Khukuri Steel?

J

James Mattis

Joined
Oct 3, 1998
Messages
3,264
I remember a couple of years ago that the preferred steel for H.I. khukuris was OMBS (old Mercedes-Benz spring). Is that still the raw material, or what are the kamis using nowadays? (I presumably have missed a thread or three on this.)

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- JKM
www.chaicutlery.com
AKTI Member # SA00001
 
Still the steel of choice at BirGorkha. Somewhere not so long ago I posted a picture of some "stock" -- probably buried in the archives.

Most shops do not use springs even though they may say they do. They prefer to use rail or lesser steel as it is much easier to work than the MB springs.

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Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ
 
The picture in question showed a truck leaf spring standing on end and significantly taller than the young-adult apprentice (?) holding it up with a big grin.

It's Mercedes TRUCK springs
smile.gif
.

Jim

[This message has been edited by Jim March (edited 04-17-2000).]
 
Great pic! So does BirGorkha pick up its steel from the local auto yard, or where?

Also, how do the kamis determine the superior quality of the MB springs? Does it respond to forging and heat treatment differently, or does it show only in the performance of the finished khukuri?

Curious --
Glen
 
"Most shops do not use springs even though they may say they do. They prefer to use rail or lesser steel as it is much easier to work than the MB springs."

Do I take this to mean that most OTHER shops use non-spring steel, but the HI shops still do? Or do HI shops vary their steel as well?

Just curious...I'm certain that both of my khukuris (the one i have and the one I await) can take whatever I dish out to them, whatever the kamis made them from.

Mike


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"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." -Robert Heinlein
 
I don't know from experience myself but the kamis tell me the MB springs make the best khukuri. By contrast, they will not use a spring off a Tata, the Indian made vehicles.

When we were first getting BirGorkha going some of the kamis did not really understand our concept of quality over everything else, including quantity. They told us they could double of triple their production if we used rails or lesser steel that was easier for them to work than the MB springs. And, we told them this is exactly what we did NOT want. Today the kamis understand fully that quality is the number one consideration above all else.

Mike, you read it correctly. Most shops do not use springs. BirGorkha uses only MB srings.

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Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ
 
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