how strong are blems?

P

PappaCutter

Joined
Jul 24, 2015
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If you buy a blem with a crack in the bone handle or wood handle, is that likely a weak spot? Is it good for hard duty? Sometimes repairing some items makes them stronger some worse, where do the kuks fall into this arena?

Pappa
 
The review I did concerning chopping a tree down with a BAS was with a Blem horn handle. I don't think I've ever seen or read of a problem with the steel, only cracked horn or shrunken wood. More times than not, these are great buys.
 
I'd say buy with confidence. I've received advertised blems that I couldn't find anything wrong with.

Seldom is there any strength issue with the blade, as Dobe mentioned it's usually tiny cracks or shrinkage which usually is an easy fix if one feels the need to even fix it.

Auntie has a very decerning eye, she spots tiny little details that many would overlook.
 
They seem to be only hairline cracks filled with epoxy. I was honestly thinking they might be stronger with the epoxy than before. That thinking is a little goofy.
 
If you were to epoxy a small crack in the handle, I think it would last just as long as one made to specs.
 
For what its worth I bought one (20"AK)off the website brand new and cracked the handle large enough to slip a quarter into and a few pieces almost fell off. You could see the tang through the crack. I could have redeemed the warranty but it was no fault of the QA inspector. It was a weak spot in the natural material that couldn't be found with the eye. I glued it back together with wood glue clamped it all back together and have been beating the snot out of it for two years plus now and not a sign of a problem. A proper glue joint will sometimes be stronger than the surrounding wood itself. CA repairs I personally dont have much confidence in especially when shock is involved.
see if you can find it:D

eae40fb92df2f3babe82afe37e459e65


Most of the time you can tap around on the handle and feel if its solid. If you feel a rattle while chopping or a thud sound you might have a problem and need to pump it up with glue. To answer your question I have NEVER had a BLEM fail on me though.
 
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Wow, this is almost as good as Where's Waldo?

Your bushes look a wee bit parched there Ndog.
 
Bawanna said:
Wow, this is almost as good as Where's Waldo?

Your bushes look a wee bit parched there Ndog.
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Yeah this is the thirteenth day with over 100 degree temp. It was 105ºF yesterday. Still beats the heck out of 0º tho:D
 
Blend are just as strong and useful as regular khuks. Epoxy fixed bone is just as solid if not more solid HI blems are purely cosmetic.
 
ndoghouse said:
Yeah this is the thirteenth day with over 100 degree temp. It was 105ºF yesterday. Still beats the heck out of 0º tho:D
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I will take 0 degrees any day of the year. I think I was a polar bear in my former life. I wear shorts and shirts though out the winter months. I usually shovel my driveway in shorts.
 
I find myself a medium sort of fella as my mileage rises. Don't cotton much to the extreme heat or the extreme cold anymore.

Been bloody warm here in the NW of late. Supposed to be hot again this week. I do enjoy the lack of rain but my yard and everything else could certainly stand a little.
 
I'm in Louisiana. It may not get as hot as it does in AZ, but the humidity, well let's just say that gills would help.
 
ndoghouse said:
For what its worth I bought one (20"AK)off the website brand new and cracked the handle large enough to slip a quarter into and a few pieces almost fell off. You could see the tang through the crack. I could have redeemed the warranty but it was no fault of the QA inspector. It was a weak spot in the natural material that couldn't be found with the eye. I glued it back together with wood glue clamped it all back together and have been beating the snot out of it for two years plus now and not a sign of a problem. A proper glue joint will sometimes be stronger than the surrounding wood itself. CA repairs I personally dont have much confidence in especially when shock is involved.
see if you can find it:D

eae40fb92df2f3babe82afe37e459e65


Most of the time you can tap around on the handle and feel if its solid. If you feel a rattle while chopping or a thud sound you might have a problem and need to pump it up with glue. To answer your question I have NEVER had a BLEM fail on me though.
Click to expand...

Love that wood handle, mucho character and that blades screams "cut something". I dig it.

Pappa
 
Pappa, If the blem was really bad, it would not be offered on the forum. The "blems" are normally hair line cracks in the handles as previously mentioned, but a few khuks, shudder, are merely missing the kami mark. Regardless, if you khuk does not meet your standards, Mrs. Martino is going to make it right somehow, so you have absolutely nothing to worry about. How ever much you spend, you spend with confidence, so fear not.
 
Yup, absolutely, if you ain't happy Auntie isn't happy and if she ain't happy I'm not happy and if I'm not happy Bookie ain't happy and that's a bad thing, trust me on this one.
 
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