Sharpening a 15" Ang Khola?

J

Jon

Joined
Nov 8, 1998
Messages
276
OK, I've purchased my first HI knife, a 15" AK, and like it a lot.
Now, any tips on sharpening it? I usually use the Spyderco system with medium & fine ceramic rods - any ideas/tips?

Thanks in advance.
 
Jon,

Congratulations on your first, but I'm sure not your last, HI. I had posted about using a Lansky system for khukuris in the past. To maintain the edges that I created with the Lansky, I've used a combination of the charda, a grooved steel, and a diamond impregnated steel -- in that order -- depending on the amount of touch-up required.

I also recently received a 15" AK -- one of the "Mother of all AKs" models -- and, coincidentally, sharpened it for the first time on my 204 system just last night. Frankly, although it did put on a good edge, I'm not sure if this is really the way to go. I found it somewhat awkward to manage the large heavy blade and I was a bit fearful that it might damage the ceramic rods.

Please let us know your thoughts if you do decide to use the Spyderco system with the AK.

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Cheers,

--+Brian+--


 
I use crock-sticks to maintain the edges on my khukuris. They are ceramic sticks very similar to the Spyderco Sharpmaker, except they're round. They work very well. The Sharpmaker should do just fine. It is just as effective as the crock-sticks. I have an old style Sharpmaker also, but I seldom take the trouble to unpack it and set it up, unless I'm doing serrations. The crock-sticks are always close at hand in the kitchen.

If the blade is seriously dented, or if substantial amounts of metal need to be removed because the knife is very dull or the blade profile is wrong, the ceramic sticks are not the tool to use. They remove metal too slowly. Files and hones can be used for removing metal quickly.


------------------
Howard Wallace
Khukuri FAQ

 
Well, most the himalayan forum guys have it down, but heres the way I do it. I bought a fine cut (very fine cut) machinist's half round file, small. the flat side will cover the edge middle to tip, the half round side will cover the inside arc from the handle to middle. After I take out the nicks and such (establishing a 1/32 stripe along both edges) I then use the same file wrapped in 600 grit wet and dry to hone the final edge. Sharp? oh yes.
 
Keeping your khukuri sharp with a steel works well. But if you need to put on a new edge or bevel, hand stones can take forever.
smile.gif

My preference is an edge pro apex. It will even sharpen a 21 inch salyan, new bevel and all to a razor sharp edge in a few minutes.
Had my doubts the first time sharpening a khukuri, but the edge pro was easy to use on that big blade.
Jim

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What? Another knife? Don't you have enough of those things already?
How many does one person need?
And just what are you going to do with this one that you can't do with the others?
What is the purpose of all these knives anyhow??

 
I use the Spyderco ceramic rods as files to sharpen my khukuri following the same theory described in the Sharpening FAQ.

First, clamp the blade to a table so that I can maintain a consistent angle (about 25 degree). I use the course ceramic stone as a file on the top side till I can feel a burr along the entire edge of the bottom side. Once the burr is formed, I flip the blade over and repeat on the opposite side.

To remove the burr file with the fine stones on the burr side using no more pressure than the weight of the stone. Check for a burr on the opposite side. If the burr is there, repeat on the opposite side. This will happen a few times before the burr is removed.

Once the burr is removed but more sharpness is required. Gently stroke the blade with the fine ceramic file as was done in removing burr from the blade, once. Flip the knife over and repeat on the opposite side. Repeat until the desired level of sharpness is obtained. Check to make sure the burr does not reoccur. If it does the angle or sharpening pressure is inconsistent.

The khukuri can easily be made shaving sharp. There are many other sharpening proceedures in the H.I. forum and all that I have tried have worked.

For really dull khukuri's, like the new ones I get, I use a Lansky course stone in the first step. Also, the fine Lansky stone works extremely well in the final step.

Will


[This message has been edited by Will Kwan (edited 12 October 1999).]
 
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