If The Kamis Had Modern Tempering Equipment, How Would A Better Treatment Be Done?

Drdan

Drdan

Joined
Dec 24, 2003
Messages
1,390
Obviously, the tang/blade junction would be softer so as to prevent a break, and the spine would be softer... If a kami were given all the latest high tech equipment, and trained in their use, how would he most likely temper a khukuri to give it maximum performance in the field? Or, what would a U.S. bladesmith do to get a really great temper on a khukuri? Thanks. Dan :)
 
An american smith would use a clay coat on the spine because I don't know of any who know how to do a proper water treatment such as the Kamis do.

As long as they aren't rushing, they get a soft tang and spine, and a hard edge. Ones I've gotten have had no trouble along these lines.

On a side note, you seem to keep slipping farther away from your original intention, in that you said you wanted an authentic Nepali khuk made the authentic way by Nepali kamis. Was originally in response to me saying you can reshape your own handle. You've now progressed wto a damascus blade, clay coat HT, ironwood handle, and having American smiths do most of it.
 
Originally posted by etp777
On a side note, you seem to keep slipping farther away from your original intention, in that you said you wanted an authentic Nepali khuk made the authentic way by Nepali kamis. Was originally in response to me saying you can reshape your own handle. You've now progressed wto a damascus blade, clay coat HT, ironwood handle, and having American smiths do most of it.
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One of the reasons you can't just purchase one...! :D
 
Honestly I don't know how much better they could get. The edge retention and toughness I saw when testing my 18" Ang Khola was simply unreal. The only real benefit I can think of from using modern tempering techniques is that they would probably be able to get similar performance from thinner stock, but that could be a drawback in itself. Much of the chopping performance we see comes from their size and weight, and most importantly the distribution of that weight. A thinner khukuri would be easier to carry around but the performance decrease may not be worth it.
 
Originally posted by Drdan

1- Obviously, the tang/blade junction would be softer so as to prevent a break, and the spine would be softer...

2- If a kami were given all the latest high tech equipment, and trained in their use, how would he most likely temper a khukuri to give it maximum performance in the field?

3- Or, what would a U.S. bladesmith do to get a really great temper on a khukuri?

Thanks. Dan :)
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1- I doubt it, that things would be any softer or better than they are now.
I think things would be pretty much the same. The kamis score perfectly 99.50%, at least I think, of the time the way they do it now. Why mess with success that has been proven for hundreds of years?:p

2- The same way he does it now as I think he would ignore the new technology the same way they ignored the transmission fluid as a hardening medium.

3- If it was me doing the hardening and tempering I would harden the entire blade and then use a torch to draw the areas I wanted softer. Another proven technique that has been used for a mighty long time and still used today by excellent craftsmen.:D

From what has been said in past discussions the kamis know of other techniques, even the clay depositing method, to harden steel but choose to use the simplest and fastest way.
 
Don't know if it would be better this way, but it is the way I would do it (if I were making one out of thinner stock). On a thinner blade I would prefer a fully hardened blade with a differential temper; tip and spine drawn to a softer spring temper (most of the HI's that I have the spine is softer than this, it behaves like it is in just a normalized state). The tips on some of my kuks seem to be in the high 40's, I'd prefer the mid 50's Rockwell; I'd prefer the recurve in front of the cho to be at this point as well.

The reason I would want the spine at a spring temper on a thinner kuk is so it would not take a permanent bend if it was used to pry with (as one with an unhardened spine can). YMMV, especially since I have never made a kuk, only bowies and hunters.:)

adios,

steve
 
If they had the equipment...

they'd get even lazier...

:(
 
have more to do with the Maoists and the weather in Nepal than technology. I think it was harde to get them into using an non-bicycle-powered grinder, so anything beyond that...kamis are creatures of habit.
 
Enjoying the new khukuris...

I am a little reluctant to jump in on this one...

DrDan, When any talk of heat treating comes up...a lot of folks get there knickers in a twist. Usually the science /metallurgists get a bit nitpicky about using terms like "tempering" when "hardening" is what was meant.

What I guess I don't understand is...has anybody had a failure that would warrant a change in manufacture? Or is this one fo those "If I could dream a dream" type questions

If we are looking for the "Excalibur" of Khukuris...the grandaddy of them all... then let's really get serious...
Get some CPM30SV laser cut to your shape...
...send it to Tony Bos for heat treating with cryo treatment...
buy some premium stabilized desert ironwood, and some kydex, and some top quality leather
send it to a top craftsman, like Joe Szilsaki...
have him assemble the thing to your specs...
then diamond cote the blade in camo tiger stripe.

Forget the dammascus and the bells and whistles...do you just want a wall hanger?

It might be great modern KLO...but it would never be a Khukuri.

Guys, I really love it here on the cantina...hope I didn't start any grumpiness with this post.
Shane
 
Originally posted by shane justice
Or is this one fo those "If I could dream a dream" type questions
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Shane... It was a "just wondering" if there was a way to even better an already amazing knife, and your answer was the ultimate KLO answer from a knifemaker. I appreciate the input. Dan :)
 
shane, you're exactly right, done with modern materials and methods it would only be a KLO, not a khukuri. Grumpiness? Hell, you just nailed the differences between a KLO and a khukuri! I'm inspired, not offended. :)
 
Shane. Shane. Don't go Shane.

Woops, I got confused.

Why would you select S30V for a chopping tool? It's not nearly as tough as the 5160 they use now. Now CPM 3V -- THAT might be interesting.

("tiger stripe" :D )
 
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