Forward Angled vs Forward Curved

W

Will Kwan

Joined
Nov 23, 1998
Messages
1,594
All my H.I. khukuri's are foward angled and only my CS Gurkha is forward curved. Due to different grind I can not really compare the two designs.

So what are the real advantages of angled vs curved in terms of cutting, stabbing, and chopping?

The forward angled khukuri seems to be an evolution step from the forward curved khukuri. Bill has said that most khukuri's made in Nepal are angled rather than curved. It has been eluded to that the curved khukuri are better weapons and the angled better tools. Perhaps with firearms becoming more prevailent, the curved khukuri has become somewhat extint.


Will
 
:
Will,I have wondered sometime about this myself.
I would really like to see a curved Khukuri in the 18" range like those old ones pictured in the thread below.(if I did it right.)

It would almost be worthwhile in having one commisioned from a sketch and letting you or Cliff test it.
After I get caught up on the ones I have ordered currently I would like to have one even if it was just to say I have one.
smile.gif


There is just something about the flow they have.It would be fascinating to compare too similiar blades.Maybe the 18" WW II would be a good style to make a curved one too.What do you think?
http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum26/HTML/000213.html

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>>>>---¥vsa---->®
Cornbread ain't s'possed ta be sweet!....Dagnabit gurl,whut did they teach you way up north in ....;) hehehe.


 
Just got Sanu's forward curved, 18" khukuri with the hatchmarks. Beautiful blade as well as matching hatchmarked, slightly forward curved chakma and a 5" OAL karda that is highly polished and sharp.

As beautiful as it is, I don't know what to make of this khukuri as a chopper. The weight is there but very much further up than a the usual khukuri. The greater curve makes me think that when chopping down below the waist, the blade is going to connect behind rather than on the top of the object. But chopping at something waist high or above, the blade will connect comfortably on top of the target. At least this is what I think.

I just loaned the khukuri to my brother in law to test out on a stump in his backyard. Be interested to hear what he thinks after using it.

sing

AKTI #A000356
 
I have about a dozen chops worth of experience with the forward curving khukuri. Because of its size and weight it performed pretty well.

I think a comprehensive comparison by Cliff or Will or both might be in order. Anyone else agree?

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Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html


[This message has been edited by Bill Martino (edited 25 September 1999).]
 
I second that motion.

All in favor say "aye."

-Dave

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"I'm not a complete idiot; some parts are missing."

 
:
Yup!


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>>>>---¥vsa---->®
Cornbread ain't s'possed ta be sweet!....Dagnabit gurl,whut did they teach you way up north in ....;) hehehe.


 
Well, let's see what the work schedule for Cliff and Will looks like and maybe we can get something going. If you can work this test in, guys, let me know.

Both Will and Cliff know I will not give knives to testers for obvious reasons -- unless the knife happens to be a reject or so ugly I won't sell it. Will has a reject I sent him free maybe 6 months back and it is doing just fine. Cliff has a villager that I sent him free because it was too ugly to sell and it beat all the competition including an HI 18 inch Ang Khola. I will loan them both a forward curving khukuri for test purposes. If, at the end of the testing, they decide to buy the knife I'll discount it some in consideration of the time and effort they spent in testing.

Both Will and Cliff are above reproach so there is no need to ask them to be totally honest. That's how they play the game although Cliff is more diplomatic in his write ups than Will and a lot more than I would be.

Here's Cliff: Yes, the knife was beautfully finished and arrived razor sharp. I loved the way it felt in the hand. It cut paper to shreds easily and did most tasks quite well. It performed excellently until I broke the blade into two pieces.

Here's me: The damned thing broke so I threw it into the reject pile.

And that's how I won friends and influenced people when I was in the airplane testing business.

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Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html
 
Here's me (from my "stun gun" review): This model comes with a belt clip. If you wear it prominently displayed on your belt, an attacker might grab it and use it against you and you can take him apart while he's wasting his time.

Cliff does show an amazing degree of objectivity -- a lesson to us all. Just because the blade broke in half when he tried to use it for the purpose it's advertised for is no reason not to mention the handle was practically indestructible....

-Cougar Allen :{)
 
Bill :

Cliff has a villager that I sent him free because it was too ugly to sell
Click to expand...

Had, I gave it to a friend, Casey Butt now owns the villager. I don't keep knives I get for reviews. If they fail I return them so they can be examined and hopefully the design/materials altered. If they work well I give them to a friend unless the maker/dealer wants them back to use as showcase pieces and such.

If you can work this test in, guys, let me know.
Click to expand...

Sure. I really only have one rule about this kind of thing and it is that I don't do biased testing. You can get exceptional performance in specific areas if you are willing to accept significant performance losses in other areas. I will not overlook this kind of thing. In this specific case this is not an issue and it never has been with HI.

-Cliff
 
I am not going to bother with the quote thing but here is something that made me laugh out loud:

Cliff: "I don't do biased testing."

Yeah, all you have to do is ask the makers of all the knives Cliff broke to verify this!

I'll send you and Will a forward curving model for test in the next couple of days, Cliff.

I hear that ugly duckling villager is still holding up. Good news. What has Casey done with it so far?

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Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html
 
He is still hesistant to really lean on it. As I mentioned before this is his first upper class knife. While a far cry in terms of finish from the HI khukuris, it is still a handmade forged spring steel blade. While that may be very common in Nepal, around here it is very rare to see that quality of blade, and never for that cost. As many have mentioned you can easily spend a few hundred to get that, and for a lot of people that is a tremendous amount of money to spend on a knife. In time he will grow more comfortable with it and eventually it will be used whenever needed.

Most people react the same way then they handle your khukuris for the first time. Even though I use them regularly they are well oiled and sharpened and do look quite nice. As a result most people are a little afraid to use them for fear of damaging it. Usually I will work with it a little to show them that there is really nothing to be concerned about and then they get warmed up to the idea.


-Cliff
 
This is one of few times I actually enjoyed hearing "if you what to know .... go and figure it out yourself". I would be glad to compare a forward curved to forward angled khukuri.

We should get someone that knows something about weapons aspects of khukuri's to test as well. I know very little about combat with edged weapons.

If we get to pick the forward curved khukuri, I would suggest something in the class of a 18" WWII model or 18" Ang Khola. These two styles are quite versatile.

Will
 
I've been waiting for you, Will. I'll get a couple of these forward curving models off to you and Cliff in a couple of days -- I hope!

I have a few Bando buddies who would evaluate the forward curving khukuri for us but we won't be able to use his name. Remind me to send one to them.

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Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html
 
I loaned my H.I. reject 15" Ang Khola to an old university professor. He was having trouble chopping through plams in Florida with a machette. Apparently the core is extremely tough. Since the reject held up to heavy I felt it was safe to loan out.

Reports are very favorable. He saids its a vast improvement over the machette. Also, he saids it is a very formidable weapon.

Will
 
Thanks for report, Will. I am very happy to hear that the reject is holding up well and doing the job. This, of course, allows one to deduce that if a reject does well just how well will a khukuri that passes QC do.

Both Will and Cliff, I sold out of forward curving models before I could get yours shipped but I have not forgotten you. I'll get a couple sent up north as soon as I can.

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Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html
 
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