The Weight Issue- Einsteins Theory Of Khukuri Relativity 8>D

really I don't think anything the kami do in terms of their craft changes the way I feel about having the ability to actually own them for a fair price, I mean I have some extremely light khukuri, a beautiful chiruwa kobra by raj i picked up on dotd a month ago , very light very good, but I really love the "Ram" style of HI blades in general where they are made to decapitate a small animal in one sacrificial swing , I do enjoy my KVLUKs for brush work , and the bigger blades for soft woods, and hopefully I can buy a HI axe one day , but for the most part I buy these things because they are made by the people in a very old tradition and most of the money bypasses caste and goes to the kami, as another poster once said, consider HI to be a "fair trade" company, the only one of its kind in the world.
I think I can safely speak for most of us when I say we are devoted to the work you guys do, and enjoy it in all its handmade forms, all specific needs aside, I love being here ! ( keep makin them khuks big or small)

 

Well said Karda

 

I actually love the weight of my Gelbu. I picked it largely because of the weight to length (29oz, 18") and the power that generates-It is 90% weapon and 10% tool to me. I am 5'5" and about a buck sixty five, and I can move it very fast, and stop it as well. It all has to do with conditioning and training.
IMHO, the companies making 5160 alloy khuks out of 1/4" and hardening the Nepali way with water are asking for stress cracks-5160 is an oil hardening steel, and it's amazing that the teapot method works at all with it. I haven't tried it as an experiment yet, but I'm in awe of the consistency in my HI khuks using that method.

 

The best thing about HI khukris is the first time you swing one at a piece of wood. If you've handed a few larger 1/4" thick knives/machetes/whatever before, your mind has a math equation based on the blade's size and shape and you sort of know what it's going to do to a piece of wood just from looking at it. But the tremendous thickness of the khukri throws that whole equation out the window. So you get that "whoah" moment the first time you use it and see what it's capable of compared to what you expected.

I like to think of HI khukris as 100% authentic khuks made in a 100% authentic fashion, but that have been tweaked and optimized for western usage. There's so much variety in antique khukri hilts, blade shapes, sheaths and they're all considered authentic... but if you make the blade a little thicker and the grip a little larger for western hands suddenly it isn't authentic anymore? That's BS.

 

Excellent post Karda. What makes no sense to me are those who criticize HI all the while knowing the different types and sizes of blade available. If someone doesn't like what they find here, please go somewhere that provides what you want rather than attempting to soil HI's goods and reputation.

 

Pre-Einstein e= ½ mv²

Comment.

 

Perfectly said Karda.

 

What the?
Einstein? Kukri?

I'll just say this. Never swing a Kukri at light speed or else it's mass will become infinite and that's way too heavy, even for the Hulk.
Also the more accurately you measure it's high speed the less accurate you will know its current position and that can hurt. So stay away from mixing Kuks with Einstein and Heisenberg!
Don't get me started on the Schroedinger Kukri!

 

I just don't understand that mindset at all, to want to run down another maker in your field. When I'm at a show, and there's another knifemaker there-smith or stock removal- I'm psyched. If my stuff can't stand on its own next to another makers stuff I need to find a different job.
It's too bad- there's plenty of room for difference, and I highly doubt that a collector of either type of khuk is going to stop buying knives from his or her chosen maker.
No matter how much I want to try out a particular piece of gear, if the seller is being an idiot I can't bring myself to do it.

 

You'll find that in every field. Martial arts, science, you name it. My Kungfu is better than yours.

Not sure if it's just competing for funding and resources or instead of this targeted meanness just a subconscious phenomenon?

I bet the mean guys don't think of their deeds as evil since they either haven't thought about it (most likely) or they think they have a justification (revenge, concern about customers well being etc. )

 

Very true. I've heard it enough in the martial arts that it's starting to just be white noise.

 

Great post. And very true, no other khukuri manufacturer can match HI's beauty, fit/finish, warranty, and customer service, it's kind of sad that they all have such a long way to go to even match HI. I do enjoy khukuri from all companies but HI stands far above all it's competition.

As far as weight I am smaller in stature being 5'5" so I do prefer lighter khukuri if I'm out and about hiking/trekking in the wilderness but if your backyard chopping nothing beats the function and fun of my heavier CAK.

 

I missed the disparagement.

A certain type of person is drawn to brands that attack other brands.

The more mature and knowledgeable person asks how it is that the disparaged brand became the standard by which all others are judged.

 

Can't resist.

The energy of a swing varies directly (one-to-one) with the mass, but varies as the square of the velocity. For example, if you double the mass of a blade, you get twice the energy into a swing. But if you double the velocity, you get four times the energy into the swing.

Implication: A lighter blade, which you can swing faster, packs more energy than a heavier blade.

But that can be misleading, since it takes more energy (from your arm and wrist) to get that lighter blade swinging twice as fast.

Much as we all enjoy applying mathematics and physics to these questions, it really comes down to how does the blade feel in your hand, and that will vary from person to person, and according to what you are doing with the blade.

-- Dave

 

Finallly someone who puts speed in the equation.

Can't argue with the bottom line either

 

Based on that equation,

Increasing the thickness of a khukuri to make it 30 ounces instead of 25 ounces will require only 25% more energy (for the same swing path and velocity),

whereas,

Increasing the velocity of a 25 ounce khukuri from 1 meter/sec to 2 meters/sec will require 300% more energy (for the same swing path).


(Note: "Increasing the velocity" is referring to a different speed of the khukuri swing, and not referring to acceleration.)



(Putting some numbers to what David wrote.)

 

Did some tests with an acceleration sensor a while back to see what rules in a punch.
The sensor was in a heavy bag and measured how much force was transferred into a target.
Turned out a super speedy snap didn't enter the bag at all and barely registered. A super strong but slow push didn't do much either. What was best was a normal strong punch which extended well into the bag at a normal speed.
Sounds obvious but our sensei insisted on one physic equation he knew and thought speed alone rules. Maybe it does with solid metal balls (even there bullets can't sacrifice all their mass in favor of speed) Anyways I did the experiment with 4 different people without letting them know what for or what I expected. So there was no arguing. Still kept it to myself. No need to make a guy look bad who was exceptionally nice and didn't want much $ to train us.

Just imagine a super light Kukri thin as a needle you might slap it at a target at the speed of sound. You will cut skin but not penetrate and not do any real internal damage or trauma.
--> go as heavy as you can without becoming too slow or losing control.
Where your own personal sweet spot is exactly? Go out and start chopping and you'll know.