Wavy edge on Factory Second Ontario Kukri?

[BabaOriley]

I started looking at Kukris (Khukuri, Khukri, Kukrhi, etc) a couple weeks ago, and did a bunch of research on best bang for the buck. I pretty much concluded that most all blade enthusiasts agree that HI are the best deal around. I wasn't able to spend $150 on one at this time. In my research, I found an Ontario Spec Plus SP2502 on eBay, for $31.99 Buy It Now. Shipping was around $12. I looked up the seller's name and found they had an online storefront independent of eBay. On their website, they were offering the SP2502 at the same $31.99, but with flat shipping of $5. This price of $36.99 shipped was at least $15 less than anywhere else I could find it, so it seemed like a good deal.

Here's the catch:
Here's the listing for the knife from the Chestnut Ridge Knife Shop website...
________________________________________
*FACTORY SECOND* ONTARIO KNIVES SPEC PLUS KUKRI MACHETE
(THE ORIGINAL)

MADE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
1095 High Carbon Steel black epoxy finish.
(Full Tang)
12" blade length
17" overall length
250" blade thickness (1/4")
Handle: Comfortable Kraton
Leather/Cordura Combination sheath system

*Factory seconds have a minor flaw, could be a scratch or
a minor divot in the steel. The function of the knife is not impaired.
This is a good opportunity to pick up a good knife to use.
________________________________________

Did I care if it had a scratch? No.
Did I care if it has a "minor" flaw? No.
Did I care if it had a minor divot in the steel? To me this would mean a "small" divot or tiny hole in the metal. No, I don't care.

I plan on using this knife. Cosmetics wasn't really a concern.

Upon receiving the knife today, the first thing I noticed was how warped the blade was. We're talking curves in the edge that turn at least twice, wandering up to 1/4" off center. Next, I noticed how one side of the grind went off the spine's edge, when the other side stopped short of the spine where there's a "corner" made at the end of the straight edge. About 1/4" short of that "corner. The last thing that kind of bothered me was that the protective finish looked more like semi gloss spray paint than something that was baked on. Since it's 1095 steel, it seems trying to keep it protected might be important, and I was surprised at the poor quality of the finish.

At first I was a bit dismayed. I expected maybe a couple slight blemishes, but the edge all warped? i was thinking to myself, "Do i put it back in the box and send it back?"

I'm still asking myself if I should send it back, but wanted to run this by you guys. When browsing the net for info on Khukuris, when reading the best steel for them comes from suspension leaf springs, I wondered how they would ever get a leaf spring straight enough to make a blade from it. I figured it could be done in the heat treating, but this begs the question, "are alot of edges on Khukuri blades wavy"? Is that common? It seems that that WOULD IMPAIR THE FUNCTION OF THE KNIFE, no? Maybe it doesn't, although it seems if you ever expected to slice with it was well as chop, it would be nice if the blade were a little closer to straight anyway.

THIS POST IS NOT MEANT TO DEGRADE CHESTNUT RIDGE KNIFE SHOP. I haven't contacted them about this wavy edge yet. I'm only asking to see if you guys would return this knife, or just not worry about it and give it a workout. I just want to be sure I won't be getting any harder workout than necessary because the edge is so wavy. It almost seems like it should chop as well all bent up, but will it be as versatile? I would have gladly paid $20 more for a straight edge, I think. ??

Your thoughts please. Thanks.

 

[DaveH]

youl'll spend more money in your time to send it back then it's worth. keep it and use it,then be more careful next time.

 

[Ren the devils trailboss]

You bought a factory second what did you expect?...you spent less than $40 bucks get over it and take it outside and chop up some 2x4s or something..

 

[Cougar Allen]

First off, you're in the wrong forum.

All you bastids better notice this thread is moving!

 

[Cougar Allen]

That is a factory knife, not forged from a leaf spring. Handmade khukuris that are forged from old leaf springs are not prone to be warped or have wavy edges.

You want it to use, not to look pretty. Can you straighten it out and sharpen it up and make it usable? How does the prospect of doing that much work compare with the prospect of sending it back and paying full price for one that isn't a second?

Don't worry about the black finish; they all wear pretty fast in use.

 

[BabaOriley]

Thanks for the replies.

Your comments are all in line with the way I was leaning. Keep it, try it out, use it as the cheap blade it is. It just bothers me wondering if it would function much better with a perfectly straight edge. I suppose it would have to, but maybe not enough to notice much.

I must say I do like the Kraton handle. Seems much better than the reviews I've read of the Ghurka style handles. I didn't like the thought of spending over $100 and having to rework the handle to be comfortable.

Thanks again guys. I'll post pics if I lose any fingers or toes with it.

 

[cybrok]

The first think I need to tell you is what you got is not a khukuri; it's a khukuri shaped machete.

A real khukuri is more expensive and much thicker.

About HI, watch for the deals, posted on this forum. I got 2 khuks, 15" and 18" OAL for 145$.

Also watch for Blems: HI's "factory" seconds... well shop seconds.

 

[RevBubba]

The first think I need to tell you is what you got is not a khukuri; it's a khukuri shaped machete.

A real khukuri is more expensive and much thicker.



This is a full 1/4 inch thick. of 1095 not the thin 1/8 material that other machete and machete khukuri are made from.

I am not arguing that the SP khukuri Machete is a top notch blade...but it is NOT thin.

PS. Sorry I didn't mean to ressurect such an old thread...I responded before checking the date.

 

[cybrok]

Then I admit that I was wrong 2 months ago.

Anyway, get a HI