Ideal Balance Point for Khukuris?

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Recent commentary compells me to ask where should the balance point be on a khukuri? Experten, your thoughts, please.

Harry
 
Harry, you're just full of questions today, aren't you?
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I freely admit to knowing nothing whereof I speak. But, I've never let my ignorance get in the way of my having an opinion (I probably should have been a politician.) So here goes -- IMHO, the purpose of the khuk should dictate its balance point. For workhorse choppers, such as the AKs, the balance should be forward as much as possible. For the lighter, quicker khuks suited for martial-arts the balance point should be much farther back.

It'll be interesting to read what others have to say. Particularly those who know what they're talking about.
 
Steven, guilty as charged.
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My supplementary question: given that you have the balance point forward for chopping style khukuris and back for the slicing khukuris, where would the balance point be put for the general purpose khukuris?

Harry
 
It's off topic from khukuri, I've read some notes in a sci-fi about a sword changing its balance point. The sword was named "Terminus est" , an executioner's sword which is hollowed and filled with mercury in it. Holding up, its balance point moves to handle, down its balance point to tip. One ulitimate balancing way.

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\(^o^)/ Mizutani Satoshi \(^o^)/
 
Harry, I think this is another subjective consideration. Where the perfect balance point should be lies in the hand and feel of the user. We are different in what we like and think is good and proper.

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Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ
 
WrongFriend, what an idea! An HI khuk with a hollow tube, containing mercury, impregnated within its length! Low tech meets high tech.
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P.S. They balance motorcycle flywheels using exactly that concept -- a hollow tube, containing a small amount of mercury, fitted to the circumference of the flywheel. In fact, I have modified my bike in this manner.



[This message has been edited by Steven F (edited 06-01-2000).]
 
Mizutani san: Thank you for your response on the yakusa. Sad too, that such a mark should follow them and prevent them from other employment.

Yes, I too remember the executioner's mecury filled blade. Off topic, ( help me here Tom ) , King Henry VIII's wives were all executed by axe except for one, for whom he brought in a french executioner who used a sword ( was it supposed to not hurt as much ?).
 
I find that the balance point on a khukuri is determined more by the user than where it actually is on the knife. With decent size handles on the khukuri, I find that I can get a forward heavy effect by simply gripping the knife a bit further back. To get a neutral effect, I hold the knife a bit more forward. To get optimal control, I run my thumb along the back of the spine. I am even able to safely shave hair off my arm with my Mega Salyan (5.75LB) with the last grip.

What I'm trying to say is, get a decent size handle and you select where you like the balance point.

Will

[This message has been edited by Will Kwan (edited 06-02-2000).]
 
(History major mode on-)

Jane Seymour was executed with a sword, as axes at that time were usually very blunt and imprecise and sometimes took several blows to seperate the head from the body. Also, being executed with a sword was reserved for nobility. Her ghost is still sighted occasionally in the Tower of London.

(History major mode off-)

Tom
 
Yeah, that's actually why the Guillotine was invented.

All we have to do now is somehow combine this thread with the one about "How thick is too thick?" and we will really have some bizarre postings and information.

"How thick is too thick?"
"Depends on what you plan to use it for."
"I do beheadings mostly, with occasional light dismemberment when the situation demands. So do I go for the 20" AK or the 30" Sirupati? Uncle Bill, what would you suggest?"
"Don't know. We'll wait for the experts to chime in here..."

You get the idea.

Tom
 
That explains why it took Jack Ketch several strokes of an axe to chop some guy's head off one time.

Out of curiousity, is there capital punishment in Nepal, India, Bhutan, and on down to Burma, Thailand, and Singapore, Indonesia and so on? Ther Arabic( muslim ) states still use swords don't they? What of Hindu India, Buddhist countries, Southeast asia Koranic and mixed religion states? Commie China does the bullet behind the ear. Do the others decapitate, hang, shoot, any other way? Do any not use capital punishment?

The question just seems like a quick and dirty way of telling us something about all those places, and probably is more significant sounding than it is. I just wonder how much it would explain about the area.

 
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