Double-edged profiling

Daniel Koster

Daniel Koster

www.kosterknives.com
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Oct 18, 2001
Messages
20,978
Has anybody ground the spine back to make a double edge on the tip of your khukuri?

Does it make any sense to do that anyway? Or is it mostly just for show?

The fieldworkers in Guate would never buy machetes with double-edged-tips. They also only sharpened about 1/4 of the blade from the tip back. Too many shin injuries otherwise. I understand practical and safety reasons for not having a double edge.

However, I'm considering putting a double edge on my 13.5" Bulldog villager. My reasoning is that given the size, it could easily double as a fighter. Not that I would ever use it for that purpose, but I would like to have a short blade on the backside of the tip for emergency use - in case I ever dull the front side, and need someting cut in a pinch.

As far as longer khuks are concerned, I would think that a double-edge would allow for more tactical/precision use while keeping a safe distance, or cutting up high overhead.
 
Pen, I think I know where you are coming from, but considering how heavy most khuks are I don't think I would want a double edged khuk. I'm not poking fun either,but a double edged any khuk soulnds more dangerous to the user to me than the enemy.
I am all by myself most of the time when using mine and I still watch that blade very closely so I don't get part of it I don't want.

So, by the time you have ground the other edge on the front of the khuk, how much have you weakened the tip of the blade. Seems like that soft part would be better left a bit thick. Maybe I'm looking at the idea all wrong, but I don't have any plans to do that to one of mine.
 
Pappy = You've given sound advice. I agree that having the soft edge sharpened doesn't really make it a great user edge. Also, it will certainly lighten/weaken the tip. However, considering the thickness of the blade and the sturdiness, will it really have that much of an impact?

It's like when I asked my Dad (a computer nut) about cleaning hard drives. I was cleaning mine at least every week and was worried about wearing it out. He told me "Sure, it will wear it out and it will shorten it's life. But you'll be shortening it's life from 20 yrs. to 18 yrs. and I'm sure you'll have another drive by then.":)

Bill says that even the villager blades will last a long time.

I'm not completely sold on the idea, I was just wondering if anybody out there had done it (it was mentioned in a thread a while ago - can't remember which) and had test results, etc.

I was thinking more along the lines of a 3-4" long grind from the tip back. I certainly wouldn't mess with anything more than that.
 
My concern was that that is the softer part of the blade in that direction like back toward the handle get softer too. I'm not sure that you would have to worry some much about breaks as bends. After even soft metal has been bent so many times they get brittle and will pop. Like your brass cartridges after a few reloadings have to be annealed so they don't crack at the edges of the case:)
 
With the blade angle and the weight of the khuk, I don't think it would work very well. A reverse cut along with the angle that the back edge would impact doesn't seem like it would cut very well. Plus the stuff that Pappy said. Unless you retemper the blade. I dunno. you could try it and let us all know.

Maybe if you glued two khuks back to back. :)
 
Now there is an idea that could keep you busy for a while Pen. Sure would make a hell of a weapon though wouldn't it?

Kind of like the leatherman super tool opened like a pair of pliers and both knife blades open and locked. Cuts going and coming, just be careful putting it away.:D
 
Well, if we're taking that angle...

Anybody in the mood for a bali-khuk?
 
Wouldn't do it, for a few reasons:
1. Compromise point strength, 1/4" of the tip.
2. Machine grinding generates some heat, and you may change certain properties of the steel, like the temper.
3. Removal on 1 ounce of material on a knife that size could move the balance point coiser to the hand, 1 or 2 inches, giving the knife a more neutral or sluggish feel, compromizing the chopping a bit.
4. Might void the warranty, check with Uncle Bill.

Now, I'm not holding the knife, but I bet you can decide if you think these factors will come into play.

You Might consider filing the profile of the false edge by hand, just to get the grine right. Unless you're removing a lot of material, then see #3 above.

All told, it is a villager model, and therefore a better test subject for the experiment than a production HI piece. Please publish your findings if you do make this change to tht kkhuk.

Keith
 
Guys,

Your advice is all excellent.

Surely someone has tried this before...

Anybody...?
 
The only knife fight I was involved in involved plastic eating utensils. Then there was the incident at work where I went around and cut people with a khukuri shaped piece of cardboard. Maybe I'll try the sharpened back edge on the cardboard model. If it causes more annoyance than the main edge I'll let ya know. :D
 
Yeah, whenever I feel a knife fight a-brewin, I always reach for a few hefty rocks. The oldest of missile weapons my have an edge on most hand held weapons, except for close quarters. Then, with a rock in each hand, you have two clubs!

Realistically, If i did feel a knife fight was "a-brewin," avoidance is the best way to avoid getting cut. Discretion is the better part of valor, saves on the hospital bills, saves on the assault charges and lawsuits, etc.

Keith
 
A knife fight is where one guy ends up and intensive care and the other in the morgue. Leave the knife fighting to the mall nijas.

A sharpened real edge can be tough on the sheaths.

n2s
 
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