Splitting Firewood with the WWII

Maya_steel · Jan 9, 2015

What's up HI junkies,

So I finally put an edge on my 16.5" WWII that arrived this fall. I used a variation of the mousepad technique and considering the fact that this was my first time putting an edge on anything, I think she turned out just fine.

Of course I couldn't leave it at that - I decided to put the WWII to the test on some (slightly frozen) logs that needed to be split for our fireplace. Needless to say, the results speak for themselves:

So thanks again to Auntie Yangdu and the fine kamis at Himalayan Imports for delivering their usual beautiful and fully functional products. My WWII will no doubt help make this winter slightly more bearable

Moonw · Jan 9, 2015

Nice work. Do tell about the mousepad technique variation, slightly curious.

philllll · Jan 9, 2015

Very nice, Maya. Your WWII is a fine example!

davidf99 · Jan 9, 2015

Great photography, especially that last picture.

Bookie · Jan 9, 2015

Great pics of a great khuk . Thanks!

calc · Jan 9, 2015

Nice pictures, looks like fun.

How'd you feel about the absence of a finger guard? Were you nervous about slipping at any point?

Dirtbiker · Jan 9, 2015

calc said:
Nice pictures, looks like fun.

How'd you feel about the absence of a finger guard? Were you nervous about slipping at any point?

As long as youre not stabbing it really shouldnt be an issue. I used my kukris a lot and never had a problem.

calc · Jan 9, 2015

Dirtbiker said:
As long as youre not stabbing it really shouldnt be an issue. I used my kukris a lot and never had a problem.

I suppose the motion wouldn't be forcing it back towards you anyway. Thanks! I've been curious about kukris for a while, the only one I've been able to use was a Cold Steel, which was so-so.

Moonw · Jan 9, 2015

calc said:
I suppose the motion wouldn't be forcing it back towards you anyway. Thanks! I've been curious about kukris for a while, the only one I've been able to use was a Cold Steel, which was so-so.

I expressed the same concerns as you, especially since I was getting an M-43, which doesn't even have the classic ring.

I can tell you now, that slipping is a non-issue. It has all the "traction" you need. Handling it and stabbing a bit, I'm confident that this very act wouldn't even pose too great of a risk, if done correctly.

Will it work as well as with a bowie? Nope. But in a bad situation, I wouldn't think twice about using it on a soft target.

cul4u01 · Jan 9, 2015

calc said:
the only one I've been able to use was a Cold Steel, which was so-so.

HI khuks are an entirely different breed from a CS KLO. You need to get one to truly understand. Try a user HI KLVUK, or similar model, and then you'll really want a HI fully polished top of the line model.

Scara · Jan 9, 2015

calc said:
Nice pictures, looks like fun.

How'd you feel about the absence of a finger guard? Were you nervous about slipping at any point?

I believe it was JW Bensinger who pointed out that the shape of the kukri combined with the handle shape means that even in a stab there's no tendency for the hand to be pushed out towards the blade. Because of the blade shape the handle actually tends to move up and into the web of your hand rather than moving down your palm.

Maya_steel · Jan 9, 2015

I like the grip on the kukri and have never really felt in danger of my hand slipping forward.

In this particular instance I also was wearing gloves - partially because of the weather. Freezing up here in the north east.

Maya_steel · Jan 9, 2015

Moonw said:
Nice work. Do tell about the mousepad technique variation, slightly curious.

So I didn't have a mousepad lying around, but I did have some speaker foam from my dad's audio projects. It's this dense synthetic foam that serves the same function of the mousepad: conforming to the shape of the edge.

I cut a rectangle of the speaker foam and wrapped it in sandpaper (first 1000 grit, then 1500 grit). I used the sandpaper-wrapped foam block like a chakma, running it parallel along the blade from tip to base. The sandpaper backed by the foam worked really well to hug the edge of the blade and maintain the convex bevel.

J W Bensinger · Jan 9, 2015

Dirtbiker said:
As long as youre not stabbing it really shouldnt be an issue. I used my kukris a lot and never had a problem.

Even with thrusting, the angle of the blade/handle shape makes it rock upwards in your hand rather than drive straight back unless you're gripping it very loosely, or you're reaaaaaally unlucky.

Moonw · Jan 9, 2015

Maya_steel said:
So I didn't have a mousepad lying around, but I did have some speaker foam from my dad's audio projects. It's this dense synthetic foam that serves the same function of the mousepad: conforming to the shape of the edge.

I cut a rectangle of the speaker foam and wrapped it in sandpaper (first 1000 grit, then 1500 grit). I used the sandpaper-wrapped foam block like a chakma, running it parallel along the blade from tip to base. The sandpaper backed by the foam worked really well to hug the edge of the blade and maintain the convex bevel.

Thanks, always interested in learning variations on this theme, that would ease up the work / cut down time.

ndoghouse · Jan 9, 2015

Nice Bhakta WWII! Beautiful handle on that one!

calc · Jan 10, 2015

Moonw said:
I expressed the same concerns as you, especially since I was getting an M-43, which doesn't even have the classic ring.

I can tell you now, that slipping is a non-issue. It has all the "traction" you need. Handling it and stabbing a bit, I'm confident that this very act wouldn't even pose too great of a risk, if done correctly.

Will it work as well as with a bowie? Nope. But in a bad situation, I wouldn't think twice about using it on a soft target.

Hm, good to know. Thanks.

cul4u01 said:
HI khuks are an entirely different breed from a CS KLO.

Sure, I figured as much. At least I got to try out the blade shape, basic as it might've been.

Scara said:
I believe it was JW Bensinger who pointed out that the shape of the kukri combined with the handle shape means that even in a stab there's no tendency for the hand to be pushed out towards the blade. Because of the blade shape the handle actually tends to move up and into the web of your hand rather than moving down your palm.

Interesting to think about.

Maya_steel · Jan 11, 2015

Moonw said:
Thanks, always interested in learning variations on this theme, that would ease up the work / cut down time.

Yeah, in this case it was more about using what I had available. It would be interesting to go get a mousepad and try the "traditional" technique to see how my MacGyver version holds up

ndoghouse said:
Nice Bhakta WWII! Beautiful handle on that one!

Thanks! I put poor Auntie Yangdu through the ringer exchanging blades until we finally landed on this one. I definitely had a moment of "the kukri chooses the user" when I opened the triangle box. A beautiful, no frills knife with plenty of bite. Thanks Bhakta kami!

Bawanna · Jan 11, 2015

Putting Auntie through the ringer is not looked upon highly round these parts.

Might want to keep that under your bonnet in the future.

The kukri does indeed choose the keeper, I know this to be true. On occasion (very rarely) it can be 62 shades of gray, like the case of my Antler Handled Reti going to Texas. I'm not sure how that happened but it's all part of the plan.

ndoghouse · Jan 11, 2015

Bawanna said:
...
The kukri does indeed choose the keeper, I know this to be true. On occasion (very rarely) it can be 62 shades of gray, like the case of my Antler Handled Reti going to Texas. I'm not sure how that happened but it's all part of the plan.

That does happen once in a while. I do recall a 25" Chitlangi and a Curved Spine, and a... going to Washington. Guess it was meant to be tho