So I broke my Khukri.......

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Well not the blade but rather the horn handle. Was chopping some brush and the blade hit a rock. Next thing I know, when I looked at the Khukri, the white horn handle was broken (no possibility of fixing). So looks like it is going to the Sarki Shop to get fixed.

Question is....are horn handles this fragile? If so, should I get the wood handles? Need your expert advice.
 
I have not had one break like that but have a few that have gotten large cracks... I prefer the wood handels for those few that I use as a tool just because I treat them rough and they hold up well. They are also less expensive blems so if something were to happen I would not be so upset.
But horn handels just plain look good
 
Sure it was white horn?

Or was it white bone?
or white antler?


Full tang or hidden tang?


Habaki or regular bolster?
(for Yvsa...:D)


Things I need to know....:(


I actually like both horn and wood, but have owned more wood-handled khukuris.
 
Actually it was from a plain sheathed Kothimoda. I think it was white bone. Not sure. Bought it from Danny, hopefully he knows.

Sarki shop is not taking any more orders, anyone else I can send my Khukri to???
 
Originally it was Pendentives!
I had a fear that heavy use might damage the bone handle.
It is a really really nice khukuri though, and worth the cost of replacing the handle.
 
Oh man. I had a bone handled Chitlangi that just shattered. The Kamis tried using some bone a while back and there was nothing but trouble. Sorry you got one of them.

Steve
 
Have you thought about making your own handle?

You could get lots of help here to walk you through it.


munk
 
Bone is the worst. The only bone I really trust for a handle is the one you find plowing a field that's been around for 100 years.

Your khukuri is covered by the HI guarantee. If the Sarki shop rehandles it Terry will bill me for his effort.
 
The only bone-handled khuk I bought had it's handle break the first time I tried it. I love the look, but I'll never buy another.

If Terry starts doing handles again, I'll certainly send it to him.
 
Terry is not taking any orders right now. Can anyone else suggest someone/someplace to re-handle my khukri?

Thanks
 
Maybe the mighty Pendentive when he gets back to knifemaking after the summer.


I have one of thems bone handled things. I might try soaking it in olive oil like Brian in Chi suggested.
 
Art Swyhart did some khukuri repair work for me a couple of years ago and did a good job. You might contact him to see if he is willing to tackle the job.

The e-mail I had was swyhart@gorge.net , but it's a couple of years old.
 
I hate to say it, as they sure are pretty, but I think that everyone was right with the conclusions we came to last time this came up, that the bone handles really don't seem to hold up all that well to use. The exception would be, as Uncle Bill said, if they made one from bone that was around for years. And even then, often, if it's not left on surface to sun bleach, it wonm't give a nice white, but a darker color, least in bones I used to find around(friends, great uncles farm). Ivory of course would be different, but that's something else again.

Don't know. never really had the urge for a white handle, as I tend to not wash my hands well times I use khuks(generally camping, etc), so would be too worried about gettin git dirty.
 
a method for making a stacked leather handle to replace a khukuri handle. If one of mine breaks, I will do so. Saves having to drill a 4-6 inch hole thru another material.

Keith
 
Ferrous Wheel said:
a method for making a stacked leather handle to replace a khukuri handle. If one of mine breaks, I will do so. Saves having to drill a 4-6 inch hole thru another material.

Keith
Click to expand...
Keith, how would you compress the leather enough to keep it really tight?
The only way I can think of is to thread the end of the tang about 3/4" so the leather could be firmly compressed. Some of the tangs are probably big enough to get a 1/4" diameter thread on.
That would be better than a smaller thread such as a 10-32 but a 10-32 would probably work.
Then the question would be whether to use a threaded pommel or a counterbored pommel with a nut?
I think the latter would be best.
 
Anyone ever thread a tang and screw a handle on? Have the bolster end open, cupped; threads start further down in the narrow. jUst a crazy idea. I'd still seal the thing with epoxy.

If one had a lathe handles would be easier. If one didn't insist upon a historic handle, things would be easier.


munk
 
Hmm...I have a thread-making tool I might hafta think about using...


Leather compression my way:
I wet the leather, hammer it as flat and tight as I can. Theen I cut them out and rough shape them, then I used a hammer and a piece of thick pipe to compress them as i added them on to the knife tang (knife was in a vise). After that, I hammer fit a brass knob to the pommel (the brass compresses nicely around the tang). After it is assembled, I get the shape about where I want it, then apply melted beeswax with a brush. This opens the leather posres up to accept the wax, and tightens everything up after fitting. I toss the blade in the oven (lowest setting) and let the leather an wax heat, which causes the wax to soax in more, then repeat until the leather will take no more wax.

Keith
 
I was thinking about wetting the leather in order to get more compression but knowing that leather swells a lot when it's wet I wasn't sure of the outcome. This must work or you wouldn't have used it more than once. I don't know if I couldbe quick enough to do it that way. I would have to use the nut as slow as I am anymore.

On the same subject, sort of, my new Marble's with the stacked leather handles aren't as slick and shiny as the old knives used to be. I've been pouring the Sno-Seal to 'em and they look a bit better but still not up to the old hard super slick leather handles that used to be on them as well as the old Kabars and the like. I've been thinking about putting one of 'em on the buffer to see what happens. If I ruin it I suppose I could always substitute stag or bone or something else on it.;)
 
I like the idea of the lug nut on the end. I wonder what Bura would think of it? He put a watch gear on the end- or made one.

Bura's the kind of guy if he ever busted loose look out.



munk
 
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