question on sharpening

S

ShadowchaserUFP

Joined
Apr 7, 2005
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191
I understand how most people here sharpen their khuks with either a sander or the paintstick/mousepad/sandpaper method. My question is merely this, I don't believe that the Gurhkas had those types of materials handy. Knowing this, what did they do to maintain the edge and the symmetry of the convex edge of the khuks? I have a friend (of which most of you know already) who is stationed in Iraq (still waiting on the pics). I wish to inform him of the best method of maintaining his knife with the materials he has on hand.

Jack
 
i'm not sure how the Gurkhas sharpened in the field.

If you have a good edge on it to start with, you can maintain the edge with the chakma for a while, as long as you dont really abuse the edge.
 
Hello Jack,

I like your use of the word "maintain" because it's certainly easier to maintain a good edge rather than reshapening a dull edge. I think your friend could maintain a reasonable edge with a piece of cardboard or leather. If he had some stropping compound, so much the better. This maintenance would probably serve him well in the field, between sharpenings.
 
i dont think you can sharping with a chakma... its more like honing/steeling :)
as posted before it was used more to "maintain" a khukuri than to sharpen it :D :thumbup:
 
Its not pretty, but , i would guess the bottom of any ceramic plate or cup would do the trick.
Any sort of ceramic insulator, or a peice of, would do the same.
These are not things You would generally carry on Your back, but are available just about anywhere in the world.
 
I would think he could get a sharpening steel there also, it would do the job of sharpening.

wouldnt be up to reprofiling the blade tho.
 
There are always stones to use. While they take a bit to get used to using it on something large like a kukri, it is quite possible.
 
I read somewhere about someone who took a small piece of pine and pressed it hard onto a silty windowsill until the silt became engrained in the wood. He then used this to sharpen with. I imagine grit or sand might be used for a more coarse grind, but I don't know how well you could press it into softwood under most circumstances.
 
I doubt they have a shortage of sand...if he has a leather belt or even cardboard like others said it might not give a polished edge but there are 27 cutting surfaces on the average gran of sand....the grit could be rubbed into leather I would think
 
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