more forward weight being more effective at chopping. On smaller users like the KK and JKM, though, the distal taper will produce a more neutral balance in the hand. Nice for light work and fighters both.

stevo :)
 
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