Handle question

[SeanH]

I just bought 10 acres of hardwood forest near Lake Superior and need to clear brush, do minor chopping and de-limb future firewood. I’ve got my eye on a couple of models but have some handle questions.

After a few hours of use, do the handle rings give you blisters?
With a flared pommel, are the handle rings necessary for grip?
How may people grind the handle rings off?

Thanks in advance,
Sean

 

[Mark Nelson]

For me is has depended on the handle. I have a 18" AK that I sanded down and almost removed the rings and have not had any grip problems. Each one can be different on all my others it has been fine. All that being said I sanded the handle down due to it being very thick not due to a blister problem from the rings. I think that you could get 101 different answers on this one.

 

[Daniel Koster]

I used to have problems with the rings until:

1 - after testing a number of khukuris, found the style(s) and size(s) that suit(s) me best.

2 - I had "done my time" chopping enough to finally learn to use it right. Don't get me wrong, I know how to handle big knives. Just that a khukuri requires a change of mentality until you learn it's more efficient uses, and once you change your idea, it suddenly starts chopping better...what a concept, eh? :rolleyes"

Dan

 

[Josh Feltman]

Ditto what Pendentive said. A khukuri takes a little while to get used to, but once you do, it's a very ergonomic and effective tool. If you exercise a little patience and "listen" to what the khukuri is trying to tell you, it rapidly becomes second nature, and you begin to wonder why so many straight knives are so poorly designed
--Josh

 

[Don Nelson]

Originally posted by SeanH
I just bought 10 acres of hardwood forest near Lake Superior and need to clear brush, do minor chopping and de-limb future firewood. I’ve got my eye on a couple of models but have some handle questions.

After a few hours of use, do the handle rings give you blisters?
With a flared pommel, are the handle rings necessary for grip?
How may people grind the handle rings off?

Thanks in advance,
Sean

One some of my Khuks the rings are way too pronounced, and yes they do hurt my hand. From a long time association with firearms I got real used to determining right away if a handgun's grip or shape would cause problems down the road.

So the moment I heft a Khuk and sense that the rings are too pronounced, I break out the ol' file and sand them down.

Don

 

[Mr.BadExample]

Depends on the handle. My Chiruwa is a good worker but bites my fingers a little. My big-ol' 21" Gelbu fits my hand like a glove. So does my 18" WW2.

 

[cliff355]

Sean:

Someone pointed out a while back (can't remember the thread) that the rings are located and shaped to prevent the fingers from slipping forward onto the blade. They are sloped so the hand can slide back toward the butt, but edged so the fingers will stick if they begin to slide forward. This is convenient, since a khuk has no "hand guard."

So far I haven't got a blister from any aspect of a khuk handle, and the rings have probably saved me from getting cut a couple times. So, I plan on leaving all of mine in place. Gloves are a good idea too - you rarely see loggers in the woods without them.

 

[Rusty]

Thanks all.

I'm so used to the rings I added them to an M43, through the exposed tang. That's a bit of work, but worth it to me.

I like the last answer above but it's your knife. Do what's right for you and don't look back.