- Joined
- Feb 15, 2015
- Messages
- 1,369
Well I guess you could say I'm a fan of Hank's kukri. I always loved my blackjack RBK and when the bk21 finally made its way to the market it became one of my favorites.
Well I recently acquired the original blackjack Reinhardt combat kukri. It's a beast! I was expecting it to be like the blackjack RBK, but it's closer to the kabar bk21.
The combat kukri is slightly thicker the the kabar bk21 and is a full height convex grind. I don't have a scale, but I feel like the combat kukri is hardly any heavier than the bk21. I'm super curious as to how the combat kukri got drastically transformed into the blackjack RBK. They are completely different blades in the hand. The blackjack RBK is basically a thin, light, and nimble machete; while the combat kukri is thick and a major chopper! Neither are bad blades. I personally prefer the combat kukri to the blackjack RBK. I wonder if Ethan had any say with the design change.. or perhaps it was Mike Steward's call.
Combat Kukri
Blackjack RBK
Kabar bk21
Big change in the height of the grind from the blackjack RBK to the Bk21
Now to fix up this bk21.
First etching the logos and Hank's signature.
I know a lot of people here do the electro etch, but I'm not savvy enough for all that. I've been doing this gun blue and bleach etch for a while and it works great!
Using KO worksharp to put a nice convex edge on it.
Now to remove the coating. I'm super happy kabar has decided to go back to the smooth coating on the newer beckers. I used to just strip it off of every becker, but now with the smooth coating I leave it on some of them. Sometimes you just need to see the actual steel.
Now for a bit of 600 grit sanding.
Added the kabar micarta and SS hardware.
Ok now the most important part for me to change was the sheath. I really wanted something that would compliment the blade well. I have a few 710 kydex sheaths and I absolutely love them. However, this project just screamed leather. I will admit that kydex is probably the best option for any blade. Even though I have not done extensive testing on this subject, I believe Kydex is probably better then leather. Especially if your going to make it a hard-use blade and haul it around everywhere.
Anyway, I decided to base my sheath off of the blackjack RBK sheath: with a few modifications.
I really never liked the blackjack RBK sheath, it has absolutely no retention, so the blade just moves around everywhere.
I also didn't want any strap to go over the spine like on the kabar and the combat kukri sheath. I've almost cut that off soooo many times just putting the blade back in the sheath.
Also I didn't want to carry it on my belt. I think this blade is too big for that. The sheath kabar sent out with it makes belt carry difficult and uncomfortable.
(Side bar rant)
I could be wrong, but I believe the sheath was the reason the bk21 took so long to come out. Kabar and the Reinhardt estate had some disagreements. If I'm correct the estate wanted a leather sheath and kabar wanted polyester. I guess kabar won. The sheath it comes with looks like its not even meant for this type of kukri. It looks like it was meant for a kukri with more belly. Doesn't really matter, the bk21 is so awesome that the sheath isn't that bad.
Now back on topic.
Here is the sheath I ended up with.
I worked super hard on the liner inside the sheath. So as of now there is no need for a strap over the spine, the retention is perfect. I made it slightly smaller than it needed to be so the only way to get the blade in was to completely stretch out the leather. I soaked the whole thing in water and stretched it out for about an hour. The retention is very much like an open-back kydex sheath, has to be lifted up first then it can be drawn back and out.
Here is a photo of the sheath upside down. The blade is locked in.
and here is a photo of the blackjack RBK. The button strap is so lose the blade falls out.
Now I know that with time and use the sheath its going to stretch out even more and it will one day need a spine strap. I also know it looks pretty crappy, but that's just because I am a crappy craftsmen, haha. As long as it works I'm happy.
I did mess up the measurements a bit. The top of the spine hangs out a bit.
Here you can see what it looks like when you have it on.
Another thing I wanted to do was to have an alternative way to carry it incase I had a pack on or what not. So the larger D-ring by the handle is on a pivot and I had some scrap leather that was already dyed to make a dangler out of. So even though I think it's too big for belt carry it's still an option with the detachable shoulder strap and dangler loop.
Stamped in the finishing touch.
Last photo here. All of them tucked into their nice leather sheaths.
That's all folks. If you're still reading this: thanks for sticking it out the whole way.
I can't recommend this blade enough. It's something special when you find a big blade that can handle itself like a small blade when necessary.
Well I recently acquired the original blackjack Reinhardt combat kukri. It's a beast! I was expecting it to be like the blackjack RBK, but it's closer to the kabar bk21.
The combat kukri is slightly thicker the the kabar bk21 and is a full height convex grind. I don't have a scale, but I feel like the combat kukri is hardly any heavier than the bk21. I'm super curious as to how the combat kukri got drastically transformed into the blackjack RBK. They are completely different blades in the hand. The blackjack RBK is basically a thin, light, and nimble machete; while the combat kukri is thick and a major chopper! Neither are bad blades. I personally prefer the combat kukri to the blackjack RBK. I wonder if Ethan had any say with the design change.. or perhaps it was Mike Steward's call.
Combat Kukri
Blackjack RBK
Kabar bk21
Big change in the height of the grind from the blackjack RBK to the Bk21
Now to fix up this bk21.
First etching the logos and Hank's signature.
I know a lot of people here do the electro etch, but I'm not savvy enough for all that. I've been doing this gun blue and bleach etch for a while and it works great!
Using KO worksharp to put a nice convex edge on it.
Now to remove the coating. I'm super happy kabar has decided to go back to the smooth coating on the newer beckers. I used to just strip it off of every becker, but now with the smooth coating I leave it on some of them. Sometimes you just need to see the actual steel.
Now for a bit of 600 grit sanding.
Added the kabar micarta and SS hardware.
Ok now the most important part for me to change was the sheath. I really wanted something that would compliment the blade well. I have a few 710 kydex sheaths and I absolutely love them. However, this project just screamed leather. I will admit that kydex is probably the best option for any blade. Even though I have not done extensive testing on this subject, I believe Kydex is probably better then leather. Especially if your going to make it a hard-use blade and haul it around everywhere.
Anyway, I decided to base my sheath off of the blackjack RBK sheath: with a few modifications.
I really never liked the blackjack RBK sheath, it has absolutely no retention, so the blade just moves around everywhere.
I also didn't want any strap to go over the spine like on the kabar and the combat kukri sheath. I've almost cut that off soooo many times just putting the blade back in the sheath.
Also I didn't want to carry it on my belt. I think this blade is too big for that. The sheath kabar sent out with it makes belt carry difficult and uncomfortable.
(Side bar rant)
I could be wrong, but I believe the sheath was the reason the bk21 took so long to come out. Kabar and the Reinhardt estate had some disagreements. If I'm correct the estate wanted a leather sheath and kabar wanted polyester. I guess kabar won. The sheath it comes with looks like its not even meant for this type of kukri. It looks like it was meant for a kukri with more belly. Doesn't really matter, the bk21 is so awesome that the sheath isn't that bad.
Now back on topic.
Here is the sheath I ended up with.
I worked super hard on the liner inside the sheath. So as of now there is no need for a strap over the spine, the retention is perfect. I made it slightly smaller than it needed to be so the only way to get the blade in was to completely stretch out the leather. I soaked the whole thing in water and stretched it out for about an hour. The retention is very much like an open-back kydex sheath, has to be lifted up first then it can be drawn back and out.
Here is a photo of the sheath upside down. The blade is locked in.
and here is a photo of the blackjack RBK. The button strap is so lose the blade falls out.
Now I know that with time and use the sheath its going to stretch out even more and it will one day need a spine strap. I also know it looks pretty crappy, but that's just because I am a crappy craftsmen, haha. As long as it works I'm happy.
I did mess up the measurements a bit. The top of the spine hangs out a bit.
Here you can see what it looks like when you have it on.
Another thing I wanted to do was to have an alternative way to carry it incase I had a pack on or what not. So the larger D-ring by the handle is on a pivot and I had some scrap leather that was already dyed to make a dangler out of. So even though I think it's too big for belt carry it's still an option with the detachable shoulder strap and dangler loop.
Stamped in the finishing touch.
Last photo here. All of them tucked into their nice leather sheaths.
That's all folks. If you're still reading this: thanks for sticking it out the whole way.
I can't recommend this blade enough. It's something special when you find a big blade that can handle itself like a small blade when necessary.
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