The 20 Minute KLVUK Modification Experiment

Steely_Gunz

Steely_Gunz

Got the Khukuri fevah
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The lovely mail lady just dropped off one of those wonderful USPS packages containing a couple of HI goodies:) In it was a 16" KLVUK and a surprise KLVUK KK that will be treasured and has already found a home in my pocket;)

Here's what I want to do:

We already know that the KLVUK is an incredible design. The sheer simplicity of the knife makes it not only affordable for first time buyers but makes it a khuk that people will actually USE since the finish on it is fairly rudimentary (in a good way:)).

What I plan to do is take 20 minutes of my time and see if I can not only augment the LOOK of the knife but also dress it up in the most basic of basic senses. I'm not going to use any power tools, no multiple coats of oil or stain. Just a couple of sheets of sand paper, a sanding sponge, all in one wood stain, and a little muriatic acid ;)

klvuk (640x480).jpg
Here's a stock pick of "before".

I'll post an "after" pic once my work is dry after lunch:)
 
Well I wouldn't call it an improvement:) All I am trying to do is show that not only can these be great "beater" khuks, but that they can also be fun projects. The idea is that if I, someone with very limited skill, can totally alter the look of the KLVUK in 20 minutes time (not counting dry times obviously:p), then someone with the talent and resources should be able to really gussy up one of these blades in short order:)

I'm really digging how it's turning out:)
 
klvuk after (640x480).jpg

OK, time is up. In 20 minutes time I was able to modify the KLVUK to how you see it here:)

The first thing I noticed about this particular knife is that it really had some cool pitting from the forging process under the black scale. I have several two-tone knives with the satin polish/in the scale, and I like the look. However, for the sake of experiment, I decided to hit it with a little muriatic acid and a sanding sponge. The result is a really cool medium gray etch with some left over black patches and lots of that unique pockmarked steel showing through. With several more secessions, I could probably get the blade 100% scale free...but I like it like this:)

For the handle, I just did a VERY quick and dirty sanding job. I used another sanding sponge and a little bit of 800 grit sandpaper to take down the rough spots. The handle now has a cat-tongue feel to it. I finished the job with an application of mahogany stain that I let set for 10 minutes before I buffed it and added a single coat of boiled linseed oil.

As you can see, I wouldn't call the overall look a huge change, but I was setting out to see what kind of do-it-yourself modifications could be done in a short period of time. I have no doubt that if some more skilled folks were to take a little more time with some better resources, that they couldn't turn the very functional KLVUK into a rustic work of art:)
 
Well done. I've never messed with muriatic acid, must be some potent stuff, the black scale seems pretty tough.

I'm a wood guy myself although I wish I'd signed up for and paid attention in metal shop, would be right handy sometimes.
 
Nice work! I thought the KLVUKs had more of the black scale than your 'before' picture showed. Hopefully mine should be here shortly.
 
wow,that turned out great,i have tried to snag one of those klvuk before,wasnt quick enough,still want one..maybe my lil redhead bosslady let me order one for my birthday comin up in a few weeks,fingers crossed..
 
Thanks fellas:)

It really was as lazy and hasty of a job as I could make it. Muriatic acid IS pretty noxious. I'm a contractor and we do a lot of concrete work. I have dabbled with muriatic for years, but be careful with it. That stuff will gag you in short order if you don't have good ventilation.

It was a fun little project:) Now I'm going to spend some time getting a good edge on it and seeing how it performs;)

I was really drawn to this knife once I cleaned 'er up. It reminds me a lot both in weight, build, and profile of my first khuk, a Kumar made Villager model. I still have that old warhorse in my Big Trunk o' Khuks, but it means too much to me to use it hard.

This KLVUK is gonna get thumped pretty hard, methinks:D I have a feeling that it's going to get the nod to dismantle the spruce Christmas tree in my living room once I get the needle shedded to the back yard;) These handy, not overly thick working blades take soft wood trees apart in short order. Should be fun:) Limb it with the KLVUK, split it up with that ASTK pictured with it;)
 
bargs said:
wow,that turned out great,i have tried to snag one of those klvuk before,wasnt quick enough,still want one..maybe my lil redhead bosslady let me order one for my birthday comin up in a few weeks,fingers crossed..
Click to expand...

Auntie said yesterday she might have another batch of KLVUKs arriving this week, "maybe". She said if you didn't get one in the last batch to let her know and she'd set one aside for you. Send her an email and put your name on one. Everybody should have at least one.
 
Just my luck this year the wife decided we should get a fake tree, wouldn't bode well for me to chop it up I don't think.

I've suggested it for 20 years, but every year a real tree. I'm gonna get some pine branches or something to lay around to get the pine tree smell, I like that. Son wise guy that he is says they have car freshners with that smell, hmmm....
 
That came out really nice man, im digging the acid treatment. Your making me want another, and with Auntie getting another shipment coming, my wallet is gonna burn up.
 
That looks really good. I was an ornamental blacksmith for quite a while, and muriatic isn't the worst acid to deal with but it's still nasty. Especially in the winter indoors. Well done!
Now I want one. Here we go again.
 
KLVUKs clean up real nice and they are a fantastic functional blade. Nice balance and a good combination of strength and weight.

I had Auntie order four for me to spruce up next year. I'm still debating what to do with them.
 
You can really polish them up. Granted this took more than 20 minutes but they really are solidly made and a great chance for you to get a quality HI khukuri. It's a solid foundation to build on.

Before:

01d31be802758728a5a7b74da70fec30a746873952_00001_zpsf7c330c7.jpg


After:

0177cf4fdc1d810c9bb0372a8e05eeec759d2da75e_zps7d05f151.jpg
 
awesome, I spent lots of time on my two kvluks , just polishing them and fixing the handles up , the really look great ! , will post my own pics later , still cant find my dern charger, may get sister to take pics with the ipood
 
Cool Steely! I like the raw look with hammer marks! Does the muriatic dissolve the scale readily leaving the metal intact? That scale is a bear to remove with abrasives. It seems harder than the metal itself. I have forged a few blades for the first time and have been grinding the stuff off and it is some super hard tuff stuff. If I can dissolve it off man that would be great! You got all that scale off in less than twenty minutes then I need to pick your brain!
 
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