Hand Position on Khuk Handle?

Triquetra

Triquetra

Joined
Mar 7, 2002
Messages
759
I know that this has been asked before but I can't find it. When you grip your Khuk handle what position is your hand and where does the ring go. On all of mine when I grip them the only comfortable position is with the ring between my pinkie and ring finger and with my thumb and pointer on either side of the top of the bolster. This position feels very comfortable and provides for a excellent pivot point for chops but it seem unnatural to have my hand so close to the edge of the blade and it seems like your hand would slip easily on to the blade. Although I have never even come close to this happening. All of my Khuks with the exception of my big Chitlangi fit like this. I have rather small hands much like I would expect of a Nepali so I would assume that this is as intended. I know that we've all complained about cho creep but when my fingers are up there it seems like a good thing.
 
I do the same. On some handles usually the longer ones, sometimes the ring goes in between the up one finger. Depends what's comfortable.
 
At the base of my thumb my hand is 4" inches across the palm and at the base of my fingers it is 3-11/16" inches.
I don't recall if Dan's hand measurement comparison chart takes this measurement into consideration but if it doesn't perhaps it should.
I just now thought about the taper a person's hand might have myself.
I used to always think of myself as having large hands but after actually meeting some of the guys here on the forum I realize they're not at all large but actually in the medium to small range.

With all that said I almost always hold my khukuris with the center ring between my middle and ring fingers.
Holding a khuk with the ring between my pinkie and ring finger seems very awkward to me and not nearly as secure.
The swell of the handle at the end helps me to lock my hand around the handle much more solidly than moving up with the ring between my pinkie and ring fingers...
The Old Time curved handles found on the very old khukuris help to lock the hand in even more securely in my experience.
And with these very old curved handles they almost or do force you too hold the khukuri with the center ring between your middle and ring fingers as there just isn't room on the short bolster to move your grip up a finger.:D
 
I'm splitting my post into two parts because I wanted to bring up something about the khukuri handles themselves. I may start another thread on this subject before long myself but thought I would at least mention in this thread to bring attention to the situation.

There has been some very major changes in the HI handles from the startup of Shop 2/BirGhorka until now.
It was instantly noticeable when I realized that it had been a while since I had seen my famous 18" AK and I went looking for it the other day.
When I found it and put my hand around the handle to draw it I was instantly amazed at how flat the handle is!!!! :eek:
The old Shop 1 handles were usually more egg shaped it seems but I only have one Shop 1 in my collection to make this judgement from and the memory of others I have had the opportunity to hold over the years and we all know how my memory is.:rolleyes:
I don't know just how many early Shop 2 khukuris I might have to see if I can make a legitimate judgement call with as I have given many of them away.

I do know the handle on my 18" AK is very comfortable and very secure and I recall an early 17" village Sirupati I had that was very similar.
I'll try to get in the safe and do some checking and some measureing on the earlier handles compared to the newer ones.
But it seems to me that many of the newer khukuris have more rounded and fatter handles making them harder to hold on to, for me anyway.
 
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