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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.
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Khukuri Education
- Thread starter Cave
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I believe that was a typo but I could be wrong.
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Originally posted by MauiRob
I notice that Cave said "handles" plural, must be Chiruwa! The only way to go
ROB!!!!!!! You and I need to talk!!!!
Seriously do you really prefer chiruwa handles?
No, really I do understand some people's preference for a full tang blade, and for absolutely no reason other than they like them.
I once did myself for several years, still do in a very few instances, but then I learned the values of a full rat tail tang as well as dispelling some myths of the full tang
blade I held.
However there are some distinct reasons for making a full tang knife no matter it's particular style or even to go as far to, dare I
say......... "tradition?" No matter how far in the past those traditions may go?
One reason that first comes to mind is that someone may have some exquisite very valuable rare material that only comes in a size that will only accommodate a full tang blade and that will absolutely bring to life a blade that may otherwise be a plain non-descript everyday knife to many people.
(A good case in point, in a reversed instance, for the rat tail tang is the Canary Island's knife where it would be impossible to make a full tang knife with that sort of handle.)
Another reason is to make the handle slabs removable for cleaning in some applications where a rat tail tang just wouldn't be suitable for use because of a potential corrosive atmosphere or the like.
A special application diver's knife perhaps would be a good example in this case.
Otherwise the old faithful rat tail tang, properly made, serves the needs for anyone's use of a knife.
Properly made the rat tail tang is just as strong as the full tang.
However you might be interested to know that in Cave's instance I came within a hair of recommending a chiruwa style handle. And for the very reason I stated above where the original handle slabs could be removed and replaced with something much more durable like Micarta and the original pins replaced with screws to make the handles easily removed for cleaning and applying a preservative to the steel underneath the handle slabs.
Especially if used under severe conditions which the jungle and cave diving will surely provide.
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Is that why the chiruwa has the pins through the handle? Because of the thicker tang you can put pins in it, yes?
The rat tail is not pinned because it's thinner.
Am I correct? Is there a lightbulb above my head? Or is the porch light on and no one is home?
The rat tail is not pinned because it's thinner.
Am I correct? Is there a lightbulb above my head? Or is the porch light on and no one is home?
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Well I was gonna tease you a little Bruise, but will answer correctly as I should.
The Chiruwa tang is a full tang that's the same width and shape as the wood slabs pinned on each side of the steel.
It's often thinner than the rat tail tang which is still quite large and gets it's name because the tang gradually gets thinner, not by much and tapers towards the end of the handle where the butt cap and keeper is peened over with the end of the tang.
The Chiruwa handles vibrate more in the hand under use and the slabs are subject to shrinking sometimes which draws them back from the edges leaving the sharp edges of the steel sticking out on both sides.
The only way to fix the problem is to either install new slabs or grind or file down the steel on each side.
To see an excellent example of a chiruwa style handle check out the Falcata thread where the handle is Chiruwa style out of necessity because there's no way to make the tang a rat tail style because of the hook at the rear of the handle.
The rat tail tang reduces vibration, is just as strong when properly made, and has the advantage of the handle material surrounding the steel.
That helps when it's cold outside and you have to work without gloves and because there's no steel on either side the handle is much warmer and more comfortable to use.
Another nice benefit is just the opposite of the Chiruwa handles where two smaller pieces of material can be fitted to each side the RTT is/can be covered by a single unbroken piece of very unusual beautifully grained wood or other material, such as ivory.
Of course Ivory is beautiful on whatever style tang there is.
The Chiruwa tang is a full tang that's the same width and shape as the wood slabs pinned on each side of the steel.
It's often thinner than the rat tail tang which is still quite large and gets it's name because the tang gradually gets thinner, not by much and tapers towards the end of the handle where the butt cap and keeper is peened over with the end of the tang.
The Chiruwa handles vibrate more in the hand under use and the slabs are subject to shrinking sometimes which draws them back from the edges leaving the sharp edges of the steel sticking out on both sides.
The only way to fix the problem is to either install new slabs or grind or file down the steel on each side.
To see an excellent example of a chiruwa style handle check out the Falcata thread where the handle is Chiruwa style out of necessity because there's no way to make the tang a rat tail style because of the hook at the rear of the handle.
The rat tail tang reduces vibration, is just as strong when properly made, and has the advantage of the handle material surrounding the steel.
That helps when it's cold outside and you have to work without gloves and because there's no steel on either side the handle is much warmer and more comfortable to use.
Another nice benefit is just the opposite of the Chiruwa handles where two smaller pieces of material can be fitted to each side the RTT is/can be covered by a single unbroken piece of very unusual beautifully grained wood or other material, such as ivory.
Of course Ivory is beautiful on whatever style tang there is.
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Go ahead and tease, it makes things more interesting.
I can take it and my mom is close by if I can't. snif.
I can take it
and my mom is close by if I can't. snif.
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- Oct 13, 1999
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Cave I can understand you finding the khuk almost too beautiful to use. I got an uncle of mine a 16.5" WWII about a year ago and to this day he still hasn't used it because he finds the blade just too pretty to use. About the worst he'll do to it is fondle it. 
Next time he's out my way I'll have to take him and his khuk camping to show he what he's been missing.
Bob
Next time he's out my way I'll have to take him and his khuk camping to show he what he's been missing. Bob
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Yvsa,
I think the main reason I like the chiruwa handles is luck and inexperience with bad versions of them. I have my beloved 15" Ak with chiruwa handles that is absolutely perfect. Thats the one with the deep ruby red "cherry" slabs. THe fit of slabs to tang is flawless, but the real selling point is the BALANCE! It is balanced so perfectly!!
What you say about vibration makes perfect sense. I would ammend my recommedation to limit it to smaller choppers like mine, or "weapon" style khuks where balance and handling are primary considertions over vibration reduction. Or maybe it is just my one knife that is so well balanced?
BTW, the shrinkage you mentioned--does that happen with wood, or is that a Horn problem?
I think the main reason I like the chiruwa handles is luck and inexperience with bad versions of them. I have my beloved 15" Ak with chiruwa handles that is absolutely perfect. Thats the one with the deep ruby red "cherry" slabs. THe fit of slabs to tang is flawless, but the real selling point is the BALANCE! It is balanced so perfectly!!
What you say about vibration makes perfect sense. I would ammend my recommedation to limit it to smaller choppers like mine, or "weapon" style khuks where balance and handling are primary considertions over vibration reduction. Or maybe it is just my one knife that is so well balanced?
BTW, the shrinkage you mentioned--does that happen with wood, or is that a Horn problem?
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Bro, you sure make life easy for me. Thanks.
Wow. Yvsa, I was going to say that an advantage of a full tang was for hammering, but I guess with khukuris you can simply turn the blade around and use the spine. How silly of me.
I keep forgetting what a wonderful design these knives are, and can't wait for Monday, when I can mail a check to Uncle Bill. Woo Hoo!
I keep forgetting what a wonderful design these knives are, and can't wait for Monday, when I can mail a check to Uncle Bill. Woo Hoo!
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Whatever works.
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Originally posted by swede79
Wow. Yvsa, I was going to say that an advantage of a full tang was for hammering, but I guess with khukuris you can simply turn the blade around and use the spine. How silly of me.
"How silly of me."
Not at all Swede.
Actually that's one of the better reasons to have a full tang knife such as the H.I. AK Bowie.
But it doesn't have to be 'full tanged' to have a hammer pommel.
I have a Q225 Catteragus made Quartermaster's knife made over 50 years ago.
It has a 'hidden' tang in that the leather washers surround it just like the old Kabar's handle's.
However the tang is straight instead of tapered and with a really ingenius lock and mounting on the pommel which can absolutely be used for hammering, And as 'hard' as you can with it.
It's not a weak system in any way and IMO probably the absolute best worlds of both the chiruwa and rat tail tangs!!!!
The pommel is in 3 pieces. The first heavy washer just slides over the end. The next one slides over and then is turned 90* on the tang to 'lock' it in place. The 3rd and last heavy washer goes straight in and then is fastened with two heavy headed nails with very sharp points that goes through all three heavy washers and is locked into the leather quite a ways.
The reason I know this and and also the reason I can guarantee that this is probably the best of both worlds of tangs is because another kid and myself took it on ourselves to 'take one of these apart' so we could put on a 'prettier' handle.
The onlyest excuse I can offer is the ignorance of youth. I look back on that episode and cringe with horror at what we did to a wonderfully made knife.
And the reason I know it has to be one of the best if not 'The Best' handle and tang design is because it took us several hours to get it apart!!!!
And I'm sure you are aware just how dangerous a couple of young boys with a shop full of tools can be at destroying something and just how quickly they can do so.
And if any of y'all ever get a chance to pick one of these up at a reasonable price ( I got mine for $40.00*, a great price considering its condidtion!!!!!!!) I encourage y'all to do so.
This is one of the absolute finest knives you will ever get to own. It's not a fancy knife and the steel is 1095, But it's 1095 that's 50 years old or older and has had time for the steel to completely stabilize.
This knife also passes the ABS test of sharpening it to hair shaving sharp, chopping two 2"X4"s in two and still shave!!!!
*The day I got mine at a gun show I checked around and found about 5 of these old knives.
None of them were as nice as the one I got and one in particular that some ignorant fool used a bench grinder, ruining it IMO, on was priced at $85.00!!!!!!
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Many thanks, Bro.
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Remember the old saying, "one man's junk is another man's treasure."