I posted this question in one of the sales threads, but didn't get a response, so I'll try it as a new thread. I've seen several of the knives/swords offered with a note that they have handle shrinkage. I've avoided them because I don't know how seriously that affects usability. Does that mean that the handle is loose, rattles around, and may fail unless it's replaced, or is handle shrinkage a minor cosmetic thing? Some of the knives that are noted as having handle shrinkage look quite nice in the pictures, like the 7/27 M43 or the 8/1 WII. How serious a defect is it?
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What is handle shrinkage?
- Thread starter jnphares
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- Oct 9, 2003
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I find that my handle shrinks when the weather is cold.
It also shrinks when I see Rosie, Oprah or Hillary on the TV.
It also shrinks when I see Rosie, Oprah or Hillary on the TV.
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2004
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It could be either. I've seen both. Your best bet would be to contact Yangdu about the specifics of the piece.
Sometimes it's merely cosmetic and has absolutely no effect on function, and needs no repair. Sometimes it's more serious but can still be repaired by various ways. Occasionally there is no fixing it and the handle needs to be replaced.
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- Feb 21, 2001
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What Dave said is correct.
Often, but not always, refers to the handle slabs on a chiruwa (full width tang) handled khukuri that have shrunk a little bit. Being natural materials, horn and wood shrink a bit when drying out. This leaves the tang sticking up over the handle slabs. The tang must then be filed or ground down a bit to match the handle material. On standard tang handles, the buttcap will need to be filed down a bit if the handle material shrinks. Sometimes if the buttcap gets loose due to shrinkage, the end of the tang will have to be peened down a bit with a hammer, or some superglue wicked into the gap, or both.
LOL @ DannyinJapan
Me too.
Steve
Often, but not always, refers to the handle slabs on a chiruwa (full width tang) handled khukuri that have shrunk a little bit. Being natural materials, horn and wood shrink a bit when drying out. This leaves the tang sticking up over the handle slabs. The tang must then be filed or ground down a bit to match the handle material. On standard tang handles, the buttcap will need to be filed down a bit if the handle material shrinks. Sometimes if the buttcap gets loose due to shrinkage, the end of the tang will have to be peened down a bit with a hammer, or some superglue wicked into the gap, or both.
LOL @ DannyinJapan
Me too. Steve
