Khukri and Convex sharpening - success!

Daniel L

Gold Member
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Nov 2, 1998
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I posted this in the General Forum, but there's a few more khukri-specific comments that I'd like to make:

1. Use the chakma (steeler) as much as you can since this preserves the edges without having to do some metal removing sharpening.

2. Eventually, the edge will wear/chip/dent where you will need to remove some metal. I prefer to keep the convex edge since it is stronger for chopping so I did the following:

Basically I bought a "sanding block" from the hardware store. (Its a 6" x 3" block of wood with a thin layer of rubber foam on one side.) Then with some 300/800/1200 grit sandpaper (the black waterproof stuff) I "push" the block off the edge at a low angle - the rubber foam under the sandpaper conforms to the convex edge and sharpens up nicely! (I hold the blade in my left hand with the edge facing away from me.)

I push the block with sandpaper off the blade perpendicularly - so you can work a 3" section at a time. I didn't think a "wire edge" would appear so I turned over the blade at some time and then I "pull" the block over the edge to sharpen the other side (ie the knife is in my left hand with the edge facing me.)

In the khukri FAQ http://www.tx3.net/~howardw/Khukuris/Sharp.htm I found that Cliff Stamp recommends a styrofoam block - I have tried it but I found that a sanding block method is better.

Note - if you want to do serious chopping with your khukri then you probably don't want to create hair popping sharp edge! I leave it sharp on the sweet spot and hair popping sharp on the section just before the recurve, closer to the handle.

Happy sharpening!


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Daniel
 
I tried the sanding block technique recently with some regular straight knives. I rested the block on the handle so that the sanding plane was at a reasonable sharpening angle from vertical. Presto, a big flat edge guide! Just keep the knife vertical as you slide it down (as with a Sharpmaker). You will need one hand to hold the block still as you glide the knife.
 
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