2nd khukuri project - weekend fun

Thanks mates for your inputs and sharing.

The blade is something between a Chit and a Siru. 17" OAL, weighing around 25 ounce (700g). I made this for my jungle trekking. Clearing springy is the primary use, after that is some chopping. Weight is always a problem to me, Asian size.

@ OldSchool & DrThunder: I will try to draw a bolster tutorial from sheet stock for you. Waiting for another knife project to take picture is too long. Habaki style bolster is another level. Mine is just starting lever. If you observe it clearly, there is still a slight problem in keeping them even. You still see the handle end of bolster is smaller than the Cho end. I tried my best but still just can finish it at this level. The HI’s are amazing. They are even at both sides.

@ Gravetom: I have few problems with chiseling: First thing is my chisel is too big and wide, about 18mm in width. Though the spine is soft and the hammer is 3bls, the wide edge of chisel cannot create enough pressure. Second is that I took the wrong process. I finished the blade first then chisel. This made me scared of ruining the finish, then had to put it on a block of wood as anvil in stead of steel anvil, then the force is reduced. I could not drive the chisel deeper.

@ Elsitherino: I will post pix of my cross bow for you. Just found an ethnic hunter back pack made from rattan thread. I need to find a spear to make a complete set.

Cheers,

Hung
 
OK, so you are using a chisel to make the line, by forcing the chisel down into the metal? Sometimes we engravers use the term "chisel" to mean "graver" Now I understand your trouble.

others may correct me if I am wrong, but I thought the HI Kamis engrave those lines. not chisel them as you seem to be doing. Engraving would let you finish, or nearly finish the polish before you engrave the lines. And, you would hold the blade in a vise, so you have both hands free to hold your hammer and graver. It does not take anywhere near a 3lb hammer to drive a graver to make deep cuts in soft steel, but it is a learned skill. 3 oz would be a heavy engraving hammer. It is all about the proper edge to the tool, and the correct technique to make the cut.

If you want to chisel it the way i think you are doing it, it might be best to do that while the blade is being forged, but you get the blade after forging, right?

Anyway, thanks for explaining your methods. If you want to learn to engrave, i can point to forums that will help you with that.

take care,

Tom
 
Oh, I am not criticizing how you did it. it looks good the way you made the lines in your knife!

Tom
 
Tom where might one acquire a graver? I might want one for leather work to get closer to the look of the Kami marks.
 
oldschool45 said:
Tom where might one acquire a graver? I might want one for leather work to get closer to the look of the Kami marks.
Click to expand...

What do you have in mind OldSchool, I'm an old hand in leatherwork.:thumbup: :cool: :D
If you have in mind what I'm thinking a "V" gouge for fine wood carving would suit you very well and may be a lot less robust tool than what one needs for cutting metal...
Just a thought... ;)

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Yvsa I'm going to try and duplicate the Kami marks onto leather sheaths holding their blades. I need a good Devanagari font so I have a clean image to transcribe from. But the boss has set an October 1 day to be clear of our old office so I'll be rather busy until then.
 
hunglvq said:
Yvsa,

Sorry for lacking of pix. Next time I try to take pix for you guys.

When working, I was deep in the mood and I don't want to spoil that mood, even I don't get out for lunch or dinner. My hands are also dirty and I don't want to wash hands to touch camera. :p:p:p

Sure, next time you'll have pix.

Thanks a lot for the idea on egg-shaped handle. The bigger end is on top, right? I'll take note.
Click to expand...

Thanks Hung!:thumbup: :cool:

I most certainly understand where you're coming from when you write about this, "When working, I was deep in the mood and I don't want to spoil that mood, even I don't get out for lunch or dinner."

as I'm the same way when I get really involved in what I'm doing... ;)

"Thanks a lot for the idea on egg-shaped handle. The bigger end is on top, right? I'll take note."

Hung you're so very welcome but it ain't my idea as I'm nowhere old enough to have come up with the idea although I have little doubt that some members here think so... :eek: :p ;) And indeed the larger side is along the top... :D

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oldschool45 said:
Yvsa I'm going to try and duplicate the Kami marks onto leather sheaths holding their blades. I need a good Devanagari font so I have a clean image to transcribe from. But the boss has set an October 1 day to be clear of our old office so I'll be rather busy until then.
Click to expand...

Okay gotcha. :cool: And that's quite the idea OldSchool, sure 'nuff one I'd never thought of before!:thumbup: :D
Probably wouldn't do or look right if the initials were carved in with a swivel knife due to the nature of the Nepali leather ainnit?

For a short time there for a while Sarki's were using a somewhat thicker leather for the scabbard body and were using modeling tools to form some quite nice designs on the fronts of the scabbards that have held up very well on mine, but then mine haven't seen been exposed to the elements since I haven't been able to work 'em any longer... :(

I'll bet $10.00 to a Jelly Donut that a nice woodcarving gouge would do just what you want! Let me know what you decide when you get ready and I'll help you find something, that is if you'd like my help, I'm really looking forward to what your idea looks like on the leather. :thumbup: ;) :D

I'm bettin that Karda knows where there's some beatchin Devanagari Font... :thumbup: :cool: ;)

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Yvsa, leather on the stock scabbards is way too thin, the 8 to 10# that I use on my homemades are prime tooling leather but with the size of the canvas I have to work with a swivel knife is too big. I may look at blades for pen blank turning that should give me the smooth curves and small size I need. When the time comes I'll take all the help I can get because I'm going to burn through an awful lot of scrap leather getting it right. The only way to get to Carnegie Hall!
I already asked Karda about the Devanagari and I have a few available but he said to try Yangdu and ask what she uses if she emails the Factory in that language. That will probably give me a closer character set.
 
Hi Tom,

I'm really happy if you could show me the graver forum. I just googled it. I see a lot of stuff like the graver you said in the silver-smith tool store but did not know what it is.

Really appreciate your inputs. I'm not taking it negative at all.

Cheers,

Hung

gravertom said:
OK, so you are using a chisel to make the line, by forcing the chisel down into the metal? Sometimes we engravers use the term "chisel" to mean "graver" Now I understand your trouble.

others may correct me if I am wrong, but I thought the HI Kamis engrave those lines. not chisel them as you seem to be doing. Engraving would let you finish, or nearly finish the polish before you engrave the lines. And, you would hold the blade in a vise, so you have both hands free to hold your hammer and graver. It does not take anywhere near a 3lb hammer to drive a graver to make deep cuts in soft steel, but it is a learned skill. 3 oz would be a heavy engraving hammer. It is all about the proper edge to the tool, and the correct technique to make the cut.

If you want to chisel it the way i think you are doing it, it might be best to do that while the blade is being forged, but you get the blade after forging, right?

Anyway, thanks for explaining your methods. If you want to learn to engrave, i can point to forums that will help you with that.

take care,

Tom
Click to expand...
 
Yvsa,

Sorry for the language. I should have said "thanks for showing me that". I know there are many many experienced members in this forum.

Cheers,

Hung

Yvsa said:
Hung you're so very welcome but it ain't my idea as I'm nowhere old enough to have come up with the idea although I have little doubt that some members here think so... :eek: :p ;) And indeed the larger side is along the top... :D

`
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Click to expand...
 
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hunglvq said:
@ Elsitherino: I will post pix of my cross bow for you. Just found an ethnic hunter back pack made from rattan thread. I need to find a spear to make a complete set.
Click to expand...

Excellent. I really like the look of that crossbow, it's just easy on the eye. I bet that backpack is pretty nice, considering what all purchases you've shown. What kind of spear are you looking into getting? I recently saw some old Thai spears based on the shape of a young elephant tusk (though they could have also easily been leaf-shape inspired) that looked very useful for slashing and a likely wicked upward thrusting stab.

Either way, keep up the good work. :thumbup:
 
I just look for a standard leaf-shaped (from a tribal people in the highland of Vietnam) to complete the set. The guy quoted me for $15 for it. Not so expensive.:p:p:p

ElSitherino said:
Excellent. I really like the look of that crossbow, it's just easy on the eye. I bet that backpack is pretty nice, considering what all purchases you've shown. What kind of spear are you looking into getting? I recently saw some old Thai spears based on the shape of a young elephant tusk (though they could have also easily been leaf-shape inspired) that looked very useful for slashing and a likely wicked upward thrusting stab.

Either way, keep up the good work. :thumbup:
Click to expand...
 
here you go-

http://www.engravingforum.com/

I'll be starting a beginners tutorial here soon-

http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/index.php?

at this sub forum-

http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showforum.php?fid/21/

oldschool45-

I don't know much about leather work, but I think Yvsa has it right. woodcarving chisels sound better for leather. Gravers don't work well in wood, except end grain, which is how wood engraving is done, for printmaking. I don't think they would work well in leather. I may have to try it sometime!

take care,

Tom
 
Hung, forgive me for missing this one but WOW!

You have done a great job on this knife and if you keep this up you need to learn how to engrave a Kami mark on them.
Even though you have the blade forged for you, the amount of work you put into it afterward warrant's a mark of your own.
Your bolster is perfect! I love how nice it looks and how well it came out.
The handle has a really comfortable look to it and the wood is beautiful. Really nice.

Great Job Hung! :thumbup::thumbup:
 
You've done some excellent work there, hunglvq. Your khukuri looks gorgeous and very usable. Thanks for letting us have a look at it.:thumbup:
 
Be careful about these Khukuri projects. They can lead you down roads you don't come back from.
 
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