ghost
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Posts: 1,323
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Post by ghost on Jul 17, 2011 4:01:02 GMT
Just tossing this out there. I recently bought a kukri but there was almost no information on kukris or how they are made. Can we trust the steel (not some pot metal)? Is the heat treat proper? Is the workmanship up to par? Some general cautions/recommendations that I so far have uncovered: -Forged kukris from India are much more iffy (touristy) and generally of much lower quality than Nepalese works. -Steels are usually taken from scrap spring steel off of cars or railroad tracks -Heat Treat - Differential; it looks like water is poured carefully along the cutting edge - exactly how reliable is such HT? -most kukris come with to by-knives; one for skinning...the other for? -workmanship; very heavy work since a lot of the forges have no mechanical tools; polish/sharpening are done on a grindstone or by hand; heavy use of the feet as clamps I finally found some Kukri Forging Videos: Some power tools finally: polishing Handle/Grip SHEATH/Leatherworking:
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ghost
Member
Posts: 1,323
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Post by ghost on Jul 17, 2011 4:23:58 GMT
Some reviews/kukris in action:
Himilayan Imports
Kukri House ($80)
Gurkhas
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Post by randomnobody on Jul 17, 2011 4:26:38 GMT
I never really worried about kukris, particularly from the noteworthy distributors, because if something has worked until now, it's not likely to suddenly stop working anytime soon. I'll watch all those videos now.
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Talon
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Senior Forumite
Posts: 2,554
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Post by Talon on Jul 17, 2011 4:36:54 GMT
yea im in total agreement,if its from nepal,and distrubuted by kukri house ,tora blades,or himalayan exports im not worried +1 for digging these up ghost
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Post by randomnobody on Jul 17, 2011 4:52:37 GMT
Oh, as to the two by-knives, generally only one is actually a knife; the other is a...well, I forget what it's called, but it's more a fancy, kukri-shaped "sharpening steel" thingy. It's blunt all around, so when in the field, a few quick passes along the edge of the blade will offer the same effect as a butcher's or kitchen steel. Handy thing, but not as good as a proper stone or such. There are a couple ways that I've heard of to DH a kuk; the one you mentioned, and of course, interrupted quenching. I think I've also heard something about draw-tempering with a torch on the spine? I do much less reading on these things these days, since every time I see one come up...I want it. ...Which reminds me, I should be angry at you for making me want one again. Jerk. Anyway, it's a good generalization that most modern kuks are made from old motor vehicle springs and the like, which are usually the same steel as most "performance" swords are made form, anyway. Though, I often wonder what they used before the advent of the motor vehicle? Presumably some self-smelted stuff, though I'm curious how different these blades were from the ones we have now. Obviously many makers seem to prefer the new steels, as it seems almost all kuks now are made from the stuff, but I wonder if this isn't just a cost/time cutting thing? Last but not least, as mentioned, and as with all things, provided one goes with a trusted manufacturer, there is no concern whatsoever to heat treat or build quality. Naturally, again as with all things, avoid the touristy stuff.
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ghost
Member
Posts: 1,323
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Post by ghost on Jul 17, 2011 5:37:44 GMT
Lol. what do you mean by "want one again"? None in your collection yet? This is my first kukri...never even handled one so I am pretty stoked. Random, go out and buy one before I can get it in hand to taunt you with! I went with a GK&Co since they got a warehouse in CA (yea, I'm so impatient I can't wait for shipping from Nepal) The knives look on par with Kukrihouse - still rough and tough; I'll likely be spending some time touching it up. HI looks to be the king of the importers in terms of quality but I'm not ready to put down 150-200 for a knife just yet... Looks like most of the Kukris come from a factory forge in Dharan so... I feel like the same skilled smiths are being sourced for the vast majority of the knives for all the major vendors...but I could be wrong. I won't be able to ascertain quality until I have one in hand.
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Talon
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Senior Forumite
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Post by Talon on Jul 17, 2011 5:46:43 GMT
well this site may only be usefull for european members (its a uk site) and they sell out very fast when they do come into stock,i bought the mk1 service kukri and its a gem www.torablades.com/aboutus.html,i do love kukris :twisted:
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Post by randomnobody on Jul 17, 2011 6:10:09 GMT
Oh, don't worry about me, I have three already; one standard service model, one biggish sirupate (15") and a mini, for giggles. I just want another every time I see one. :x
What's a GK&Co? Did I overlook that somewhere?
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ghost
Member
Posts: 1,323
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Post by ghost on Jul 17, 2011 6:20:48 GMT
kukrisonline.com/ aka GK&Co; looks like a relatively new company - great reviews on ebay but until I get one in hand, I'm not gonna be able to compare (no seems to have reviewed what they've bought from this company) They look pretty spunky...and they have a warehouse in SF, CA so I gave em a try The service model an HI? The minis look pretty cool with the engravings and I might get one since they are sub 20. I've been drooling over the 14 plus HI pages at knifeforums
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Post by randomnobody on Jul 17, 2011 6:34:27 GMT
I don't actually know what my service model is, though I theorize an older model by Khukuri House. I bought it years ago at a local gun show for $30. The sirupate is a KH, bought from a forumite, the mini is a three-inch job I got the same time and place as the service model. I wouldn't object to a kuk or two from HI, but I like the stuff offered by KH a bit better. I'll check out the other place. Edit: that site is confusing and frightening. Why are some models listing for over a thousand dollars? Is that some kind of wholesale deal on a whole bunch or what?
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ghost
Member
Posts: 1,323
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Post by ghost on Jul 17, 2011 7:38:20 GMT
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Post by randomnobody on Jul 17, 2011 19:36:38 GMT
Last night I did some googling to find any new retailers, but all I found was a bunch of URLs to nearly identical sites, all offering the same stuff, with the same description. When I say identical,i mean the layout of the website was TRUE SAME on each one. Nevermind the specials, general catalog, and "exclusives" etc.
I guess most places really do source the same place, and use the same ad copy as well. Shame, I'd like to see more out there.
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