Question for those who own old khuks...

S

Stumptown Gary

Joined
Feb 6, 2000
Messages
18
Hi All,

OK, picture the scene - you are at a flea market and something on one of the tables catches your eye. As you close on the table your palms sweat, your pulse races, and your mouth goes dry - on the table is a WWI khukuri and complete rig in excellent shape.

When the dust settles (assuming you can talk your wife into adding this to your collection), and you get your prize home you examine the blade closely and notice that the edge in places is very slightly rounded off, or a small amount of chipping occured when it was used by a previous owner to hurredly open ammunition crates or whatever.

So folks my question is this: would you touch up the edge on an antique khuk, or would you leave it in the condition you found it? JP and I were talking about this today, I said khuks are meant to be sharp (shiveringly so), and what damage would you do by sharpening (restoring) an edge that was beaten up. John had a very good point though when he said if the khuk wasn't going to be used (as would be the case when most of us buy an antique), then why mess with it? I can see sense in both points of view. So what do you all think?

Cheers for now (and GET WELL SOON to Uncle Bill),

QL.

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QL,

I don't know about antique khuks (though I would think John Powell would if any of us do), but I know with antique Japanese swords, doing anything to them (unless you are a professional) reduces their value alot. I know this wasn't much help--guess I'll leave to the experts on khuks we've got here.

Rob
 
No way am I going to argue with John Powell.

If one were picked up off of a battlefield with dents and scars from battle, I can see simply applying some fixative to keep it just as it was found.

If there was practically no wear on it - I'd listen to John. If I were collecting for it's value, definitely listen to John.

But if I rescued it for what it represented, the values it had signified, then if it had any good honest wear and was still solid, and useworthy... then I would probably be making a mistake as a collector or an investor, but... leaving the retired old warrior dull would seem disrespectful, as if it wasn't still up to making one last charge when the bugle sounded. I don't think I could stand to not honor it's spirit by restoring it to razor sharpness.

Yeah, John Powell is right, but then I've never had to make that decision myself.

PS: keep lots of bandaids handy.

[This message has been edited by Rusty (edited 03-20-2000).]
 
I definitely agree with Rusty. Ed Fowler had a an article (wiht a similar view) about restoring an old rusty military Bolo (if I remember correctly).
 
:
If it was a khukuri that I could and would use I would sharpen it and use it.
However if it was a beautiful old antique and the handle didn't fit and I wouldn't use it then I would have to leave it alone.

I know how hard that could be for me.
I have to use a beautiful old Keris I bought many years ago for $22.50 and I didn't kiss the lady in the antique store either.VBSEG.
redface.gif
as an example.

I truly believe the keris is one of the very old ones made from the meteorite iron due to its dull pamor.
The point is rounded instead of pointy sharp.
The edges are scary sharp in the inner curves and sharp enough to tear your flesh on the outer curves.
I just this last year finally got enough courage to clean it up. I think it was Rusty that gave me a link to Paul's Keris page.
I wrote to him and asked about the old knife and he told me how to proceed. Surprisingly it had little rust under the handle. The handles are put on using a strands of twisted hair or cloth. Mine had cloth under it so I replaced it with white cotton cloth after I soaked it for a few days in a mixture of lime and lemon juice and apple cider vinegar.
The mild acid in a turkey pan,enough to cover the knife thoroughly, worked wonders on cleaning the blade and restoreing it to its original beauty.
I learned that the blade has what's called a watermelon skin pamor. Its a beautiful piece and I have managed to keep my hands off it for several years and now that itsbeen cleaned I will probably not do anything else to it ever.
I would like to take it to one of the official keris clening ceremonies and have the pamor brought out in the traditional way with arsenic and lime juice.
smile.gif


It appears that Rusty and me have pretty much the same thoughts on khukuris as he psted while I went to check Paul's page for correct info.


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>>>>---¥vsa---->®

"Know your own bone, gnaw at it, bury it, unearth it again."

'Thoreau'

Khukuri FAQ
 
Thanks guys, sound advice.

You are absolutely right, in addition to being a great guy John has probably forgotten more about old khuks than a lot of us will ever know. Being the gentleman that he is, he is always happy to share information.

Rusty, you managed to eloquently capture my thoughts about some of these old soldiers. The spirit that we know some khukuries to possess cries out to be re-fitted to battle order (that may be having another scabbard made or resharpening an edge). That may not always be a smart thing to do (from an investment POV), but respect in many cases does call for some restrained repair.

Tough one though, isn't it.

Cheers for now,

QL.

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My personal opinon is that a weapon is made to be sharp. I would sharpen it (razor sharp). Japanese swords should never be messed with because their sharpening process is also the polishing process and they are "art blades". Khukuries are not in the same category.
 
QL thanks for the compliment and raising the question. And Rusty, not disagreeing with me will only allow more of my BS to come through so let the fur fly when needed.

These are warrior's knives and their karma is to be sharp and ready. Many of these blades are works of art and like Japanese blades they require great care, but unlike ancient Japanese blades which are sent back to Japan to be polished and resharpened, a khukuri can be cleaned and sharpened as the owner sees fit.

Would I personally sharpen a great old blade? No, but I would clean it to the point of not removing any dings, dents and patina. I would also rebuild a scabbard as needed.

It's a personal choice, but as a collector I think the value drops while removing the dusts of history.

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JP
 
Very well put John.

Now if I can just come across an "old" khukuri in a flea market
smile.gif
 
John, one of these days you'll awake and realize that my adulation was not slavish sycophancy but rather leading you step by step down the primrose path ( VBEG ).

Actually, your knowlege in this area has earned my respect, but not my awe. But I do include you in among the members of the forum that collectively posess an amout of knowlege and experience that does leave me in awe.

Remind me to make reservations for you at the Happy Hotel on Galletti Way next time you are in Reno.
 
Rusty,
I don't know whether to hunt you down or buy you a beer at the gathering of "Khukurati" in August. Maybe I'll hunt you down to buy you a beer...

Jon, you bring up an interesting thought which I am asked a lot: where do you find these things? Flea Markets rarely. Gun Shows, Antique Shows and Auctions are always a good bet, but my best finds have come from dealers in England. Here's the rub. You have to know what you're looking at and how to identify authentic features. Hopefully with Howard Wallace's dedication to the Khukuri FAQ and my slow fact gathering you will be able to spot the real thing anywhere.

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JP
 
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