Some advice wanted

prn

prn

Joined
Apr 26, 1999
Messages
481
Hi guys,

Long time no see. I haven't been around here much for a while -- for one thing it's too tempting. I'd end up spending everything I have buying Khukuris. :)

I'm in the process of preparing a khuk that I'm sending off to my nephew as a b-day present. It's a 15" AK with a horn handle by Kesar that I got a couple years back as an Uncle Bill Special because some fool had bought it and then discovered that he didn't have a clue about how to sharpen it. He evidently used one of those cheapo sharpeners with the little carbide V in it and it basically just dug a little groove parallel to the edge. He returned it, Bill gave him his money back and then sold it to me at a good discount. Good for me, less good for Bill.

Anyway, I restored the edge and all some time back, but I'm about to send it a couple of thousand miles so it's going to face some significant humidity changes. I'm checking in here to see if anybody has made any interesting discoveries in the care of horn handles in the past couple of years. I'm planning to rub in some hooflex and send him a little jar of it. Is there a better suggestion?

While I'm at it, I'm planning to send him a copy of the safety section of the FAQ and especially wrap the khuk in a copy of the pix of how and how not to draw it from the scabbard so that he'll see that right off. Wouldn't want him losing any fingers before he even sees the safety writeup. I'll certainly see that he has the URL of the FAQ. Any other suggestions for what I ought to include in the package? Or other traveling preparations for the khukuri?

Thanks,
Paul
 
I'd add goop and melt it in with a hairdrier and leave it for a few days. Wipe it off and add more, wrap the handle with a sandwich bag for shipping. Dunno if it works but that's what I'd do.

Make sure the chappe is wrapped so it doesn't poke through the box and wax or oil the blade.
 
I use multiple coats of Watco Natural Danish oil (4 treatments), after removing wax.
You might also try using a wiping poly varnish. Both should work to seal the horn. I know that the Watco works pretty well.
 
Soak it in Mineral Oil. Wipe clean, give a good rubdown with Lanolin a few times. Add Ballistol if you've got it.

Instruct the recipient to do the same periodically.
 
Throw it under the bed for a week and let the dust bunnies handle it.

Uncle Bill taught me that one. :D
 
I started using buffalo horn back in the 70's and learned this from a source long forgotten, I keep a tall, narrow jar with olive oil in it in the shop. Stand the khuk up so the handle is in the jar and hold the blade in the padded vise jaws so it don't fall over. Add big bolts to the jar until the oil covers the horn completely. Let sit for a few days. Drain excess oil and wipe dry with paper towels. Use cheap oil, and put the lid back on when your done to use again. Mine is about 10 years old now, and I add more as needed. Never had a horn handle crack and some are over 30 years old. ;) :D
 
Thanks, guys. Those all sound like good suggestions to me.:)

Paul
 
Prn advise for prn: if it's heading to a moist climate, it's going to the right place for horn.

come back and visit sometime- you don't have to buy- honest.






munk
 
Munk,

Thanks. It's going to my nephew in the Portland, OR area, which should be comparable to Indiana in the winter, but actually less humid (less muggy) in the Summer. The main reason I was thinking about it is just that any time the horn has to travel, there's bound to be some degree of humidity shock and I wanted to cushion that.

Yeah, I know I don't have to buy, but just dropping in and seeing the specials has already got me thinking about buying more. :D And what I'm trying to do is reduce my holdings. :D

Thanks,
Paul
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top