RC for a chopper? Khukuri flared handle?

C

CanDo

Joined
Mar 10, 2006
Messages
913
Hey guys,
I'm looking into buying a chopper (most likely a khukuri), and was wondering what sort of hardness would be ideal. This will be an outdoor's knife mainly for cutting limbs and splitting kindling.

Also what do you think about khukuri's handles that flare at the end? It looks to me as though the flare on the back would get in the way while chopping. How are they in actual use?

Thanks,
CanDo
 
Head over to the HI forum for tips from a bunch of khookheads!

The khuks I have, and I have quite a few, are hand made and hand tempered from salvaged steel, so exact hardness, etc., varies.

Generally though, they are made to be working tools which need to be maintained and sharpened with use. They are usually differentially hardened, with the edge harder than the spine to allow the blade to take a pretty good beating.

I use mine on our place to chop wood, cut back saplings, and limb trees.

As i said, head over to the HI forum and ask around.

Andy

Sorry, forgot to answer your question about the ends of the handles... generally they are no problem when chopping. If you happen to get one that has a sharp edge or point to the handle, that can easily be taken care of using a little sandpaper or a file, worst case.
 
Thank you Andrew for the input. I'll be heading over HI, and see what they have to say.
 
The hardness of kukris will vary as Andy said. Uncle Bill (from Himalayan Imports) used to test the rockwell hardness and if I recall correctly they were around 58-60, although personally rockwell hardness is one of the last things I look for in a knife, so long as it's properly heat treated it will be fine.

I prefer larger flare at the end of the handle then whats more common among modern kukri as it really doesn't get in the way and it provides more secure grip (along with more curved handle and larger center ring). I use light wrist snapping chops when using a kukri that really let the blade do all the work and having a wider pommel helps.

Defiantly head over the the HI forum, they are a helpful and friendly bunch.
 
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