My first Khukri

Phillip Patton

Phillip Patton

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Jul 25, 2005
Messages
5,349
Or is it kukri? Or khukuri?

Anyway. Here 'tis. Actually, it's not an historically accurate reproduction. It's my take on Jason Knight's take on the historical version.

Several years ago a friend gave me a broken leaf spring from his truck. I forged out a few hunter blanks, intending to finish them out and give them to him and his sons. Since then, I must have got rid of a couple, and then this week I tried to finish the other one, but it died in the heat treat. So I forged what was left of the spring into this monster instead. It's the first knife I've fullered. I don't have all the dimensions handy, but I can say that it finished up at 5/16" thick. Pretty darn heavy. I wouldn't want to get in a knife fight with this on my side... But I doubt my friend will use it for anything, anyway. Should be a great chopper. I'll do some cutting with it tomorrow.

Anybody know how thick a khukri is supposed to be?


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Thanks for looking,
 
That is amazing. What a gorgeous blade and as always your grinds are insane.:thumbup:

How thick is a khukuri? My only khukuri is a HI Bonecutter and it is just under .5 inch thick.
 
Very well done!

A lot of khukuris are forged by hand from truck springs. I've talked back and forth quite a bit with an Australian fellow who had one of the better-known khukuri shops in Nepal build one of his designs, then go on to work with them on improving manufacturing methods and blade performance. Part of the reason that the spines are so thick is the labor involved in forging the truck springs down to size via muscle power, and part is extra beef to help overcome some of the shortfalls in their heat treatment that they've been using. The kamis were pretty impressed with what a simple canola quench would do versus water from a tea pot. :D

So 5/16" would be on the thinner side.
 
1/4" to 3/8".

Balance is key.

Since you have fullered it enough, thick spine doesn't matter much now.
Next would be to see how much penetration this bad boy gets......in the wood.
 
Beautiful work Phillip. Are you going to be taking orders for these?
 
My mind is spinning just trying to figure out how I'd grind that fuller. I doubt I could do it.
 
Very nicely done!

What are her specs?

Will she be getting bloomers or maybe a full pants suit?
 
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