How do I sharpen my khukuri?

E

expo1001

Joined
May 7, 2004
Messages
15
Hi! I just got my first khukuri last monday, a 16.5" WWII with a horn handle. I'm very pleased with it, I will surely be getting another khukuri in the future. What I am wondering now, is how to sharpen it. I am a novice when it comes to quality knives. I've been a japanese sword enthusiest for quite a while so I know about blade safety, but I do not know how to sharpen one. If someone can tell me what to use to sharpen my khukuri and how to go about doing it I would be appreciative. Also, I just ordered a buck 110 knife, would sharpening it be the same proceedure?


Thanks,
Derek
 
I'm sure somebody much better will come along soon, but take a strop or a computer mouse pad, or some sort of foam that has some give to it and put a strip of wet dry sandpaper over it and strop it on the sandpaper trying to make sure that you keep a similar angle as the blade has already. Lay the blade on the sandpaper and pull away as you strop, not push like you are cutting. I like to use like 300 and 600 and then 1500 grit. For stuff already sharp just the leather will usually touch it up enough. Once you get the hang of this it is six times easier than any other method. Also be aware it takes a while to put a good edge on the khukuri. Most of the ones I have bought were fairly to terribly dull.
 
My khukuri is somewhat sharp, but I would like to touch up the edge before I go camping with it :) What is a strop? I notice you use it as both a noun (take a strop) and as a verb (as you strop). Also, where does the leather you mention fit into the picture? Sorry that I am so clueless. I really don't know anything about this stuff.
 
Hollowdweller's already take care of you, I just wanted to interject that another option to the mousepad (and the one I prefer) is one of the rubber sanding blocks like Walmart or Lowes carries. This has little teeth to hold the paper in place, and is much firmer than a mousepad while still having enough give to it to make a convex edge. I know there are many who use the mousepads successfully--for me, I always found that they had so much give to them that I'd end up rounding off the edge half the time. I think a good long strip of leather is hard to beat, though, both as a backing and also for final stropping.
 
Thanks for all the information. I think the sharpening faq will take care of what I need. One last thing, though: Am I understanding correctly that a regular piece of smooth leather will work as a strop? Thanks again for all the good information hollowdweller and t1mpani.
 
You can use plain leather, or for more polishing action, you can rub on some abrasive polishing compound like white buffing compound, or green chromium dioxide. You can buy the white buffing compoud at your local hardware store or home improvement store. The green compound can be bought at knifemakers supply companies like Texas Knifemakers Supply (look under buffing compounds)
Either should work.

Steve
 
Maybe Warren will come along here soon and mention his strop making. He brought wood and leather and abrasive compound and walked us all thru making strops at the Midwest Khukuri Khonvention 04.
 
Sandpaper on a mousepad for sharpening.

Compound on leather for stropping.

Don't worry about the stropping until your sharpening technique is solid and you have "already sharp" knives.

Once you have them sharp - all they should need would be ocassional stropping.
 
Good job Josh. That's the one I was looking for but couldn't find so I posted the other 2 links. I think that one is best. I think the illustrations help a lot.
 
The green compound should be available at stores that specialize in woodworking supplies like chisels. Serious woodworkers are even more picky about sharp chisels than most knife-knuts are about sharp knives. One chain of them is called "Rocklers". It looks like a big crayon with a square cross section, and one stick should be a lifetime supply. Ask for "honing compound". Such a store will probably have several types, the green chrmium oxide is the finest grit.

Often such stores also sell a small leather strop mounted on a wooden paddle. They're a little small for a khuk, but could work in a pinch.
 
I made two sizes of strops at the Khonvention...use the 1"x2"x1' with green and the 1/2" square x 1' long with white...believe it or not, they are the perfect for Khuks and also are usable for regular knives...
 
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