Yard Zilla?

So, help me understand this one. Could we have a Khuk from the Yard? A nice killa zilla style one? Here's what I don't get: why in the world was the Busse Killa Zilla over 7 bills in the store? Just cause it's a busse? Or is there something in the manufacturing process that dictated such a large price? Is it THAT much harder to grind a recurve convex blade? I'm open to hearing that it is, I'd just like to know. If it is, would that mean there is something about that "price-to-performance ratio" that would keep it out of the store? Inquiring minds want to know. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

I think Dan said something about how there is a bunch of wasted steel after that curved shape in cut, he couldn't keep the price to performance doing that. I think that's why the zilla was so pricey, it would have to be a wider than normal piece of steel to cut out that shape ( than say a standard battle mistress

Well now, that makes some sense.

Although, look at the price of a NMFBMLE, ( about the same size, thickness and blade finish) was $797, same as the zilla TT edition ( well, that was 697 with the discount)

I really don't know the answer, but big INFI always seems to carry a disproportionately high price. To me, the prime example is the release price difference between a FFFBM (the basic black, black Micarta model was only $367) and the MOAB (which was $2197). I get that the MOAB is significantly larger, but I don't know that it's more than twice the knife, and it was finished like an LE as opposed to my CG 3FBM, but the MOAB cost 6 times as much.

Honestly, the KZ is probably close to the size of a MOAB, which would make it a bargain at $700. Jeff was kind enough to proxy my KZ2 (CG) at last year's Blade, so it was show-priced at only $497.

The MOAB price may have something to do with it's thickness, maybe to have a limited run of ( what is the Moab .315 or so) infi bars made up jacks the cost, well over that of a larger order or .25 infi bars

I think the Moab was tipping on .400 and from looks is also waki length.

well I looked it up...

Overall length: 20.5"
cutting edge length: 13.75"
Weight: 2lbs 12.2oz
Thickness at pommel: .410"
Thickness at center of blade: .380"
Thickness of metal directly behind cutting edge at tip: .090"
Thickness of metal directly behind cutting edge at center of blade: .080"
Thickness of handle at center swell: 1.155"
Thickness of handle at index finger: .895"

looks like there was a ton of processing and angles to be ground out on a huge slab of steel. my guess is you are really paying for the hours on of grinder/grinding with something like the MOAB. probably the same tagged onto any of the fancier blades like the LE's and custom shops. they have to pay a guy or two or three to work that stuff. plus I read how much per hour run time on some of the better machines can be to keep up. I'm sure Busse has some $100 per hour of uptime type machines working steel. Those suckers are high maintience and breakdown regularly. beating them up with big slabs of INFI and working crazy angles can't be cheap. and we stiil haven't even gotten to the JWB quenching! Can you imagine the Busse team measuring that out. One for you and one (one and one more...) for me!

I know what you mean about the price point for an ideal Infi Khukri ! I wanted them to be as light as the Cold Steel ones for easy carry ... but at the end of the day I decided to spend $1700 on a Nuclear TTKZ because the weight saving by serrating the spine makes this one feel the best of the bunch by a good margin ... but at a huge increase in cost!

At the end of the day though if I sell off all my other Infi except perhaps a Basic 9 as an alternative choice ... well ... it means I am probably better off than I would be by continually buying the next offering looking for a better all round choice.

However, a simple 11 inch khukri in 3/16 or .20 of an inch thick stock with a res c handle, would actually be a better user than the much more costly NTTKZ.
It would need a new res c design for the handle though. Something the same shape as the TTKZ grip.

If that's the case how come Condor knives and Coldsteel can make them so cheaply ? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Both companies sell them for about $27 so even if you figure in better steel, heat treat and higher production costs due to being US made, I still can't see why they should be any more than say $150.....$200 tops !

I think SR77 would be a perfect steel for a Khuk, combine that with the comfort of a res-C handle and it will kick the Killa-Zilla's butt!!!

1. Labor is cheaper in El Salvador and China.
2. SK5 and 1075 are cheaper than SR77, SR101, or INFI.

Check out the price of the Cold Steel Kukri in San Mai. Not as high as INFI, but pretty pricey.

Yeah I hear ya there Vic but I bet Dan could still pull one in at the price point I mentioned, that is roughly 6 to 8 times more expensive than the El Salvador/China ones...surely the steel/labour costs wouldn't exceed that ?

I also think 3/16" stock would be better than the Killa Zilla's so that would also help bring a Yard version down in cost.

You know it's possible that they could "Straighten" out the blade but leave the same profile, thereby getting rid of a lot of waste I would think. I have a cheapie blade like that and if it had good steel I would REALLY like it.

I would LOVE a Yard Kuk, especially in sr77. I may get my zilla shopped a bit, although at this point it doesn't seem heavy to me, I have a few ideas

After a bit of price checking, the TT zilla isn't really anymore expensive for the amount of steel and finish as similar Busse INFI knives

Just keep the weight down to 22 oz or less. That's the weight of the BWM, Junglas, and CS Kukri. And that's about as heavy as I want to carry or swing for any length of time. While my big bad KZTT will split logs and probably chop down walls, it is much too heavy, IMO. Let's just say, it is the last knife I own that I am likely to actually carry on my person. It's fine for a jeep or truck knife. But what do I know? I'm old.

You've got lots of big knife swinging days left yet Vic ! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

I remember when the Zilla's were coming out and Vic and I were pretty excited ... but we were both of the same mind ... to make the ideal khukri it needs to come in at 22 oz's or there abouts if you want to wear it on your belt without undue "drag" and "hitching" of the belt when walking ... I can get away with my NTTKZ on my webbing simply because the webbing has both a belt and harness ... but even then I prefer to carry my CS Khukri ...

Really there is nothing wrong with a Carbon V ( 1075 ) CS Khukri except the handle. It is far too serrated on the chequering. Use a dremel with a drum sander attachment and sand this down to smooth soft grippy rubber and the same for the lnes on the top and bottom of the grip and you have a VERY good Khukri at a sensible price. Whoever did the HT on them did a good job ... but IF they take a "ding" near the tip when clearing brush on stones ... they can chip out on the edge a bit where as Infi will roll and be easily straightened by "steeling" the edge ...

That last point and the ease with which you can sharpen Infi in the field by a simple mix of stropping and using strokes with a ceramic rod are my "main" noticeable advantages of Infi. I know it may survive more hammer blows from Noss but I don't see that in the field ... although it is a comforting thought ...

All told the cost of my NTTKZ is probably "outrageous" in terms of "price point" and "value for money" ... but I look at it and I just see a thing of beauty ... like an E type Jag ... it just has "form" and "symmetry" ... and it performs like it looks too ... and I get a lot of satisfaction from owning it ...

But if I had the time and patience to wait a while and Busse would do it ... I would have the same blade with a skeleton handle and a Res C grip of the same shape as the original ... basically bring the blade into 22 oz territory ... and then I would have attained my "ultimate" knife ... the TTKZ's are'nt "crazy" heavy ... I have used mine all day with no complaints and chopped a good few trees down with it ... but I "know" from using a lot of knives that a 3/16 blade with a skeleton handle will feel as blade heavy as the Zilla and will chop as well without the weight and carry a lot more easily.Which for me would be a "better" knife.

In the mean time though I have a shop credit for $200 ... and if a 3/16 Res C khukri were done by the Yard I could think of no better use for it <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> Even if it were'nt in Infi ... it would probably perform as well as you could ever ask for ... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Alright then, it's settled. Dan, we want a Khukri for $200 or less (200 for the LE version <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> )!

A Yard Zilla sounds good! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Heck a MOADF (Mother of all Dog Farthers) sounds good too! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

sounds cool but pricey.