Sharpening a khukuri

[Green Ice]

Hello everybody, my first post.

I got a HI Ang Khola for Christmas and think its an absolutely great blade. My question is: how do I go about sharpening it and with what. I'm absolutely new to this khuk so please forgive my ignorance. It appears to be sharpened only on one side. Is this normal? Any help will be greatly appreciated and maybe I can contribute something of value later.

Thank you.

 

[ferguson]

Hi Green Ice, and welcome. A convex edge works well on a khuk. Here's a good starting place.

http://www.himalayan-imports.com/faq/Sharp.htm

Steve

 

[Iwantyourskull]

Yeah, a convex edge is the only way to go IMO.

 

[Green Ice]

Thanks for the suggestions and comments. Will get to sharpening.

 

[Daniel Koster]

what sharpening equipment/tools do you have at your disposal?

 

[Green Ice]

Stones, EZ Lap Diamond sharpeners, files, sandpaper. All hand stuff.

 

[Daniel Koster]

Stones, EZ Lap Diamond sharpeners, files, sandpaper. All hand stuff.

Here's what I would do if I had your tools:

File = use only to set initial bevel

EZ Lap = use to fine-tune bevel to get a burr on both sides

Sandpaper = tack/glue a few strips to wood/mousepad/hard foam/etc....something "forgiving" but stiff. (make sense?) Then use that to refinsh and polish the edge. Plan on starting around 220 and going up to 800 if you can. You'll get the best results from this. Get a burr each side before moving to the other side. Start with firm pressure the first few strokes...lighten up as you go.

You'll get a good working-sharp edge.




The most important advice I can tell you about sharpening khukuris...."Let the tail wag the dog".

Don't hold the khukuri over the stone....hold the stone over the khukuri. Move the stone back and forth across the edge, paying special attention to the angle.

 

[Yvsa]

Get a burr each side before moving to the other side.

What Daniel means is, "get a burr all along one side before moving to the other."
Daniel can probably get a burr each side before moving to the other, but then Daniel is also known for screwing up a nocturnal emission. And only people who can do that can get a burr on "each side" before moving to the other.
Daniel also plays with and marvels over Mobius strip's too.

Don't hold the khukuri over the stone....hold the stone over the khukuri. Move the stone back and forth across the edge, paying special attention to the angle.

Yup, but don't pay too close attention to the "angle" as such. By keeping the "angle" in the same general "angle" but not religiously you'll wind up with a convex edge which is what you really want to begin with.

 

[Green Ice]

Thank you Sirs. I have already begun working on the edge and will carry on as suggested. Have the mousepad and wet & dry sandpaper up to 400. Will have to get finer.

Ice

 

[Nasty]

400 will get it danged sharp. Make *certain* that you get the burr all along one side before flipping it over. Khukris will draw the burr at the softer spots (each end) and then get harder to get the burr as you approach the sweet spot (the hardest area).

 

[Daniel Koster]

mobius is my friend..... :footinmou

Is it just me, or does that look like a bikini bottom....?!



:footinmou




Nasty?.....comment?

 

[Nasty]

I think there was something like that left behind after taking a gal to a drive in one time...

 

[Bri in Chi]

Green Ice.
The worlds foremost experts on the subject of khukuri (notice that I didn't say "khuk") sharpening have spoken. Pay close attention. You are now an official denizen of the cantina.

 

[Green Ice]

Thank you Bri,

I use the word "khuk" as shorthand, not in a derogatory way. Mine is a fine and valued tool and I'm happy to be part of this forum. From now on I will use the correct term.

Ice

 

[Daniel Koster]

which correct term?

khukuri or kukri?

 

[Green Ice]

Daniel, you are very precise. Which would you prefer?

Ice

 

[Bri in Chi]

Oh dear, another vote is in order. I vote for:
Khukuri

 

[Daniel Koster]

I use both....sometimes in the same paragraph.



But I always use "kukri" whenever I'm talking with John Powell.

 

[Dave Rishar]

I'm voting for khuk - it rhymes with "kook" and seems to be an adequate way to describe some of us.

Green Ice, I'm going to be the devil's advocate here (sort of) and tell you that there's absolutely nothing wrong with a conventional bevelled edge. It won't remain razor sharp through hard use like a convex edge will but even slightly dulled it'll work fine in the field. Hamhanded buffoons like me that use files as often as stones for sharpening and make fine adjustments to delicate machinery with sledgehammers do what we have to do to get some sort of an edge on things. (That's probably why I ended up here in the first place - I haven't managed to break, or even significantly disfigure, an HI product to date. As a favor to the American taxpayers on this forum I won't go into the details of all the things I've managed to break but needless to say, I tend to break things. A lot.) If you want a convex edge, though, you certainly came to the right place to learn how to grind one. The knowledge base here is incredible.

 

[Yvsa]

Khuk, kukri, khukuri, or.... I don't think it matters a big rat's ass. I'm gonna continue using what I happen to type at the time. As far as I'm concerned they're all interchangeable anyway.