12” khuks?

D

dvancleve

Joined
May 14, 2018
Messages
116
Howdy folks,

Just sent PP for a 12” blemish AK. If you feel so inclined, please post some pics of your similar (12”, ~1lb) blades. I assume the “use”, as if one is needed, is the same as any other biggish sheath knife? Mine has a cracked wood handle, I am thinking CA, clear epoxy, or some combo to stop it and fill it in. Thoughts?

Thanks, Doug
 
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Hey Doug,

The 12" khuks are some of the unsung heroes of the khuk world. I love my monster choppers, but thrust in a survival situation I think a 12" AK would be much more suited for what you would need to do. I probably have 4 or 5 of the little buggers. I dont have a pic of it, but my go-to hiking khuk is a 12" Villager Yangdu sent for my wife. She claimed my 10" Foxy as hers, so the 12" rides with me more often than not.

Super sharp and very handy.

To fill the crack, epoxy works very well. I like the clear 2 part stuff in a syringe.

Good luck and enjoy!
 
Well my 12” AK arrived today. My ~18.5” WWII is not a huge khuk, but this AK is a baby compared to it. Somehow it’s smaller than I expected it to be, even though I knew it was going to be about a foot long. Here are some links to some Google Photos (hope they work), I can’t seem to get them properly embedded:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/RHnjdYQ5LrCqGB2aA
https://photos.app.goo.gl/JvajC54n2cuwNAY68
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Q8U9sNFdkZXWyW9fA

There is a not terrible crack in the wood. I am going to experiment with putting some thin CA in a syringe with needle for a very precise (I hope) delivery, then maybe some medium over that for more fill.

Also, what is normal sheath tightness for an HI khuk? My WWII was advertised as having a slightly loose sheath. To me, it seemed fine, no rattling and it takes in pretty good shake holding it upside down for the knife to fall out. This baby khuk takes considerable effort and a good grip on the sheathto pull it out and a fair amount of effort to put it back in, WAY harder than the WWII. Is that normal or is it extra tight?

It is not nearly as sharp as my WWII, even after doing some modest hacking with the big one. It won’t really cut paper, what should I do? I don’t really have any proper sharpening supplies, so I need to buy whatever I need…

Thanks, Doug
 
dvancleve said:
Well my 12” AK arrived today. My ~18.5” WWII is not a huge khuk, but this AK is a baby compared to it. Somehow it’s smaller than I expected it to be, even though I knew it was going to be about a foot long. Here are some links to some Google Photos (hope they work), I can’t seem to get them properly embedded:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/RHnjdYQ5LrCqGB2aA
https://photos.app.goo.gl/JvajC54n2cuwNAY68
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Q8U9sNFdkZXWyW9fA

There is a not terrible crack in the wood. I am going to experiment with putting some thin CA in a syringe with needle for a very precise (I hope) delivery, then maybe some medium over that for more fill.

Also, what is normal sheath tightness for an HI khuk? My WWII was advertised as having a slightly loose sheath. To me, it seemed fine, no rattling and it takes in pretty good shake holding it upside down for the knife to fall out. This baby khuk takes considerable effort and a good grip on the sheathto pull it out and a fair amount of effort to put it back in, WAY harder than the WWII. Is that normal or is it extra tight?

It is not nearly as sharp as my WWII, even after doing some modest hacking with the big one. It won’t really cut paper, what should I do? I don’t really have any proper sharpening supplies, so I need to buy whatever I need…

Thanks, Doug
Click to expand...

You don't mention whether the sheath came with the small blades. Sometimes removing the karda and chakma from their slots provides just enough give to loosen a too-tight sheath.

I'll let others point you to postings about how best to sharpen a khukuri. The most important thing is not to do anything that changes the convex geometry of the edge. In particular, do not use any sharpening device that puts a secondary bevel on the edge.
 
davidf99 said:
You don't mention whether the sheath came with the small blades. Sometimes removing the karda and chakma from their slots provides just enough give to loosen a too-tight sheath.
Click to expand...

Thanks david99. It does have those and taking them out makes it snug but not a chore to re-sheath. I suppose/assume the fit loosens up a bit over time, can't envision how it could get tighter unless the sheath got soaked or something... Doug
 
dvancleve said:
Thanks david99. It does have those and taking them out makes it snug but not a chore to re-sheath. I suppose/assume the fit loosens up a bit over time, can't envision how it could get tighter unless the sheath got soaked or something... Doug
Click to expand...

Humidity levels can affect that. In drier climates the fit will be a little looser, and in moist ones it'll swell and tighten slightly.

If you have to, you can peel up some of the leather at the mouth and scrape the wood down a little if you need to loosen the fit. Then you fold the leather back down and reglue it. You can't quite get the leather back the way it was, but it can be done. The loop of a wire coathanger works for prying it up.
 
Scara said:
Humidity levels can affect that. In drier climates the fit will be a little looser, and in moist ones it'll swell and tighten slightly.
Click to expand...
Well I am in AZ (a “dry heat”, I know ;^) but it is monsoon season and on the humid side now. I suppose it makes sense to sit tight until monsoon season is over...

Thanks, Doug
 
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