I don't believe it... broke my Ang Khola!

Khukuri Monster

Khukuri Monster

Joined
Aug 4, 2004
Messages
373
Well, I never seriously thought that I would have to take advantage of that lifetime guarantee... Today I was chopping some wood with my 15" Bura Ang Khola and it just snapped right off at the tang. The blade fell at my feet and I was left holding the handle.

The grain of the steel where the khukuri broke is really coarse. Looks like someone overheated this one.

It's strange that I've used this khuk fairly heavily before, without a problem, and it just suddenly broke without reason. I had resharpened the khuk and I was only making a couple of test chops into a chunk of firewood.

I'll post some pictures once I get the camera batteries charged up.
 
donutsrule said:
Daesin? :confused:
Click to expand...

Huh?

Edited: Never mind, found out that Daesin is some sort of holiday.

I wanted to add that this I got this from a deal of the day for $65. I don't know how flexible UB is on the return policy, but it would be nice to get, say, a credit toward the purchase of a new khuk instead of a replacement. I have a 27" Kumar AK for heavy chopping, and I would kind of like a lighter khuk like a Sirupate for clearing brush.
 
pics man, pics. i really have to see this. it's been known to happen during the Daisen festival (i know i've spelt that all wrong).
 
I had a similar problem once, with one of the last regular production YCS's. Uncle let me trade it for a credit with no problems, I'm sure he'll take care of you as well. Sorry to hear about the AK, but even the best make mistakes from time to time.
 
I still would like to see BirGorkha proof testing their blades after heat treat, and marking them as tested. I think relatively few of these inferior blades would slip by if they would institute some simple testing. It would do a lot for the reputation of HI, Birgorkha, and Nepal.

It happened to me once too with a Sirupati. Art Swyhart welded it back together and it is ok now.

It sure is a sick feeling to have your blade come apart. If the steel is improperly heat treated it may not even take much impact.
:(
 
Yep. Dasein is just around the corner. Never fails. I sent those louts a Dasein bonus and told them not to hurry -- their pay was there so take the time to do it right. And, this is what I get.

Send it back and we'll ship out a new one.
 
Bill,

This may be the right time to hire a great big lug to test those knives before the final polish is done. Catching in the shop is much better then in the field.

n2s
 
I didn't mention that I bought this khuk back in April. I've been using it all summer to cut through downed trees and brush, and it didn't break until now.

I have some pics but it won't be until Monday, when I'm back at college, that I'll be able to upload them to my webspace and post them.
 
Kukuri Monster- what you describe sounds what forum experts have descibed with metal failure. They always want to know the consistancy of the material of the break and color of metal. This sounds like a real failure.


munk
 
Yeah, Dasein, when the kamis shut down for the month.

Even though Kami Sherpa ( Pala ) gives them a bonus to tide them over, they get frantic before it comes around, and they try to churn out more khuks to build up their pay to hold them over.

What happens is they get in a hurry and sometimes they splash water on the tang during the hardening process.

Unlike other blades, the khuk is done in one fell swoop. Tempering and drawing is done by pouring water on the blade edge the one time. The drawing comes from the thickness of the blade. After hardening the thin edge, the thickness of the khuk leads to the part behind the hardened edge being reheated and thus drawn through residual heat flowing back into the hardened part from the rest of the blade. Also known as differntial tempering.

The problem is the tang is relatively small compared to the blade. Think of a half or 3/4 inch deep tang from 3/8ths to half inch wide, and the length of the handle long. The hidden tang construction is sometimes called a rat-tail tang. On the HI's it is more like a kangaroo-tail tang. That makes for a monster tang, except when compared to the size of the blade. So if the tang gets hit with water, it gets quenched too much, too quick, leaving that section brittle.

I hope this makes some sense to you guys.
 
I had a buck 110 I had had for almost 20 years that snapped off at the tang when I was cutting some rope. Judging form the grunge on some of the broken edge It had been coming for a while.

I also had a big chip come out of a GB Mini I was using.


I think everything can have flaws. I bet the khukuri rate is about equal or not really far above anything else like that.
 
I once had a Gerber paring knife snap at the tang while I was cutting up some chocolate. I sent it back to Gerber and they PROMPTLY sent a replacement. The replacement has been going strong for at least 20 years.

Any product can have an occasional defect. The mark of quality would be the frequency of failure, the nature of the failure, and the response of the manufacturer to the problem.

Hi has been good at standing behind their products.

WHEN IS THE HOLIDAY THAT RUSTY AND BILL REFERRED TO (DASEIN)?
 
Interesting the knife was acquired in April but wouldn't fail until October and Dasein time. This is all part of that mystical veil which shrouds the khukuris. Since most of this stuff defies explanation I don't try. I'll just stick with "it's Dasein" and let it go at that.

Anyway, KM, we'll work it out any way you like. I hope you weld it and put the knife back in the field for 100 years. But you'll still get your new replacement.
 
Another good reason to get a chiruwa style handle, IMHO. :p I haven't heard of them breaking. If they do fail, it HAS to be less than the rat tail tang style.
 
Bill Martino said:
I hope you weld it and put the knife back in the field for 100 years. But you'll still get your new replacement.
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Should you decide not to....I know someone who might be interested in giving it a shot.
 
on an 18" ak. mr. martino made good as he has offered to do above. it was exactly the same scenario: had used it before; had sharpened it a couple times; no problems. then it snapped at the tang as you describe leaving the same grainy grey metal fracture. almost crystaline. this happened while chopping up some storm damage. the blade did a couple of flips up near my head.

ever since then when i get a new one i wrap it in cloth, clamp it in a vise and try to snap it off by using the k.handle to rock or move the bench around. and i wear safety gear.

so far so good ;-)
ab
 
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