brass sheath point

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malcolm47

Joined
Oct 11, 2005
Messages
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Has anyone ordered a khukuri that has the sheath without the brass point? How do you get the brass point off if you currently own a khukuri? I'm going to keep my khukuri in a back pack and don't want the point to work it's way through the bottom. Thanks for any input.............Malcolm
 
Malcolm, heat will melt the 'glue', called laha.

I find that a heat gun will quickly make the laha soft, and allow the brass point, called a chape, to be easily pulled off. USE GLOVES.

Others have used boiling water. I personally don't like the thought of boiling water and leather, so I use the heat gun.

I don't like chapes either. Sole purpose is to poke holes in your calf, or the upholstery of your car/truck.

Welcome, btw.
 
Welcome to the Cantina, Malcolm:)
...or as Yvsa likes to call it, the Psycho Ward;)
The brass point, or chape, has long been a pain in the neck (and thigh). To remove it, simply heat it slowly and carefully. I use an open flame, but I'm sure other guys have a better method. The chape is held on with laha, a natural epoxy. A minute or two of heat will loosen it up enough to yank it off with a pair of pliers. You might have a rough spot on your scabbard as well as loose stitch or two. These can be fixed with a bit of shoe polish for the leather and a dab of epoxy or glue to hold the loose stitch together.
Once again, welcome:)
...oh and read the safety thread, then read it again. There will be a test :p Seriously, mind the fingers and toes.

Jake
 
Aardvark said:
Malcolm, heat will melt the 'glue', called laha.

I find that a heat gun will quickly make the laha soft, and allow the brass point, called a chape, to be easily pulled off. USE GLOVES.

Others have used boiling water. I personally don't like the thought of boiling water and leather, so I use the heat gun.

I don't like chapes either. Sole purpose is to poke holes in your calf, or the upholstery of your car/truck.

Welcome, btw.
Click to expand...

Actually, they have another purpose... To gouge the handles and scabbards of other khukuris nearby... :(

On the brighter side, if you ever need to fight two opponents, chuck the sheathe at one and the chape will unerringly find the most sensitive place on his body (or his most valued posession).
 
On the brighter side, if you ever need to fight two opponents, chuck the sheathe at one and the chape will unerringly find the most sensitive place on his body (or his most valued posession).
Click to expand...
More likely your own. Remember how contrary the kamis can be.
 
please don't force the point even though it seems "wiggly" loose.

also, the leather isn't always perfectly sealed up at the point. you may find a hole at the very end of the point of the leather.

i'd recommend keeping the chape and try not to damage it or the point. thus the previous advice about not forcing it off.

you may want to put it back on!
 
The glue on the outside of the sheath holding the brass tip appears to be a conventional glue, and not laha. I pried off a tip today while on a cliff top. I used the khuk and simply levered it off. You need to be careful not to stab the sheath.

Some tips I leave on, even khuks that are used a lot, because the position of the khuk/sheath fits OK on a belt without causing damage. Some khuks, be it the cant of the sheath, or length- a lot of factors- just seem to want to poke holes in carseats, and legs while hiking.


munk
 
Steely_Gunz said:
Welcome to the Cantina, Malcolm:)
...or as Yvsa likes to call it, the Psycho Ward;)
The brass point, or chape, has long been a pain in the neck (and thigh). To remove it, simply heat it slowly and carefully. I use an open flame, but I'm sure other guys have a better method. The chape is held on with laha, a natural epoxy. A minute or two of heat will loosen it up enough to yank it off with a pair of pliers. You might have a rough spot on your scabbard as well as loose stitch or two. These can be fixed with a bit of shoe polish for the leather and a dab of epoxy or glue to hold the loose stitch together.
Once again, welcome:)
...oh and read the safety thread, then read it again. There will be a test :p Seriously, mind the fingers and toes.

Jake
Click to expand...

Fingers, toes, wrists!!! :o

Welcome Malcolm. STick around and enjoy your self. This is a great place to hang out and learn.

Heber
 
Welcome Malcolm! I second and third the heat gun. I have had several that were on a bit crooked, and have heated them up and reinstalled them with no trouble. I think they use some kind of conventional hot glue to attach them.

Norm
 
I've always just slowly pried my off with no problem and no heat. A couple I just reshaped the end so that it wasn't so sharp and then painted it black to blend in.
 
wildmanh said:
Fingers, toes, wrists!!! :o

Welcome Malcolm. STick around and enjoy your self. This is a great place to hang out and learn.

Heber
Click to expand...

Good point! You wanna see what a khuk can do on accident search some of Heber's post a couple years back. OUCH! I severed a little tendon before, but dadgone he has me beat big time.
How are things, Heber? Wrist OK? Elbow OK? Any lucky ladies, yet?;)

Jake
 
If you don't have a heat gun, use the wife's hair dryer. Two or three minutes of the heat right on the brass should loosen it enough to wiggle it off.

Steve
 
Lots of options open to you Malcolm, here's one that hasn't been mentioned yet; build up the very end of the chape with some duct tape, so it's not so pointy sharp, then slip on a scabbard cover a la Terry Sisco. Need help/ideas on khuk scabbards, you can learn a lot just browsing Terry's site. Here's a link to his scabbard covers http://www.geocities.com/t_sarki/Covers.html. Heck, if you're any good at sewing, get an old pair of BDU's, DCU's, or blue jeans depending on your tactical situation, and git 'er done. Win-win all around, a tough cloth (or sometimes I've used thin leather), slip cover looks good, helps you "tone down" the scabbard a bit, and lets you keep the scabbard original and protected from most wear and tear.

In the end, it's your khuk, modify it how it suits you, just wanted to offer another option/idea. ;)

Sarge
 
Pivotal element in chappe removal, please note:

USE THE PLIERS TO REMOVE THE HEATED CHAPPE.*

Gas stove always works for me. Doesn't take much. Any small opening at the end of the scabbord I seal with a glue gun, if I seal it at all.




*(Don't ask how I know to emphasize this.)


Welcome. Read the safety thread.
 
I vote for filing the tip off of the chape. It'll take the point off while leaving the chape on to protect the tip of the scabbard.

Bob
 
I'll second that, Bob. I leave the chape on, and file down the point. Then everything is gravy....

-T7-
 
cucharadedragon said:
I've always just slowly pried my off with no problem and no heat. A couple I just reshaped the end so that it wasn't so sharp and then painted it black to blend in.
Click to expand...

I have seen pictures of OLD scabbards with ROUNDED chapes!!!
I wish they would offer them again!
 
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