Just got my first khuk, several questions

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yoippari

Joined
May 8, 2004
Messages
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I got my 18" kobra blem in the mail the other day. While I like the feel of it, I have a few questions.
First the scabbard. There is a slight gouge in it that I can see wood through, I dont think this is anything to worry about, but it is a little unsightly. How would I go about filling that in, or otherwise fixing it?
How do you carry something like this? I have had it on my left side on my belt, and that seems to work but the handle seems too high and gets in the way with the swing of my arms. I have tried it on my right side, I am right handed, but the blade is too long to draw easily. Would a holster belt work, or would it cause more problems than it would fix?
Last, for now, is the buttcap. On the top of the handle (spine side), there is a gap, between the horn handle and the cap, actually on second glance the only place without a gap is around the crack on the handle which constituted this as a blem. the gap is wide enough at some points for my fingernail to go in, I am going to have to get superglue to fix the crack anyway, should this be used to fill in the gap or do I need to do more?
The blade seems perfect. However it did not come sharpened, so I will have to read up on making a convex bevel. Oh, and how do I remove all the little scratches I have put in the blade by attempting to sharpen it with my dads wet stone?
 
I'll leave the fix-it questions to the experts, but for carry on a khuk of that size here's my suggestion. Carry it on your regular belt, just to the right of the small of your back (in other words, over your right butt-cheek). To draw. reach behind your back with your left hand, elevate the scabbard to near horizontal, and draw the handle with your right hand. Adjust your grip as needed for the intended purpose. Can be resheathed by reversing the procedure (practice in front of a mirror) or more easily by sliding the scabbard to the right side where you can see it. This was the quick-draw method of one of Uncle's earliest and most respected clients, but I am too old and senile to remember his name for using the search function - am sure not claiming it as my invention. Oh yeah, don't sit down with the khuk in this position
 
Berkley said:
To draw. reach behind your back with your left hand, elevate the scabbard to near horizontal, and draw the handle with your right hand.
Click to expand...
Read safety thread RE drawing & sheathing
& how to avoid blade cutting thru sheath into fingers.

Frog (belt hanger) can be loosened a bit to help the
scabbard hang lower.
 
The traditional carry involved using a sash type belt and the khukuri sat nearly horizontal across the belly like a japanese short sword.
It is out of the way and easy to get to. I highly recommend it if you dont mind trying something different.
 
Steven, any particular kind of oil?
Berk, I tried that style of carrying, it feels ok. But not being able to sit doesn't help, but I can just take the scabbard out of the frog for this. While drawing I feel like i'm having to stretch because the khuk is behind me. Re-sheathing isn't a problem as long as I flip the khuk around to that the blade would be facing my elbow. So far I like this the best as long as I have somewhere to put the scabbard while sitting.
dean, I have read the safeties, and while I have caught myself once or twice wrapping my hand around the sheath I am pretty good about it.
Danny, I like this method, but there are a couple of minor problems. This would work best if I tucked my shirt in, I currently don't. The way I tried is actually slightly different than normal. I dont have a sash, so I am forced to use my belt. I have the belt going through the frog, at a slight angle to the blade, this allows me to pull the sheath out of the frog, but not remove the frog itself. I do like how I can easily sit with it in this position but the issue of the blade being long still is an issue, I feel like I have to stick my elbow way out there to get the knife out.
Oh, ya, do HIs shipe with a frog, or a super frog?
Last minute thought. Danny, you didn't mean in the sash like this did you? If so then this khukuri is much too long for that, IMO.
 
I've never had any problem carrying stuff up to 18" on my belt, although for me 16 or 17" is better. If you want something to carry a lot and the 18" er seems too cumbersome go for a 15" or 16"
 
Height might be the difference here, I'm 5'10" with long legs. So with the sheath at my side the buttcap comes almost to my elbow. When at my front like this the tip sticks out away from my body about 5 inches, not very usefull for this size.
 
You might consider trying to have the ensemble on a separate belt, and have it hanging lower on your left side. An 18in khuk is not something you wear casually, anyway, and having the separate belt/frog/sheath available makes the whole deal easier to put on and take off.

Re-read the safety thread, please. That thing will slice through tendons before you feel the pain.

Kis
 
I have thought about getting a second, longer, belt. one that would go through only one loop so that the other side will hang low. Until I get more than an old set of wetstones (my dads) I have a feeling that this will remain dullish.
 
If I were only to get one sharpening tool (on a budget and not a Delta), it'd be the two sided diamond plate from Ragnars...it works great. Only $14 plus shipping.

To pay back the guys help here to me...if you want to ship it to me and include postage back, I'd be glad to put a proper edge on it for you. A dull knife is much more dangerous than a sharp one.

Email me if you want it done...
 
Yeah, this is what I meant. When you want to draw it, pull back on the sheath with the left hand while drawing out the handle with the right hand.
Be sure to exert some pressure towards the back of the knife to keep the edge as far from the fingers as possible.
If the knife is too long, you can move it to the side like a sword.
IF it is still too long, then perhaps a nice cloth baldric is what you need.
If it is still too long with that, then you need a new shorter khukuri.
Get shopping!

K_fig_3__kukri_in_sash_from_old_drawing.jpg
 
Welcome to the cantina! Here's my input on convex sharpening, and the tools are cheap too http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=271013&highlight=sharpening . I can still make copies of that cd if you're interested. As for carrying it, I have the same knife and the same problems. Thus far I haven't found an easy solution with the current sheath, but one thing you can do to improve it is remove the chakma and karda pouches. Just undo the stitching until you can see the pouches and pull them off with a pair of pliers, then stitch it back up with new thread. That way the handle doesn't stick off of your body so far. The other solution is a new scabbard, which I haven't come up with the funds for yet but hope to someday. Terry Sisco (a search or the forum should turn up a link to his website) does excellent work. I'm not sure how to help with the buttcap, I've never managed to repair one of those quite right. Best of luck with your sharpening and sheathwork!
 
I was just thinking a nice finger woven sash with a kuk stuck through it. Nice.
 
I have tried the behind the back method, I like it the best so far. as long as I can remove the scabbard from the frog for sitting down.
I found ragnars, and the diamond plate. It seems like a good buy, once I have money to spare I will get one, that and probably a strop.
As for the in front sheathing method, I think I will have to wait for a shorter blade. It might work for me if I had a sash. I'm a little afraid that it would fall out of my belt. The frog doesnt work well with this style, and there is no clip for holding it to a sash.
I havent heard much on repairing the gouge in the scabbard. There is a problem with the frog. On the back side, where the belt loop starts, just above the stitching there is a tear or cut. It is a continuation of the cut that should be there that makes the top of the sheath wrap part. This cut (the one that shouldnt be there) almost goes to the end of the stitching (about 3/8"). Should I be concerned that this cut will spread, or should I just leave it. I will post pictures once I am able.
 
easy to get on and off, hangs at the height you determine, starpa of the baldric can be passed under a belt for more close fitting ride.

For the hole: Get a piece of black leather, cut it to the size of the hole, and contact cement it into place. There may be other ways to conceal it as well, like black paint (I recommend acrylic, sticks well to leather and wood, and is a bit 'sculpt-able')

Keith
 
Another baldric vote, can get a nice carabiner from a outdoor sports store, slip thru frog loop, 2 steel rings thru carabiner to attach baldric. (mine is padded nylon with steel spring clips on ends to attch to rings so i can use it on more than 1 khuk). carabiner lets you clip it to other things as well. as above, baldric straps under belt to keep from flopping about when needed.
 
Yoippari-- as far as the gouge in the leather, you might be able to repair it with a product mrostov recommends, black Permatex Super Automotive Weatherstripping Adhesive. I haven't used it, but I think it would work well for filling a hole in a sheath. Something like Barge cement might work as well. You could always use a black permanent marker to color it. As for the cut in the back of the sheath, you could probably glue on a small matching piece of leather with Barge cement, and you'd never even see it. If the frog ever breaks, you could just use it as a template to cut a new one out of leather. It's also possible that Uncle Bill has a spare frog or two sitting around. You might want to email him and ask.
--Josh
 
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