my Kobra died

S

slow1

Joined
May 12, 2000
Messages
178
I broke my Kobra today
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I was trying to split a 2x4 in half lengthwise, and it broke at the cho. I definately got my money out of it. A lesser knife would have broke LONG ago. Luckily my YCS came in the mail yesterday, so I'll just "upgrade". I can't have a knife, that I wont use
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What size Kobra and who was Kamis? How long have you had the knife?

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Watakushi Wa Shinajin Desu
DeathDancer
 
Hmmmmm...

I haven't got the chance to try out my new kobra. I think that I will save this one for light, machete work, or for weapon use. The same goes for the 25" siupati.

You have got to tell us about the new YCS. This is one of those that I don't have yet.
 
I don't have a YCS either, but it's on the top of my list (a basic no-frills one, though). If Yvsa designed it, you know it's a real performer. I have the utmost respect for that guy. He has a couple lifetimes worth of experience that he freely shares with others. He has saved me from making a lot of dumb mistakes with his advice.

My $.02--Sorry for going off-topic, but he deserves to be bragged on.
 
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Awww shucks.
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smile.gif

You guys are much too kind.

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>>>>---Yvsa-G@WebTV.net---->®

"VEGETARIAN".............
Indin word for lousy hunter.
 
:
And Uncle Bill is right, the Kobra shouldn't fail. But or however, the Kobra being almost sword like should be treated more like a sword imo.
I would hesitate to use one for something as stressful as splitting some 2x4's might be, especially if any lateral force is applied.
The worst that could happen is what happened with Slow1's and the least is that such lateral force could bend the blade.

I used to use my mom's Old Hickory
Butcher knife for making bows and arrows and applied lateral force to it many times up close to the handle. But I was always careful to watch the knife's bend and not to overstress it.
I am still amazed at what those old knives could and can stand up to.
And during the years of the mountain men it would have been considered a survival knife which it was and is.
We're spoiled with the blades and steels of today's world and especialy HI Khukuri's.
smile.gif



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>>>>---Yvsa-G@WebTV.net---->®

"VEGETARIAN".............
Indin word for lousy hunter.
 
On ¥vsa: I agree, he is a great guy and very knowledgeable.

On the Kobra: chopping a 2x4 would be outside the performance envelope for this khukuri and something I would not subject this graceful style to.

Harry
 
The same thing caused the discontinuation of the 30 inch kobra. The kamis warned me not to make it saying, "this is a sword that looks like a khukuri and people will try to use it as a khukuri because it looks like one and it will fail."

Short take: They were right and I was wrong. Folks tried to use it as they would an Ang Khola and bent a couple so we stopped making them. The kobra is a fighter and not really a general utility knife. Use it as you would a sword or fighting blade and you'll be fine. Even the shorter versions are really short swords that look like khukuris.

But the HI guarantee stays in effect and I'll replace the knife.

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Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ
Himalayan Imports Archives (33,000 + posts)
 
My kobra was about 6 months old, and made by Kumar. Looking back, I was using the wrong tool for the job
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, so I can't blame the knife. Should have used my YCS
smile.gif
. It's one monster of a khuk. 3/8" thick, and 17" long. It was one of the UBDOTD's, from a few days back. It doesn't feel any heavier than my 20" Siru. I can't wait to try this one out! I sure do thank Uncle Bill, for his offer to replace my Kobra. H.I. has got an unbeatable guarantee!
 
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Yup, the 18"AK is one helluva khukuri and is still my favorite down and dirty work blade!!!
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I know the YCS is a good chopper and to me chops like a much heavier khukuri. I think what the YCS lacks in weight it makes up in speed.
But I am really anxious to hear some more reports from the field as to what other people experience with the YCS.


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>>>>---Yvsa-G@WebTV.net---->®

"VEGETARIAN".............
Indin word for lousy hunter.
 
What length of Kobra was it?

As I may just possibly have mentioned before once or twice, I've used my 25" Kobra for everything up to & including felling lumber; it's been used as a crowbar, a wedge for splitting logs, a hammer; I've cut up oil drums with it to make poultry feeders; it sees hard use for at least eight hours every week, and I can't imagine anything I'm ever likely to do that'd break it. With respect, I'd have to take issue with anyone who reckons the 25" Kobra is only suitable for light work and martial arts practice.
 
Hey Tom good to see you post again.

Just out of curiostiy, who made your kobra? Did kumar make it or was it some one else?
 
Originally posted by Matt Matheny:
Just out of curiostiy, who made your kobra? Did kumar make it or was it some one else?

Well, the blade is unmarked, so I'm guessing. Actually, strictly speaking my Kobra was a blem; it was made out of a big file, and it turned out a bit scruffy-looking. I'm pretty sure Kumar made it, because it has various signs of Kumar-in-a-hurry I've noticed from other, marked blades.

(NB; I'm 99.9% certain this one was made out of a file, not marked with ornamental cross-hatching, like some of Kumar's work, for example my 30" Kobra. On the 25", you can still feel the cutting edge of some of the file teeth, not to mention residual traces of the edge teeth on the back - he tried to grind them all out, but some were hammered in too deep. It's possible that this Kobra's ability to withstand extreme abuse is because it's made of file steel rather than spring - I've used a lot of (Western) file steel myself and it's darned good stuff. However; I suspect that at least some of the files the kamis use are hand-made by them or their colleagues - the spacing of the teeth on my Kobra strongly suggests they're hand-cut - in which case they could well be made out of the same material as khuks, ie truck spring. Bill; do the kamis make their own files?)
Click to expand...
 
Tom, I'm not sure if the kamis make their own files or not. I do know that some files made in India are bought and used in BirGorkha but there are some of the village kamis who I'm sure would prefer to make their own files rather than use some of the rather low grade Indian files which wear out at an alarming rate.

And thanks for report on your kobra use. Personally, I'd opt for the 18 inch AK for the down and dirty heavy work but if the kobra holds up it's easier to handle for long periods of time.

I'd like the see the failed kobra. I am guessing the kami who made it might have got the blade too hard too far back. This sometimes happens and if the cho area is too hard you are asking for trouble.

At any rate, the HI guarantee is in effect no matter what and I'll be happy to replace the knife.

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Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ
Himalayan Imports Archives (33,000 + posts)
 
I have often wondered if the cho would lend itself to a structural deficiency... I guess if the steel was hardened too much and the blade was thin enough/long enough, as in the case of the kobra, it may well do so....
Is it possible to get a kobra that is cho-less?

Peace-
Cam
 
Orion, the kamis wouldn't consider a choless khukuri a khukuri, so I wouldn't think it possible.

Bob

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The Milk Snake: Beautiful, harmless, good-natured, eats venomous snakes for lunch.
 
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