Building up a handle

S

Scara

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Jun 21, 2014
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So I just got my sirupati, wish I could post a photo but no camera other than the horrible thing that came built into my laptop, and I'm finding the handle rather small for my taste, as well as being just a little slick. I'd like to build up the handle a little to get a better grip on it, as well as possibly getting some texture on it. I was thinking of using McNett camo forms on the handle so I can get a thicker, grippier handle. I like how the camo form doesn't leave any residue, so if I decide to take it off, there's no added cleanup, and I kind of like the idea of a camo kuk. Would y'all recommend going a different route?
 
I would use paracord, if looks isn't too much of a concern. You can also remove it later without any i'll effects.
 
Leather cord wrap would also work.

Or if you want grip - use hockey tape. And if you are worried about residue, you can make it double sided.
 
I have a cold steel KLO which had grip issues, I wrapped a 1inch thick strip of bicycle inner tube around it and glued it on. Amazing grip but may leave residue...so best off using tennis racquet tape or hockey tape, the residue should be able to be rubbed off with some petrol or methylated spirits, should come right off.

P.S. Maybe try the hockey tape on a small section on the end, leave it for a night and try to remove it, see how that goes for ya.

As for paracord, might be tricky keeping it how you want it unless you masterfully knot it or drill a hole to secure it, which could double as a lanyard hole. I paracord wrapped my tomahawk without a anchor hole, and with a bit of use it wriggled and writhed loose all the time.

Hope I helped a bit. :)
 
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A lot of good ideas. I think I'll try the paracord first, then if I don't like it I'll try the camo wrap, since I've been considering buying it for other purposes. I also suspect a camo wrapped scabbard will look better than the odd cloth things you see sometimes.
 
If you want it permanent you can soak your 550 cord wrap with either marine epoxy, like system 3 or westsystem, or a couple tubes of cyanoacrylaye glue. This is one of my favorite wrap styles:
image.jpg
You can also use a very long piece and weave the ends up through the wrap, tying it off at the other end-this will keep it from moving around:
image.jpg
 
If I was going to be doing any chopping with the khukuri, I wouldn't wrap the handle with paracord.

You could try it to see how it feels, but I didn't like how it rubbed my hand when doing the traditional chopping motions (wrist snaps), and any slight movement of the cord wraps was unsettling when trying to maintain total control of the knife.
 
I personally think that "building up" a handle is much harder than "shaving down".

I would suggest contacting auntie, and returning the knife. I am sure one will come along that will fit you better.
 
Steve Tall said:
If I was going to be doing any chopping with the khukuri, I wouldn't wrap the handle with paracord.

You could try it to see how it feels, but I didn't like how it rubbed my hand when doing the traditional chopping motions (wrist snaps), and any slight movement of the cord wraps was unsettling when trying to maintain total control of the knife.
Click to expand...
This is why I would suggest stabilizing the wrap if you wrap it. Honestly, it might be worth just adapting to the hilt as it is.
 
J W Bensinger said:
This is why I would suggest stabilizing the wrap if you wrap it. Honestly, it might be worth just adapting to the hilt as it is.
Click to expand...

But scara was worried about the glue cleanup if he decided to take it off in the future. Removing epoxy soaked paracord might be a nightmare :o
 
DanTheKnifeMan said:
But scara was worried about the glue cleanup if he decided to take it off in the future. Removing epoxy soaked paracord might be a nightmare :o
Click to expand...
Could put an easily removable layer between epoxy soaked paracord and the handle. Could also try a wax coating on the handle before wrapping.
 
If by "camo form" tape you are referring to the stuff that is like elastic "ace bandage" type material with the rubber on one side and a camo pattern on the other, I strongly DO NOT recommend it.

I tried this material on a horn handled khukri last December to both improve grip and build up the handle like you're talking about. You wouldn't think it would slip on the handle, but, when chopping, it does (especially if it gets wet). It slips a little further down the handle with each chop.

I had wrapped the handle between the handle ring and the bolster, and, when I finished, the camo tape was halfway to the pommel. It feels good at first, and seems like it would work well, but doesn't quite stay put like you would think.

If you do decide to use it, when it slips, UNWRAP it and rewrap it back where you want it. Do not do what I tried to do, which is hold the pommel flare with one hand and pull it back into place with the other. My tape pulling hand slipped off the tape and handle and straight onto blade. I ended up requiring six stitches diagonally across the middle joint of my right trigger finger. The cut was only an inch long and did not cut any tendons, but one of the nerves is still healing, and this occurred last December the 14th.
 
J W Bensinger said:
If you want it permanent you can soak your 550 cord wrap with either marine epoxy, like system 3 or westsystem, or a couple tubes of cyanoacrylaye glue. This is one of my favorite wrap styles:
View attachment 482789
You can also use a very long piece and weave the ends up through the wrap, tying it off at the other end-this will keep it from moving around:
View attachment 482790
Click to expand...
It shows that this is your favorite style of wrapping.
Looking great.
:-)
 
Hockey stick tape works great and the residue cleans off with a little lacquer thinner. Won't hurt the handle at all.
 
Jens Schuetz said:
Could put an easily removable layer between epoxy soaked paracord and the handle. Could also try a wax coating on the handle before wrapping.
Click to expand...

Ah, very true, didn't think about that. I haven't done that before so I couldn't say too much about it. I speculate that the layer between the epoxy paracord and handle would be tape or something, which would probably be the best way to go about it.
 
i do a chinese wrap on my handles that need it. here's a dadao i did last year.

View attachment 482909

paracord with the white 'guts' removed. the two longitudinal lines are laid down first either side (the whole wrap is all one piece), then the spiral wrap goes from the guard back towards the pommel alternating over two then under two. after wrapping the ring, the end was poked back under a few turns of the handle wrap & cut off. the weave keeps it from moving. the end was also melted with a lighter to keep it fron fraying & also helps keep it from pulling loose, as does a discrete drop of superglue. it's a variation on the technique used HERE. ...and here's a PDF doc on grip wrapping that gives better instructions. the variation i used on the dadao is more traditional for dadaos, the crossed over knotted one for a dao sabre.

on some grips i also mix acrylic wood glue 50/50 with water & soak the wrap. when it dries it stabilises the wrap and doesn't stick to the underlying wood which had been previously oiled/waxed.
 
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kronckew said:
i do a chinese wrap on my handles that need it. here's a dadao i did last year.

View attachment 482909

paracord with the white 'guts' removed. the two longitudinal lines are laid down first either side (the whole wrap is all one piece), then the spiral wrap goes from the guard back towards the pommel alternating over two then under two. after wrapping the ring, the end was poked back under a few turns of the handle wrap & cut off. the weave keeps it from moving. the end was also melted with a lighter to keep it fron fraying & also helps keep it from pulling loose, as does a discrete drop of superglue. it's a variation on the technique used HERE. ...and here's a PDF doc on grip wrapping that gives better instructions. the variation i used on the dadao is more traditional for dadaos, the crossed over knotted one for a dao sabre.

on some grips i also mix acrylic wood glue 50/50 with water & soak the wrap. when it dries it stabilises the wrap and doesn't stick to the underlying wood which had been previously oiled/waxed.
Click to expand...
That looks great. The other wrapping material that works nicely is cotton cord-this is dyed cotton, stabilized and waxed-this sword gets in about 600 cuts a day, 5 days a week for the last year or so and all the wrap did is get shiny:
image.jpg
 
600 cuts a day. You either in a mighty rough neighborhood or you open a lot of mail with a very large opener.

I read up and learned how to make them para bracelets everyone is making now days. Already forgot, have to study up again.

I might have to try and learn this handle wrapping business. I like the looks of it.
 
So I have discovered that my paracord is missing. So in the meantime, I have a sample of the camo wrap, I'll give it a try, see if it slips. If it does, off it goes. And so many possibilities brought up here. I almost want to try them all, maybe as my collection grows I will. And I just had a thought, my Suga handle is a little smallish for me. I may end up wrapping it as well.
 
Bawanna said:
I read up and learned how to make them para bracelets everyone is making now days. Already forgot, have to study up again.
Click to expand...

I have a book on para cord wraps, knots, and such. You can borrow it if you'd like.
 
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