Sharpening Techniques

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Pagala Gorwa

Joined
Jul 8, 1999
Messages
8
Hi everyone - I'm new to the whole Khukuri collecting thing. I was given a Khukuri for my birthday recently, which seems to be a BAS shape but only about 9" long. It seems to be of reasonable quality - a nice rosewood handle, and some tidy brass inlay work on the blade.

I've got a reasonable edge on it already, but I was wondering if you all had any recommendations about what to use to get a really fine edge. I realise that the steel stock used to make my Khukuri may not be too hard, but what sorts of sharpening tools should I be trying to get?????

Thanks
Chris

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;-P

[This message has been edited by Pagala Gorwa (edited 08 July 1999).]
 
Chris, a small hone like a Diafold from DMT would be a good choice. If you get the combination fine/x-fine then you are set for a lot of work besides just your khukuri. The fine diamond will leave an edge that is slightly "toothy" and the x-fine leaves a high polish, "shaving sharp".

Diamond has the advantage of being a little more durable than ceramic based sharpeners and it cuts a little faster. Then again you have to be more careful when using diamond sharpeners as excessive force can scrape the diamonds off. Both diamond and ceramics have significant advantages over other sharpening materials like AO or SiC as they are a lot cleaner to use and don't scallop out.

Besides the flat pads, a rod would also be a nice tool to have. While these will not do much to a badly blunted edge. They are great to have to maintain edges that are just a bit under being as sharp as you would want. It just takes a few strokes and you are back ready to go again. I use an 800 grit ceramic rod but you don't have to be that particular.

Another way to go would be to get the new Sharpmaker from Spyderco. Bladeforums is currently selling it in the store so you will be supporting the forums. I wouldn't actually use it with the hones in the base with a khukuri, but instead take the ceramics and use them as manual sharpeners just like you would the Diamond pads. The plus side of getting the Sharpmaker is that you get a complete system that will handle just about any knife, including serrations. Note that since the hones it has are triangular, you can use the flat part as a hone or the edge as a rod so in fact it will do the abilities of a Diamond pad and a rod.

You might want to check out the sharpening FAQ :

http://www.bladeforums.com/features/faqsharp.html

And the following threads :

http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum26/HTML/000220.html

http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum26/HTML/000106.html

http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum26/HTML/000119.html

-Cliff
 
Cliff, thanks a million for putting up those links. You did my job for me again and I greatly appreciate it.

Uncle Bill
 
Chris,

Curious about your call-sign - "Pagala Gorwa". If "Gorwa" is changed to read "Ghora" then the whole thing translates from Hindi or Nepali to "Crazy Horse"!

- Sonam
 
Want to tell the fourmites what the name of the little village over north of Pokhara called Ghorapani really means, Nephew?

Uncle Bill
 
Thanks cliff, for the info! I've asking myself the same question.

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Bill P
 
Thanks cliff, for the info! I've asking myself the same question.

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Bill P
 
Uncle Bill,

Ghorapani??? AFAIK that's "Horse water" in Nepali! First thing that comes to mind is that this place probably got it's name 'coz it might have served as some sort of rest area for horse-caravans or something - dunno, I'm only guessing here.

- Sonam
 
Sonam, one of the locals told me it was more like a restROOM for horses and that's how it got the name. Of course, he could have been pulling my leg.

My poor Nepali and lack of knowledge regarding local customs and rules of etiquette have made me the brunt of jokes and caused me a lot of embarrassment at times.

First time I met Kami's younger brother I addressed him by his first name and all the Sherpas gasped at my lack of respect. You know the story.

Uncle Bill
 
Thanks for the advice Cliff - I'll get onto it soon.

Sonam - I'm still just learning Hindi, but the name was given to me by a Fijian-Indian friend, who told me it means 'crazy white man'. Is that any help??



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;-P
 
I sharpen most kuks as I would the limbing side of a double bit axe.The sirupati is like the thinner felling blade.

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Oh Lord, Ghost! I NEVER heard that bit about double bladed axes being set up with a diferent edge for each side. Makes me think of the oral histories done out here in Nevada, mostly on the rez, but some off them too. Stuff that's otherwise gonna get lost and never missed until too late.

Somebody has got to get the HI forum archives off of KF before they go away for good. And start backing up the BF HI forum archives.
 
:
It seems that somewhere I had heard about different edges being put on an
axe,but I can't recall where and I sure NEVER knew what the differences were.

When I carried the hatchet around all the time when I was a kid ( Can anyone see that happening in this day and time?) I had worked it over extensively with a file. Actually several until I had thinned the blade considerably. It made it "stick" better when thrown and helped to keep it from bouncing out of springy wet wood.
Talking about carrying a hatchet around and such things.When I was in Jr.high school there was a metal working class that you could take in woodshop. Almost everyone did that too. Not only did you get to learn about making little metal boxes you could MAKE a Knife! The shop teacher didn't know much about forging though and everybody drew a real nice design for a knife,but came out with an old curved bladed corn knife with a cast aluminium handle. I don't believe that is happening anywhere in this country today. Day-umed shame too!

So ghostsix will you enlighten us about this and teach us how and what you mean?

Rusty I agree with you completely about the archives on Knife forums and here. I have read a great deal of the H.I. archives and found the information invaluable.
I wish I had a real computer sometimes and could do that kind of
transfer.

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>>>>---¥vsa---->®
The civilized man sleeps behind locked doors in the city while the naked savage sleeps (with a knife) in a open hut in the jungle.
 
Chris,

The generally accepted english rendition for the Hindi/Nepali word is actually "Gora", but hey! "Gorwa" works fine too! So, "Pagala Gorwa" or "Pagala Gora" either way you're the "Crazy White Man"!!!

Uncle Bill, yup! "Ghorapani" - Horse's Restroom makes sense too! Depends on how the word "pani" is used. Though in a place like Nepal wonder why animals would need a specific area to answer nature's call???!!!

- Sonam
 
That's right, nephew. In Nepal, especially outside Kathmandu (and sometimes even inside!), animals and people alike just stop and heed nature's call no matter where.

Uncle Bill
 
I too made one of those shop knives.The limbing blade might hit something that would chip out the felling blade.Thus the two in one package.The weight is the same as the single bit which you can leave stuck to safely leave for awhile.Re:carving to deal with blems.My Mom would embroider around the bob wire tear that I just got in my good shirt sleeve;presentable again.

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:
Thanks ghostsix.
With me it was always my new Levis that were getting tore on the wire.
I also destroyed a sanking brand new pair of shoes kicking oysters out of there bed at Matanzas (sp) Inlet in FL.
Those things are as sharp as any knife I think.

Another good 'ole' piece of 'lore' that came from my grandpa was "Don't ever pee in the path. It will cause a sty on your eye." He was right too.
He laughed when he saw my puffed eye and said,"I know what you did."
I never pee'd in a path again.
smile.gif



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>>>>---¥vsa---->®
The civilized man sleeps behind locked doors in the city while the naked savage sleeps (with a knife) in a open hut in the jungle.
 
Yvsa, that must be an old Cherokee superstition. My grandmother told me the same thing about peeing in the path or road.

Uncle Bill
 
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