pgandy
Moderator
Senior Forumite
Posts: 10,296
|
Post by pgandy on Oct 3, 2021 17:08:25 GMT
Finally after over a two month waiting my semicustom kukri from KHHI arrived. I was at the pickup station when they opened at 09:00 and carried my treasure home. I patiently waited until the pending chores were done, the noon meal out of the way, and Hazel had departed for somewhere. At that point I carried my box to the patio along with Windex, paper towels, and an 8” kukri. The thrill of opening a package and seeing a new toy for the first time was very much with me. After attacking the box and getting through that and all of that bubble wrap and paper the kukri was finally in my hand, save two different wrappings of a plastic sheet, one for the blade and the other covered the grip. I removed the one on the grip first only to find it broken. What a downer! I set there for several minutes surveying the situation and remembered KHHI’s guarantee “Full refund within 1 week from delivery date”. Without any expectations but curious I decided to check the system and notified KHHI. I got a response the next day stating the fault laid with the carrier and that a claim was put in. That was a week ago and not my interpretation of the guarantee. The case is still open so no conclusions are drawn. There were at least two carriers involved and with a kukri a few months earlier at least 3. So I see everyone putting the blame elsewhere and this thing dragging out for months. That’s not the subject here but enforces my decision not to worry about a guarantee. Screw it. But then I filed the complaint to check the system. As for the break, tried a quick fix first by just gluing and this failed. It was not a clean break and there were some unbroken contrary fibres. After that I decided to take matters more seriously and pulled the broken piece off completely. I then used an X-acto knife to cut those unbroken fibres off leaving a clean break at which point I glued again and this time it took. I then drilled a hole and inserted a brass rod pinning the two. This concept came from the way we repaired broken rifle stocks in the old days. It was beginning to take shape and I use the kukri for several days while looking for suitable wood to plug the gap that a missing piece of the grip left. I made it from a wooden clothes pin. After roughly shaping to size I glued the plug in place with white glue then did the final shaping when dried. To get the colouring I used dark furniture scratch remover as wood stains as such do not exist here. After several applications and still too light I hit it with a Shapie then more scratch remover, then re-oiled. That worked. The above is the reason I specified no finish on the grip. Not that I expected to receive pre-broken knife but I find finishes are too much of a problem when repairs are needed. I much prefer an oil finish. The break Missing chip Raw plug Repair finished
|
|
ghost
Member
Posts: 1,323
|
Post by ghost on Oct 3, 2021 19:40:34 GMT
looks good! they left the grip pretty rough; it looks only filed. surprised khhi didnt just replace it my first kukri a decade ago was a KHHI and I loved the bugger, took down a few saplings w/ it but sadly got sold
|
|
|
Post by paulmuaddib on Oct 3, 2021 19:44:53 GMT
Great looking repair. I can almost feel your disappointment through what you wrote.
|
|
|
Post by Simpleman on Oct 3, 2021 19:53:49 GMT
Nothing wrong with the unfinished handle, that was done according to the semi-customisation (se pgandy explanation). The mending of the handle turned out nicely. How it would hold up over time I dont know.
I feel really sad, pgandy you have had not to flattering experiences with khukuris lately. I who hold khukuris highly in respect is very concerned with things like this, giving khukuris a bad name.
Of course KHHI should replace this right away.
|
|
pgandy
Moderator
Senior Forumite
Posts: 10,296
|
Post by pgandy on Oct 3, 2021 20:37:35 GMT
I mistakenly had asked for that finish. I wanted a finish as on my first, which is just omitting the varnish. During our correspondence the word ‘raw’ came up. Thinking that was the term for what I wanted I used it to save wording. I thought it a bit extreme but didn’t check it out before requesting it. My first impression when I saw it were not favourable, it lacked visible appeal as well as touch. As far as touch went I decided that the grain had raised and did what I call dewhiskering and that helped. I generally go for functionality as oppose to visible appeal and while pushing that concept I must say that I like it. That kukri locks into my hand. And having a second on hand with a regular factory finish I can tell where the finish leaves off the shape begins. The day of receipt I had it repaired sufficiently to check it out and the rains came while doing so. There was no change in the gripping power in the wet, something I watch for. It was exactly the same. Out of curiosity I brought my GI4 out that had the finish I was looking for. In the wet it had a very slight tendency to slip. I mean slight as I had to be looking for such closely. I must admit that wasn’t a fair test due to a different grip shape and GI4 has more weight and different balance to contend with. It is not much to look at but feels great in the hand. I have not ruled out requesting the next with the same finish.
|
|
|
Post by Simpleman on Oct 3, 2021 20:56:15 GMT
Nothing wrong with the unfinished handle, that was done according to the semi-customisation. I mistakenly had asked for that finish. I wanted a finish as on my first, which is just omitting the varnish. So, Simpleman, any thoughts on possibly editing your post to reflect that you were mistaken and shouldn't be speaking for him? I edited it pointing towards his own explanation.
|
|
pgandy
Moderator
Senior Forumite
Posts: 10,296
|
Post by pgandy on Oct 3, 2021 21:10:33 GMT
A word about those photos. The middle two photos were taken under the worst, or best pending on one’s view, condition to pick up surface flaws and show the finish to be worse than it actually is. The last photo taken outdoors gives a truer picture. Also by that time I had additional oil on the grip.
|
|
pgandy
Moderator
Senior Forumite
Posts: 10,296
|
Post by pgandy on Oct 3, 2021 21:54:44 GMT
One thing that hasn’t been mentioned about that finish other than it locks into my hand well is I have more control over the torqueing, aka twisting, that is characteristic of kukris. Maybe it’s the finish or that I think that I know the cause and am working to avoid the problem, perhaps both.
|
|
|
Post by Sir Thorfinn on Oct 4, 2021 14:47:50 GMT
So getting a 'raw' finish so you could sand/oil is a better option than the varnished ones? (FOR GRIP) I think I'm reading this right. I'd be interested to know how he can blame a shipper for that. But hey, weird happens.
|
|
pgandy
Moderator
Senior Forumite
Posts: 10,296
|
Post by pgandy on Oct 6, 2021 16:24:49 GMT
You are close. I wanted the standard grip less the varnish for both a firmer, slip resistance and ease of maintenance/repair. Not to mention that I love the feel of wood. I would prefer not to sand but with bare wood the grain sometimes pops up, as it did in this case, so I take de-whiskering as routine and part of the job as I do with removing the sweat and grim that gets embeded. The word ‘raw’ slipped into our conversation so without checking further to see if we were on the same track so to speak I specified raw when ordered. It looked pretty bad as it came with the break and all. But after de-whiskering and several coats of oil it came to life. I rather like it and am considering a raw grip on the next as it feels more secure in my hand. For those visually influenced and seek a play pretty to show off this very possibly isn’t for them.
|
|
pgandy
Moderator
Senior Forumite
Posts: 10,296
|
Post by pgandy on Oct 6, 2021 16:40:15 GMT
To bring closure to this thread, I received a response from KHHI this morning which I haven’t had time to answer. They will make me a new one. So I obtained my primary objective, that is checking the system. Saroj Lama Tamang, the director, is an honourable and lost on this order having shipped one by mistake and will loose another to satisfy me. So far I have lost nothing, only KHHI. I will respond thanking him and saying not to replace, that I was mainly checking the system. That I repaired the grip and don’t feel justified with them doing more. The break is on record and if the fix doesn’t hold up that I’ll get back with them.
|
|
|
Post by treeslicer on Oct 7, 2021 3:36:06 GMT
To bring closure to this thread, I received a response from KHHI this morning which I haven’t had time to answer. They will make me a new one. So I obtained my primary objective, that is checking the system. Saroj Lama Tamang, the director, is an honourable and lost on this order having shipped one by mistake and will loose another to satisfy me. So far I have lost nothing, only KHHI. I will respond thanking him and saying not to replace, that I was mainly checking the system. That I repaired the grip and don’t feel justified with them doing more. The break is on record and if the fix doesn’t hold up that I’ll get back with them. All's well, and with the excellent repair you did, the kukri is more yours than ever.
|
|
pgandy
Moderator
Senior Forumite
Posts: 10,296
|
Post by pgandy on Oct 7, 2021 12:07:42 GMT
All's well, and with the excellent repair you did, the kukri is more yours than ever. You bet! Not only has it been blessed but part of me is in it as well. They never seem to have the same significance until I do something to one. Maybe the blessing aided in the healing?
|
|
|
Post by durinnmcfurren on Oct 9, 2021 23:08:10 GMT
To bring closure to this thread, I received a response from KHHI this morning which I haven’t had time to answer. They will make me a new one. So I obtained my primary objective, that is checking the system. Saroj Lama Tamang, the director, is an honourable and lost on this order having shipped one by mistake and will loose another to satisfy me. So far I have lost nothing, only KHHI. I will respond thanking him and saying not to replace, that I was mainly checking the system. That I repaired the grip and don’t feel justified with them doing more. The break is on record and if the fix doesn’t hold up that I’ll get back with them. I'm very glad to hear that about KHHI.
On a slightly related topic, re: grips and wood, one of the interesting things in the Men of Terror book that came out recently was a report on experiments with different types of grips. Wood grips were found not to be ideal for gripping (as probably most people can attest, but they got actual numbers to back it up), but I wonder if the rough finish would be substantially better?
|
|
pgandy
Moderator
Senior Forumite
Posts: 10,296
|
Post by pgandy on Oct 10, 2021 0:08:30 GMT
I compared the grips on the two Aitihasiks and mine gave a more positive firmer grip.
|
|
|
Post by Simpleman on Oct 10, 2021 10:51:31 GMT
On a slightly related topic, re: grips and wood, one of the interesting things in the Men of Terror book that came out recently was a report on experiments with different types of grips. Wood grips were found not to be ideal for gripping (as probably most people can attest, but they got actual numbers to back it up), but I wonder if the rough finish would be substantially better? About wood grips and the book you are reffering to. What did it say and how was the reasoning?
|
|
|
Post by durinnmcfurren on Oct 10, 2021 18:14:50 GMT
On a slightly related topic, re: grips and wood, one of the interesting things in the Men of Terror book that came out recently was a report on experiments with different types of grips. Wood grips were found not to be ideal for gripping (as probably most people can attest, but they got actual numbers to back it up), but I wonder if the rough finish would be substantially better? About wood grips and the book you are reffering to. What did it say and how was the reasoning? On p 83: 'In our tests in the research lab, the energy delivered to the target by a sword with a plain wooden grip dropped when the hand became sweaty or bloody, but that decrease was reduced by about 25 percent when the grip was leather covered.' Their research methodology appears pretty sound to me, although of course it's possible that some details could be improved in the tests and measurements!
|
|
pgandy
Moderator
Senior Forumite
Posts: 10,296
|
Post by pgandy on Oct 10, 2021 19:24:44 GMT
Without more details I have questions. What type of finish, for instance? What configuration was the grip? The type of wood may play a part. Living in the tropics wet is no stranger and I have no ill will towards wood. The overcoats that manufacturers use to make the grips prettier doesn’t set well with me and prefer not to have them. In fact we are in our rainy season and will be for about 1½ months.
I just remembered reading the 1981 government contract with Windlass for a Mk3 kukri specifying either no overcoat or varnish. I cannot remember which; I think varnish, wanting a polished plain wood grip.
|
|
|
Post by durinnmcfurren on Oct 10, 2021 19:59:05 GMT
Well, the measurement was not to see if the sword with the wrapped grip delivered more energy. It was to see if the decrease in energy was the same proportion. So thney were not measuring E_wrapped and E_wood and comparing them directly. They were measuring E_WetWrapped/E_DryWrapped and E_WetWood/E_DryWood, and seeing which ratio was closer to 1
Now, of course, this could be affected by the size of the grips, too!
I do wish they had provided more info on the exact setups they had used, but they might be willing to provide that if anyone wants to email Dr. Short. Anyway, yes, it'd be nice to have more testing across more variables, but the whole thing about the unfinished rough handle made me think of this.
|
|
|
Post by Simpleman on Oct 10, 2021 20:45:22 GMT
On p 83: 'In our tests in the research lab, the energy delivered to the target by a sword with a plain wooden grip dropped when the hand became sweaty or bloody, but that decrease was reduced by about 25 percent when the grip was leather covered.' Their research methodology appears pretty sound to me, although of course it's possible that some details could be improved in the tests and measurements! Thanks. Is there any reference to the research or study so we could have a closer look? Or any reference addressing this at all?
|
|