Secret KZ Test Photos Revealed!

[Horn Dog]

Once I got it sharp, I chopped trees with it.

I split wood with it. We don't need no stinking batons!

The edge on mine was a bit thick. I had to thin it down all along the blade to keep things even, grinding off the "Busse" and "Test Team" logos.

Once sharp, it did a fine job.

Just stick it into a log. Then beat the log against the stump. Works every time.

It's a beast of a chopper. It actually handles more like an axe than a knife.

 

[MustardMan]

Nice pics! That thing sure is a beast.


So after swinging it for a while, did you end up looking like this guy?

 

[Horn Dog]

No, I balanced it out by swinging an anvil in my other hand. I am just a fat old gray haired man.

 

[Helle]

Nice shots Horn Dog, and a fine job on that edge.:thumbup:

I left the edge on mine as is and still managed to almost chop off my own leg Braveheart style on the follow threw.

The KZ is definitely a mean donkey chopper looks like it may make the NMFBM feel dainty in comparison.

Thanks for sharing.


Anvil:thumbup:

 

[Horn Dog]

Thanks, Helle. I think maybe things got a little rushed getting these ready for Blade. Here you can see below my grind marks just how obtuse the final edge was. Yeah, those are 40 grit scratches. Why mess around when you have some serious stock removal to do?

But I went to finer grits once I got the profile near where I wanted it. It came out really sharp.

 

[MustardMan]

I didn't remove anywhere near the amount of material Horn Dog did, but mine will at least slice paper now.

When I got it, it was so sharp it would cut through.....



butter...





Like a warm knife through butter.






If you heated it up first.

 

[Horn Dog]

Mine wasn't that dull, but it needed some work. I figured that to truly test the Killa's chopping performance, it needed to be sharp.

 

[MustardMan]

I might be exaggerating slightly, for comedic effect ....

but it definitely did more tearing than slicing when I tried it on paper with the factory edge.

 

[richstag]

Looks like a chopper for sure

 

[Horn Dog]

The knife weighs about 2.5 lbs and balances about 2" in front of the scales. It's a hand full of knife to swing. Of course, it hits like a ton of lead. On softer wood it sometimes goes through 2" limbs in one blow, sending each piece twirling through the air in a most impressive display of power!

 

[richstag]

The knife weighs about 2.5 lbs and balances about 2" in front of the scales. It's a hand full of knife to swing. Of course, it hits like a ton of lead. On softer wood it sometimes goes through 2" limbs in one blow!

Sounds like fun

 

[din]

thanks for the slideshow, vic! that's what I had in mind!

 

[Horn Dog]

thanks for the slideshow, vic! that's what I had in mind!

You're welcome, din. I wish I had taken a video of my brother in law whacking limbs in half with it. Wood was flying everywhere, and he had a maniacal grin on his face. I think it frightened my sister.

 

[Soulrack223]

Nice pics! I passed on it because I feared for my shins!

 

[Lycosa]

I passed on it cause I just feared.

 

[Doberman_Dave]

Hi Horn Dog. Thanks for the pics and the review.

Mine arrived in a state of monumental bluntness too. Not to incite a cool-aid fueled human sacrifice (especially of me), but I think this point is worth emphasizing/repeating.

The problem wasn't so much that the Killa was dull. The primary bevels were just wrong and left enough INFI behind the edge to pretty much kill any ideas I had about just "sharpening" it. I gave up trying to 'sharpen' mine by hand when I'd worked a 22.5 degree secondary bevel (i.e. 45 degree inclusive angle) back past 1/8" on both sides and still had a lot of work to do before they formed an edge.

I ended up taking a 36 grit belt to it and re-profiling it much the same as you did (even keeping part of the logo). Not a job to be done by hand.

No more Test Team stuff for me. An $800+ knife that won't cut?

DAve

 

[Horn Dog]

Oh, didn't Jerry tell you? Part of the reason for the Test Team "discount" was for us to finish them ourselves. It was all there in the agreement. In microprint on the back. Now they should be worth even more!

 

[Horn Dog]

Here is my summary of testing the Killa Zilla.

1. This is a very heavy Khukri, but not any heavier than some traditional ones. Still, in a Khuk with a 12" blade, I'd prefer one around 22 to 28 oz rather than 39 oz. I realize that this is my preference and that some users are fine with the very heavy Khukris.

2. The edge profile on mine was too thick to chop well. Yes, I tried it with the factory edge first. I don't know if all were like this or not. I would prefer the knife be made in 3/16" stock or else 1/4" thick with a full flat grind to lighten the knife and improve the edge geometry.

3. A Resiprene C handle and hidden tang with a traditional khukri shape would be easier on the hand and improve handling. It would also reduce costs some. I realize that Busse Combat no longer uses Res C, so let Scrap Yard sell it! SR77 is fine for this type of knife.

Overall, it is one heck of a chopper and wood splitter. I could live with the handle and even the weight, but the edge profile needs some serious work.

 

[azwelke]

Thank You for the review and the pics HD:thumbup:

 

[Lil' Foo]

Thanks for the pics and the review HD! :thumbup:

I still have some time to go before I can :foot: :foot:



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