Hi 45-70. No problem with the question my friend. The hardened area probably should go to the tip. The kamis usually leave the tip of the khukuris softer, presumably so they won't break if struck against something hard like a rock. I guess they just carried that practice over to the swords. It's really not a problem with a sword, in that edge holding in a weapon isn't as important as in a tool. The tip isn't dead soft, and even partially hardened steel is capable of carrying out the task of a sword, to cut people.
Good morning Dave K. Mine had a couple of flats on the edge, maybe .020". Overall it was "sword sharp". Not paper cutting sharp, but adequate for a sword. It's sharper now.
The rest of this is way more than was asked for, but I'm full of coffee and on a roll.
Can you buy a better sword? Absolutely. With steel of a known type, modern heat treating with digital temperature control, even I could make a sword that would out cut and outlast anything from HI. But I wouldn't be able to forge one from a leaf spring and harden it by quenching with a tea kettle and put some of my soul into it. That's why I buy HI products. Technically, they are adequate, but as a piece of functional ethnic art, they excell.
My love affair with khukuris and HI products is almost exactly like a romance with a woman.
Phase 1: When I met my first khuk, all I could see was the beauty and sex appeal. She was perfect, no flaws, the perfect knife. She spoke to my soul. My whole being was captivated. And she had beautiful sisters! I wanted them all!
Phase 2: Then I realized she wasn't perfect. The infatuation faded. A bone handle disintegrated. The heat treat on one was too soft. Horn shrank, wood cracked, sloppy grinding, imperfect fit and finish. I was heartbroken and depressed. My beautiful girl became a cow!
Phase 3: But she was steady, reliable, dependable, and in a less flashy way, beautiful. Whenever I needed her, she was there ready to work. The infatuation turned to true love, respect and admiration. Ready for the long haul.
As khukuri and HI lovers we should be open and honest about the flaws of the products. They are handmade pieces of tool and weapon art, wonderful in their "organic" nature, not perfect, but amazing in beauty and usefullness.
I hope this made some sense? Thanks for the questions.
Steve
