First kukri?

[timcsaw]

Hat grabber limbs. I like that. I carry my KLVUK on my rider for the same purpose. If it whips me it gets cut.

We don't have any of that vine in these parts but I can tell it's not a lot of fun to deal with.

I went at it with a machete once and it was a waste of time... The khuk has the necessary weight (and belly) and works MUCH better.

I once grabbed a mass of those vines with the excavator and they held on and pulled over a 45 foot spruce they were wrapped around. "INVASIVE Bittersweet" is an understatement... nothing "sweet" about it.

 

[Bawanna]

Anybody ever make anything out of them? If they get big enough and they are that tough they might make a decent handle.

They must be hard but I've heard it grows really fast which usually translates to soft.

 

[Dane M]

Wood is fine if you keep it, the sheath and the blade treated with a mixture of beeswax and coconut oil. just wipe it on and work it in maybe once a month. I keep a small tin with me at all times. (works as a salve and lip balm too).

I find the horn is lovely but a bit more slick so I tend to prefer wood.

+1 for the KLVUK

Dave

which would be considered more durable? I don't mind if it's slick, I can always hockey tape it.

 

[timcsaw]

Anybody ever make anything out of them? If they get big enough and they are that tough they might make a decent handle.

They must be hard but I've heard it grows really fast which usually translates to soft.

The vine itself is fairly soft and flexible (even in winter) so I'd probably classify it as a soft wood. It's too bad it isn't harder because it does have some remarkable grain patterns in it... looks sort of like Desert Ironwood (I'll split a large piece and post a pic). It's also full of a resin/sap which hardens like stone once it's exposed to the air... it's weird stuff.

The old-timers would use it for handles on wooden buckets. They would also "train" it to wrap around small hardwood saplings so the two would twist together (like the picture). Once the hardwood had grown to about broom-stick size, they'd cut them, unwrap the vine, and make canes and walking sticks from the hardwood. I've seen some very nice twisted walking stick examples. The vine itself is tossed. I haven't seen this vine grow as large as I've pictured... it's more common to find it pencil to thumb-sized.

 

[Kismet]

OK, Dane...

Just email Yangdu for a 12 in VILLAGER AK. The villager models have a longer handle and are more well-suited for big ole American hands.

Use for five hikes or whatever, then contemplate how many times you found it lacking for some task you encountered.

In truth, most folks on the HI forum go looking for stuff to chop; it's kind of like they want the target in sight to know who's boss!

You'll be fine and will be starting out with a less expensive, marvelously versatile woods tool.

Have fun, be safe.

 

[Steely_Gunz]

OK, Dane...

Just email Yangdu for a 12 in VILLAGER AK. The villager models have a longer handle and are more well-suited for big ole American hands.

Use for five hikes or whatever, then contemplate how many times you found it lacking for some task you encountered.

In truth, most folks on the HI forum go looking for stuff to chop; it's kind of like they want the target in sight to know who's boss!

You'll be fine and will be starting out with a less expensive, marvelously versatile woods tool.

Have fun, be safe.

Kismet speaks the truth

While most want a big chopper knife, for woods walking, it's tough to beat the 12" AK. I've got one that is about 12.5" made by Bura that is a little gnarly, but very functional and has never let me down. My wife has a 12" village model by Tirtha that Yangdu had made for her a few years ago. She loves it. Sometimes she even lets me borrow it

 

[stwm]

The Villager models are on my radar, shame on you for telling me about the slightly larger handles. My gorilla hands hear them calling!

 

[Dane M]

OK, Dane...

Just email Yangdu for a 12 in VILLAGER AK. The villager models have a longer handle and are more well-suited for big ole American hands.

Use for five hikes or whatever, then contemplate how many times you found it lacking for some task you encountered.

In truth, most folks on the HI forum go looking for stuff to chop; it's kind of like they want the target in sight to know who's boss!

You'll be fine and will be starting out with a less expensive, marvelously versatile woods tool.

Have fun, be safe.

Thanks for the tips! I have largish hands. Long fingers.