pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Oct 7, 2021 1:39:53 GMT
Two other channels, since you seem to like these. I do. Please note that a sickle and a heavy machete is used, and look at the handle on the machete.. Many khukuris are seen, but also saws and axes are used. Thanks for the two videos. I learned a little in each video. I had not seen what appeared to be an oversized machete before. That was a new one on me. I knew a saw was in use from various timbers I’d seen but that was the first time I saw a cross cut in use. I had seen them making bamboo strips before but not with a sickle although I’d seen them used elsewhere. In the case of the strips they were started with a kukri then peeled by hand. I don’t know why I’m attracted to that culture so much although I see many things that I grew up with or have come across in my travels all of which I can relate to but I think it’s more than that. Maybe someday I’ll figure it out.
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Post by Simpleman on Oct 7, 2021 8:35:53 GMT
Thanks for the two videos. I learned a little in each video. I had not seen what appeared to be an oversized machete before. That was a new one on me. I knew a saw was in use from various timbers I’d seen but that was the first time I saw a cross cut in use. I had seen them making bamboo strips before but not with a sickle although I’d seen them used elsewhere. In the case of the strips they were started with a kukri then peeled by hand. I don’t know why I’m attracted to that culture so much although I see many things that I grew up with or have come across in my travels all of which I can relate to but I think it’s more than that. Maybe someday I’ll figure it out. I think many times we do it to difficult and way to academic, we should just see these and many questions or topics are answered. Sometimes I also think there is a gap between our understanding (mine included) and how blades including khukuris are actually used in Nepal. In short, we all need to learn more from the ones that use it daily, and its not from Kathmandu, its from the people living and working in the hills. I understand, well a number of reasons could be behind the attraction from you, Nepal has a myriad of different cultures, traditions and languages including a number of deities ang gods. There is also a belief in ghosts and spirits. The nature is amazing on so many levels, it must also be said that seeing people working and enduring under harsh conditions is touching something on the inside, all these things are highly interesting I agree. These peoples stories should come out, their life and actions contains great value. As you have pointed out, just compare what is mostly sold towards the export market. And what many nepalis use, there is a difference. But enough of me. Khukuri vs machete? What about a nepali machete? Another variant to show what is used. Scabbard used as intended, as a swiss army knife. Here its the use of the tinder pouch. Using a khukuri to search for water when water is frozen. Fire and water is the thing, and the khukuri is used for both. When searching for wood and there are few trees, the roots are used, freeing them with a khukuri. This and other tasks make the point of the khukuri, last shortly.
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Oct 23, 2021 17:52:11 GMT
I repeated the OP this time using my new 13” Aitihasik kukri on a 2L plastic and carton bottles. On the plastic there were three attempts with the Aitihasik that put three superficial cuts into the plastic barely enough to cause a leak but failed passed that point. Disappointed I went inside for my 15” GI4 kukri but at the last moment chose the same machete as in the OP. The bottle had lost some structural integrity. The paper sheet shows the extent of the cut with the machete. Then it was a 2L carton that I was sure the Aitihasik could handle. But instead fell off the cutting board bent almost double with the top glue seam completely gone. At that point I was doubtful but put the carton back in shape and refilled. I went in a bit high but as can be seen in the photo the machete did its job leaving the bottom part standing on the cutting stand. Leaving me to believe the OP was no fluke. That is an exceptionally good machete.
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Post by leed on Dec 18, 2021 22:00:38 GMT
Speed is what cuts plastic water bottles. Speed also cuts into wood pretty well. However, power is sometimes needed, for heavier targets.
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Post by jack88 on Dec 19, 2021 3:22:25 GMT
The argument kukri vs machete can go on forever like cut vs thrust. I don’t believe one is better than the other as such. It boils down to personal preference, location, and the job at hand. The Nepalese will use a khukuri for everything. When it comes to food preparation it’s from slaughter through butchering, then food preparation. But keep in mind their style of cooking and eating is different from what a westerner knows. Meat is mostly chopped including the bones but when finer slices are wanted they set with their khukuri inverted similar to what I saw in the video and take a chunk of meat with both hands then run it over the blade. They also slice vegetables. But again prep and eating is different. For corn after roasting on an open fire they will pick the cornels off with their fingers and eat them as such. Some vegetables are torn apart by hand some are sliced. The food is also served differently. I’ve tried my kukris in the kitchen western style and have to agree a kitchen knife is better in that case. As for carrying a second knife, I’m a believer in that. Always have a backup. In the case of a kukri there is the karda, for want of anything better. Below is a CS 12” Barong Machete that is one of the most versatile knives I have and would lend itself to kitchen duty nicely amongst a host of other jobs. It’s been well used as can be seen by the wear and the grip needs attention at this point. Just put that on my todo list. Its big brother the 18” jobby is the stronger cutter but not nearly as versatile. Unfortunately Thompson didn’t see fit to continue the 12”’s production when he moved the production to Africa. Nicely described on how it is used. I think many people dont know to what extent it is used, how and why. Kardas and other smaller tools for making fire and surviving put aside. It is interesting to note that the series we both have been watching, on occasion both axes and saws are used for wood, sickles for grass. But rarely a smaller knife, Nepal seems not to have an abundance of smaller blades, they seem to get a long with a khukuri and nothing else then a khukuri. I think if you only have one tool, you will learn how to use it for everything with mixed results of course. Bringing only one tool out, some would say it would be an axe, others a small fixed blade etc. Yes I also think its much personal preference. Great description of Nepal up above! I think most people say axe/small knife which both roles can be fulfilled by a kukri or large knife. I can tell you having been through survival training a simple knife is good enough for 99% of jobs. Not sure what you'd even use an axe for? Any wood gathered you're just going to pull off dead stuff anyway (that's what I did). A simple blade is good enough for prepping an animal. We all love these things because we know they all double as a weapon, and if I was weighing what I would want as a weapon as well I'd choose a kukri every time. I fly around with a Randal model 15 airman, because its solid with a strong hilt to the point I wouldn't be worried slamming it with all force against the helicopter window if it were stuck. In reality, I'd most likely need it for a stuck strap or cord. But it would serve well as a survival knife as well.
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Dec 26, 2021 16:46:53 GMT
Hazel bought each of us a ½ L plastic bottle of tea. The bottles were made of what seemed to be the toughest plastic I’ve come across. I saved the bottles and being a bit bored today I decided to repeat the test with the same two knives as in the OP. The machete sang its song as the two halves hit the deck. Then it was the Aitihasik’s turn. The impact shock hurt my wrist and the bottle hit the deck intact less the top. The label had what appeared to have been a razor slash otherwise all was OK. I thought about this then decided to try a sword and chose a Windlass M1860 Officers Model because of its rugged construction. It’s not the best handling sword I have and one of the least admired but it’s robust and a strong cutter. The result was almost the same as with the kukri but no impact shock although it torqued. The bottle showed a surface cut and the top split with the centre nearly completely blown out due to the impact. I changed tops, refilled and was ready to try again, but with what? I decided my other 18” Bellota with its traditional Latin style blade. This one has my standard edge, 25° polished edge. This was the first machete I purchased in country about two decades ago and has served well. No song this time, never has been with this machete, but neatly sliced the bottle in two. I think either of my two antique kukris with their edge geometry would have cut these bottles but I’m afraid to risk them. The edge on the Aitihasik is KHHI’s standard edge for durability and not their extra sharp version. The Latino style blades's result is on reader's right.
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Mar 18, 2022 16:50:16 GMT
I finally got to do some practical field testing. A tree had fallen on my house. What a better way to do some testing? Actually I didn’t start out to do a comparison, that came as an afterthought while cutting. Overall I’d say the two are about equal. Where one would seem to have a slight edge over that would be offset by a disadvantage. For example the machete will make deeper cuts, but this would be offset by the fact it would bit in and needed to be pried loose. In this case the cutting board became the ideal tool but otherwise freeing the machete would have been more troublesome. A convex edge should help which the machete has, to some extent. But the blade in the cutting area used is 1.5mm thick leaving .75mm per side, not sufficient to be effective. The kukri made chips fly with almost every cut, didn’t cut as deeply but was free immediately for another cut. All were easy cuts from a knelling position and were made using equal energy.
Another day I sawed off the remainder of the tree and set out to do a comparison. No video on this as night was falling. I made a number of cuts and generally speaking the machete cut through in about 1, sometimes 2, strokes less but as above needed to be freed. So I would say in my opinion they are about equal as far as work is concerned. The machete has more reach while the kukri is easier to carry and better suited in tight quarters.
As a result I’ve asked KHHI to make another kukri but with less niku for a lack of a better word. KHHI’s default edge is sharp and robust and I can see why they use it, but I’m in machete country and think KHHI’s super sharp edge with less ‘meat’ is better suited for me. I should be able to write a review in a couple of months.
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Post by leed on Mar 18, 2022 20:02:15 GMT
Yup, my findings the same, machete is a cutting tool, kukri is a chopping tool.
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