well now I went and did it

[hickman1]

Got my new 18" AK from Auntie in today, decided to clean up the blade so I washed it off in the sink, and grabbed a damp paper towel sitting on the counter to dry it off, and promptly blued one spot on the side of the blade. I grabbed the paper towel I had been using to apply blueing solution to another knife, DOH!!! So I went all in, degreased and lightly scuffed the polished blade and gave it a good dose of Birchwood-Casey cold blue. As an aside, apparently the fittings on my 18" Sirupati are steel not white metal, as they blued up quite nicely as well, now my Siru looks even deadlier with a blackened blade and fittings and a black horn handle. I'll attempt to post up pics of both this evening or tomorrow at some point. Thinking about giving the AK a muriatic acid wash to try to see the hardness zones, 4:1 water : acid ratio sound about right?

 

[Steely_Gunz]

Yep. 4:1 should give you plenty of sizzle without burning your lung tissue to badly with the fumes...don't ask how I know

 

[hickman1]

I got the safer muriatic acid, s'posed to be less fumes, how long to soak for a good etch?

Yep. 4:1 should give you plenty of sizzle without burning your lung tissue to badly with the fumes...don't ask how I know

 

[bemo]

Wow this sounds great! I'm dying to see how this turns out. I've got my ASTK, cold blue, and a jug of muriatic acid.

 

[pialia]

WHERE ARE PIKSHOORS? We want eye candy, I tell you!

 

[hickman1]

patience my young Padawan, a virtue it is, hmm.

WHERE ARE PIKSHOORS? We want eye candy, I tell you!

 

[Steely_Gunz]

I got the safer muriatic acid, s'posed to be less fumes, how long to soak for a good etch?

I have not used the safe alternative, but I have been curious about how well it works. I work in the swimming pool business, and we sell a product to our commercial accounts that is supposed to be less noxious and doesn't burn skin. I would love to try it out, but it's 'spensive! I can embezzle a gallon of Muriatic for about $5. My cost on the other stuff is like $13-$17 a gallon.

I usually soak it until it's done. That sounds cryptic, but it's the truth. I've had them gray up in an hour. I've had them take 4 hours.

 

[hickman1]

Price on this wasn't bad at Lowe's, thinking it was around $5...

I have not used the safe alternative, but I have been curious about how well it works. I work in the swimming pool business, and we sell a product to our commercial accounts that is supposed to be less noxious and doesn't burn skin. I would love to try it out, but it's 'spensive! I can embezzle a gallon of Muriatic for about $5. My cost on the other stuff is like $13-$17 a gallon.

I usually soak it until it's done. That sounds cryptic, but it's the truth. I've had them gray up in an hour. I've had them take 4 hours.

 

[hickman1]

18" Sirupati and 18" AK with a GK&Co kukri, all blades cold blued, fittings on the Siru are also blued I'll try to link an original pic of the Siru from the DOTD a while back.

AK as received:

 

[hickman1]

Siru as received:

 

[hickman1]

and the GK&Co AEOF kukri, doing it again, I'd have waited for my AK, this one wouldn't chop out of the box and required a regrind on the blade and also a reshape of the handle. I think the handle rivets are aluminum, as after a few swings, the scales loosened up, after recontouring the handle, I re-peened the rivets, but I'll be watching them. Expensive mistake, half the price= less than half the quality of my HI's, sheath is alot more compact though, in comparison to the one for my AK.

 

[hickman1]

I plan to do the etch tomorrow, it was 107 on my front porch a couple of hours ago... in the shade.

 

[sweetcostarica]

View attachment 285788View attachment 285790I think the handle rivets are aluminum, as after a few swings, the scales loosened up, after recontouring the handle, I re-peened the rivets, but I'll be watching them. Expensive mistake, half the price= less than half the quality of my HI's, sheath is alot more compact though, in comparison to the one for my AK.

I learned that mistake as a teenager. I would buy these cheap watches that stopped after a while and look ugly after a few months. If I added their combined cost up I probably could have gotten an Omega or a real nice Diver's watch. With Khukuris there are many problems that can occur by the manufacture who cuts corners and hires inexperienced and/or child Kamis to save money.
I like my Himalayan Import Kukri for two main reasons: Heavy duty built and High quality materials. This is why they have a good reputation - if a person has a HI Kukri they have a knife that will last.

Picture from zknives.com

 

[hickman1]

Yeah, I'm actually not terribly disappointed in it, but it is not in the same class as my HI's, with a couple of hours worth of work I was able to get it fitting right, I am just not trusting it like I do my HI's. I may etch it to see if it is actually hardened correctly or not, makes a decent wallhanger if nothing else...

I learned that mistake as a teenager. I would buy these cheap watches that stopped after a while and look ugly after a few months. If I added their combined cost up I probably could have gotten an Omega or a real nice Diver's watch. With Khukuris there are many problems that can occur by the manufacture who cuts corners and hires inexperienced and/or child Kamis to save money.
I like my Himalayan Import Kukri for two main reasons: Heavy duty built and High quality materials. This is why they have a good reputation - if a person has a HI Kukri they have a knife that will last.
View attachment 285812
Picture from zknives.com

 

[hickman1]

Got my CS Kukri machete etching right now to see if the acid ratio is good, I'll pop the AK in the etch in the morning if the machete etches ok.

 

[sweetcostarica]

hickman1 maybe my example was a little extreme on the concept of value. It is good you are happy with all your big knives. I do own others too (names withheld) but I find on the whole the more you pay for something the better quality the item. Seems to be the rule.
Exceptions include: Swiss and Swedish sharp products, Army surplus, bottled water (Monk would disagree though), and a few others.

 

[Grease]

Yeah, I'm actually not terribly disappointed in it, but it is not in the same class as my HI's, with a couple of hours worth of work I was able to get it fitting right, I am just not trusting it like I do my HI's.

That seems to be GK&CO's main issues. Have you tried chopping with yours? The blade on mine is great, but the handle was very lacking. The brass piece on the end loosened and fell off after an afternoon of use, and it was uncomfortable prior to it's self-removal due to pointy edges.


But back on topic, I'm liking the looks of your blades so far

I'm tempted to try it myself...

 

[tikkidaddy]

The Brownells Ox-Pho Blue is quick, gives a deep, dark blue-black finish that can be adjusted by steel wool and redone easily....works great!!

 

[M4cr0s]

hickman1 maybe my example was a little extreme on the concept of value. It is good you are happy with all your big knives. I do own others too (names withheld) but I find on the whole the more you pay for something the better quality the item. Seems to be the rule.
Exceptions include: Swiss and Swedish sharp products, Army surplus, bottled water (Monk would disagree though), and a few others.
View attachment 285831

I am gonna sidetrack this thread a bit, but your comment is too tempting to reply to, my apologies!

There is no such thing as free lunch...yet there are some exceptions! I used to make a living working in hardware stores (oldschool ones, not quite the Wallmart type) and got first-hand experience with many tools, electronics, paint and glue products. I've obviously seen what gets returned too - almost exclusively cheaper Chinese stuff, but that's a factor of sheer sales volume too. Midrange non-pro power tools from well-known brands fail too, but more rarely and seems to withstand heavier use. Pro quality tools almost never really fails, they get worn out. In other words, durability seems to be closely connected with price. For the record, the best power tools in the world are probably "Panasonic", second to none, with brands such as "DeWalt", "Makita", "AEG" and "Bosch" (blue pro grade, not green consumer versions) closely behind. Of those brands Bosch do perhaps have the best environmental and social policies (they are in fact a foundation and give substantial sums to charity and research).

In blade, tool and steel terms stuff made of Swedish steel tends to be fairly cheap and of acceptable to exceptional quality. Look for "Sandviken" and "Mora" branded stuff, although those are probably only common in Europe. Stuff stamped with "Sheffield" tends to be ok too and most things German and Swiss also (mostly Swedish steel anyway). A more common international brand name is "Stanley" and their stuff are mostly good to go, although they have dropped prices and probably quality to compete lately.

Mac

 

[sweetcostarica]

I am gonna sidetrack this thread a bit, but your comment is too tempting to reply to, my apologies!... I've obviously seen what gets returned too - almost exclusively cheaper Chinese stuff, but that's a factor of sheer sales volume too.

Yes, your comments M4cr0s go right along with the topic of why Himalayan Imports (and a few other quality makers of Khukuris products) are a better buy. I haven't heard of pins loosening up on a HI Kukri so as you state durability is closely related to price. The only problem is that you just made these women very angry.

Above: Chinese SWAT members looking for M4cr0s .