INFI Kukri - attainable?

to buy from the custom shop, probably around 700 but you're looking at a LONG wait

to buy a TTKZ on the forum, probably 850-1000
 
AngryDaddyBird said:
I want a curved handle one like "derecdesmond " posted pictures of.
How much are those anyway?
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The test team typically maxes out at $800 on the forums. That was its sticker price but Im pretty sure all the original owners got a better price at blade when introduced so its not uncommon to see them for ridiculously low prices esp if used, I think I saw one for a little over $500 recently :eek:

The coated protos stickers at $650 (blade special cost was $500) so if you can find one, that or higher :thumbup: If you find any at the special cost, let me know and Ill buy all of them. No one seemed to want them at the show. I left with 3 and passed on many others.
 
Be aware that the Test Team KZ blades had a very robust grind, in other words, a thick edge; and that detracts from the chopping performance, IMHO. After sending mine back to Garth to have the edge profile thinned, it is now much improved.
 
I just want to give you guys a huge thanks :D You sure know how to help a newbie out! I'm still pretty darn determined on the KZ with the recurved handle. I just realized it's kind of crazy to be looking at something this huge when it's my first Busse and one of my first higher-ends, but hey... why start small when you can start big, eh? :D The only concern is that of which many are reporting, that the slightly thinner grind of the KZII seems to be a better chopper, but by how much?
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I doubt I'll feel under-gunned with any Busse, but researching beforehand has always served me well :D

Anyhoooooo... huge thanks fellas! You guys are top-notch :thumbup:
 
resinguy said:
Be aware that the Test Team KZ blades had a very robust grind, in other words, a thick edge; and that detracts from the chopping performance, IMHO. After sending mine back to Garth to have the edge profile thinned, it is now much improved.
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Is this service something he offers for all his customers, if so, what does it cost? Because the thickness issue is the only thing really keeping me from pulling the trigger on a TTKZ right off.
 
Both of the common versions of the KZ (the most recent proto is going to be slim pickings) are great choppers, but have their issues on opposite ends. The TT is very fat above the edge and the 2 has that goofy upswept pommel that can catch your wrist. I have put off sending the custom TT in to Garth for some thinning, but it is going to be necessary as it chops about the same as the gladius. I had a TTKZ that was thinned for a bit and it made a huge difference in use, but I only could justify keeping one.
2vn07ep.jpg



The one on the left was the much improved thinned out TT.
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The deeper biting KZ2 with some of it's blactical buddies. :rolleyes:
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pialia said:
Is this service something he offers for all his customers, if so, what does it cost? Because the thickness issue is the only thing really keeping me from pulling the trigger on a TTKZ right off.
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Sure, the Shop is happy to give knives a tune-up or spa treatment. Best if you contact Garth directly to enquire about the cost.
 
I figured I might as well post the question in this thread - for those of you that lack belt sanders, how do you maintain the edge on your KZ/KZII? Do sharpening systems like edge pro and wicked edge do the trick or are the blades simply too big with too aggressive recurves? If you are using a system like the aforementioned, is it a problem sharpening the convex edge with them?
 
I carry an Emerson Combat Karambit as my HIDDEN EDC. Only place it doesn't go with me is the shower and to bed. Well MOST of the time it doesn't go to bed with me. ;)
 
Mrs. Major Kong said:
Tim, what's that little knife on the bottom of the pic? I've never seen anything quite like that.
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Shannon, the other guys got it right, it's a War Boar which is the Busse Combat version (hence the nuclear top) of a karambit. This design Jerry did is very good for defensive concealed carry as it gives you a pretty devastating yet useful blade in a short overall length. Although the first reaction many American's would have at seeing it is that the design is useless, the inner edge is actually great for cutting down weeds/crops, peeling bark like a draw knife, gutting your next meal etc. as that is what they are mainly used for in the part of the world that the design originates from. The outer edge near the tip works decent for skinning if you hold it like this and work backwards.
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pialia said:
I figured I might as well post the question in this thread - for those of you that lack belt sanders, how do you maintain the edge on your KZ/KZII? Do sharpening systems like edge pro and wicked edge do the trick or are the blades simply too big with too aggressive recurves? If you are using a system like the aforementioned, is it a problem sharpening the convex edge with them?
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The edge pro will work fine as long as you only work the stone in small sections along the recurve. Thankfully the recurved part doesn't get used in ways that will ding it much so it stays pretty sharp since the belly/tip is where most chopping contact occurs. The stone will follow the belly pretty easily if you center the knife, the hard part is your arm gets tired holding it for so long unless you build a jig for it to stay where you want it. My KZ2 doesn't have a convex edge, it came with a V edge. The custom TTKZ is a really fat convex and an edge pro would work best just to provide a very small edge bevel as the convexed edge will go away if you do more than that. Convex is much better tackled either by hand or with a belt sander.

 
AZTimT said:
The edge pro will work fine as long as you only work the stone in small sections along the recurve. Thankfully the recurved part doesn't get used in ways that will ding it much so it stays pretty sharp since the belly/tip is where most chopping contact occurs. The stone will follow the belly pretty easily if you center the knife, the hard part is your arm gets tired holding it for so long unless you build a jig for it to stay where you want it. My KZ2 doesn't have a convex edge, it came with a V edge. The custom TTKZ is a really fat convex and an edge pro would work best just to provide a very small edge bevel as the convexed edge will go away if you do more than that. Convex is much better tackled either by hand or with a belt sander.
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Thanks for the reply. Have you seen any KZ's with a flat grind? Seems to be so much more convenient :D

Edit: Out of curiosity, what would it cost to set up a belt sander for a novice learning to use one? I have zero to no experience of power tools :D Something along the lines of what's used in this vid: [youtube]eREokC4MPM0[/youtube]
 
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pialia said:
Thanks for the reply. Have you seen any KZ's with a flat grind? Seems to be so much more convenient :D
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The KZ2 as it is comes pretty close to being a flat grind.
I held a TTKZ at the show where I got my orange one that was much closer to a flat grind on both the top and bottom... boy was that thing a bunch lighter than mine and I am glad it went to the right home where it gets used... but mine has that rare flat spot on the top so I can still baton with it which is why I went with it.

The DCBB one is the lightweight flat ground one I mentioned.
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Havoc550 said:
Sweet FNP Tactical, Tim. I am trying to find a dark earth model to match my new SCARS.
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Sorry to the OP for another temporary hijack. :o Thanks, I am trying to pick up an RMR for it, but pricing/availability is an issue recently. My buddy has one on his and it is very sweet. Best shooting .45acp I have ever handled, bar none. If you get one, I highly recommend the leather lined kydex holsters made by Garrett Industries in TX.
 
pialia said:
The only concern is that of which many are reporting, that the slightly thinner grind of the KZII seems to be a better chopper, but by how much?
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to give a rough idea of how much thinner the knives are to each other, heres a thickness grid of the three variations:
killazillas2.jpg


Even after being thinned by garth (cs=custom shop) the cs ttkz is still about where the KZII is.
 
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