Not so straight edges

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kaosu04

Joined
Apr 26, 2005
Messages
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Are most khukris from HI expected to not have a perfectly straight egde? The angle isnt extreme, but its easy to notice. Is this normal? I know in full length swords this much of an angle would cause breakage.
 
How far off center are we talking here?
Keep in mind that while not pretty, these sways in the edge will almost never break. I have a GRS with a bit of a crooked "nose", and it's never gone anywhere. Also, I have a 12" siru where the blade was forged just out of line. used to bug the heck out of me, but it performs just fine. Pics would be helpful.


Jake
 
kaosu04 said:
Are most khukris from HI expected to not have a perfectly straight egde? The angle isnt extreme, but its easy to notice. Is this normal? I know in full length swords this much of an angle would cause breakage.
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They should be straight, but there will be some variation as the hot blade is turned and forged. Kumar's are turned out more than some of the others IMO. You also have to look at the angle of the blade as it attacks the piece you are chopping or cutting. Many times the handle will appear to be turned at an angle to the blade, but when you cut it doesn't matter as the edge is lined up with the work.

Many kukris that I have seen, regardless of the manufacturer, will have some kind of wave to the blade because of the forge, especially a big blade, and sometimes the bevels on each side of the blade will be at different angles, which gives an odd optical illusion as you try to find the edge and it throws your eye off.

Here is what I do: Turn the knife upside down, edge up, and put the last 1/2 or 3/4 of the blade into a padded vise. The blade will now be perfectly straight. Look at the handle. Is it aligned with the blade edge? Or is it turned way out?

Now hold the blade normally and strike a piece of wood gently with it. Is the edge turned to the outside enough that the handle turns in your hand? If so, contact Yangdu and she will make it right.

In my experience as you hold the knife normally, any problems will be manifested with the front part of the blade being turned to the outside, that is to your right if you are right handed. A little can be worked around, but a lot of "turn" can't.

I have some of this on a Tarwar, and you may know more about swords than I do, but the blade is so massive that I figured it would just power through anything it hits, even with the edge to the outside. There is also more forgiveness with a longer blade, at least I thought so.

Feel free to email or PM me if you would like more info.

Regards,

Norm
 

Few are perfectly in-line
if you actually set a straight-edge to the various angles
but most are straight enough to look straight
if you just glance at it without a straight edge to compare

I have one that looks like the path of a drunk walking a straight line
and a varying list to one side & the other :D
dissappointed me at first
but then I just became more accepting of
the sometime variations

many off-line edges even up as the blade is resharpened

myself, never heard of anyone having khuk breakage
or usability problem as a result of any of the
'off' angles or lines.


Talk to Ms Yandu if it really bothers you

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It definitely isnt an illusion, and it is off center when compared to the edge of the blade near the handle, not the handle itself. It doesnt bother me at all, and I realize very few blades of any sort are ever perectly straight. Definitely not worth complaining about and certainly not bad enough to send back. I was just wondering how common it was. The altered angle isnt due to the whole blade, the blade itself is straight. I imagine it's due to problems with sharpening that change the angle. I have a katana with a slightly twisted edge as well, but the blade is straight. Still 100% satisfied with the knife. And I won't be cutting anything with it, so it wouldnt be critical anyways. Svashtar, perhaps someone with more cutting experience could clarify, but everything I have studied (mainly katanas) dictates that the angle at which the edge first contacts a target is very important. People who practice japanese swordsmanship spend a very long time perfecting slices with a wooden sword, and then a metal sharpened "practice" sword before handling a real live blade. Broken katanas are often due to the inability to slice at the right angle.
 
kaosu04 said:
It definitely isnt an illusion, and it is off center when compared to the edge of the blade near the handle, not the handle itself. It doesnt bother me at all, and I realize very few blades of any sort are ever perectly straight. Definitely not worth complaining about and certainly not bad enough to send back. I was just wondering how common it was. The altered angle isnt due to the whole blade, the blade itself is straight. I imagine it's due to problems with sharpening that change the angle. I have a katana with a slightly twisted edge as well, but the blade is straight. Still 100% satisfied with the knife. And I won't be cutting anything with it, so it wouldnt be critical anyways. Svashtar, perhaps someone with more cutting experience could clarify, but everything I have studied (mainly katanas) dictates that the angle at which the edge first contacts a target is very important. People who practice japanese swordsmanship spend a very long time perfecting slices with a wooden sword, and then a metal sharpened "practice" sword before handling a real live blade. Broken katanas are often due to the inability to slice at the right angle.
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Yes, this is what I have seen. The handle is straight, as is the first part of the blade, then the blade turns outward. You can't see it from the spine, but only edge up. They also fit the scabbards perfectly, so that is not an issue. Not sure what model you have and that can make a difference. Try chopping with it if its a kukri and see if it turns in your hand.

I have a couple that are like this but still very functional. Also there may be a rare one that is not functional.

Whatever you decide, the work is guaranteed, which is what makes HI so unique.

Norm
 
Thank you all very much for the quick advice and expertise. I will consider the matter settled. It hadn't occured to me that the twist could be intentional, as I am very new to khukuris and small blades in general. As said before, I wont be chopping at all with this. I expect to keep the edge the same as it was the day I recieved it, so whether or not the intentional twist affects my chopping is irrelevant. And knowing this information has given me a little more respect for HI and the quality of their products.
 
The edge should be straight. Some are not, and the amount is variable. I have a Sanu 25 AK that wanders, and Sanu used to do that.

Any edge failure is to be reported to Yangdu.
If an edge wanders so badly you cannot live with it, or there is any other cosmetic problem with your HI khuk that was not part of the sale, you should always talk to Yangdu. HI has always stood by the customer.


munk
 
kaosu04 said:
Thank you all very much for the quick advice and expertise. I will consider the matter settled. It hadn't occured to me that the twist could be intentional, as I am very new to khukuris and small blades in general. As said before, I wont be chopping at all with this. I expect to keep the edge the same as it was the day I recieved it, so whether or not the intentional twist affects my chopping is irrelevant. And knowing this information has given me a little more respect for HI and the quality of their products.
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Kaosu, it is not intentional. It is caused by the Kami drawing the hot blade across the anvil, and then bearing down too much on the tang end while the front part of the blade is still malleable, causing it to turn outwards.

As Munk and others have said, a certain amount of this is not a problem, and even the best knives will have a bit of variation, but if the front part of the blade is turned out so much that the blade will not cut straight then that should be fixed. Luckily those are _very_ few and far between.

If you are not chopping with it then you could probably go a lifetime and not notice it, especially if it is not extreme.

Regards,

Norm
 
Yangdu is aware of this, and after talking to Norm I feel it's specific to one Kami who will have to return to his former excellence.

I've always believed that if an edge turned to much, it would be prone to breakage because of 'lateral' forces. Sanu was once the Kami Bill thought would be Bura's heir, and Sanu had edges that wandered. Everyone loved Sanu because the blades were so lovely. My 25" AK wanders but has held.


Perhaps over much could be read into this thread because we are in discussion. HI has been around for a long time and sent out God knows how many blades to be hammered in the field. Yangdu has recently written to us with her statement of purpose and support. There is no doubt HI will continue to offer the best and stand by both blades and people.

I'm a loyal cluck who will always say such nice things, but I'm that way because these wonderful khuks spoke to me a long time ago, and they've lasted against all the hard Montana logging abuse I could muster. I don't own any tools I trust more.


munk
 
munk said:
I'm a loyal cluck who will always say such nice things, but I'm that way because these wonderful khuks spoke to me a long time ago, and they've lasted against all the hard Montana logging abuse I could muster. I don't own any tools I trust more.


munk
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That is about the best endorsement anyone could give a hard use tool. The HI "No BS Guarantee" (apologies to Dillon Precision ;) ) is a bit of a nice backup as well, especially as you know you probably won't ever need it.
 
The others have covered this well. I just have one thing to add.

If the twist in the blade is enough to cause noticible torqueing of the knife when chopping, or if the knife tends to glance off target because of the twist, it is dangerous and should be returned.

I highly recommend carefully trying some chopping. If the knife does not seem safe return it.
 
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