CAS Hanwei High Performance Survival Kukri (Khukuri)
For over 20 years Hanwei has been known as the leader in producing high quality, traditionally crafted and functional swords and related weaponry. During this time we have often wondered, what would a high-performance Kukri designed by Hanwei be like? The wait is over. And the answer is exceptional.
The Kukri (or khukuri, khukri, etc.) and it's use as both a weapon of war and survival tool is legendary. Typically forged of high carbon steel and heat treated with the simplest of methods (literally poured water over a hot blade) the basic design and construction of the Nepalese Khukuri has been unchanged for centuries.
Freed from strict tradition Hanwei has tasked themselves with designing a new modern classic Kukri. They've kept the shape, the balance and the high carbon steel but the rest is substantially upgraded. The heat-treat is now precisely controlled pulling every ounce of performance out of the forged 5160 spring steel, a steel so well regarded in the knife community it is often used for ABS performance test knives. The result holds an edge exceptionally well with a spine soft enough to absorb the stress of repeated impacts.
The grip is the biggest change from tradition, and the most welcome. The pommel and guard are stainless steel while the grip is injection molded into a grippy but comfortable pattern. After precise fitting of the guard, grip and pommel the substantial thru-tang is peened and welded in place, resulting in a knife that feels as if it was formed of a solid piece of steel.
The sheath is a multi-layer design, with an ABS insert and sturdy nylon shell. Multiple attachment points and carry positions are possible.