My apologies!

Chiro75

Chiro75

Joined
Feb 4, 1999
Messages
5,786
I think my post lead to some misunderstanding from Unlce Bill and a few other HI Forums people. I sincerely did not mean to seem ungrateful in any way. I was frustrated by the lack of performance the BAS Bill sent for testing had, but when he explained about the possibly ruined temper, that seems perfectly plausible. Rereading my post I can see how it could be taken the wrong way, but I invite you guys to read it yet again and see how it could also be totally innocent. I was frustrated that I couldn't put an edge on it, and you know the rest of the story. Again, if I cam off as an ungrateful wretch, then I apologize. I will see if I can't find some files of known hardness and see if my problems are due to a ruined temper or merely using the wrong tools to try and bring the edge back. If I do have to retemper it, the results should be interesting for everyone, I would think. In fact, on a blade that gets a lot of chopping abuse, a retemper every now and then is probably a good idea to relieve stress
in the metal. Anyway, great apologies again. Let's put this misunderstanding behind us and start talking about khukuris again!
smile.gif


------------------
My Custom Kydex Sheath pagehttp://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/1298/knifehome.html
Palmer College of Chiropractic
On Two Wheels
 
Chiro, I didn't see anything improper in your post. It was just a straightforward description of your experience. We need more open discussion like this and it should be encouraged to discuss the negative with the positive as it is the only thing that helps growth. Without posts like this we may never have saw the 18" AK which would have been sad indeed as it is becoming a favorite of mine.

-Cliff

 
Chiro,

I don’t believe apologies are in order. Honesty and courtesy are both virtues, and you do not seem deficient in either. Although it may seem like a bunch of groupies hang out here, it is not so. They are simply people who appreciate quality and honesty.

You provided valuable information in your post. I can’t say I’m surprised that the blade lost much of its quality after having the edge ground on a bench grinder. We know how much care the kamis put into heat treating the edge, and a bench grinder can heat the edge very hot in just an instant.

Your experiments have illustrated one of the qualities that differentiates a high-quality khukuri from its cheaper brethren. If the temper of the edge is removed it becomes a much less valuable implement. Bill has mentioned how on older khukuris in constant use, some the edge is worn past the tempered region and the blade must be sent in to have the edge rehardened. I don’t think mine will ever see that much use, due to my lifestyle.

Chiro, I will be disappointed if your future posts are any less straightforward and honest than your past ones.

Peace be with you.

Howard
 
:
Huh? What?I am like Cliff.I didn't see anything like that either. Just a review on an old BAS that Uncle admitedly tested to wreck and ruin.
He even said the when he ground it that it discolored the blade. That usually has the immediate effect of removing the hardness and temper from any steel.

Chiro you can also test the hardness by uing a file on a blade you know is hard.See how it either cuts or slides off of it.
Then check the BAS blade in seveal places along the edge.It should be softer towards the handle and then harder as you come to the curve.there should be an area of hardness 'till you get close to the point to where it should become softer again.
If you have a very good file it should just barely file the steel if it is very hard.
My 18" AK is just about perfect IMO and a very good sharp file will just barely cut it at the place it should be hard. This is done with both hands and a concentrated effort.
I would guess this area to be between 58 to 60 Rc.This is perfect for me,but could border on being a little to hard for use by a Nepali farmer.
Over the years continued sharpening
will make it softer by removing the harder steel.
Uncle has remarked before on some Kuhkuri's looking almost like Rapiers,because they had been hardened again and again over the years using up the knife.
I suspect after all that a good Kami could take several old worn out Kuhkuri's and make a brand new one from them by forge welding them together if it was needed.


------------------


>>>>---¥vsa---->®
The civilized man sleeps behind locked doors in the city while the naked savage sleeps (with a knife) in a open hut in the jungle.
 
No apology needed. I sent the knife with no guarantee because it had never been up to HI quality standards which is why it was tested severely in the first place. I thought you might be able to use it for something. If you want to reheat and reharden I'd like to hear what success you have with this.

Uncle Bill
 
Chiro, I think both you and Uncle Bill have been clear. It's good to show respect for one another and periodically doublecheck to make sure you didn't offend. Though some of us have bad days when we go out of our way to misunderstand what is said, the folks here are pretty good at understanding intent.

I may owe you an apology for this, but you are doing the same jackass headed stuff I'd be likely to pull. Please don't stop. I'd much rather watch what happens when you do things and learn from that than make my own mistakes. I think I've got a lot of company. Uncle Bill related when he got into khuks he tried everything out himself, as you are doing. He probably has a lot of knowlege that has been forgotten, but will be recalled after you do something similar.

Uncle Bill, there's no such thing as a free lunch. And Chiro is paying you back with interest for the BAS by reporting everything that happens. That free knife is going to be pretty darn expensive. I know. The gift villager Cliff gave me is the most expensive knife I've got cause of all the time I've spent working on it. Rusty
 
So guess what absolute idiot just pulled the handle off of his villager a few minutes ago?
 
Keep at it, Rusty. We know that generally the freebies and bargains in the end cost us more one way or the other.

Uncle Bill
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top