Sharpen a Cold Steel Kukri

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soapboxpreacher

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As I have found out the KuKri Machete from Cold Steel comes with a "Utility Edge" In my case...really bad utility edge...I was expecting a little bit of sharpness. I could fall on it and come away unhurt, it is that bad. So I spoke with them and they told me they could do it for 10 bucks or I could put it on myself. She recommended a 23-25 degree edge. What are the best tools you guys recommend and how to achieve this? Since the blade is so curved as well as long this look like it might be a bitch!
 
I had a Panga machete that came in pretty much the same condition. I used a metalworking file to remove the coating/set the bevel and I wanted and then used a small 2-in-1 sharpening stone from the hardware store to sharpen it up. I don't really need a hair-splitting edge on my machete, so that was good enough for me.
 
In order to get the inside of the curve you can use the edge of a traditional rectangular stone. It's not so tricky--just different. :):thumbup:
 
Setting the bevel sounds like work, but for edge maintenance I use 800 grit paper - wrap it around a large dowel to get inside the curve.

I like my cold steel kuk. I got it as a beater, just something to use up while doing all the rough work. Turned out I couldn't kill it, and I eventually learned to love the thing. Sanding the roughness of the handle down helped a lot.

Put some orange tape or paracord on it, so you can find it after you lay it down.
 
I did mine on a 30X1 belt grinder then followed that up with my pocket water stones. I got a nice durable convex edge, it may not shave hairs but it now chops like a dream.
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The heavy grinder marks are from the factory. The factory grind was so bad that it looked like a saw not a knife and was so off center it was just shy of a chisel grind. that was my first and most likely last experience with a CS product there are so much better offerings out there for the same price I don't see the reason to give them a second chance, but that is just my opinion.
 
I have the $ 400.00 San Mai Cold Steel Kurka Kuri and I will say this the convex blade on this blade is purely frightening. I got some prints on the satan blade so I took my shirt to rub them off. So I keep seeing lint on the bade could not figure out what was going on intill I seen the hole it shaved in my shirt, I guess I was alittle close to the razor sharp edge, and I mean razor sharp. Something with this design this heavy and sharp is fucking scary if you ever get a chance to see one check it out I guarantee you will be amazed. Don't get me wrong I am not going to take my San Mai out and beat it like your machete all I am saying is Cold Steel definitely makes some really nice stuff but you get what you pay for.
 
I have one of the beater CS Kukris--there's a guy on eBay who got it absolutely razor sharp and was very happy with what he got for the money!
 
Just some serious sharpening and honing and you too could capture a Panzer tank as the Nepali Gurkas did in WW2,as bad ass warriors as any Ninja.Ask any German that was spared,they feared those little"bastard"Nepalis.Thats why "The Royal Gurka Rifles";) are so revered.
 
I use a 6" mill bastard file. Mine's rectangular, I'd get one with a taper next time to the hardware store to hit the recurve nicely.

Files leave a real spiked, toothy, gnarly edge that bites in pretty good on small to medium branches, vines, clumps of weeds, "brush" type stuff, on my (2) CS machetes. :)
 
Roadman said:
Just some serious sharpening and honing and you too could capture a Panzer tank as the Nepali Gurkas did in WW2,as bad ass warriors as any Ninja.Ask any German that was spared,they feared those little"bastard"Nepalis.Thats why "The Royal Gurka Rifles";) are so revered.
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There is a huge difference between a real Khukuri and a the CS Kukri Machete. I had always wanted a khuk since my time in the military, my Sargent had one. So I bought the CS kukri machete, then I found out that I could get the real thing online for a reasonable price so I bought one. The CSkukri machete when dressed will cut brush no problem, the real thing will destroy anything in its path:eek:. I am sure the San Mai version of the CS kukri would be on par with the real thing for cutting power, but it costs 4 times as much, even after shipping from Nepal:o
 
I used a bastard file for all of my Cold Steel machetes. You could use a 1" belt sander if you want to get it done quicker, but you'll have to take frequent breaks so as to not ruin the temper.
 
+1 on the bastard file. the steel's pretty soft so it's easy to work. certainly easier than a ka-bar or old hickory. ;)
 
On this kukri of mine I started out with a 12" millbastard file, but it doesn't get the recurve portion of the blade very well. So I took an empty pringles can ( any thick cylinder will do) and wrapped sandpaper around it.

Sharpend the blade basically like you would with the sandpaper/mousepad technique, then finished by wrapping leather around the tube, and stropping it that way.

Now it shaves hairs like a dream! :thumbup:

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Rather than start a new thread, I'd like to ask any of you that might have CS kukri machetes - or other brands.

What can I do to "mod" the handle on mine to get a better/safer grip?

I've heard of "hockey tape" don't know what that is? Anything else?

A lanyard of course. :)
 
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