Just how much an HI blade can take?

D

DanSmithy

Joined
Jul 19, 2010
Messages
345
Hi all,

Anyone that doesn't own an HI blade, yet, asks this question.
For all the newbies a picture speaks a thousand words.

lunacy.jpg


So how about a video of how much an HI blade can take?
I've just found this on the net: Full test videos here:
http://www.knifetests.com/himalayanimportsangkholadtest.html

:eek:WARNING::eek:
This is not for the feint heartened!
It's a long watch so have a steady supply of beer or some stronger nerve suppressant...and some tissue paper too;)

lunacy3.jpg

It's INSANE...but it shows the quality of the HI made blades.

May be we should make a dvd and send it to the kamis to watch too:D
Can't make up who made this blade, but is damn good!

lunacy2.jpg


I can't explain my feelings...right now...
Hope you all enjoy it and judge for yourselves, just when inevitably you "compare" the khuk with the other knife reviews there try to be fair in your hearth.

Edit: I hope the mods don't fry my [EDITED] for this one :-)
 
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Karda said:
Here is the thread, from when the testing was done. These Knifetests are pretty controversial and i am somewhat hesitant to let this thread continue. If this gets out of hand...well you know what happens.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=575820&highlight=knifetest
Click to expand...

Ups...:o
I didn't realized it was already posted. Sorry about that.
Nevertheless I found it fascinating how well it did actually, for being a small khuk. Scrap the post if you see it fit.
 
If you search the general forums you will see a few of his tests like this one.
They created quite a few long and contentious threads resulting in the threads being locked. He quit posting them on BFc because he wasnt getting a general pat on the back. My own personal view is that they are destruction, but in no way resemble any kind of testing that anything can really be gleaned from. A year or so ago he embarrassed himself by calling several BFc members names and such in one of his videos because he didnt like what they said. He is man enough to dish it out to makers but he isnt man enough to take it.

If you new members wish to discuss this subject, be my guest.
You probably wont find many older members wanting to join in.
If you want it locked all you have to do is ask.
 
Karda said:
If you search the general forums you will see a few of his tests like this one.
They created quite a few long and contentious threads resulting in the threads being locked. He quit posting them on BFc because he wasnt getting a general pat on the back. My own personal view is that they are destruction, but in no way resemble any kind of testing that anything can really be gleaned from. A year or so ago he embarrassed himself by calling several BFc members names and such in one of his videos because he didnt like what they said. He is man enough to dish it out to makers but he isnt man enough to take it.

If you new members wish to discuss this subject, be my guest.
You probably wont find many older members wanting to join in.
If you want it locked all you have to do is ask.
Click to expand...

Well...I am a newbie and I acted like one. I wanted others to see it too, not realizing it's been done before:p

Before anyone posts here they should read this tread FIRST!
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=575820&highlight=knifetest
Karda: If the tread gets "out of hand" just delete it!

But I still think the following is VERY true:

"By SkagSig40 - from the above tread
You are 100% correct!
I have probably known Bill longer than most on here. I bought my 1st khukuri from him in 1992 back before he advertised in Blade Magazine IIRC. He told me many times to abuse the knife even to destruction if need be and Bill himself destroyed MANY MANY khuks. Flex it in a vice if I was even strong enough, chop nails, bolts, steel cable ect. Because some day in real life you may have to do that with a knife to survive. Knives have been used to cut/chop through steel.
Bill told me of a State Trooper he knew who keept an Ang Khola in his squad car. He used it once (or maybe it was a few times...I can't remember now) to cut/chop open a wrecked car to get to the driver because the jaws of life were to far out. He said that Trooper had to cut through the hinges even.

So these destruction tests are 100% valid! Maybe someday you will be in a burning building and have to chop through cinder block wall to get out....you never know."
 
100% valid in their destruction but the results and ratings are still subjective and controversial.
 
HI knives certainly can hold up to the abuse. Dollar for dollar, you are going to be hard pressed to find a knife that will offer that kind of performance.


That said, Nos' tests are about as valid as pushing a Ford and a Toyota off a cliff and concluding which one is the safest in a fender bender:rolleyes: As a guy who was forced to take umpteen hours of tests and measures in college, improper scientific method and measure makes my skin crawl...but that's just me.

So, Impressive knife, questionable test validity:D
 
Karda said:
100% valid in their destruction but the results and ratings are still subjective and controversial.
Click to expand...

Yes, you are quite right!
but i did say use your head and be true to your hearth when "comparing".

Of-coarse the tests are not fair to every blade, but they give us a sense of how far you can push them well before you need to do so (if ever).
Personally I think the 5(10) is way too low for the AGK. But, I trust my eyes and brain to do the "rating" for me, not someone else, and compare "apples with apples".

Honestly...I bought a HI blade just by reading the posts here, but I will never intentionally do what the "tests" did (unless I really have to). From this point of view, I think the information is viable enough, but again be honest to yourself when watching any reviews as they might be biased and most are.

I also think the makers of this khuk should be proud it did so very well.
It gives me at least, even more faith in the HI products.
And yes, there is room for some improvement, but without some constructive criticism the world would not go forward and everything would be rosy.
UB (RIP) was right to insist on testing them to destruction it keeps check on quality and improvements!
 
I can't see how often I would bang on a khukuri with a sledge hammer. The answer I would give myself is - never.
I do use Khukuris for chopping wood, and find that a nicely sharpened 16" AK will go through maple and still shave hair.
I have an old 15 1/2" model made by Bura that is a travelling KUK. It weighs only 17 oz and has a nice wide blade. The balance is great on this one.
Hit it with a sledge? No Way!
 
What you can glean from that test is this:

Despite him acting like the heat treat was done poorly, a differentially heat treated blade should bend like that and not break.

Also, you have to go to those extremes to destroy such a blade, and in reality, you could probably bang it back mostly into shape, sharpen it and put an impromptu handle on it and use it until you could get something else.
 
In real life you could chop, pry and bash a fence, shed or deck into pieces. Common enough use, I imagine. You could probably cut through the roof of a car to extract somebody if the doors were smashed in. I suppose it might come up. But I've never in my life needed to put something in a vice and beat it to death with a sledge hammer. Not in the back yard. Not camping. Not even when Odin bade me bring bagels to the Fire Giants. They can take a great deal of hard use and even abuse. I think you would have to try to break one. I mean really try. I'm not worried about the strength of my big WWII. Or even the strength of my little siru.

Frank
 
My ol M-43 is still going strong after several years of exceptionaly hard use, plus building two trappers cabins with it and dozens of other shelters. It is still in really good shape after it all too.

Frankly I think Nos's tests are idiotic at best.
 
Steely_Gunz said:
That said, Nos' tests are about as valid as pushing a Ford and a Toyota off a cliff and concluding which one is the safest in a fender bender:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Except that would be more valid and scientific than these tests since you're at least subjecting both products to the same scenario. If you look through his videos, there's not much consistency in Nos' testing methods... so long as you look over the videos with the mindset that they are in no way scientific and pay no head to his opinion but formulate your own based on what you see, then there's a bit of knowledge to be gleaned from them.

Personally, it is still nice to see how much abuse these kukris can take (despite Nos' complete lack of understanding as to how a heat treat works or how the handle twisting wouldn't be happening if he took of his glove :jerkit:)
 
wildmike said:
My ol M-43 is still going strong after several years of exceptionaly hard use, plus building two trappers cabins with it and dozens of other shelters. It is still in really good shape after it all too.

Frankly I think Nos's tests are idiotic at best.
Click to expand...

I agree and I'm still waiting for him to evaluate different types of hammers to see which one works best for cutting grass.
 
First, what kind of jackass spends hard earned money for good knives and then destroys them? I know enough about metallurgy to understand the general limitations of my knives and stay well within them. That is like trying to tow my 8,000+ pound service van with my wife's Honda Civic.:eek: Her car was, is, and has been a fantastic little car since it was built in 1995, but it was not intended for towing, that's why I have my 1977 Ford F100 with the 300 CI inline six, manual trans, and Ford 9" rear end.

Second, who spends the kind of money that an HI Khuk costs, only to destroy it in a display of stupidity? Each HI knife is a one-of-a-kind, hand forged masterpiece.:eek:

I feel like I did 2 days ago,when I was laying on the hot GA pavement, replacing a starter on a hot forklift engine. In other words, I don't know whether to puke or pass out.:mad::barf::thumbdn:

My cheap, Indian made Windlass Steelcrafts Khuk has been used hard for 25-1/2 years. I've chopped and split wood beyond the normal capacity of a knife with it and it's nowhere NEAR the knife that my HI Bonecutter is. I expect that my BC will be going strong long after I take a dirt nap, barring any stupid misuse by my descendants.
HI Khuks deserve a 9.5-10 out of 10. Maybe even 11 or 12 out of 10, if my C-bit, Tamang, and BC are common examples of the HI kamis' craft.
They deserve a 20 out of 10 compared to my cheap Indo-Khuk. I rate it a 10 of 10 for the job it's done since I bought it in Feb 1985, and it's a lightweight compared to my HI knives.


Notice, he bent the blade just in front of the sweet spot and it didn't crack. Also notice he cut that piece of about 1/8" mild steel bar using the area behind the sweet spot. You'd have a hard time cutting through that steel as quickly with a cold chisel, which is actually made for just that.
And he gave it a 5/10???????????????

I'm pretty sure that's not what Uncle Bill had in mind when he said "batonning".
 
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Jaymo said:
First, what kind of jackass spends hard earned money for good knives and then destroys them? I know enough about metallurgy to understand the general limitations of my knives and stay well within them. That is like trying to tow my 8,000+ pound service van with my wife's Honda Civic.:eek: Her car was, is, and has been a fantastic little car since it was built in 1995, but it was not intended for towing, that's why I have my 1977 Ford F100 with the 300 CI inline six, manual trans, and Ford 9" rear end.

Second, who spends the kind of money that an HI Khuk costs, only to destroy it in a display of stupidity? Each HI knife is a one-of-a-kind, hand forged masterpiece.:eek:

I feel like I did 2 days ago,when I was laying on the hot GA pavement, replacing a starter on a hot forklift engine. In other words, I don't know whether to puke or pass out.:mad::barf::thumbdn:
Click to expand...

It's pretty much the youtube culture these days. People will do anything for a bit of attention.

Heck, people buy iphones or other electronics and put them in blenders. At least these knife destruction tests are minimally informative compared to seeing how long a phone lasts in a cuisinart. :)
 
'Tis true. At least "will it blend" is demonstrating how tough he blenders are. Youtube is full of idiots.
 
Jaymo said:
Notice, he bent the blade just in front of the sweet spot and it didn't crack. Also notice he cut that piece of about 1/8" mild steel bar using the area behind the sweet spot. You'd have a hard time cutting through that steel as quickly with a cold chisel, which is actually made for just that.
And he gave it a 5/10???????????????
Click to expand...

As I've said, when using your brain you can still pick up some info you didn't know. Honestly now, how many of you KNEW that the blade won't crack if you do what he did? I bet it won't crack even when you hammer it back straight, but I'm NOT willing to give it a try!!!:)
 
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