Anyone ever replace their HI Khuk handles with synthetic?

[toxicchill]

I saw someone do a lanyard wrap and a custom leather sheath for their Khuk...but has anyone ever done a handle replacement in micarta or such? Id love to see that.

 

[GregS]

I haven't, but I have wondered the same thing, micarta would be sweet.:thumbup:

 

[DrThunder88]

RockFarm did a rehandle job with fiberglass resin. He also made a very cool sheath as I recall, but I can't find the thread.

It inspired me to work on my stacked Neoprene washer handle. I've also got a baby CAK I'm thinking of rehandling with Micarta, but we'll see.

 

[MacHete]

I'm almost certain that someone did a micarta job, but can't for the life of me remember who or when.

I'm thinking about doing one or two on a couple of AKs I have with horn handles. I don't like horn, but the blades (by Kumar and Bura) are really nice. I'll want to get my skill levels up before I try anything that major on them, though.

 

[jnphares]

I've always wanted a nice synthetic rubber handle, more like Scrap Yard's Res-C than Kraton. It would act as a shock absorber to dampen impact. I've read complaints about Kraton (at least about checkered Cold Steel handles) that they stick to the skin and cause blisters, but something just a tad stiffer should work great. I don't know whether a "western" style grip would be better or if the traditional khukri's ringed cylinder style would be the way to go. That's a matter best determined by field testing.

 

[hollowdweller]

My fave was I think it was Aliloff and Dave Rishars leather handled one. That seemed to make a lot of sense to me.

 

[madbomber1998]

some kind of synthetic handle then wrapped in paracord would be awesome too

 

[InfidelShootist]

I have one with a brass handle.
Good for a Florida truck knife.
Wrapped it in leather grip tape.

 

[Dave Rishar]

Stacked leather is almost a synthetic material if you use as much epoxy as I do during assembly, particularly the thin and runny West System stuff. I've used the term "leather micarta" in the past but that's not accurate, as such handles still absorb plenty of oil when not sealed. Stacked leather is a very good handle material for this application.

I've played with Corian in the past. It's not a great choice for big choppers but for the smaller offerings, it looks nice and is impervious to the elements.

 

[MagenDavid]

This makes me wonder... can this sort of thing be done with a chiruwa knife? I was pondering micarta for my M43 since the handle is a little on the fat side for me to comfortably grip for long periods of time.

 

[DrThunder88]

Replacing the slabs? Sure.

 

[MagenDavid]

What's involved in something like that? I've never taken a peek under the slabs. Is there a way to remove them so as to preserve them?

 

[C.S. Graves]

What's involved in something like that? I've never taken a peek under the slabs. Is there a way to remove them so as to preserve them?

Il Bruche has some experience at replacing slabs... it can be a lot of work, and he tends to prefer wood to synthetics, but I'm sure his techniques could be adapted to micarta and such.