I think I did the impossible - bent my CAK - I'm heartbroken

snow and steel

snow and steel

Joined
Mar 5, 2011
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I'm nearly 100% positive this wasn't there before today. I was out with my CAK, and I wanted to cut down a small tree [wrist thick in diameter] before I went to the trouble of polishing it out. I was cutting a "V" on one side, and after about half way through, I move to the opposite side and cut another "V" untill it falls over. It was some pretty ahrd wood, admitedly. Well anyway, to make a long story short, after I got it down, I brought it back inside and re-sharpened it, and as I sharpened I noticed somthing peculiar.

It was very hard to get a picture of, but it appears that my blade bends either just at or just after the bolster, and veers off to the left. the bolster itself shows no damage. I had my girlfriend look at it and she sees it too. Again, its very hard to photograph, but I took some pics to try to show it. I'm sort of hoping that perhaps this is normal but I fear its not. you have to look at the tang as a straight edge, and then where you see the blade come out from the bolster is where it veers off to the left.

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from a slightly differant angle

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one more pic, this time I put some masking tape on the top to let the camera show the edges without the glare.

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I'm absolutely heartbroken. I positively LOVE this knife - it has the most beautiful horn handles full of swirls and stripes and color, and it has a real "business" feel to it that just felt so right. The idea that I ruined my Chiruwa just breaks my heart and at the same time makes me feel like an absolute idiot - It has worked like a champ for everything I've asked of it unill today. I supposse it could have happened earlier and I wouldnt; have noticed it, but I think it unlikely - I tend to sharpen and clean it every time I use it.

It still seems to "swing" fine - again, I didn't notice it untill clean up.

I'm looking forward to eharing the thoughts of everyone!
 
sometimes these things happen... did you give it a good smack test when you got it? I would suggest carefully noting how it looks, and then smacking it hard against a log, then recheck to see if it has bent any more. My AK also has a slight bend, a lot like that, but it came that way so Im not worried.

Im not doubting that you never noticed a bend in it before, but if it works fine it might be good to doubly check on the off chance that you just never noticed before now, if the blade is too soft, the smack test should show this. A CAK should be able to bend and come back to straight if it is hardened correctly.

either way, the blade is warrentied for chopping wood like you were doing
 
I did do tht "whack" test hen I got it. There was a very slight bend in it when I got it, but it had been compensated for by the kami when they cut the grips - it was very slight, but once you noticed it, you could also tell how they cut the grip panels to compensate for it, so as a whole it was straight. This is why I I'm fairy sure it wasn't there when I got it.

I gues I could try whacking the sides of the blade a few more times and see if it bends some more. I'll go out and give the sides flats some good hard whacks into some soft pine 2X4's I have and see if it bends any more, and report back.

More than anything, I guess I'm trying to figure out if this is a serious issue, or something I shouldn't worry about.

*edited to add;
After quite a few good whacks on the side flats [both sides], checking it thoughout teh "testing" and the blade doesn't seem to move any more that I can detect. so, if it is bent, it is staying there.
 
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Greetings, send it back to HI for replacement.
 
I have a friend in central ohio that may be able to help.
I'm talking on the phone to him right now about this.
Contact richardj thru his profile.
If he cant fix it , noone can.
Otherwise you'll have to contact Auntie and have it replaced or use it as is.
 
I don't think a forged chunk of leaf spring is likely to bend under chopping use and then go into a condition where it will not bend. It is more likely it was forged that way.

I could be wrong. It has happened before.
 
Howard Wallace said:
I don't think a forged chunk of leaf spring is likely to bend under chopping use and then go into a condition where it will not bend. It is more likely it was forged that way.

I could be wrong. It has happened before.
Click to expand...

it certainly is Possible. Unsure why I wouldn't have notied it before though.
 
FuriousFist said:
thats not good especially since mines made by the same kami and i've ordered for another!:(:
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I've onylhad mine about 2 weeks, and I'd say this is a VERY unlikely thing to happen.

Most of my other khuks are by Bal Bahadur, and he's done great work so far by me. I wouldn't get worried.
 
Didn't they used to have something on the site that said if you bent your CAK under ANY circumstances they would send you two new ones?

Can't find it anymore. Am I dreaming?
 
well just played around with mine again this evening and still is one tough warrior; used a steel to clean the edges abit. Did feel very slight denting on the edge but its still sharp as hell my bandaged index finger could tell you...

In the short time I've had the CAK i really beleive the way you handle the item determines how long it will last; If you don't use proper technique its going to look stuffed and probably get hurt in the process.
 
It was probably that way to begin with.

Even if it was dead soft, you'd have a real time of it, trying to bend it by chopping with it.
 
First, I'd like to thank Karda and Rich for taking the time out fo thier busy schedules to work with me on this.

Second, I want to make sure everyone knows that I totally do not blame HI or the Kamis for this - a mistake is a mistake, and it happens - lord knows I've made enough fo them myself! Over the last two months, I've purchased 4 khurkris [most by the same kami who made this one], with a 5th on order, and this is the only one that's had an issue - it's a fluke,a dn I know and accept that. I would and intend to buy fom HI in the future with absolute confidence, and thier excellant service just reaffirms that.

Finally, It's totally possible there was some small amount of bend in it from the get-go, I am FAR from an expert in knives, metalurgy, or khuks. that being said, its definately at an angle, and in that regard everyone has worked with me to get this taken care of to more than my satisfaction. So I don't want to make a mountian out of a mole hill about this.

I'm already planning another khuk purcashe, and I'mn debating serupat, kobra or chitlangi!
 
it was nice talking to you today and anytime you need help with anything feel free to contact me. i hope you have your new khuks when you come up so i can check them out. i have an ash log and i plan on getting some hickory to chop on also.
 
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