I challenge any reader of this forum...

Drdan

Drdan

Joined
Dec 24, 2003
Messages
1,390
to list some of the torture tests endured by HI forumites' khukuris which highlighted their incredible chopping, slicing, and egde retention characteristics.

I remember when I purchased a Cold Steel tanto about 15 years ago; the firm advertised the ability of the knife to survive being hammered through a car door, and not sustaining any significant damage to the blade (not at all that incredible...). Later on, when I opted for a Trail Master, the company claimed it would outperform any factory made knife and 99% of the hand forged ones. The claim was august, the testing modus operandi became a lot more interesting, and the results were quite impressive!

Some of the tests involved: (1) chopping a pine 2"X4", and then proceeding to shave off some arm hair, (2) severing at least four 1" free hanging Manila ropes (they cliamed a world record of seven!), (3)
severing a 3" free hanging, wire reinforced 'Blue Rope', (4) having the tip thrust into an upright, loose stack of 12" X 12" cardboard, (the blade embedded 50% of its length), (5) the blade being pounded into a wood wall or upright and a 265 lb. man was supported while he stood on the blade's belly, (6) the blade being firmly fixed in a vise, and supporting the weight of 4 men at the blade/handle juncture, while having had flexed over 50°, (7) being pounded a certain distance into either a slab of pine or maple board, and then being pryed out in one movement, without causing damage to the tip, (8) sheet metal pucturing, (etc.) A series of torture tests to be performed in a certain sequence was also advertised, but i don't recall the specifics...

I've read some of the testing comparisons listed on HI's website, and they are most impressive. I'd appreciate links to any not listed on HI's website!

I have't read tests relating to the severing of free hanging Manila ropes, cutting through tatami, dissevering nails, and other trials "ala Cold Steel". The khukuri's geometry probably would not permit the blade to fare extremely well when thrusted into cardboard, but in other tests, I believe that there would be no contest (e.g., chopping a 2"X4" in half, and then shaving off some arm hair). On that one, a telephone pole might be a fitting handicap for the AK ***!

What have some of you done with your khukuri that would either make the Guinness World Records book, give the Cold Steel line and others a serious run for their money, blow lesser companies' khukuries out of the proverbial water, or likewise only add to the kukuri's legendary prowess and mystique.

*** Yours truly will not responsible for this inspiration! If you do perform some test to appear in this thread, please do be careful, and wear protective clothing.

Thanks for your participation!

Dan
 
I REALLY am interested in the free rope trials; 1, 2, 3, 4, + 1" free hanging Manila ropes... This may potentially be a difficult wait until my first khukuri arrives. Even stories of how a galvanized garbage can became an underground drain for your wife's washing machine afterwards has merit here! Stories like severing a parking meter as I've heard in Iaido related sites will defintely be taken with skepticism however!

I've never even held a khukuri in my hand, and am yearning for a bit of what will surely be personal experience. Best wishes! Dan
 
Ok now, Drdan...settle down.

The Cantina analyst was very interested in your er...studied focus...on "free-hanging ropes" (he's a Jungian).... You will be able to make an appointment next year.:)

Cliff Stamp is a mild-mannered physicist with not-latent-sadistic tendencies when it comes to blade testing. As Bill suggested, if you can read his tests on khuks and other blades without wincing at least once, you are a strong person.

Have a good new year.
 
Originally posted by Kismet
Ok now, Drdan...settle down.

The Cantina analyst was very interested in your er...studied focus...on "free-hanging ropes" (he's a Jungian).... You will be able to make an appointment next year.:)

Cliff Stamp is a mild-mannered physicist with not-latent-sadistic tendencies when it comes to blade testing. As Bill suggested, if you can read his tests on khuks and other blades without wincing at least once, you are a strong person.

Have a good new year.
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I'm not realizing individuation. Actually I moonlight as a mohel, so you can see the symbolism.
 
I had to look it up, but THAT was funny!

"The Mohel is a person of the Jewish faith who is ordained to do circumcision under the guidelines of the Jewish religion. Mohelim receive certification and medical training in circumcision as well as training on how to do the procedure within the specifications of the Jewish religion. In order for a circumcision to be valid under the tenets of Jewish law a Mohel must understand and practice the Jewish religion, however, not all Mohelim are Rabbi's. The parents of the infant will usually hire a Mohel to do the circumcision either in front of guests or in private. Mohelim usually have their own tools and books and will come to the desired location of the parents to do the circumcision."


Have Khuk, will travel." :)
 
but I have cut pennies, nickels, quarters, mild steel electric fence wire, bone, rawhide, some cinderblock (accidentally) an old refridgerator door (mild sheet steel), stainless steel silverware, copper and brass braided cable and conduit for lightning rods, in additionl to the normal stuff. No ill effects, slight dings to the softer parts of the edge, no chipping of the hardened area. Few minutes with a ceramic and steel, good as new.

Friend of mind recently cut an old metal pipe about halfway thru, enought ot cut and cave it in so he could bend it to finish the job. For a while I've thot that the Proof that CS uses could also be done to khuks from HI, with no ill effects, and they would certainly outperform the CS "khuk shaped objects."

Keith
 
Was the pipe hit with a really powerful stroke? I've seen the results of kabutowari, or steel helmet cutting with a katana, and the Master practitioner really delivers a mighty blow. It would be interesting to see what a powerful individual accustomed to chopping with an AK khukuri could do to an "identical" helmet... I might lose, but I'd put my money on the AK.
 
I just want to see someone bend an HI khuk like the CS models get tested. Especially one of the real thick ones! Gonna take some real strength to do it!:eek:
 
Originally posted by Kismet
I had to look it up, but THAT was funny!

"The Mohel is a person of the Jewish faith who is ordained to do circumcision under the guidelines of the Jewish religion. Mohelim receive certification and medical training in circumcision as well as training on how to do the procedure within the specifications of the Jewish religion. In order for a circumcision to be valid under the tenets of Jewish law a Mohel must understand and practice the Jewish religion, however, not all Mohelim are Rabbi's. The parents of the infant will usually hire a Mohel to do the circumcision either in front of guests or in private. Mohelim usually have their own tools and books and will come to the desired location of the parents to do the circumcision."


A colleague asked me to participate in his baby's bris ceremony in 1980. The Mohel was a delightful individual, and was very skilled. Pediatricians and other M.D.'s have high respect for their skills; most will admit that they are the sine qua non for the procedure. The Mohel in question had a joke related to his leather doctor's bag that expanded when he rubbed it. I was glad I participated...
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One of the custom makers a few years back made a knife for a mohel. Nicely executed ( the knife, not the procedure ).

Back to the forum's usual weirdness today, it appears. Phew!

PS: Look up the lyrics for a song called "A little bit off the top".

...The Rabbi came with a big sharp knife,

And I surely feared he would take my life,

But all he took was a little bit off the top...
 
What kind of knife is used for such a procedure?

I was thinking a clean pair of scissors would work but I'm just guessing.
 
Bruise, there are 2 of these knives on E-bay right now. Just do a search for Mohel knife.
has anyone read Hebrew scripture? In it Abraham circumsized Himself at the age of 99. :eek: :eek:
 
Check my sig, that's my contribution. Sorry, no free hanging rope tests. I cut a couple of grapevines with it though.
 
Great testing review, Roadrunner! I'm impressed that the support rod did not cause the edge to chip, but just flange off to the side. If you stuck the AK into a wall like Cold Steel did, and tested how much it could support, it would probably surpass the Cold Steel. One super tough knife. Well done review... Given the task of chopping wood, severing vines, and clearing brush,hitting an occasional stone in the process, the AK would be indestructible. If you want to destroy soft metal targets, it will just take a bit more effort to get its edge back. Thanks!
 
Read somewhere either in here or in HI KnifeForums that in Nepal they bite Khuk blades! :D
 
Originally posted by Seabee17

has anyone read Hebrew scripture? In it Abraham circumsized Himself at the age of 99. :eek: :eek: [/B]
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Can't be too safe purchasing anything. Hopefully the Mohel blade knife featured doesn't claim that it was the very knife used by Abraham to "give himself a trim". Never too late is it?
 
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