How hard would it be to get a left handed sheath...

V

V Shrake

Joined
Dec 13, 2000
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Uncle (if I may be so presumptious), what would be the chances of getting a left handed sheath for a pre-ordered khukuri? I was thinking about a 16.5 inch WW II (with horn handle, if possible) for my first HI khuk. But I would really like a left handed sheath, as opposed to turning the frog around. So would that cost extra, or is it even possible? Any answers greatly appreciated.

Also, just as a general thing, how are the kardas and chakmas of the newer khuks? Are the kardas hard enough to actually take an edge, and do some work with them? That's the only thing I was disappointed in with my GH Bhojpure; the karda and chakma were tiny, and there was no way to get the karda to take an edge. From the looks of the ones in the pics, the small knives look to be great, but I'd really like a little user feedback, if possible.
 
V Shrake, the Karda and Chakma that come with HI Khukuris are really good. The ones that came with my 15" AK are under 6" and work great. After you get used to the small handle. Now the K and C that came with my 25" AK are abour 8.5" long and will work nicely for skining/capping and other camp chores. (Don't know about left handed rigs so I won't comment) Hope that helps,
 
The karda and chakma with my 16.5 WWII are 5.5". While this is small for some chores, they are functional (HI knives ARE knives). I've had a couple of kardas come that needed honing, and some that needed a wire edge straightened, but all would take an edge. The only tests I've subjected them to is cutting cardboard boxes. The blade thickness doesn't lend itself to this, but the edges held up well to this fairly mundane chore, that dulls many knives in short order. Like Uncle Bill, I use a known file to test edges, and they run close to 58 RC in most cases, and I have a couple of nice useable kardas, from 20"+ Khuks that are as hard as my Dozier.
 
Even the kagas katnes are hardened pretty well -- envelopes can be tough sometimes!!!!!

We can special order the left handed scabbard. Give us a month or two. This is one special order they don't screw up very often.
 
Hey V Shrake, here's lefty sheath quick fix:
I read about this awhile back (I think from GreenJacket on the the Wilderness skills forum). Unfortunately, it's not readily reversible.
1) remove the chape
2) Remove the leather by cutting the stitching at the seam (Well, I told ya it's not readily reversible)
3) make 2 bands of metal (copper would be perfect)
4) fit the bands to the scabbard (probably 1/3 of the way from each end), and finish the wood scabbard as desired.

Whoever posted this said that they had seen people do it this way in very humid/rainy areas. They used the original frog and just pulled off the bands to clean the scabbard. I have a scabbard I stripped, I plan to see how it works soon. If I can get a weekend out of the office.

Left hand draw would simply require turning the scabbard around in the frog. Course, you need to make a new sheath for the Karda/Chakma.

Patrick

PS I like the HI Karda/Chakma much better than the GH ones. They are larger, and have larger, more easily held handles. The Chakma is still to soft to strike a flint with, though :(

P.
 
Great guys. Thanks for all the answers. Now all I have to do is start saving my pennies. I really like the looks of the WW II, as well as the size. And the fact that the kardas and chakmas are real knives is icing.

Outdoors, that sounds like it would make for a nice looking, though unusual, sheath. I'm not sure if I could form the copper or brass bands needed to hold the sheath together, but with a nice stain and maybe some carving, you would have a remarkable sheath. Good luck.
 
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