Reinhardt Teaser

DOC-CANADA said:
I'm afraid I have to disagree with that, at least as it pertains to the Machax. I own both, and I bet most on this forum, that own both, would also disagree. A poll perhaps?

The 1/4" version has a advantage when chopping and batoning. (By 1/4", I'm referring to the Cinci version, not the Camillus - I think there may be some differences.)

Also, when Ethan designed the Machax, he wanted,: "a tool to I can use for everything - chopping and whittling as well as a froe, hammer or prybar." (Ethan Becker as quoted in American Survival Guide, January 1989) Personally, I would feel a lot better prying with 1/4" steel, than 3/16" and I expect Ethan does as well which would explain why the BK-3 is 1/4" thick.

Doc
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HAHA, you just barely beat me :D You gave a better response anyways... My explanation would be pointing to competition knives and bladesports and that would get way off topic, so i kept it simple LOL
 
In all of my experiences .25" doesn't allow anymore advantages than .188". I would still be willing to bet that the 9 out chops the Cinci version 4. I only wish I could compare them myself. And speaking of the "tool" usefulness... if you can snap .188" stock I'm willing to bet you could snap .25" stock, and I'm not talking about just busting the tips off. Probably why the 3 doesn't have a tip.
 
Given everything else is the same heavy out chops light.
Over at HI forum it shows that again and again when people compare Kukris with the same length but different thicknesses.
Light even though faster bounces of harder wood while heavy blades have more momentum and penetrate enough to break out chunks. Each swing takes more power but you need way less swings. Overall it's very less tiring and much faster to chop with a heavy Kuk.

However if you only use a Kuk for light work and brush clearing then a light blade is of advantage. Still good enough to destroy twigs and light enough to swing it very often without fatigue. Kind of like a machete.

Based on the kind of work you want to do different blades will perform differently.

For typical Kukri kind of work I prefer heavy blades.
 
DOC-CANADA said:
I'm afraid I have to disagree with that, at least as it pertains to the Machax. I own both, and I bet most on this forum, that own both, would also disagree. A poll perhaps?

The 1/4" version has an advantage when chopping and batoning. (By 1/4", I'm referring to the Cinci version, not the Camillus - I think there may be some differences.)

Also, when Ethan designed the Machax, he wanted,: "a tool to I can use for everything - chopping and whittling as well as a froe, hammer or prybar." (Ethan Becker as quoted in American Survival Guide, January 1989) Personally, I would feel a lot better prying with 1/4" steel, than 3/16" and I suspect Ethan does as well which would explain why the BK-3 is 1/4" thick. Also, the weight of the 1/4" version, would make it a better hammer.

In my opinion, the Cincinatti version of the Machax got everything right. I can't think of anything that would be an improvement. Heck, even the handle slabs are grippier and more comfortable.

Just my take, of course,

Doc
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What he said...

I came to the party decades ago and the Machax was my entry vehicle.

Like it so much I own at least 13 or so. Two are Kabars. One in a box, one by the fireplace as a splitter. I promised myself I wouldn't use one...

I live in Northeast North America. We have a lot of hardwoods. Skinny blades don't chop well. Blades with forward mass do. All day. Look at axes. Look at even traditional Khuks.

The thin stuff is excellent on pliant vegetation I feel. Good fighters, and if there is enough other mass behind it (parang or other leafy WIDE) blades, they can chop okay.

I will be using my decades old convexed CinCinn for decades to come or something like it. Koster WSK. TMHunt M series. Siegel goodness. Authentic Khuks (esp Bonecutters)...

Hate chipping away at aged oak, I want chips to blow out.

KaBar has other thick choppers, and how they chop. I await some future things... The RBK looks great.
 
had a chance to grab some GK Bonecutters

so i did

they are beasts. sharp!

unfortunately, i can't find any wood... it's covered with snow.

soon...
 
On a shorter blade like the Machax, I could see 1/4" helping a lot. I like lighter weights, especially on khuks. I've found for my use anything past about 25 oz. offers diminishing returns. I had a 32 oz. khuk and it chopped, but that's all it did. But, I found khuks several oz. lighter did as well on hardwoods like mesquite with less fatigue. On shorter blades, a little stoutness can go a long way and you don't notice the extra oz. as much. I recently traded into a Tops Tracker 1 (yes, forgive me:)) It's 28 oz., which to me is way over weight for even a general use khuk, but I'd swear the tracker was nowhere near that weight. BTW, I'm finding it fun and useful. Back to my point, I can see 1/4" making the Machax a little more of a chopper and less of a knife, but grinds and bevels make the tool. My CS Gurkha is 5/16", but is FFG and can slice like a machete. I think if Ethan remade the 1/4" Machax, there would be a lot less comparison between it and the BK9, and it would be interesting to more folks (I know it's already got a large following). Just my opinion.

PS. I think Ethan is waiting on Congress to approve the release of the RBK:D It could be a while...
 
DOC-CANADA said:
Beachmaster, what make is that khuk? I have an HI, but would prefer your type of handle.

Doc
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Doc, this Khukuri came from the nepal khukuri house. They dont have any US distributors right now, unlike hi, but I hear that that is going to change soon with a new US distributor! (ME!)

Anyways, that is planned, but not here yet. We will have to see how they do on my designs, and how many blems they send me.

Hopefully I can be their qc. :-) As it stands, they offer a ton of full modern tang knives like this one including MASSIVE bowies and tons of Khukuris(and other stuff as well) so they are worth checking out. :-)
 
I thought it was the same beachmaster from over at 308 AR. You figure out any fun paracord accessories for your khuk yet?
 
Haha oh wow! Yup, you have found my other regular forum. :-)

I have considered a lanyard... but Idk just yet. It will get something nice :-)
 
jdk1 said:
[ On a shorter blade like the Machax, I could see 1/4" helping a lot. I like lighter weights, especially on khuks. I've found for my use anything past about 25 oz. offers diminishing returns. I had a 32 oz. khuk and it chopped, but that's all it did. But, I found khuks several oz. lighter did as well on hardwoods like mesquite with less fatigue. On shorter blades, a little stoutness can go a long way and you don't notice the extra oz. as much. I recently traded into a Tops Tracker 1 (yes, forgive me:)) It's 28 oz., which to me is way over weight for even a general use khuk, but I'd swear the tracker was nowhere near that weight. BTW, I'm finding it fun and useful. Back to my point, I can see 1/4" making the Machax a little more of a chopper and less of a knife, but grinds and bevels make the tool. My CS Gurkha is 5/16", but is FFG and can slice like a machete. I think if Ethan remade the 1/4" Machax, there would be a lot less comparison between it and the BK9, and it would be interesting to more folks (I know it's already got a large following). Just my opinion.

PS. I think Ethan is waiting on Congress to approve the release of the RBK:D It could be a while...
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I have to agree. I think KaBar missed the boat by making their Machax 3/16".

Doc
 
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Is this thing out yet?
 
No. But in the meanwhile, Ka-Bar is making me do things like this:

16888076221_fe46a2d8b8_b.jpg


OTOH, I've gotten 2 knives that I've always wanted to try out....and one that I didn't even know I wanted. Now all I need is for 2-3 feet of snow to melt so I can really check these out. This is what happens in the RBK thread when there is no RBK to post pictures of. I'm not sorry. JUNGLAS!!
 
it is with great sadness that Granite there must resign :D unbeliever! shun! :D
 
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