Repairing JKM1's M43, a Work in Progress (W.i.P)

[wildmanh]

I'm working on repairing JKM1's M43 that had a crazy thin edge and thought you all might like to follow the progress.

Got the blade from him a few weeks ago and tested it out on the wood pile in my back yard. The blade cut really deeply into 4x4 pine posts and logs. I spent 40 to 60 minutes between two days beating on the edge but could not replicate the problem. I even tested it again my 18" WWII model. JKM1's M43 bit deeper into the logs then my WWII. After making a ton of wood chips and splitting a few days worth of kindling I desided to chop and split nothing but knots and the bugger the knot the better. After busting through 6 to 8 hard thick knots I was finally able to get the edge to deform. But the spot that deformed for me was just above where JKM1 got it to. I'm guessing that the thin edge was work hardened in the waved areas.

This afternoon it was nice, I was feeling well and wanted a break from building sheaths to I pulled out the M43. This time to work over the edge. Spent about 45 minutes changing the edge on my 30x1 belt sander and a used 180 grit belt. When a belt doesn't cut leather the way I like it to I set it aside for steel and wood working. Today a belt was starting to get duller then I like so it was perfect for this. Hope you get an idea of the current edge.

I gave the M43 a thick secondary convex edge. The main grind was mostly flat and way to thin at the edge. Will do some testing in the next few days to see how the edge works, see if it's to thick or thin, how it holds up to hard use and all that good stuff. Will keep you all posted with future developements. Thanks for looking!

 

[blinky bill]

Wildmanh, you're doing an excellent job Sir !! :thumbup:... IIRC the original MKII's and M43's of the First and Second World War had a much smaller bevelled edge,
(about 5mm ?) than the HI M43.... Do you think that this would make for a stronger cutting edge that would be less likely to fail ?

 

[wildmanh]

Wildmanh, you're doing an excellent job Sir !! :thumbup:... IIRC the original MKII's and M43's of the First and Second World War had a much smaller bevelled edge,
(about 5mm ?) than the HI M43.... Do you think that this would make for a stronger cutting edge that would be less likely to fail ?

Thanks Bill! A shorter bevel or steeper angles would have helped. IMO there just wasn't enough steel behind the edge for the type of use that this Khukri is intended for. The grind was as long and thin as my old 16" Gelbu Special which is a light fast, blade mostly for brush and flesh. It was like the Kami made an M43 into a brush blade.

My 18" WWII and this M43 have a lot in common, but the main grind is a bit shorter and the angles are steaper on my WWII. Before I started grinding on the M43 I did a head to head chop off between my WWII and the M43. The M43 bit deeper in to 4x4 posts. Noticably deeper. Half way though working over the edge today I took the M43 in the back and beat on the 4x4 some more. Edge still bite deeper then my WWII. I wonder, could the M43 be a little better at chopping then the WWII or is it just the long thin grind or is it both? Must more testing is needed.

As I work on this Khukri I keep in mind that I need to thicken the edge so that it can handle the hardwoods in Texas. But that it needs to be thin enough or shaped right so that it still bites deep into the wood. A happy medium is what I'm shooting for. This will not have a razor sharp edge when it's done, it will have field sharp toothy edge. If I can get the edge right, it should be able to slice up plastic water bottles yet still be able to handle the knots. Figure some water bottle testing will be in order. My 20" Sirupati Lisa makes ribbens out of Soda cans and Gator-aid bottles if I do my part. My 16.5" WWII isn't bad at it either at it, thats why I think this M43 will be able to do it once it's edge is good.

 

[jdk1]

Heber's doing an outstanding job! As they say around these parts, he's good people! Seasoned live oak and mesquite was too much for the edge it had. It did bite really deep. That M43 is just an awesome khuk. Folks have been touting the design around here for years and you realize how good of a chopper it is when you use one. When I was checking the edges of my WWII and CAK, both around 16.5", to see if the edges would wave, the M43 would bite at least twice as deep in a old dry mesquite stump. I also realized very quickly my hand was absorbing A LOT of shock from the WW II and CAK, but none with the M43 if I kept my head and did it right. It just knew what to do and slid into that exteremly hard mesquite like a light saber. Of course, it might not perform quite as well after the edge re-profile, but I have no doubt it will still be the chopper to beat in my collection. At 19" and about 32 ounces, it needed a strong edge. Had it been given a home in the piney woods, there likely wouldn't have been any issue. Mesquite is one of the hardest woods around from what i've read. It grows like a weed around here and is THE grilling wood in Texas. I needed a bullet proof khuk to match it. That M43 performs like a beast, but feels great in your hand, is fast, and has balance in spades (see my chopstick photo). I'm extremely happy, and grateful, Heber is helping to get it into shape. Take care.

 

[Steely_Gunz]

Awesome job, Heber Great work!

 

[bladeright]

beautiful work, i cant really see where the damage occurred!!
if i do some damage to my stuff, i know who to ask to help