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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
What I'm working on
- Thread starter Huntsman Knife Co. LLC.
- Start date
I'd LOVE to make the Kukri. Heck I'd get started on it tomorrow, but I don't think there's enough demand. Its an expensive blade and with Carother's launching his Kurki I think most people's budgets will be wiped out for awhile.
However, this is a much different blade than any Kukri released by top makers recently, so it does offer something unique for customers.
I'm most likely going to do drop an inch from the blade to make it feel less like a Kopis and improve balance.
Dang, I was looking foward to the Tyrant Kukri for a while. I was holding off to get your Kukri over the other maker. I really feel this model would sell out fast. Maybe you can set up a poll to see what model people would be interested in next.The Kukri, Bush Waki and Super 8 are at the top of my list.
I agree, both are excellent choices. Hopefully we get to see both.
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- Sep 10, 2010
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We'll, maybe I'll look at starting this project sooner rather than later. Only problem is, I'd have to do a pre-order to cover the insane cost of steel and tooling. After how long the Tyrant Bowie has taken, I'd rather not, but to get a knife like this done, it takes around $30K to get the ball rolling. Maybe I'll get the prototype made and do a pre-order and if it hits X amount of Pre-orders, we will do the project. I also only require a deposit on my pre-orders and not the whole thing upfront so that might help.
I would definitely join the preorder and would not mind waiting. Hopefully this will be my first Huntsman knife!!
M67
Gold Member
- Joined
- Apr 17, 2010
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- 7,140
I think a lot of it would be the cost of your Kukri, the Carothers is $1200 starting, which I’m sure will be awesome like everything they do and Nathan did admit it’s not his most “bang for your buck option in his line up, but $1200……
The Tyrant Bowie came in an 900-950....
Definitely could be wrong but I think most people want an end of the world tuff Kukri they could beat on, a lot of people who spend $1000+ in a knife is because they think it’s cool but not many will use a knife that expensive so I believe the demand is there it’s just at what price point it would come in at would drive demand
That being said I’m still waiting on a 4-5” knife or maybe a 3.5” I could piggyback on the Fell Beast or the Mini Air Max
The Tyrant Bowie came in an 900-950....
Definitely could be wrong but I think most people want an end of the world tuff Kukri they could beat on, a lot of people who spend $1000+ in a knife is because they think it’s cool but not many will use a knife that expensive so I believe the demand is there it’s just at what price point it would come in at would drive demand
That being said I’m still waiting on a 4-5” knife or maybe a 3.5” I could piggyback on the Fell Beast or the Mini Air Max
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- Jan 13, 2007
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Yeah, making large kukris by stock removal out of premium steel is going to be expensive. It’s an issue.
The CPKuk looks expensive compared to prices from a few years ago (e.g. K18 was the same price), but it’s probably only a third more than a straight-bladed 12” chopper would be if CPK made it today, which is not that bad considering the extra material and machining involved.
The days of being able to pick up a medium-sized CPK or a huge knife from Hunter for around 3 benjamins are sadly behind us.
Premium folding knives have been getting cheaper due to the emergence of China in that sector, but premium large fixed blades are still US-made in small batches and costs have gone up.
The CPKuk looks expensive compared to prices from a few years ago (e.g. K18 was the same price), but it’s probably only a third more than a straight-bladed 12” chopper would be if CPK made it today, which is not that bad considering the extra material and machining involved.
The days of being able to pick up a medium-sized CPK or a huge knife from Hunter for around 3 benjamins are sadly behind us.
Premium folding knives have been getting cheaper due to the emergence of China in that sector, but premium large fixed blades are still US-made in small batches and costs have gone up.
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I can actually make the Kukri for around the same price as the Tyrant Bowie. If I can go with an off the mill finish( ultra high mill finish, subtle tooling marks) instead of having to do hours of hand grinding per blade, then I can for sure get the Kukri Made for the Tyrant Bowie price point.I think a lot of it would be the cost of your Kukri, the Carothers is $1200 starting, which I’m sure will be awesome like everything they do and Nathan did admit it’s not his most “bang for your buck option in his line up, but $1200……
The Tyrant Bowie came in an 900-950....
Definitely could be wrong but I think most people want an end of the world tuff Kukri they could beat on, a lot of people who spend $1000+ in a knife is because they think it’s cool but not many will use a knife that expensive so I believe the demand is there it’s just at what price point it would come in at would drive demand
That being said I’m still waiting on a 4-5” knife or maybe a 3.5” I could piggyback on the Fell Beast or the Mini Air Max
Its the hand finishing that makes everything expensive and insanely time consuming. Its not really needed on a tool like a Kukri.
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It really is crazy how much costs have gone up. I used to be able to make and sell a 52100 DHT Fell Beast with a sheath and shipping for $199. Now it costs more than that to make one. The cost of everything has basically doubled.
The Z Tuff Fell Beast run cost over $300 each to produce in material and outsourced costs, not counting any of my time, equipment, utilities, rent etc... That's why that model got immediately discontinued
Moral of the story, big knives cost alot, but they bring us joy, so I keep making em.
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I wanted to grab one but the year+ wait would have been too long. It looks like it will be a real monster if the weight and dimensions turn out as listed. Thats alot of knife in a 25 ounce package. Ill work with my CNC guy and see what the tooling for the Kukri will look like and what the timeline would be. I'd like to try to make some out of a budget steel like Pop's Pro Cut for a more affordable option but we might just have to stick with Z Tuff depending on supply, timing etc, tooling setups etc....
I've long wanted to try LC200N. Its actually a very expensive steel but from what I have seen its a great performer and is truly, 100% stainless. I'd be open do running some.
I'm staying away from AEBL for now. Its gotten more expensive with the Tariffs and its performance to cost ratio is not as good as it once was. Still an incredible material that I really like, but sadly, climbing in cost to the point that it might be better to use something else like LC200N and really get the benefit of a full stainless.
Will the idea of allowing the client to choose from several types of steel always be there?
I'm wondering, which of the steels listed above do you like to work with the most?
Or the one that you consider the best steel in the context of large and strong blades, despite, for example, the difficulty of working with it.
Honestly, I think in the context of Z-Tuff steel, you are like a visionary, and if it shows itself to be cool in real use and tests, this could be a separate popular category of steels that you work with and dare to experiment with!
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I can only work with a handful of steels. Aside from performance in a blade, I have to be able to get the sheets perfectly flat and use materials that dont warp once the blank is cut from the sheet. Alot of steels will bow as soon as the are cut on the waterjet and for CNC milling, we need ever blank perfectly flat. I also have to be able to get the sheets in the correct size and thickness. Most of the time I have to get it custom rolled.
PM steels are great because you can custom order them in the size you need and they come flat and stay flat. Downside is cost and having to surface grind off thick mill scale.
I like trying new materials, but I think I have a good and reliable lineup between Z tuff, Z wear and 3V. That covers most of the bases. For Stainless, Im going to add Magnacut and LC200N here at some point.
10V and S90V are also favorites of mine for ultra high wear knives.
For a base model steel, its always been 52100 though In looking at replacing it with Pop's ProCut as my budget steel.
Also looking at CPM 1V to see how it compares to Z Tuff.
if the next lines of blades contain a choice of several steels.
well, I'll want some blades
because I want everyone.
btw,haven't heard anything about 1V steel.
Is it as durable as Z-tuff?
XtianAus
Gold Member
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Awesome.
I really like tough stainless steels. I have very acidic skin which can corrode even some stainless just by holding them. Not a big deal but an annoyance! Anyway, thanks for that.
I'll be following along and watching/waiting!
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I've been playing with my sharpening setup and can confidently say, my edges are officially scary sharp.
These custom high grit ceramic belts + a hand strop with diamond paste = l need to be more careful.
These custom high grit ceramic belts + a hand strop with diamond paste = l need to be more careful.