Jungle Capable Sheaths

D

David vS

Joined
Nov 9, 1999
Messages
136
Does anyone know if our standard Khukuri sheaths are able to withstand jungle conditions? If not, does anyone know where one can find a kydex sheath that would fit my blade? Thanks.

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When the chips are down, the buffalo is empty.

 
I think that the scabbard your Khukuri came in is the best tool for the job. Kydex won't prevent humidity from settling on the blade and causing rust. Perhaps a regular treatment with a leather preservative would keep your scabbard from rotting in the tropics.
 
So... As long as I make sure the leather is treated, it should be fine. That makes sense as our boots don't just come apart. I just wasn't sure about the stitching and whether the sheath would swell inordinately, etc. Having never been to India, I wasn't sure what these sheaths were expected to withstand. Has anyone here used their Khukuri for jungle survival before?
 
Well... That was incredibly stupid of me. Of course The Gorkhas have (sheesh). Sometimes my keen sense of the obvious fails me. Thank you for not laughing openly at what was an obviously ill thought out post. *G* I think I'll go sit down now. *L*

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When the chips are down, the buffalo is empty.

 
Jeff Randall, noted jungle survivalist, states that the worst material for a sheath that will see jungle use is leather and the best is Kydex/Concealex. I have never seen a jungle, much less been in one, so I have no idea! I do know that making kydex sheaths for khukuris is a real b$%*h, and I don't do them anymore.

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My Custom Kydex Sheath page:
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/1298/frames.html
Palmer College of Chiropractic
On Two Wheels
agocs_s@dd.palmer.edu
Madpoet (Mel Sorg, Jr.) Tribute page:
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/1298/madpoet/main.html

 
All of the jungle blades I have seen were sheathed with bamboo/wood. Easily obtainable and replacable. The leather belt loop could be replaced with vine or leaf fibers.

Cheers,

ts

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Guns are for show. Knifes are for Pros.
 
I have my Gandfather's old Ka-Bar from WW2. He was involved in the fighting in the Pacific theater, and was at Guadalcanal. His all-leather sheath seemed to fare rather well with the basic leather treatment they used 50 years ago. Even today, it is in pretty good shape. If I remember my history correctly, the Guadalcanal campaign occurred during monsoon season.

I also spoke with Jeff Randall, and asked him what he thought. He stated that though he was not personally a fan of khukuris, he thought that with appropriate leather treatment, the Khukuri sheath would most probably do just fine under jungle conditions. Besides, as Uncle Bill stated before, thousands of Gorkhas can't be wrong!

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When the chips are down, the buffalo is empty.

 
And I bet they didn't have NikWax back then either *L*.

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When the chips are down, the buffalo is empty.

 
Uncle Bill, I forgot to further qualify my statment by stating that I was thoroughly pleased with my HI sheaths, and wouldn't think of replacing them with synthetics! As for your comments on ancient people's, didn't I read an srticle in newsweek recently where a heat gun and a large square of Concealex were found in a dark corner of King Tut's tomb?
wink.gif

I love my HI sheaths, and all the other leather sheaths I own (all from handmade makers, I may add), but at the same time I trust the judgment of folks like Jeff Randall. I offer two possible explanations:
1) Jeff abuses his sheaths worse than Nepalese and Indians in tropical environments.
2) The sheaths HI makes are of higher quality than your typical production level sheath.
3) The environments Jeff tests his equipment in (namely South America) have different climate than the ones in Nepal and India you mention.
All three are possibilities, and I have no idea, other than that if its good enough for a farmer, then it's certainly good enough for me!

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My Custom Kydex Sheath page:
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/1298/frames.html
Palmer College of Chiropractic
On Two Wheels
agocs_s@dd.palmer.edu
Madpoet (Mel Sorg, Jr.) Tribute page:
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/1298/madpoet/main.html

 
Sorry for jumping into this thread late -- been too busy recently to spend "quality time" at all the forums!

Technically speaking, aren't the khukuris equipped with WOOD sheaths wrapped in leather? In other words, they don't risk becoming "floppy" as they potentially absorb moisture, and offer far greater protection than a solely leather sheath...

...But as I learned in the late summer, the khukuri sheaths may also EXPAND and CONTRACT in widely varying climate conditions. So if you do head for the jungle (or anywhere, probably), it may be a good idea to have paracord or similar wrap of your choice, to bind the sheath in case it "comes alive" and loosens a little. Sheath's a pretty convenient place for nylon cord/paracord anyway, no?

Glen
 
Hi!

Many modern leather production sheaths, such as the ones Jeff took to the jungle, are "tanned" using modern synthetic chemicals and processes which speed up the process and make it easier to do mass production, but it weakens the leather and make it more susceptible to disintegrating in wet conditions. Traditional braintanning and similar methods were used for centuries before this.

The buffalo hide used on the HI (IIRC) is wetted then shrunk around the wood, correct Uncle Bill? If natural braintanning is used to prepare leather, it will hold up better under wet conditions just fine, and you can even recondition them in the jungle or other enviroments using animal fats, etc. Probably what the Ghurkas have done for centuries.

Also, most indigenous tribes have the skills to make their own equipment from the materials around them, and can fashion their own replacement sheaths in a pinch...

Hope this is helpful...

Best,

Brian.
 
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