Putting an edge on your khukuris

[topgun0728]

Just want to get folks' opinion about putting an edge on your khukuris. I debated between putting an edge on them to make them razor sharp versus letting them be in their original form. I know the khukuris (and bowies and anything else from HI for that matter) come in usable condition, hand-sharpened by the kamis. But on some pieces, I feel like putting an edge on them (or have a buddy who is a professional knife sharpener put an edge on them) to make them sharper. The only caveat is that those pieces are so beautiful that I feel that putting an edge on them would slightly detract from their aesthetics as original works of art. Have any of you had this dilemma? Of course, for pieces that are meant to be used daily, I care most about getting the blades into the best condition for usage.

Thanks in advance for any input!

 

[Steely_Gunz]

Some khuks I give just a good once over and make them no sharper than i would keep a utility axe, and some of them I hone and strop them to hair popping lightsabers

I would say that hard use khuks don't need a razor's edge. A super sharp edge is not going to aid you that much in that regard. However, edge geometry will. A khuk with a good convex edge that can't shave hair is going to out perform one with a flat grind that can shave in the chopping department.

I like putting razor edges on my non-users, belt knives, and fighters though

 

[C.S. Graves]

I have a psychological compulsion to at least TRY to put a shaving-sharp edge on my collection. Like Jake said, overall geometry will be a greater concern for chopping than a couple microns of edge thickness.

I suggest practicing your sharpening on your users, because they'll get scuffed up anyway. If you can work out a method of sharpening that won't mar the look of the blade too much, then you could move on to touching up the ones you want sharp, but won't necessarily beat around.

A belt grinder is good in this sense as the speed of it gives you a more consistent grind than filing away by hand, that is, there's less chance of stray scratches and such. If you grind it fairly well, it may look like that's the edge the khuk came with, and if you've got skill and patience, it'll be sharp and every bit as beautiful as it came (some of Ferguson's convex jobs come to mind).

 

[hollowdweller]

I normally totally rework the edges on all my khuks.

The edge on HI khuks varies wildly from very thin to super thick sometimes the edge varies on the same knife.

Holding the edge to a light or the sun I can often find places where the two sides of the grind don't even meet up and you can see the flat surface reflecting light.

If the edge is really whack I might start with a diamond rod to bring the 2 sides together and then switch to a strop using progressively finer grits of wet/dry paper to polish and convex the edge.

In my experience Bura usually puts my favorite edges on. Thin. But occassionly his are too thin and can roll so you have to thicken and convex them a bit more.

So yeah.

 

[MagenDavid]

I don't feel adequate as a man if my knives don't easily shave/ push cut paper. But with my M43 or my (now friend's) Siru, it didn't require much more than thinning the edge out a little bit with a well used ceramic rod and a strop charged with jeweler's rouge. But neither knife gets used very much, so I don't often need to maintain the edge.

 

[MrMike]

I will do the minimum amount of edge reprofiling so I don't change the knife's original geometry. Belt grinders are out for this reason. Doing that to my Sher CAK would be heresy. His forge work is too beautiful.

The geometry was pretty decent to start on my CAK. I just progressively work a fine edge using 600/1500 grid sandpaper and finish off with a strop loaded with 0.5 micron green chromium oxide. I almost never use the coarser 600 grid anymore. The edge is pretty darn sharp without being too thin.

However, the 600 finish bites better into hardwood. I don't like that look on an art piece... so that's the tradeoff. A decision you have to make.

 

[b.c.molin]

The only caveat is that those pieces are so beautiful that I feel that putting an edge on them would slightly detract from their aesthetics as original works of art. Have any of you had this dilemma?

Yes, I have the same dilemma.

Just got a few new HI blades (all full polish) and the thought of me taking to them is blasphemy!

However, I was very lucky in that Mr Ferguson kindly accepted my request to convex edge the two I choose to be users and I now have a Sgt. Khardka Khuk and a YCS Karda that are the sharpest blades I own.

But I think I need to follow C.S.'s advice and start to learn on a beater is the way to go as the continued impost on Steve would be too great. But for a complete novice it is a big step to risk ruining even a beater.