Fooling around with Nepalese axes from Gurkha Knives (GK)

JayGoliath

JayGoliath

Joined
Mar 27, 2010
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First i have got to thank (and blame) Hollowdweller, Bladite and Fiddleback for the chronic infection.:D
My first sight of the Bonecutter Khukuri was that it was unconventional, ugly piece of curved blade from Nepal.
Looks indeed can be deceiving.
Sometimes ago i managed to scored 3 BCs made by Sgt.Khadka and let one 16.5" off to secondary market and since then i have been on a hiatus.
These Khadkas are well-guarded but i am always looking out for the original specimen of the famed Bonecutter.
Few years ago i saw a sales thread on BF again and this picture stuck on my mind for the longest time:
20110525100_4219-vi.jpg

(picture from Fiddleback)

So when GK popped out of nowhere i finally broke out of my cocoon and managed to contact Prajwal, the man behind GK and we had never-ending communication about the elusive "Nepalese axes" which i yearned it to be made accordingly to Nepalese sizes.
I guess Praj was patient enough to deal with my madness and we finally settled with 3 different sizes with 3 different looks:

1.Overall length 14 inch
Blade length 9.4 inch.
Overall weight is 24.3 oz (with the fancy sheath)
Blade weight 16.3 oz.
The belly width is 2 inch.
Spine thickness at max is a hair less than 0.4".
Bevel height is 0.55" (14mm)

2.Overall length is 16 inch
Blade length is 11 inch
Overall weight 26.7 oz (with pine wood sheath)
Blade weight 21.7 oz
No karda and chakmak on this one.
Spine thickness at max is 0.43 ".
Bevel height is 0.67" (17mm)

3.Overall length is 17.5 inch
Blade length is 13.5 inch
Overall weight 38.3 oz (with wooden sheath, covered with buffalo hide)
Blade weight is 30.7 oz
Spine thickness is 0.41"
Bevel height at max is 0.83" or 21mm (similar to that of HI Khadka 18")




Here are the teasers:





The blades:

 
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On the right side of the blade, near to the non-habaki bolster, a signature of G.K itself with which the G looks like 5.

On the left side there are engravings that read " Bone Cutting Eastern Khukuri " with the perpendicular "Nepal", all in Devanagari.


If you noticed,the 16" version is the one without the brass bolster as well as the engraving. A true Villager of its kind. i'm already in love.:thumbup:

Anyway what's the point of Khuk porn and not testing out the babies?
Last weekend i finally found time to try these out at my usual spot of testing; i picked the 16" because i really think it's the right balance of everything (though i might still fancy the 16.5", full tang piece i sold off but then again after these tests, i changed my mind)
Found a live tree (Pardon me, tree huggers but you really don't belong here) with the khuk on hand for scale:

A flick of wrist sank the bevel waist deep into the tree.
http://s873.photobucket.com/user/Ja...ick of wrist_zpstzcrzok3.jpg.html?sort=3&o=18

It was really surprising to know that after a few flicks on the right @ ~ 45 deg and then 30 deg on the other side, i heard the EKKKKKK noise and boom:



So what do we do now? blocking up the trail is up to no good!
 
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So i summoned the help of the 3 Musketeers of Nepal for these tedious jobs:


(If you have been observing, the other two on the right have been patina'ed. The 17.5" has a superb reflection of the hollow forged surface)

The $$$ shot:


Time to work!

 
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The 16" GKBC fits nicely into the Kami Medical Emergency Fund sheath from HI (Camillus stocks via Steve Tall) thought the 16.5-17" will fit snugly.


[video=youtube;raTCYmccUbU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raTCYmccUbU&feature=youtu.be[/video]
(Pardon the violent shakings again as i was chopping with my right hand holding the khuk and the left holding the cell phone:p)

After sending chips flying, the edge stability is awesome and still shaves paper:

 
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I figured if i can try the 14" version on lighter stuffs and slowly working toward pruning, the big boys should be fine!

[video=youtube;BZH1uWKAYAI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=BZH1uWKAYAI[/video]
 
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Chopping video for 17.5"
[video=youtube;-Kf97Xhx9ck]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=-Kf97Xhx9ck[/video]


After the green wood, i tested the seasoned hardwood that was left for sometimes (check out the texture and the color of the core) with the 17.5" and it was quick work of it:


Still retain the sharpness after the hardwood:


Ap Khabar Nep!
Glad you enjoyed it !
 
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One immediate wonder of these lot is that despite the thick spine, the balance and weight are amazing.
It could be the hollow forged construction as the blade has multiple surface changes throughout the width (thick spine -> hollowed->high bevel)
Take note that i have not sharpened the blades prior to testing to preserve the authenticity of these tests.

If i must pick a size, i'm biased towards 16". It just feel like magic on hand and i'm pretty confident i will carry this into the woods as i have sworn i will not carry a khuk for trail blazing. In fact i would carry 14 " as well. The 17.5" might just be too heavy to be strapped on me belt but when comes to hard labor, he is off the sheath!
If the handle can be made slightly longer to 5-5.5", that would be spiffy but Nepalese usually have smaller palm size.

There's nothing like a clear trail, isn't it?;)
 
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Hi Jay,
Thanks for the review man. I really appreciate your time. After seeing your review, I am wondering myself that do I make this good khuks??. These are all villagers models I make for my rich clients here. They come here at my shop with a very unusual and next to impossible demand. Some of them want khuks that can cut thru stones without any damage to an edge. After making khuks for all these years I still can't do the perfect tempering. I some times wonder if it's gotta do with something that cow urine tempering that Thulba does. Thilba does the perfect tempering, but now a days He is getting very grumpy, I guess cause of his age. Still he is the best. I would love to have him do the tempering on the blades I make. But it's not possible every time. He's been cutting back on the work. I will try my best to produce the best quality traditional khuks.
Ok out of the topic now..
Any sheath makers that want to partner with me, please let me know.
Especially kydex .
Thanks guys.
Pradip.
 
GurkhaKnives said:
fter making khuks for all these years I still can't do the perfect tempering. I some times wonder if it's gotta do with something that cow urine tempering that Thulba does-Pradip.
Click to expand...

Namaste Bhai,

I cannot be sure if cow urine passed as brine, a quenchant that quickens the formation of martensites.
One sure thing to find out is the hardness reading of the chakmak (which should be HT'ed) and how it will slide or stick onto the edge (since chakmak is practically used to sharpen the khuk)
Check out the edge of the 16" after i dropped it into the sands. I doubt there were sands on the greenwood but then again these nicks can be taken care off easily.

What truly amazes me is the edge retention and you do keep the edge thin enough yet tough.
I have to try the hardness tester on these khuks and come back to you.

Thulba sounds like the HI's version of Bura.
 
Stone splitter? haha. Ok. Maybe he needs the Excalibur.

Honestly why even ask to chop through a stone?
 
Very Nice! Great review Jay:thumbup: #2 has really nice specs. It's great to see these available.
 
JayGoliath said:
Namaste Bhai,

I cannot be sure if cow urine passed as brine, a quenchant that quickens the formation of martensites.
One sure thing to find out is the hardness reading of the chakmak (which should be HT'ed) and how it will slide or stick onto the edge (since chakmak is practically used to sharpen the khuk)
Check out the edge of the 16" after i dropped it into the sands. I doubt there were sands on the greenwood but then again these nicks can be taken care off easily.

What truly amazes me is the edge retention and you do keep the edge thin enough yet tough.
I have to try the hardness tester on these khuks and come back to you.

Thulba sounds like the HI's version of Bura.
Click to expand...
I know, but people want impossible. Heck, I made a stone chopper. Take a look. 3 stone chopping cleavers.

image.jpg
 
JayGoliath said:
First i have got to thank (and blame) Hollowdweller, Bladite and Fiddleback for the chronic infection.:D
My first sight of the Bonecutter Khukuri was that it was unconventional, ugly piece of curved blade from Nepal.
Click to expand...


moo hah hah!

nice review!

i should search on bonecutter and/or my name more often...

glad to have scored some of these and will definitely be trying them out shortly now that the weather is good...
 
Nice work Jay! I've been on a kukri hiatus for a while too... mainly due to lack of trees in Singapore to chop lol
 
GurkhaKnives said:
Hi Jay,
Thanks for the review man. I really appreciate your time. After seeing your review, I am wondering myself that do I make this good khuks??. These are all villagers models I make for my rich clients here. They come here at my shop with a very unusual and next to impossible demand. Some of them want khuks that can cut thru stones without any damage to an edge. After making khuks for all these years I still can't do the perfect tempering. I some times wonder if it's gotta do with something that cow urine tempering that Thulba does. Thilba does the perfect tempering, but now a days He is getting very grumpy, I guess cause of his age. Still he is the best. I would love to have him do the tempering on the blades I make. But it's not possible every time. He's been cutting back on the work. I will try my best to produce the best quality traditional khuks.
Ok out of the topic now..
Any sheath makers that want to partner with me, please let me know.
Especially kydex .
Thanks guys.
Pradip.
Click to expand...

Praj/Pradip,

Are your homies in Nepal involved in the quake area?
 
Nice review Jay. My HI Bonecutter is still one of my favorites and I intend to get a GK Bonecutter as well.

I hope Praj/Pradip is ok and prayers go out to all in the region.
 
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