Desert heat/Khukuri Handle

Triquetra

Triquetra

Joined
Mar 7, 2002
Messages
759
I have a question that's been in the back of my mind for a while. I don't rememeber it being asked on the forum before. Reading somewhere else on the forum about desert survival made me even more curious. Anyhow, my question is how Khukuri handles would stand up to extreme heat conditions such as desert use or just being left in a hot truck on a summer day. I know that the way to remove a handle is to heat it up in hot water. Would they also soften up under these conditions and risk separation from or slipping off of the blade? Also, does anyone have any practical experience, maybe Sarge, on how they stood up in Afganistan and Iraq?
 
Retired specops officer, Paul C., lives in Tuscon and often has knives and guns in the trunk of his car during hot summer months where temps will reach 150 degrees or so. He said even the grips on his pistols crack but he's much more of a user than maintenance man. Carried (and put it to very good use on several occasions!) his blued and dulled 15 inch AK all over the world and still has it. He still stays in touch.
 
I actually sent Sarge an email asking this very question, had an error though. I was more worried about how the horn would hold up though.
 
This is a good question.

I think in dry heat of such extremes (150*+ locked in a trunk) the horn would dry out and be prone to cracking. I could well be wrong, as i have no experience whatsoever in dealing with horn.

My experience here with guitars, is that wood and finishes are *finished* if left in a trunk, in either extreme heat, or freezing conditions. A khuk is a far different animal, but i would still be concerned.

I've cleaned my wood handled Kobra with Murphy's oil soap, and i'm going to layer on tung oil. Hopefully this will beautify, as well as protect it. For the blade, i'm going to use "Future", which is basicly a hard floor wax. I'm figuring it will keep air and moisture off the blade and keep it looking new, with only occasional buffing needed. I'll also apply this finish on the handle for a shine, and bolster to keep the brass from tarnishing. This Kobra isn't a 'user' for me.

As far as horn, i'm very interested to know if there is anything we can do to preserve it.
 
I was really wondering about the homemade epoxy (lahti??) that holds the handle on. I just assumed from all the other posts that the horn handles would crack (one reason that I prefer wood). After reading another post about the shock absorbing qualities of the material inside the handle, one might deduce that the heat might soften the handle material and actually improved some of the performance.
 
I wouldn't lay the knife in the sun up on the dash board. I have no doubt that the laha would soften up in the direct sun light on a hot day. As far as most any where else in the car or pickup I haven't had any problem. The horn handles that I have the most of do ok as long as I get some moisturizer on them. Even in the hot dry spells we haved in Texas I have had no problem with cracking. Now, I have a question for one of you very learned gents.

Why can't I use neetsfoot oil on a horn handle? The stuff is made
from horns and bones.

Federico is right, those horn handles seem to like the oily sweat from your hands when working on hot days. And, no they don't seem to get slick to me. A little wet and they seem to suck the palm of my hand in tight and don't slip around. I have learned to quit for a while when my hands start to get too tired. I can go back later and do pretty good for a while. Fact, These khuks are dangerous to use when a person is too tired. :) :)
 
To minimize reflectiveness. Last thing he would want out there would be something shiny.
 
I was assuming that the blueing was for reflectiveness and that the dulling was refering to the sharpness of the blade. That's what had me confused.
 
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