Mini RBK

knifejunkie1928

knifejunkie1928

Joined
Feb 15, 2015
Messages
1,369
So at one of gatherings I was talking to Ethan about kukris, specifically the original Reinhardt kukri from Blackjack made in Japan. I believe I asked him something like did Hank and Blackjack ever make a smaller version? He said they did, but they only prototyped it. Maybe Blackjack went bankrupt before it was ever made, or maybe they didn't want to put it into full production idk.

Anyway this last June I was very lucky and found one of the prototypes. It is incredible. Even though it may not look like it, the mini is the exact shape as the larger version just cut down. I love kukris, but I have a very hard time finding ones I actually like and that work well. I could tell just by holding it, this was THE kukri for me. The shape, weight, balance, and length checked all the boxes. Only thing I didn't like was that it had the same rubber handle of the original.

So fast forward to now. I have a bk21, its used but not much. Like many others I found the bk21 to be a great tool, but in the end too heavy for me. I didn't like swinging it and I didn't like carrying it. So I thought I would sacrifice my bk21 in the efforts of making a mini Reinhardt/Becker kukri. So I traced out the outline of the mini over my bk21 and started cutting. The inner re-curve on my original and mini Reinhardt kukri has slightly less hight and more curve than the kabar bk21.

and sorry I can never remember to get good WIP photos.

The original with the mini
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Size reference
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The family shot
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Starting the grind in line with the old one was tricky.
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Starting to put on the edge with the Worksharp blade grinder.
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Got the weight almost perfect.
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More photos in the next post.
 
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So here it is. I've been beating on it for the past hour and it's awesome!

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Here they are stacked, almost a perfect match.
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Here you can see I just barely didn't take the inner curve in high enough.
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and here you can see I didn't drop the point as low.
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Here it is over the Blackjack Becker kukri.
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Really like the idea of tweaking and modifing, but aren't you making a bk4?

I don't have a 21 yet, but for some reason I want to see the top spine flat and not arched..... But really idk what I'm talking about, haha
 
Few more photos.

Comparison with a bk16
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Cut myself with it within the first 5 minutes of it being sharp. A smart person would have realized the original sheath would not fit it any more haha not me.
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The tip where you can see the grind angle.

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just went back to the grinder to try and smooth some of the grind lines out with a finer grit.

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Here it is with the tip I cut off.

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oh here's a question. What do I make out of this?

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Looks like a good adjustment to get good use out of it ... always amazes me how many members are skilled and have the foresight to think of these projects ... most of my ideas end up staying as ideas ... :thumbsup:

but I'll be glad when (if) life settles back to some what normal and can try some new things hopefully this year.
 
Crag the Brewer said:
Really like the idea of tweaking and modifing, but aren't you making a bk4?

I don't have a 21 yet, but for some reason I want to see the top spine flat and not arched..... But really idk what I'm talking about, haha
Click to expand...

Totally see your point there is lots of merit in having a straight spine. The bk4 is still my all time favorite. This mini RBK is close to the bk4 but its a bit heavier and longer.
 
Very impressive work there knifejunkie! From mystically acquiring the rare proto to the well-thought and accomplished rework you've made us all green with envy! :D
I've never owned nor even handled a Kukri of any make/model- you've piqued my curiosity to look into them deeper. Closest I've come to that level of rework is a done-with-handheld tools transformation of a Cold Steel G.I. Tanto a year ago (still pretty proud of the results of that job.)

Gotta throw in one question tho'... same one some knucklehead ALWAYS poses in a post like this... Are ya confident the heat-treat is still intact after that measure of grinding? I assume you took care not to allow the blade to become overly friction-heated. ;)
 
LoneWolf X said:
Very impressive work there knifejunkie! From mystically acquiring the rare proto to the well-thought and accomplished rework you've made us all green with envy! :D
I've never owned nor even handled a Kukri of any make/model- you've piqued my curiosity to look into them deeper. Closest I've come to that level of rework is a done-with-handheld tools transformation of a Cold Steel G.I. Tanto a year ago (still pretty proud of the results of that job.)

Gotta throw in one question tho'... same one some knucklehead ALWAYS poses in a post like this... Are ya confident the heat-treat is still intact after that measure of grinding? I assume you took care not to allow the blade to become overly friction-heated. ;)
Click to expand...

I'm very confident the heat treat is still good. This ain't my first rodeo haha. I have a few other beckers I've done other drastic mods to and I beat all them like an ugly step child. I keep a 5 gallon bucket of water by my feet and dunk it in every few seconds.
 
knifejunkie1928 said:
Few more photos.

Comparison with a bk16
View attachment 1047851
Cut myself with it within the first 5 minutes of it being sharp. A smart person would have realized the original sheath would not fit it any more haha not me.
View attachment 1047857

The tip where you can see the grind angle.

View attachment 1047852

View attachment 1047853

View attachment 1047854

just went back to the grinder to try and smooth some of the grind lines out with a finer grit.

View attachment 1047855

Here it is with the tip I cut off.

View attachment 1047856

oh here's a question. What do I make out of this?

View attachment 1047858
Click to expand...

Seeing the cutoff tip Should be manditory....good job!
 
Same KJ you’re a braver man than I lol. That blackjack proto looks pretty badass. Awesome work replicating it. Just needs more action pics!
 
Yeah kj! I'am amazed too how you find all the rare and scarce Blades that you find :thumbsup: GOOD STUFF and GREAT WORK kj! Thanks for sharing all your COOL FINDS ;)
 
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