How do you wear/carry you Khukuri?

[HoosierQ]

Hanging from the belt on the strong side? Stuck through the belt on the cross draw? I'd be tempted to cross draw.

 

[Steely_Gunz]

It depends on the khuk. I make ugly sheathes for mine most of the time. Not because the scabbard is bad, it's just a hobby of mine AND it helps to de-bulk the package a bit since I rarely mess with a karda or chakma. Most of my rigs are the fast draw type with no retaining strap. I hate retaining straps because I don't need them and usually manage to accidentally cut them off when I resheath.

I wear mine high and strong side. The bolster generally sits at about the top of my belt as to balance the blade's weight. I make my sheathes in a way so that all you have to do is yank them up and out with your strong hand. They work as a cross draw as well, but i usually wear them strong side.

I also really like wearing a shoulder rig. It keeps the khuk out of the way and out of the prime area of my belt.

 

[Big Mike]

On a Baldric rigged for left side carry, right hand cross draw.




Big Mike

 

[bdgackle]

Steely, it sounds like you have actually had some experience with this.

If you don't mind my asking, WHEN do you carry a Kuk? I'd love to strap the thing on for some local hiking, but I am a bit leery of causing alarm. My experience is that people can be frightened by the blade at first sight. Would be interested to hear about any experiences you've had with integrating a Kuk into more public settings.

 

[Steely_Gunz]

I totally understand your hesitation, bdgackle. While Indiana is a state with a fair amount of common sense still left intact, I am sensitive to not wanting to make others uncomfortable. I mean, it may be my RIGHT to pack a huge khuk around, but I feel that it is my personal duty to handle that right in such a way as to not make others enjoying public land leery of the "crazy man" with the giant knife.

My work schedule basically means that the summer months are a no-go when it comes to enjoying the great outdoors. I pretty much do all of my hiking and camping in the fall months before it turns overly cold. One of the primary reasons I wear my khuks high and tight or on a shoulder rig is that a plain old flannel shirt will cover them enough so that they don't draw attention.

It's amazing what a good sheath rig and an unbuttoned shirt can hide. I can walk down a trail with my 20" Cherokee Rose strapped to my hip and only the last 3-4" of the sheath peeks out the bottom. It looks like a regular belt knife until I draw it

 

[sweetcostarica]

Nice comment on our rights and how to exercise them with common sense. I was born in Ohio, right next to you Jake and it is the same there. You start exposing anything larger than 3 or 4 inches and suddenly you are this guy:
and a call to 911 follows. Everyone's day is ruined.
But it all depends on the laws and gun/knife culture in your country, region, or state. Now, I live in Alaska. About 80% of Alaskans own a firearms, more own knives of course. Outside of Anchorage most people are openly carrying a weapon. State Troopers and other police may or may not stop to check you out. People don't even get you a second look in the great outdoors. This is mostly do to the wildness of Alaska and the real need to protect yourself in the isolated and dangerous condition of Alaska.
Just my two cents.

 

[bemo]

It would be nice to see a thread sometime on all the creative ways folks carry their Khukuri. I've seen a few pics of sheaths, but a reference thread would be really helpful. Some of the other forums I frequent have a number of custom kydex and leather makers who hang out there. I don't really see that here. Are folks so happy with the traditional sheath that there's no market for customs?

 

[Steely_Gunz]

It would be nice to see a thread sometime on all the creative ways folks carry their Khukuri. I've seen a few pics of sheaths, but a reference thread would be really helpful. Some of the other forums I frequent have a number of custom kydex and leather makers who hang out there. I don't really see that here. Are folks so happy with the traditional sheath that there's no market for customs?

Forumite friend Terry used to make custom sheathes for khuks. I know our good friend Heber will make them as well. Dan Koster used to dabble in it a bit as well before going strictly to knife making. I know there a lot of leather benders hanging around here. Some are very talented...and then their are guys who are all thumbs like me who stumble through and make something functional with a face only a mother could love

If I had a little more time, I'd be happy to show a few examples of the carry rigs I have come up with over the last 6 years or so. Most are pretty basic, but some are very purpose driven...not pretty or refined, but stitched and stretched to a custom fit.

 

[leebrewer]

I modify or make a new sheath for all my users. If I modify a sheath, I remove or cap the the chape, then remove the small leather rings and wooden wedge that hold the Karda and Chakma. Retighten and sew or glue the leather back together. I have added a 3" PSK or other knife in place on some, then make the Frog smaller by sewing new holes. I have added Multi-tool pouches to the the Frog also. This sometimes removes a shoulder on the sheath for the Frog to hold so I add a strip of leather under and/or above to hold it in place. Sometimes I punch a couple more holes in the top of the Frog strap for the tie-offs for a baldric strap, which I usually strap a knife too. Then carry like Big Mike said.
You can get Kydex or Leather made from just about any of the sheath makers. Or we have the Multi-functional KMF sheath.
Here we mostly talk about using. It doesn't seem as important to us as how others carry. It very seldom comes up.

 

[Ramil839]

Kydex sheath with leg/belt straps,doesnt wobble and with the kydex sheath it makes it very very easy to take it out as well as very quick.To me the original sheath was just too plain and i couldnt add much to it and i was slow to pull the kuk out.

 

[Steelcore]

I carry it under the drivers side seat in my car. If I'm going to use it in the yard, I carry it sheathed in the off hand, spine side down.

I dig the baldric idea that was perviously mentioned, since these things tend to have about 2+lbs of weight in many cases. I'd find it a bit tricky to wear a khukuri on the belt at that weight.

 

[Steely_Gunz]

As far as belt carry goes, I also think it worth mentioning that like guns, khuks require a good belt to hold them up well. When I make my own belts, I usually oven dry them at the bend I like so that they set up rock hard. It distributes the weight quite nicely.

 

[HoosierQ]

Well I am either gonna make a new sheath for mine or doctor up the one it comes in and swap out the karda for an ESEE-3 as my go-to "wilderness" combo. At least I think. The last sheath I made took forever but came out really nice...a big one for a Becker Combat Utility...which is still way smaller than a Khukuri.

 

[badasp118]

I usually have mine lashed to my pack and rarely get a second look with it on my pack. on my person yes, but on the pack no. I guess when they see it on the pack they tend to relize its a camp tool not a weapon . at least that's what I'm guessing.

 

[kronckew]

i also use a baldric, carabininer thru the superfrog on my HI kobra to clip the baldric to. note the brass jingle bell attached to the tip of the chape to prevent it poking holes in me. baldric should be threaded under your belt where possible to keep it from flapping about, kinda like a sam browne sword belt rig. my other non-hi khuks have rings threaded thru the 2 belt loops for attaching a similar baldric (& they also are jingle belled).

 

[sweetcostarica]

For an answer to questions on the Khukuri I like to see what the professional do. Then I follow their experience and wisdom. I noticed (see below photos) that Gurkha's and soldiers wear their Khukuri either at the hip or it is below belt or waist behind them. Also, their weapon/tool seem to be held in leather and wood sheaths 95% of the time. Not sure why Kydex is rarely seen if ever .

i also use a baldric, carabininer thru the superfrog on my HI kobra to clip the baldric to. note the brass jingle bell attached to the tip of the chape to prevent it poking holes in me. baldric should be threaded under your belt where possible to keep it from flapping about, kinda like a sam browne sword belt rig. my other non-hi khuks have rings threaded thru the 2 belt loops for attaching a similar baldric (& they also are jingle belled).

Nice carry rig Wayne. Reminds me of the Roman soldier style of carry for their Gladius. Very effective and wouldn't interfere with a pack or tactical vest.

 

[greenwoods]

The shoulder straps from an old set of web gear works comfortably for me to keep my 17 3/4" WW2 under my arm pit. I balance it nicely with a BDU pocket organizer hanging at the other armpit with my 10 essentials contained.

A shirt or jacket covers it well. Though I will keep it in a back pack if there will be unaccustomed folks around on the trail.