Okay, I have to ask...how do you split wood with one of these

brightb

brightb

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Mar 15, 2007
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I will be going camping with a Khukri for the first time next weekend and I can't wait to to do some cutting!
The first pic in the H.I. pics thread shows a pile of neatly split firewood, How do you do that?. I have a CAK,16" WWII, and a M43 (Yangdu's deal of 6/14) and have used the CAK only to chop wood, I was amazed how quickly it went through an eight inch log!
I assume you use the "baton" method to split. I have never tried this before, as I have only used an axe to split wood with. I really need to know the basics. Do you stand or squat? and do you need to seat the blade with a full power strike or no. How do you cut the really small stuff (kindling size) with a khuk?

thanks in advance for the help guys,

I will have the Girlfriends French Canadian family around, and they have never seen a Khukri before. I don't want to look like a tete carre (block head) in front of them while using one :)

-Bill
 
brightb said:
I will have the Girlfriends French Canadian family around, and they have never seen a Khukri before. I don't want to look like a tete carre (block head) in front of them while using one :)

-Bill
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Don't be so sure about that ;)

I never had the chance to try it with a khuk, but it would be the same as for regular batoning (not my link, but probably someone from the forums).

Naturally you should use the widest part of the khuk. I don't know if it works better if you have the blade // to the ground or with an angle (handle // to the groud). Try both and give us your feedback.

Bonne chance, essaie de ne pas avoir l'air d'un cave :p
 
welcome Bill,

I have used my 15" AK and my M43 camping numerous times. I look for a "log" 2 feet long or cut one approx that length. I hold the wood on end and swing carefully. I have no problem controling the khukuri. I usually drive the bade a good 4 inches into the log. Then I lift it up and swing it hard on the ground. It is the same technique I use with my axe splitting firewood. I'm normally bent over on one knee when I do this.

I'm sure you will develop your own style. Be careful and go slow and let the geometry of the blade do the work.:)
 
Bill, the best advice that I can give you is to go slow, watch your fingers, and always expect the knife to cut deeper or harder than you thought it would.

I have found that splitting firewood with a khuk can be difficult it the spine is not thick enough nor the blade heavy enough. I have a 3lb 22" GRS that won't split the big stuff that well. However, it will fell a tree quicker than an axe. You might just try to split medium/small stuff with your CAK.

Personally, I like the squat and baton the khuk through the wood. The only thing that I split at a campfire is usually the kindling. The other stuff just gets hacked small enough to fit in the pit once the fire is roaring. When I cut kindling pieces off a bigger log, I don't even swing the khuk since I do value my fingers more than my fire;) Just place the blade where you want it (maybe let gravity do a little work for you) and then smack it through the log. Watch your toes and shins!!

You typically shouldn't have to wail on a piece of wood with a khuk. Just let gravity and good technique get you through the piece. Going to hard and fast will wear you out and cause your technique to get sloppy...this rarely ends well. Just ask Heber what happens when an AK gets away from you. Let's just say, Khukuri One; Tendons Zero.:eek:

In other words, just use your noodle and watch that the path of destruction will not put any part of your or anyone else's body in danger.

Have fun!:thumbup:
 
Is there any way to get a bit of practice before then?

It doesn't have to be anything serious -- scrap lumber is fine. The advice you get here will be much more effective if you can play with it a little in a relaxed environment.

IMO khukuris aren't very good for splitting. You'll be able to get through small, dry, and straight-grained stuff without any trouble but don't expect to be demolishing complete rounds, even with a baton. The good news is that one seldom if ever needs to process large rounds. Seek out smaller pieces, go slow, and be careful.
 
thanks guys,

The advice about going slow and careful I will take to heart. When I chopped the log for the first time I stood crouched with my knees bent, and my left hand on my left knee for support. When I first started to swing I first looked at where the blade would go if it glanced or I lost control. I quickly realized it didn't take a hard strike to chop a large chip out of the wood, I new immediately these things cut deeper than than one might think.

Cybrok, I knew you would respond to that :D, I will be sipping Maudite after the chopping is done.

cheers
Bill
 
W22m said:
don't hit anything full strength with a tool.


munk
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Especially if it's moving, because if you miss you're in trouble :p


Good idea to take the Maudite after.

Last time we made a fire, we splitted the logs in 3' pieces, some people were asking if it was possible to cut them shorter.

"Bad idea, it's dark and I'm drunk. And you too so you won't have my khuk. "
 
Steely_Gunz said:
You typically shouldn't have to wail on a piece of wood with a khuk. Just let gravity and good technique get you through the piece. Going to hard and fast will wear you out and cause your technique to get sloppy...this rarely ends well. Just ask Heber what happens when an AK gets away from you. Let's just say, Khukuri One; Tendons Zero.:eek:

Have fun!:thumbup:
Click to expand...

Jake, thats Khukuri 4 tendons 0. :o

Bill, I'm a poster boy for the H.I. Safety thread. Trust me, Go slow, take your time and have fun! :)

Heber
 
Ouch, Heber:eek: You're a tougher man than I could ever hope to be. I severed the secondary tendon of my little finger and was nearly in tears.
 
I've used my Samsher to split kindling, but I haven't tried it on larger logs (nothing over 5" diameter) so I can't say from experience how you might fare. It worked fine for the wood I was splitting at least. I also tried splitting kindling with my 15" AK, but it wasn't beefy enough to have the same effect, even on smaller bits of wood. I mostly had to chop, pry, whack the log onto the chopping block with the khuk still inside, and then pry and repeat the process until I was through.
Unless you've got a monster khuk, I'd recommend an axe for the bigger logs and maybe reserve the thickest/heaviest khuk for making kindling out of smaller logs.
 
If you lay a hand axe on top of a khukuri, you will find that the "sweet spot" of the khuk is at abouut the same position as the edge of the axe. They work about the same, with the same limitation. The typical khuk will not work like a full axe - nor will a hand axe.
 
Last camping trip I had the big WWII along. I didn't do any real splitting, just making some kindling, worked far better than my friend's butter knife sharp hatchet. One other piece of advice. Stow the khuk when you're done with it. I left it sitting out and a buddy, with a few beers in him, found it. When I told him it was sharp and if he slipped he could easily lose some fingers he put it back in the scabbard. Lesson learned, it went in the trunk of the car. Be safe and have fun.

Frank
 
1. place wood to be split on ground, end up.

2. place khuk on wood to be split, centered. Sweet spot will allow khuk blade to extend beyond wood to be split.

3. press down with khuk to hold wood to be split in place.

4. hit khuk with suitable stick/log to drive it into wood to be split.

5. continue hitting khuk directly about sweet spot until surface of wood to be split and khuk are level.

6. pressing down on handle of khuk, hit khuk spine as it extends beyond wood to be split.

7. TAKE YOUR TIME. No hurry nor flurry of hits will serve you well.


There is NO need to swing at a piece of wood to drive the khuk in if you are splitting.
 
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