Cold Steel has a blade that I have taken a fancy to((The San Mai III® Gurkha Kukri (#35ATCJ)) but it is so expensive, Why?, I am not sure but it uses San Mai blade construction. They say - A simple way to think of San Mai III® blade construction is to imagine a sandwich: The meat center is hard, high carbon steel and the pieces of bread on either side are the lower-carbon, tough side panels. The edge of the blade should be hard to maximize edge holding ability, but if the entire blade was hard it could be damaged during the rigors of battle. For ultimate toughness the body of the blade must be able to withstand impact and lateral stresses. Toughness is generally associated with "softness" and "flexibility" in steel, so that, surprisingly, if a blade is made "tough" the edge won't be hard enough to offer superior edge holding. San Mai III® blades provides a blade with hard (higher carbon) steel in the middle for a keen, long lasting edge and tougher (lower-carbon) steel along the sides for flexibility.It also uses a different steel called VG-1. When considering a new material for a performance upgrade for the Cold Steel® blades, we tested seven different grades of steel including Shiro 2, V-SP-2, 10A, 440C, VG-10, ATS 34, and VG-1. Physical testing for sharpness, edge retention, point strength, shock, and ultimate blade strength showed that while many of the steels had increased performance in one or two testing categories, only one, VG-1, showed the greatest performance increases in the most critical categories. With an outstanding ability to retain an edge and proven strength in point and blade tests, VG-1 will provide Cold Steel® customers with superior performance previously unavailable in a stainless steel blade.
Now don't take me wrong at this but, I think it is over priced at $650.00. I really need my readers and friends to jump in here and help me prove this theory. My gut just says "Man, this looks NICE but, $650.00 Really!!" So talk to me tell why I should pay this kind of money for this knife.
They are offered by Cold Steel and they are in a price range most of can afford. ($25-$30) They say the Kukri Machetes are workhorses. I would really like to try them, but the dying question is why the price difference is so great between these and the San Mai III above? Show me, this brings to mind what people say that are from Missouri "Show me and Prove it!"
4 comments:
I own the Cold Steel VG-1 San Mai III kukuri and it's not that great. The blade has chipped on me twice. The first time I sent it in and they replaced it but this time I'm not bothering. It doesn't have that great an edge retention either. You're better off getting the cheap model and just resharpening it until it’s ready to pitch.
I also purchased the same expensive blade and it chipped. I'm sending it in, but now that I read this post, I think I may be better off with a cheaper blade.
As an owner of the kukri machete, I have to say that it blows. A very thin piece of metal which has been shaped and has had one of the most sloppy edges put on it. I had to rework it with a bench sharpener to put a mirror edge on it but it still rusts as soon as you look at it.
I have no problem comprehending of why a better constructed blade, built out of better materials, would cost more.
I've heard that the SK-5 version of the gurkha kukri is less susceptible to chipping and is significantly less expensive to boot. Get that one.
The Gurkha kukri is the most popular official weapon of Gurkhas regimental army.
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