Cobalt
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Dec 23, 1998
- Messages
- 17,664
This is yet another stolen writting that I consider important for everyone to read. Bill and another person were involved in this discussion:
Thanks to Alex Penton for bringing up a very important safety aspect regarding drawing a khukuri from its scabbard.
NEVER WRAP YOUR HAND AROUND THE SCABBARD WHEN YOU DRAW THE KNIFE!!! THIS RULE SHOULD NEVER BE BROKEN.
Here's the reason. Sometimes a khukuri can cut through the scabbard if drawn improperly. If this happens and you have your hand wrapped around the scabbard kiss the fingers goodbye.
Sometimes when new a blade will fit tightly and it takes a considerable pull to unsheath it -- but hold the scabbard by the front if you must pull hard. One more time: DON'T WRAP YOUR HAND AROUND THE SCABBARD IN A WAY THAT WOULD EXPOSE YOUR FINGERS OR ANY PART OF YOUR HAND TO THE CUTTING EDGE SHOULD THE BLADE CUT THROUGH THE SCABBARD.
As I said to Alex, the new scabbard is like a new pair of shoes and will wear in with use. However, if you blade fits tighter than you like and you want to speed up the wearing in process do this. Look at your blade and it will tell you where it is rubbing on the scabbard. Get a file and route around inside the scabbard where the interference is occuring. The wood is fairly soft so it does not take a lot of time and effort to loosen up the fit.
And one last time: DON'T WRAP YOUR HAND AROUND THE SCABBARD WHEN DRAWING YOUR BLADE!!
Bill
As Mr. Martino states correctly, the left hand should never be put on the scabbard where the blade settles in, (top part of scabbard is acceptable, but not preferable), when drawing the khukuri. If I may be so bold as to expound on this, (for the safety of everyone), in the Bando System as you all know by now, the khukuri is a ceremonial and spiritual weapon. However, safety is the number one lesson to be learned when handling any weapon, but especially the khukuri. Many hours are spent on just drawing the khukuri properly, before any drills or cuts are taught, or anything is hit. Due to its design, the khukuri is a cutting machine. Improper handling will result in very bad things happening. When you are fatigued, don't play with the khukuri.
The draw is actually supposed to be a one handed draw, for a number of reasons, not the least of which is safety of the left hand. The left hand should follow the blade and become a parrying SAFETY. This is especially true when hitting something hard, like wood, as the khukuri can bounce backwards if the target is not struck properly. The October 98 issue of Soldier of Fortune has some excellent pictures of a good khukuri draw, and some training drills as exhibited by Steve and Ron Minnix, both Bando practioneers and very good khukuri instructors. This magazine may still be on the stands, or can probably be ordered from SOF. If anyone is interested in just the picture, I can probably scan it and mail it on to you as a JPEG file or whatever you can convert.
There is another very good article in an old Inside Kung Fu, written by Dr. Duvon Winborne. This article focuses on some of the history and usage of the khukuri. It is in IKF May 96, and the article is entitled "The Khukuri, WWII's Jungle Weapon". (If anyone is interested)
I would like to put in a little more information. First, the HI scabbard is very well made as you can tell by look and feel. It is highly unlikely that you could split the scabbard by drawing the blade improperly -- but let's all remember Murphy's law and take intelligent precautions. Again: DON'T WRAP YOUR HAND AROUND THE BACK (CUTTING EDGE) OF THE SCABBARD!
The reason for the initial tight fit is due to the traditional way the scabbard is manufactured. First the wood sheath is custom carved to fit the blade it will house. Then the wood is wrapped in WET water buffalo leather. This leather has been soaked in a concoction that looks and smells terrible and what all they put into it I am not sure. But when the leather comes out of this it looks like a wet chamois. They fit the leather to the wood, stitch it nicely, and trim it. Then it dries and SHRINKS. And this is where the problem arises, due to the shrinkage. This exerts a tremendous force on the wood and compresses it, making for the tight fit. With time and use, just like a new pair of shoes, the leather stretches out and wears in and you are back to a good, proper fit.
As I mentioned you can speed up the process by routing inside the scabbard with a file to open it up some.
Thanks to Alex Penton for bringing up a very important safety aspect regarding drawing a khukuri from its scabbard.
NEVER WRAP YOUR HAND AROUND THE SCABBARD WHEN YOU DRAW THE KNIFE!!! THIS RULE SHOULD NEVER BE BROKEN.
Here's the reason. Sometimes a khukuri can cut through the scabbard if drawn improperly. If this happens and you have your hand wrapped around the scabbard kiss the fingers goodbye.
Sometimes when new a blade will fit tightly and it takes a considerable pull to unsheath it -- but hold the scabbard by the front if you must pull hard. One more time: DON'T WRAP YOUR HAND AROUND THE SCABBARD IN A WAY THAT WOULD EXPOSE YOUR FINGERS OR ANY PART OF YOUR HAND TO THE CUTTING EDGE SHOULD THE BLADE CUT THROUGH THE SCABBARD.
As I said to Alex, the new scabbard is like a new pair of shoes and will wear in with use. However, if you blade fits tighter than you like and you want to speed up the wearing in process do this. Look at your blade and it will tell you where it is rubbing on the scabbard. Get a file and route around inside the scabbard where the interference is occuring. The wood is fairly soft so it does not take a lot of time and effort to loosen up the fit.
And one last time: DON'T WRAP YOUR HAND AROUND THE SCABBARD WHEN DRAWING YOUR BLADE!!
Bill
As Mr. Martino states correctly, the left hand should never be put on the scabbard where the blade settles in, (top part of scabbard is acceptable, but not preferable), when drawing the khukuri. If I may be so bold as to expound on this, (for the safety of everyone), in the Bando System as you all know by now, the khukuri is a ceremonial and spiritual weapon. However, safety is the number one lesson to be learned when handling any weapon, but especially the khukuri. Many hours are spent on just drawing the khukuri properly, before any drills or cuts are taught, or anything is hit. Due to its design, the khukuri is a cutting machine. Improper handling will result in very bad things happening. When you are fatigued, don't play with the khukuri.
The draw is actually supposed to be a one handed draw, for a number of reasons, not the least of which is safety of the left hand. The left hand should follow the blade and become a parrying SAFETY. This is especially true when hitting something hard, like wood, as the khukuri can bounce backwards if the target is not struck properly. The October 98 issue of Soldier of Fortune has some excellent pictures of a good khukuri draw, and some training drills as exhibited by Steve and Ron Minnix, both Bando practioneers and very good khukuri instructors. This magazine may still be on the stands, or can probably be ordered from SOF. If anyone is interested in just the picture, I can probably scan it and mail it on to you as a JPEG file or whatever you can convert.
There is another very good article in an old Inside Kung Fu, written by Dr. Duvon Winborne. This article focuses on some of the history and usage of the khukuri. It is in IKF May 96, and the article is entitled "The Khukuri, WWII's Jungle Weapon". (If anyone is interested)
I would like to put in a little more information. First, the HI scabbard is very well made as you can tell by look and feel. It is highly unlikely that you could split the scabbard by drawing the blade improperly -- but let's all remember Murphy's law and take intelligent precautions. Again: DON'T WRAP YOUR HAND AROUND THE BACK (CUTTING EDGE) OF THE SCABBARD!
The reason for the initial tight fit is due to the traditional way the scabbard is manufactured. First the wood sheath is custom carved to fit the blade it will house. Then the wood is wrapped in WET water buffalo leather. This leather has been soaked in a concoction that looks and smells terrible and what all they put into it I am not sure. But when the leather comes out of this it looks like a wet chamois. They fit the leather to the wood, stitch it nicely, and trim it. Then it dries and SHRINKS. And this is where the problem arises, due to the shrinkage. This exerts a tremendous force on the wood and compresses it, making for the tight fit. With time and use, just like a new pair of shoes, the leather stretches out and wears in and you are back to a good, proper fit.
As I mentioned you can speed up the process by routing inside the scabbard with a file to open it up some.
