Update on the "thin" khukuris.

Bill Martino

Bill Martino

Joined
Mar 5, 1999
Messages
34,096
Talked to Gelbu this AM and as I suspected the kamis are having a very difficult time trying to get into the mental set of making the "thin" khukuris. Somebody made an 18 inch at 3/16 and took it to Gelbu to show him that it was "weak and will bend easily."

Gelbu argued that "our Bena had ordered the blades at 3/16 and certainly no more than 1/4 inch. Bena has some customers who want this thin khukuri and they are aware that this will not be like the regular HI models that will not bend or break under any circumstances."

Then Sher said, "look" and bent the blade right in front of Gelbu's eyes and that scared him. They suggested the limit be set at 1/4 inch and even then when they made the first few "thin" khukuris they came out at 5/16. I can truly appreciate their hesitation and concern.

But we are going to try again. I know it is a very tough psychological hurdle for the kamis to make a thin blade. Remember their motto, "Thick blades don't bend or break, thin blades do." This has got to be hard for them.

But on a ligher note, I asked that Sher be given the assignment of making the thin blades! I know that will never fly but it will be fun to hear and see what they do this next go round. Stay tuned!

------------------
Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ
 
Uncle Bill,
I guess I'll settle for the 5/16" sirupati you sent me, and not ask the kamis to undergo any more stress on my account.
smile.gif

Berk
 
I can just see the Kami's sitting around and talking, "Thin Blades?!?! What do they think this is??? Thin blades! If they want thin blades...go see the Brittish"-no disrespect to Brittish... How can we show our appreciation to the Kamis? Uncle Bill, please be sure to tell them I enjoy my 5 lb. 30" Sirupati at 5/8" on the back of the blade.
wink.gif


------------------
Chad
Full Contact Stickfighting Hawaii
http://www.fullcontacthi.com
 
:
Bro how do the kamis explain some of the old military and other khukuris that were so thin?

I have seen some that the tips are less than 1/8 inch thick and near the bolster only about the 3/16" thick that we are talking about!!
Some of these knifes are fairly old and they show some signs of being used. One has the edge indented, but a little work with a small hammer and then a chakma would fix that. Kinda like the old time scythes that were kept in top shape by doing them that way.

I wonder if the one Sher bent had been hardened yet? He would have to be very strong to bend one that had been hardened I would think, but then again I imagine the kamis being incredibly strong doing that kind of work!


------------------
>>>>---¥vsa---->®

"There's no trick in being a humorist when you have the whole government working for you."

...............Will Rogers......

Khukuri FAQ
 
Sher is the biggest and strongest of the kamis. Quite a husky boy but he may have faked it just to make a point. They are certainly not above hedging a bet and they love to make a point using a demo.

For example....

I remember Bura was demonstrating to me how poor a quenching medium transmission oil was as compared to water at least in the world of BirGorkha. He heated and quenched a couple of small strips of steel, using the transmission oil on one and water on the other. Then he pecked the one that had been hardened in oil with his smallest hammer and it broke into maybe 6 pieces -- we might say with some degree of accuracy that it shattered. Then he beat the hell out of the strip he had quenched with water and it wouldn't budge. Not one word was said but that was the end of the transmission oil experiment.

------------------
Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ
Himalayan Imports Archives
 
Uncle, your field reports are great stories in their own right.

While the irony and amusement of having Sher forge the thin blades is not lost on me (like when he had to make all those kagas katnes that almost drove him insane--poor guy!), wouldn't Kumar be more the expert in this field? Kumar would probably be more agreeable to and enthusiastic toward the thin blade idea than would the others.

 
Pakcik Bill.

Of course I can settle down with 5/16" as well --- anyhow --- the blade width must be narrower --- maybe about 1 1/4" only.

NEPAL H
cool.gif
!
 
Greetings forumites,
Just a word of caution (or reminder) about thinner blades. We get used to standard HI blades that can destroy just about anything short of a tank. This can be costly or at least time-consuming when you are working with a thin blade (an 18" Kumar Kobra by Sher in this case).
I was mowing Saturday, standard fare, with a Khuk on my belt, hanging forward of the mower seat, so as not to puncture the seat, or scratch the fender, when I hit that #!?*&$# stump again! I'm tired of sharpening my mower blades, they aren't as easy to get at as are my khuks! So I figure, "Hey, I got this killer knife, I'll show that nasty old stump!". Normally this would not be an issue, as I generally carry something like an AK or a UBE. But, as mentioned above, I had the Kobra. I started hacking away at the offending stump, and, as usual, wood chips were flying! I thought to myself, "I better take it easy, this is a thin blade, designed for chopping and slicing, not stump grinding and prying! Anyway, things were going fine, I was burying a large section of the belly and the tip into the stump, then popping out reasonably large chunks of wood with moderate lateral pressure being applied to the blade. Then it happened, I sunk about the end 2" of the knife into the stump, and twisted. Much to my dismay, and surprise, there was little resistance, as I neatly snapped off about 3/8 of an inch off of the tip of the knife!
Now I get to try my hand at re-grinding a tip. I'll be sure to keep it cool, and will let you know how it turns out. HI Khuks are great, but when using a thin one, remember what it is designed for. I still love the Kobra, and will continue to use it even without the tip, until I get it re-ground. Just thought that I'd put a bug in your ears about the thin ones.


Rob

------------------
The only thing better than a sharp knife is... Lots of sharp knives! :)
 
Uncle,
You are really going to have Sher do the thin blades! We really like a good laugh, don't we?
Leo
 
Rob,

I pack a khukuri on the mover as well. I have not quite mastered calvary type charges on over hanging branches. The branch use ends up tangled on top of me if I forget to slow or stop the mower.

Will
 
... I sunk about the end 2" of the knife into the stump, and twisted. Much to my dismay, and surprise, there was little resistance, as I neatly snapped off about 3/8 of an inch off of the tip ...
Click to expand...
Rob.

I guess it is a matter of technique applied with the correct judgment --- you were considered lucky because you snapped off the tip of your Kumar Kobra! Anyhow I feel sorry about it. There were incident which might be worst than that. The simple rule here is to apply different technique in different situation. IM2cO ... it is not advicable to cut tree or hard stump with thin blade and twisting it when the blade stuck in it --- and it is also not advicable to cut tree or hard stump with thick & heavy blade by applying a full force of your whole strength whereby you might lost control on the blade ... you might lost the grip on the blade handle ... or ... the blade might simply bounce ... and in both of that incidents it might cause bodily injury to you or anybody within your vicinity! I guess this is real worst!

NEPAL H
cool.gif
!
 
Update on the Kobra with no tip...
The re-grind of the tip (my first!) seems to be a success! I used my Dremel tool to get the shape about right (being sure not to get it too hot!), then used a combo of the Dremel and sand-paper to get the profile and edge where I wanted it. There are a few more little grind marks yet to be worked out, but other than that, it looks as good as new. I left the tip a little thicker than the original, so if I decide to get stupid again, I may be OK this time (LOL). I was nervous about this at first, but it really wasn't bad, the main thing, was like Uncle said, "Take your time". Once ground off, you can't put it back on!

Take it easy.

Rob

------------------
The only thing better than a sharp knife is... Lots of sharp knives! :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top