Kukuri failure.... It broke...

Watched the video and for some odd reason I have a hankering for some bacon.

Well it looks to be a Nepalese khukuri, it did break in the tang, and that is most unfortunate.

I don’t know why, either defective steel or the tang was overheated and the steel was burnt. These things are made over charcoal fires, the makers use scrap steel, don’t have pyrometers, the process controls are taste, smell, touch, visual.

This is always a risk with “handmade”. Quality varies quite a bit. You are lucky you were not injured.

I purchased a number of khukuris over the years, I take them out and wack them against wood to test integrity. For a good number the handles became loose. The glues the Nepalese use are inadequate, I call it a glue, but the stuff was dried tree sap. I removed the cap ends, boiled the glues out of the handles, pored in modern two part epoxies, let dry, install cap, and the handles have stayed put.

I have an Atlanta cutlery kukri that I got about 20 years ago, for about $19.00, I've beat the snot out of it and no worries so far. Sheath leaves something to be desired but the knife is solid and I would/have used it in place of a hatchet.

Dan

SlamFire1 said:

. The glues the Nepalese use are inadequate, I call it a glue, but the stuff was dried tree sap.

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TTBOMK, that is exactly correct.

Laha=Refined tree sap.

This was a tang failure, not a glue failure. Laha was not at fault here.

Freeze the video at 0:04. The ricasso area is scribed with OKACG or OKAGG - it's hard to make out with the poor video quality and lack of focus, but that's what I see. I'm not familiar with that mark. Anyone seen it before?

EDIT: And this was a very serious failure. Someone could have been killed. I hope that whomever made this khukuri understands the gravity of the situation.

HI usually uses truck leaf springs, which are 5160- great for large knives.

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I have seen videos of kami's cutting leaf springs to use. But, suspension manufacturer’s are under no obligation to guarantee nor warranty to kami’s that their leaf springs will always be made from 5160. Suspension manufacturers are free to buy whatever lot of steel meets their needs and is the lowest cost for that day. Typically they buy in the lot size that the steel mill produces and they buy from trusted makers, but what they use is their business and no one else’s. Since the kami’s are lucky to have electricity, it is reasonable to assume they don’t have the arc blast test equipment to test steel for composition.

The last time I inquired to Yangdu, HI was still very picky about what kind of steel they used. The Maoists cracking down on the country have made it a little more difficult to get the most choice of choice, but the kamis know what kind of steel makes a good knife.

I think the truck springs reasoning is that they are already leaf in shape that is of a quality steel and easier to forge than a blob or hunk of random metal.

I have a gigantic kukri that I bought from a local guy for $40, has the massive sheath, smaller knife and steel. I have no idea where it came from or who made it, but it's huge and heavy, and scary sharp. Wish one of you experts was in Denver and could tell me if it's decent quality or just a tourist souvenier.

rondog said:

Wish one of you experts was in Denver and could tell me if it's decent quality or just a tourist souvenier.

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You could do a vinegar soak to check for a temper line.

Yep, what John said Post a thread over in the HI Cantina and show us a pic. Lots of experts over there, and couple quick pics of the markings at the bolster, if there are any, can tell us a lot about who made it and when.

OK, so where is this "HI Cantina" or Himalayan Imports forum? All I can find here on THR is this Non-Firearm Weapons forum. Start a thread here? Or is there some special place for kukris? I'm betting money this is an Indian knockoff, the quality is pretty lame, regardless of the size and sharpness.

rondog said:

OK, so where is this "HI Cantina" or Himalayan Imports forum?

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http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/739-Himalayan-Imports

HI imports knives from Nepal.

Started by a heck of a guy, now administrated by his wife.

Good folks all around.

edit:...and it looks like HI is closed as of two hours ago, per Auntie.

Our shops in Nepal have been closed because of an unexpected lack of quality control. They will stay closed until we can improve the product quality you all expected from HI.

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HI is not closed. Yangdu just keeps a tight leash on the kamis who make the khuks. It's very much like herding cats at times. Uncle Bill would have been the first one to tell you that However, HI will be back open as soon as Yangdu gets to the bottom of any QC issues and breaks the proverbial boot off in the proverbial behind. The long and the short of it, HI simply will not put out a sub par product, and Yangdu won't let the kamis work unless they hold up their end of the deal and produce quality khuks.

Don't worry. She'll have the shop back open ASAP.


Jake
aka Steely