Panawal or Ang Khola?

V

Vishalk

Joined
Apr 29, 2001
Messages
3
is it true that the handles with rivets/pins instead of a full hidden tang are weaker? thanx.
 
Welcome to the cantina, Vishalk.

The chiruwa (full exposed tang with pins) style probably is stronger at the handle-blade junction than the concealed "rat-tail" tang knives. With knives made like HI's, that means they'll stand up to having two elephants sit on them, rather than one.

They also come with disadvantages . . . add weight, transmit more vibration, shifts the balance closer to the handle which some might welcome and some might find robs chopping power.

Yvsa's a big proponent of the tail tang and he'll likely weigh in.

Again, welcome. Set a spell, you'll like it here.
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[This message has been edited by DocPat2511 (edited 05-19-2001).]
 
Disclaimer, I think I have a biased opinion against Chiruwa style.

A Chiruwa handle takes more moisture into handles, and exposed handle material contacts your hand constantly. Both may lead to rust the tang itself and tang pins more easily than a concealed tang.

Handle strength isn't propotionate to its structure linearly as it's determined by the strength of the weakest part, not by the summary of the strength of each part. In this point of view, A Chiruwa tang seems losing more merit than it gets, compared to rat-tail tang to me.

All said that I believe true, but I also believe the dfference makes no visible difference of performance among HI khukuris.

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Otokohadaremo yumenofunanori.
Shonennohinoakogare shinutokimade wasurezunidaiterumonodayo.
 
If you're just starting out, I'd suggest you get a hidden-tang knife. I started out with a prejudice that "full-tang=better," and have two sirupatis with both types of handle.

I'm being won around to the hidden tang. Part of the reason is that, after handling both knives, I'm pretty well convinced they will both see me into the ground. I doubt the difference in strength means anything in human terms, and the chiruwa tang does add weight.

Also, I'm not sure the chiruwa tang changes LATERAL strength that much, but somebody with more engineering brains would know better than me.
 
I've found it interesting that even though the chiruwa tang handle is easier to make the kamis prefer by far to make a khukuri with the tapered tang. I think they are looking down the road. They know the tapered tang will be plenty strong enough and will feel better in the hand of the user after a long day's work. Kamis use the khukuri extensively themselves so they speak from the experience of both make and user.

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