Fabricating a Wooden Sheath for Golok or Khukuri

M

molinee

Joined
Nov 9, 2002
Messages
84
Are there any links or books or help available on making your own wooden sheath/scabbard for Goloks or Khukuri knives?
-Thanks
 
are you dead set on wood?
wood traps/holds moisture and will rust your knife. you can impregnate it with an oil, but then itll trap dirt and scratch your knife.
if you are creating a sheath for use and not display, try a kydex sheath.
there is an example of a kydex sheath with a forward breaking draw on this page:
http://www.m4040.com/Survival/Ghurka/Khukri_mod2.htm

personally, i think it could have been better made. not sure what type of press the guy used, but the key is *pressure*, and getting the kydex from the oven into the press in the absolute least amount of time. i have a simple press with a leather hinge i made from 3/4" plywood and firm foam, and ill drive the front wheel of my car onto it for the final pressing. you get amazing definition like that, and a perfect fit. there are tonnes of threads in the knifemaking forum on how to make a sheath from kydex, sheath ideas, clip ideas, as well as making your own press.

cheers,
-gabriel
 
Blackhearted said:
are you dead set on wood?
wood traps/holds moisture and will rust your knife. you can impregnate it with an oil, but then itll trap dirt and scratch your knife.
if you are creating a sheath for use and not display, try a kydex sheath.
there is an example of a kydex sheath with a forward breaking draw on this page:
http://www.m4040.com/Survival/Ghurka/Khukri_mod2.htm

personally, i think it could have been better made. not sure what type of press the guy used, but the key is *pressure*, and getting the kydex from the oven into the press in the absolute least amount of time. i have a simple press with a leather hinge i made from 3/4" plywood and firm foam, and ill drive the front wheel of my car onto it for the final pressing. you get amazing definition like that, and a perfect fit. there are tonnes of threads in the knifemaking forum on how to make a sheath from kydex, sheath ideas, clip ideas, as well as making your own press.

cheers,
-gabriel
Click to expand...

Hold on there... the idea that wood is bad for sheaths is going to come as a bit of a surprise to not only the japanese (all wood saya) and the gurkhas (all wood inner construction) but to our own medieval ancestors as well who also had wooden interior slats or cores for their sword scabbards. On mine at least the interiors have a raw wool lining but in Japanese saya there is just bare wood. Despite this swords remain in pristine condition... well at least right up until that first battle. I've never had a problem with any customer complaining about trapped dirt or scratched blades or anything like that. I suspect that the important part is to make sure that you clean your blade before you put it back in the scabbard.

As for an instruction set, I'm not aware of one, but it's not terribly hard...

hi_kukri_front.jpg
 
This is the quick answer. Make it in two halves. put a couple of locating pins in your 2 halves so that you know where they will meat like when you are making a sand mould.
Trace out the shape of your blade. Route out the area where the blade will fit.

Put a row of pins around the outside like you would stitch a sheat. extra glue to help. Shape the outide.

That is it.

It is one way not the only or best way. I have seen a mate restoring traditional indonisean sheaths. They are well made but definatly not high tech. wood or horn pins. You could easilly do it at home with very few tools.

Just match the grain. Imagin you wood is folded like a book over your blade.

Hope that is some help.


Edited the number of pins is up to you you don't need many not as many as stiching.

All tha fancy stuff can come later.
 
This is the quick answer. Make it in two halves. put a couple of locating pins in your 2 halves so that you know where they will meat like when you are making a sand mould.
Trace out the shape of your blade. Route out the area where the blade will fit.

Put a row of pins around the outside like you would stitch a sheat. extra glue to help. Shape the outide.

That is it.

It is one way not the only or best way. I have see a mate restoring traditional
indonisean sheaths. They are well made but definatly not high tech. wood or horn pins.

Just match the grain. Imagin you wood is folded like a book over your blade.

Hope that is some help.

All tha fancy stuff can come later.
 
I have just had a quick look.
one site is valiantco.com

"Traditional Weapons of the Indonesian Archipelago"
Cat.#BK-01
Author: Albert G. van Zonneveld.
Publiser: C. Zwartenkot Art Books - Leiden; Spring 2001.
Format: 31.0 x 24.0 cm; hardcover (cloth in dustjacket).
Edition: English; 160 pages; 300+ color and b/w photographs, illustrations, sketches, diagrams.

Edited: (I am talking about the site here not the book)There are lots of images of various blades and wood and horn traditional sheaths.

I thought blade mag were going to do an article on this felo at one time but I did not see it.

I have not read the above book so you may want to look at the above site for more info.
 
Hey Reg, H&C, and Ripper,
This info is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks to you all for taking time to help.... much appreciated.
 
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