why not convex grind?

Originally posted by Howard Wallace
Yvsa,

I agree with you about missing the convex edges.

What's your gripe with the "habaki" bolster?
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Howard when the "habaki" bolster first came out I thought it might be a good idea which was a "fix" to combat against loose scabbards and it actually worked for its purpose , for a while.:(
When it first came out the sarkis were making the scabbards to fit the blades and the bolster, when shoved into the throat of the scabbard, made for a tight fit that wasn't easily dislodged.
The last kukris I have purchased have scabbards made to fit the bolster so the "habaki" bolster has became less than worthless as the scabbards are now looser than ever before. At least a person could manipulate the scabbards much easier before the "habaki" bolster came into being. YMMV.

Another thing I question, after a great deal of thought, about the bolsters is a matter of strength. The old standard bolsters is IMO stronger because there is more material around the tang at a critical place so the support is greater than with the "habaki" bolsters.
With the "habaki" bolsters all that's surrounding the tang is a bit of thin brass and a miniscule amount of laha.
I also feel the "habaki" bolster helps contribute to the laziness of the kamis as it can hide mistakes.
They also have a tendency to make the handles and therefore the tangs longer than the old tried and true standard bolster.
Now if the "habaki" covered the blade just below the tang itself I think it could possibly be the best of both worlds, providing the sarkis made the scabbards to fit the blade instead of the bolster.
But in the end some things are just better left alone IMO.:(
Again YMMV.
 
Originally posted by Yvsa
in the end some things are just better left alone
Click to expand...
Sounds like it.
I hadn't realized that the habaki bolster addition
was to address scabbard issues.
Seems like a lot of added kami work to make the blade weaker.
 
I agree with the wish for a convex main bevel and edge. My only HI that is convex was made by the guys that flew the coop ~"the kamis with no name" ; not my Buras, not my Durba, nor my Kesar.:(

This is my guess as to how it happens. When using a high speed grinder it is easy to grind a hollow in just your first few passes. You can then kind of "track" back and forth in this groove as you make your bevel keeping everything in line. With the old man powered grinders they cut too slow to easily put a hollow in. Also, the grindstones in pictures I've seen of shop #1 (and other primitive kukri shops)look to be hand made and not trued up real good. With a grinder like this it would be much easier to forge closer to shape and then use the grinder to remove scale and do minor truing up ~ no heavy stock removal. Come to think of it, the power tools could also be part of the reason that we have been getting more soft edges these last two years as well. If they are grinding after heat treat (for sure they are buffing) the power tools would make it WAY easier to over heat the blades and soften them up some. It seems that instead of using modern tools to make kukris to their old specs a some easier and some faster, they have also changed the specs to make it even easier and faster. I would rather pay $10-$20 more (only if that's what it took)and get the old edges back. I don't think that would be necessary though; my cheapy non HI's are all convex.
 
Hey Stevo, haven't read ya since over at the old Primal Fires site. Hope things are going well.

Howdy Howard! Hail, hail the gang's all here. Seeing some names I haven't seen in a while.


Yvsa,
if we send your email we should also tell them about the antique khukuris from Atlanta Cutlery that people are buying. From when Kamis knew how to make good khukuris :D I'm replacing all my kardas ands chakmas with some antiques I have on order from AC. That oughta get 'em :)

Pat
 
Howdy Outdoors (Pat, right?)! I thought I saw you lurking about the other day! Things are great, how about yourself? Did you know that Calvin and some of the other guys revived the forum? ~ I can send you the URL if you want it. Spend more time haunting the Bladesmiths forum here and Don Fogg's site. I think I'm finally going to start pounding hot iron again and see if the wrist can take it ~ I only took a 10 yr sabbatical:( .
 
Hey Steve,
I did see the new site, seems like a goodie. More action on the blademaking part than the other sections, but that's fine. I've been lurking here from time to time, but taking it easy. A only needs so many khukuries, and the kids still gotta get fed. Personally, got a second son (1 year next month) and he's keeping us plenty busy, along with his older brother.

Glad to hear your getting back into pounding steel. I assume you'll be wearing a wrist brace when you get back to pounding, right? :) I suggested to my wife that one of the 45# Austrian anvils from Dan's old world anvils would be a good Christmas present for me. And she said sure. What are the odds of that?

Howard: Hope your doing well. Haven't heard much of ya since we talked about that rondesvouz up your way. Man, was that 2 years ago? Wow. Time flies when ya have kids.

Re convex edge, though it sounds like they are not as well supported, I wonder if folks are seeing more tang failures. I haven't heard of many, but I'm on and off the forums. My preference would of course be for a convex edge. That's what the other khuks have, and seems like the kamis could surely do it with the HI products. It's not like they don't know how - they used to do them that way.
Pat
 
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