A dry sheath is a TIGHT sheath

G

gunhou

Joined
Jan 20, 1999
Messages
199
Bill you and some of the other regulars may remember that my sirupati "204" had a very tight sheath as delivered. This was about this time last year.
After soaking and stretching, it fit pretty well, and I used the knife several times during the summer. But for about six weeks now it's been hanging on the wall in my den, and the heating season has begun here in Maine. Last night, I went to draw it and thought I had lost all my strength. The wood and leather has dried out in the warmth and low humidity of my heated den, and has a fervent grip on the blade. I have 'greased her up good', and moved it a bit further from the warmth, but I guess this is to be expected. For those who don't have access to our old archives and may have 'dry sheath', an hour in a bucket of water followed by a stretching with a couple of tapered wedges (you can get these at a lumber yard, they are thin shingles sold to shim door and window frames) will solve the problem.

Ken

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The sword cannot cut itself, the eye cannot see itself.
 
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Yup!!! That'll do it.
I went out to the car while ago to get the little village model out so I could measure it.
Its scabbard is almost always on the snug side, but it has been damp here
and with the knife being "outside" it has loosened up just right.

I keep most of my khukuri's in our bedroom behind the door where it's a lot cooler than the rest of the ouse with no problems. Those that come out for a few days into the rest of the house where there's more heat always get a bit snugger.


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>>>>---¥vsa---->®

Each person's work is always a portrait of himself.

---- Samuel Butler.

Khukuri FAQ
Himalayan Imports Website
 
Refresh my memory, please...

Isn't there a regular treatment for the scabbard that will ensure shrinkage and expansion is kept to a minimum and that your khukuri is always easily removed from its scabbard?

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Harry

This has given me some ideas for new scabbards for some khukuris which I have some scabbards split or perforated and I do have the time to do this now...

[This message has been edited by Apothecary (edited 12-04-2000).]
 
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Harry I don't believe so.
It seems to me that Pala also talked about the problems he had keeping the scabbard on his khukuri adjusted properly.

But it's late or early depending on your point of view and I am possibly wrong.
smile.gif




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>>>>---¥vsa---->®

Each person's work is always a portrait of himself.

---- Samuel Butler.

Khukuri FAQ
Himalayan Imports Website
 
This thread prompted me to go check and I found mixed results. Of the three in my office closet, the scabbard on one is noticeably tighter while two others show no perceptible change. I had similar results with those stored in my bedroom closet. Although most seemed unchanged, two had tightened quite a bit.

One of these, a villager, would not budge. Rather than forcing it, I'll leave it on my terrace for a few days & check again. The other is one of the two that had given me similar problems last year. I went the soak & wedge/stretch route then but, apparently, it is not a one time fix.

I still have a few more to check but what I think I'll do this time is to use leather preservative/oil after another round of wedging & stretching. Hopefully, this will lessen the problem.

Any thoughts on why some scabbards are so affected by humidity changes while others seem unaffected? My guess is that some of the leather may have been treated differently or, perhaps, not treated at all.

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Cheers,
Brian

He who finishes with the most toys wins.
 
Brian, that's an interesting post about the differences and I suspect you are right in your guess that the leather is different. While we were leather shopping in Feb. for the kothimoda scabbards I found a great variation in the leather. Same price but different leather. The one that seemed most consistent was the buffalo calf hide but it is not always available.

Leather and wood as we all know is subject to the elements. Remember when you got your leather shoes wet and dried them in front of the stove what happened?

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Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ
Himalayan Imports Archives (18,000+ posts)
 
I keep all of mine in the garage. Not the best location for display
rolleyes.gif
but it's humid enough in Indiana that the sheathes don't tend to get too tight.
smile.gif
I just make sure that the blades stay well oiled.

Paul

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Paul Neubauer
prn@bsu.edu
A tool is, basically, an object that enables you to take advantage of the laws of physics and mechanics in such a way that you can seriously injure yourself.
 
it's dry year round where I live, and I often get into wrestling matches with my khuk sheaths. My solution will be to sooner or later call on Mr. Terry Sisco to build me one of his very slick-looking canvas and leather sheaths. I'll bet the absence of a wooden "skeleton" makes all the difference. Only thing slowing me down is trying to decide which one gets to go first.
 
Thanks for reminder gunhou. I used to read about folks with tight scabbards when I lived in Maui with the high humidity, and not really think much of it--khuks love Hawaii! Moved to Maine in the summer and the scabbards were still ok, but as soon as Fall and the dry air arrived they all cinched up tight--some so bad I couldn't even draw them without extreme effort(which makes me nervous-that much force makes for sloppy handling). I have been storing the tightest ones out of their scabbards, but will have to try the water and wedges trick.
Thanks!
Rob
Maybe they should be hung in the shower like womens nylons
wink.gif
 
I had to laugh. I just reached for a Kagas Katne to open some mail and, you guessed it, tight grabby scabbard.

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Cheers,
Brian

He who finishes with the most toys wins.
 
A follow-up -- After only two days on my terrace, the scabbard has given up its death grip on my villager. The fit is still very tight but the blade can now be safely withdrawn & resheathed.

I suggest that anyone finding themselves with an almost stuck blade should consider doing something similar. It is much safer for both people & scabbards to allow for it to loosen a bit on its own rather than trying to force it out.

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Cheers,
Brian

He who finishes with the most toys wins.
 
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