Spent the better part of the evening gathering bell & banana peppers + okra. JKM-1 is one more useful garden knife. I like to cut the big pepper stems to keep from splitting the stems these are attached to. Usually I cut the stems even on the little 'bouquet' peppers for the same reason. Knife performed 100% gathering all of these. Sharpened it on a whet rock first, then went to garden. It will still pop the arm hairs. Good temper & hardness, great workmanship, & real comfortable in the hand.......can't beat a deal like that. 'Bout the only knife without a 'hump' that I like.
-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Jkm-1
- Thread starter DKP
- Start date
- Joined
- May 17, 2002
- Messages
- 353
DKP, thanks for this post. I'm very interesting since several months with a Jkm-1. The "problem" is that I'm "afraid" that this knife be too little for my hand. Bill Martino (wich is a very patient man!
) said to me that there's also the Kumar Karda, but I prefer tang with slabs... So, everytime that my "budget for pleasure" allows me to cost a knife, I hesitate and I buy a 18"!!!
The paradise for me would be a Kumar Karda with horn or wood splits. I can ask to a french knifemaker to forge a such knife for me, I could do it myself (I have old blades, XC75 steel, spring steel, horn, sambar stag and good leather...) but my heart goes with HI. So... I buy 18" neck khuks!
) said to me that there's also the Kumar Karda, but I prefer tang with slabs... So, everytime that my "budget for pleasure" allows me to cost a knife, I hesitate and I buy a 18"!!! The paradise for me would be a Kumar Karda with horn or wood splits. I can ask to a french knifemaker to forge a such knife for me, I could do it myself (I have old blades, XC75 steel, spring steel, horn, sambar stag and good leather...) but my heart goes with HI. So... I buy 18" neck khuks!
- Joined
- Jun 4, 2002
- Messages
- 3,930
Stephensee,
The JKM-1 is a very good knife, but the Kumar Karda is every bit as good, maybe even better. It's built like a khukuri, only on a smaller scale. Stick tangs that are tapered like those on HI knives/khukuris are very, very, strong. And, because the handle fully encloses the tang there are fewer places for moisture to get in and rust it. I've had a chance to work with both knives, and while they're both very capable, I'd have to give the edge to the slightly larger Kumar Karda. The only fault I can find with either is that the handles are a bit on the short side for my hands. It feels awkward at first, but after working with them awhile I feel perfectly comfortable using them. Either one would make a good companion knife to your khukuris, so it really comes down to horn ~vs~ wood, and smaller ~vs~ larger.
Sarge
The JKM-1 is a very good knife, but the Kumar Karda is every bit as good, maybe even better. It's built like a khukuri, only on a smaller scale. Stick tangs that are tapered like those on HI knives/khukuris are very, very, strong. And, because the handle fully encloses the tang there are fewer places for moisture to get in and rust it. I've had a chance to work with both knives, and while they're both very capable, I'd have to give the edge to the slightly larger Kumar Karda. The only fault I can find with either is that the handles are a bit on the short side for my hands. It feels awkward at first, but after working with them awhile I feel perfectly comfortable using them. Either one would make a good companion knife to your khukuris, so it really comes down to horn ~vs~ wood, and smaller ~vs~ larger.
Sarge
- Joined
- Jan 26, 2002
- Messages
- 2,737
The handle on the JKM-1 I have was on the short side for me, especially with the flare towards the pommel. I wasn't too hard to file/sand down the upper part of the pommel, so it's more of a bird's beak shape and doesn't dig into my palm. After use of a half round file it also now has a finger choil and balances the tiniest bit ahead of my fore-finger when in the choil. There was plenty of room on this particular knife before the edge and hardening started. Then a little recontour of the slabs. Very secure grip with lots of control. And also a weight-forward mini-chopper with a three-finger grip hooked in by the bird-beak. A fun project that took a few steps, but well worth it.
- Joined
- May 17, 2002
- Messages
- 353
because the handle fully encloses the tang there are fewer places for moisture to get in and rust it. : That's true Sylv. 99% of my knives are "Chiruwas style tang", and that's right that there are these kind of problems sometimes : rust and moisture, particulary during a long excursion in a bad bush.
In my opinion, the problem with "classic or full tang" and "rat tang" is that steel is more hard than horn or wood, and there are sometimes cracks after hard chops. It's my experience, but never with HI Khuks (I've just HI Chiruxas Khuks). In fact I'm a few "traumatised" with other knives that I loved very much and who has failed.
But in fact, it's also true that the controversy over the type of tangs is less important with little knives than with big knives.
As said Yvsa : "I imagine the argument has gone on since the beginning of the metal age. Some like the "Chiruwa" style, I'm one who doesn't, at least not in khukuris. Others like what's now being called in this forum a "Full tang", I'm one who does. And others like a "Rat tail" tang."
Regards.
In my opinion, the problem with "classic or full tang" and "rat tang" is that steel is more hard than horn or wood, and there are sometimes cracks after hard chops. It's my experience, but never with HI Khuks (I've just HI Chiruxas Khuks). In fact I'm a few "traumatised" with other knives that I loved very much and who has failed.
But in fact, it's also true that the controversy over the type of tangs is less important with little knives than with big knives.
As said Yvsa : "I imagine the argument has gone on since the beginning of the metal age. Some like the "Chiruwa" style, I'm one who doesn't, at least not in khukuris. Others like what's now being called in this forum a "Full tang", I'm one who does. And others like a "Rat tail" tang."
Regards.
- Joined
- Mar 5, 1999
- Messages
- 34,096
Good info and many thanks.