So how do I loosen a sheath?

[Ash]

Hi Uncle, guys.

I have an 18inAK that I want to use a lot more. The problem is that the sheath is so tight that drawing the Khukuri is very difficult, and possibly dangerous (the thought of the blade becoming free of the sheath with a bit of force and 'whipping' out is enough to make anyone cautious

).

From the feel of things the blade is sticking as it comes through the curve of the sheath.

It was tight when I got it but seems to have gotten a lot worse. My first though is that the leather has dried out and tightened around the wood sections causing them to contract. Is this a likely scenario? and if so whats the best way to fix it?.

BTW, Bil; nice to have you back, it looks like you had a good time in Nepal.

Did that last letter of mine arrive?

Andre.


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"Kemosabe!........The music's starting! The music's starting!"

 

[Matt Matheny]

Hi Ash. I had the same problem when I got my 20" sirupati. The advice from Uncle Bill was to soak the seath in water for approx a half an hour. Have a couple of long wengs fashioned before hand. After soaking the sheath put the wendges in to strech the stretch the sheath out. Be careful the wood for the sheath is soft at this point, but you do want to make th e sheath a little bigger. Let your sheath dry with the wedges in it for about 24 hours. I now pass the soapbox on to any one else.

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"Clear a path for the Kukhri or it will clear one for itself"

 

[Bill Martino]

You have the procedure down, Matt, and it works. It's an old Gorkha trick taught to me by Pala.

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Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ

 

[B Shipley]

You will also note that a lot of blacking comes off the scabbard when doing this.

This can leave some area w/o finish, like the wood lips at the back/body side of the scabbard, that may need a little paint. Everything else seems fine, but a little less shiny.

What is this stuff that comes off? It looked like a dye impregnated resin and peeled of in sheets.

 

[Bill Martino]

Ash, let us know how you make out. Nepal was warm and humid when I was there last month and scabbards tend to change with the weather.

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Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ

 

[Rusty]

Someone a few days back noted that some scabbards had a piece of leather glued inside the sheath throat and removing it often fixed the problem. If not, then go to the soaking and wedges.

 

[mohd]

It seems things work difeerently down here in Malaysia - most of Khuks I received were having tight fit scabbards - normally the 1st thing I do was to take off their frogs - it loosen a bit the scabbards - 2 or 3 weeks after that I normally have loose scabbards without doing anything - anyhow those scabbards will be a bit tight whenever I fix back the frogs on them!

I guess there must be some explaination behyind it. BTW - that's the main reason why I always requested Pakcik Bill to ship me Khuk with a real tight fit scabbard!

NEPAL HO!

 

[Ash]

Matt, Bill.

Thanks, I carried this out today, looks like it worked perfectly. The sheat is a near-perfect fit now.

Cheers

Ash