Kukri Interest?

JK Knives

JK Knives

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I am considering making a Kukri, but am limited by the size of my forge. Do you guys think 14" overall, with a 9" blade is large enough, or not?
 
JK Knives said:
I am considering making a Kukri, but am limited by the size of my forge. Do you guys think 14" overall, with a 9" blade is large enough, or not?
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That sounds like a really handy size. If it is heavy enough and balanced right it should be a great size for backpacking.
I've been spending quite a bit of time perusing the HI forums lately and from what I'm reading it fits with some of the smaller ones that they put out.
 
Seems like it would be a good a size, I would think a bolo pattern would be better balanced in that length yet still achieve some good chopping power. Of course that is pure conjecture on my part because I have neither of those.
 
I would not be in the market until after we make the XD, but that size sounds reasonable.

How much room do you have to make the curvature, assuming you would have to start with a large enough dimension of stock to cut out the trademark Kukri shape.

As Mack said, that would be right in the ballpark of the HI stuff in size. They typically make them very thick, and heavy.

best

mqqn
 
mqqn said:
I would not be in the market until after we make the XD, but that size sounds reasonable.

How much room do you have to make the curvature, assuming you would have to start with a large enough dimension of stock to cut out the trademark Kukri shape.

As Mack said, that would be right in the ballpark of the HI stuff in size. They typically make them very thick, and heavy.

best

mqqn
Click to expand...

I was thinking starting with 3/16" x 3" stock.
 
JK,

Which profile do you want to do?
I reckon for a compact size, a 15" or 16" makes an all-rounder to a well-proportioned Kukri.
One might ask why not 12.5"? Most Gurkhas are using their traditional blades from 12- 18" OAL and majority of them prefers 16.5".

If you can nail the profile of M-43, a full tang blade with a full curve from pommel to tip, you've got a very nasty chopper with very least force used for maximum damage.

MkIIgrouppic.jpg


Picture courtesy of JDK1, a khuk addict.
 
3/16 might be a little too thin. I think 1/4" would be the minimum for my taste. I have one on the way from HI that is 16.5" overall and 36oz. I haven't measured it but I'm betting it's nearly 1/2" thick.
 
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1/4" would put it way too costly to sell, so I`ll put this on the back burner for a bit.
 
JK Knives said:
1/4" would put it way too costly to sell, so I`ll put this on the back burner for a bit.
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It's a great idea but, it may not be possible to compete with the guys already making them. I have no idea how the HI people can sell them for as little as they do. If you made one with the same size of steel and everything else it would cost more to make than theirs sell for.
 
I have a 15" kukri sirupati.

It is a bit light for me @ 5-10 and 15 lbs.


However I think it's a great size for camping and such.
 
I could easily see a JK Parang at 3/16ths with a 3in wide 9in blade. That would be a little bit of awesome.
[video=youtube;RXmY-kqE3qs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXmY-kqE3qs[/video]
 
I personally like parangs over kukris myself. From what I've seen, just from vids, parangs seem to be more practical. I might be wrong, but it seems like parangs have somewhat comparable chopping power and is lighter. However, if I ever needed to chop zombie heads off I'd go with a kukri for sure.
 
For zombies, they make 30+" kukri's that are 'martial arts' favored meaning they are lighter than the average kukri in comparison.

A 30" light kukri is FAST.
 
While on the topic of "different" blade shapes how about a barong style blade like the cold steel machete? I have the cold steel and it's my favorite machete, would love to get one made that's more like a knife than a machete(thicker blade, micarta or G10 handles, etc)

ETA: I think one with an 8" blade would be great, my favorite length for larger knives, and fits in a spec ops sheath.

cs97ba12s_op.jpg
 
something along the lines of a jungle knife/enep or bolo in 5/32 or 3/16" by 3" stock would be killer.
 
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