LEARNING THROUGH COMPARISONS PT 4: Bowie vs Kukri vs Tomahawk

LEARNING THROUGH COMPARISONS PT 4:
Comparing speed and power between the Bowie, the Kukri and the Tomahawk.

Tools used in this essay, with specifications:

COLD STEEL LEATHERNECK BOWIE
Weight:17oz
Overall Length:15 1/4”
Blade Length: 10”
Blade Length: 10 1/2”
Handle Length: 4 3/4”
Blade Thickness: 5 mm
Steel: D2

COLD STEEL LAREDO RUBBER BOWIE TRAINER
Weight: 5.8oz
Blade Thickness: 11mm
Blade Length: 10-1/2”
Handle Length: 5-1/2”
Material: Santoprene rubber
Overall Length: 16”

COLD STEEL GURKHA KUKRI PLUS
Weight: 22.9 oz
Blade Thickness: 5/16”
Handle Length: 5”
Material: Kray-Ex
Blade Steel: 4034 stainless
Blade Length:12”
Overall Length: 17”

COLD STEEL RUBBER KUKRI TRAINER
Weight: 7.05oz
Blade length: 12”
Overall length: 17.25"
Handle Length: 5”
Material: Santoprene rubber

COLD STEEL TRAIL HAWK
Weight: 23.6oz
Blade Length: 2-1/4”
Blade Steel: 1055 Carbon
Handle Length/Material: 22in American Hickory
Overall Length: 22in

COLD STEEL AXE HEAD CANE, (cut down to the length of a Trail Hawk)
Original weight and length:
Weight: 29.3oz
Overall Length: 38”
Material: Polypropylene

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BOWIE VS KUKRI VS TOMAHAWK. Introduction:




The purpose of this essay is to show an apples to apples comparison of three different tools, a bowie knife, a kukri and a tomahawk.
“How could this be an “apples to apples” comparison you ask?
Because the same person is using these tools to cut the same items with the same techniques.

Picture a force generator (like a V6 engine or the muscles of your body). You can put that V6 engine in a lightweight sports car, or a mid-weight pickup truck, or a large cargo van. The acceleration is going to be different in each vehicle because of its weight. You are the engine and the different weight blades are the different weight vehicles.

What kind of transmission is being used to transmit the power of the engine to the wheels is another factor.
While a sports car’s transmission is geared for speed, a 4WD transmission helps for off road use with a 4X4 truck and a transmission geared for good MPG for a delivery van may be different than either.

Your grip on the blade’s handle is the transmission to give you control over your blade. 
A one hand grip gives you good reach, but less control. You might place your left hand on your right wrist to add extra power and control, but you will loose some reach. If your weapon handle is long enough, than using it with two hands will give you better control, but again, you will loose some reach.

As you watch the following videos, I would like you to look for two things: one is the lag time between cuts (generally, the heavier the tool, the more difficult it is to change direction quickly at speed with the same grip). The other thing to watch for is when a tool gets stuck in the cutting material and what technique I use to extract it or prevent it getting stuck in the first place.


SPEED BASE LINE: CUTTING IN AIR

TIRE DRILL WITH POLYMER TRAINERS

CUTTING A CARDBOARD TUBE

CUTTING A  STATIONARY WOODEN POST

CUTTING A SWINGING THIN LOG

CUTTING A SWINGING HEAVY LOG

Did you notice the differences between the tools, the grips used to move them with speed and control, the different techniques used to solve problems as they occurred?

If you did, congratulations, you were Learning Through Comparisons!

Train Hard, but Train Smart,
Tuhon Bill McGrath

My Learning Through Comparisons video series: 3 videos, $35 each for non-PTI members. PTI members: Use this year's PTI Member Discount Code to receive 25% off this price. https://pekiti.com/collections/all/basic-videos?page=4

All 3 LTC videos with 1 training tool for $75, plus S&H. PTI Members: Use your member discount code to receive 25% off the price of this product. https://pekiti.com/products/1-training-tool-3-learning-through-comparisons-videos-bundle?variant=40481528348751

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For more essays on the Learning Through Comparisons series, is subject, visit:
https://pekiti.com/blogs/news/tagged/learning-through-comparisons