This may be heresy to "master sharpeners"

J

Jack M

Joined
Feb 2, 2000
Messages
240
but for Khukri novices such as myself, this has worked for me. I have sharpened knives with Arkansas stones since I was a kid, I occasionally use a ceramic, and I have diamond stones for those stainless blades that I hate, but seem to be everywhere. I cannot get a good edge on a Khuk with a flat stone, the curves confound me at every attempt. I keep my knives razor edged, but have never had a need to learn to use a strop.
My answer for Khuks has been the stick shaped sharpening steels. I picked up a set of 6 at a yard sale a couple years ago (3 small in coarse, med, fine, 3 large in coarse, med, and fine), and a big ceramic stick to finish with, that I bought at a gun show about 10 years ago.
A student of mine wants to buy a set like mine, but I have no idea where to find one. So, please pardon any heretical elements of this sharpening method, and where can someone find these steels?
 
Well, you can go to discountknives.com and the front page includes quite a few different types of sharpeners. I use several Spyderco products including the 204. You can see prices at http://www.tiac.net/users/knives/Spyderco.htm You can see what these things look like at http://www.spyderco.com/displaycategory.cfm?Categoryid=1

For other good information, go see James at: http://www.chaicutlery-storefront.com/cgi-bin/ePages.storefront/2130370759/Catalog/1045&2D2166

Lots of good stuff out there!

Gregg
 
You can probably find them locally at restruant or butcher supply stores. They might not come as a set. Some other internet sites as knifecenter.

Will
 
:
Jack that's why I use the small Duofold DMT
units that Cliff Stamp recommended to me/us.
They're small enough to take care of the recurve well. Then a 1"-1&1/4" strop with tripoli and one with jewelers rouge will finish them up nicely with the edge trailing.

The reason I am saying this is because at some point in time the bevel behind the edge will need to be taken down a fair amount and I don't think the ones you are talking about are able to do that effectively. Please correct me if I am wrong as I have limited experience with them. I have a fairly coarse set and a very fine set. I love them for the more common edges like the flat ground and hollow ground blades.
The black DMT hones cut rather aggresively and would be nice for the metal removal in restoreing the proper thickness behind an edge.


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>>>>---¥vsa---->®

"There's no trick in being a humorist when you have the whole government working for you."

...............Will Rogers......

Khukuri FAQ
 
so, where do you get these duofold DMTs ?

i too have tried stones, but with no success, so i am looking for some better way

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Tatsuo
*************
"He who laughs at himself laughs best" :D
 
Uncle Bill, what do you use at the cantina?

I use a chef's steel on my shorter khukuris and it works great but I have a 30" and a 26" and it hasn't worked quite as well.

What do you guys use for these longer khukuris?

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http://www.fullcontacthi.com
"Fools rush in where angels fear to tread"
 
I have an old stone that is so worn everybody laughed when I showed it during convention.

I think I paid $1.95 for it 20 years ago. It gets the blade as sharp as I usually care about but if I want it sharper I have a little $1.95 crox stick keychain sharpener that will take it up to shaving sharp if you don't mind a blade that pulls your whiskers a little.

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Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ
Himalayan Imports Archives (18,000+ posts)
 
Jack M, the forumites are too fair guys to hide easy ways to sharpen your khukuris!

For there must be heresy detective division, and assasins must be on the go.
Take ca


...thwwwwaaaaaaaaaaaack!

ghuwaaaa......

NO CARRIER

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Did you enjoy today?
\(^o^)/ Mizutani Satoshi \(^o^)/
 
Jack :

I cannot get a good edge on a Khuk with a flat stone
Click to expand...

It is more difficult because of the lack of an actual edge bevel and of course the curves and the fact that the bevel which does define the edge is convex. It is possibly the hardest thing to try to sharpen for those used to v-ground knives with edge bevels.

However they are easy to sharpen on sandpaper on soft backing if you want to keep the full convex profile. You can also use a flat hone, it needs to be fairly narrow as Yvsa noted as otherwise you will be hitting parts of the curve at different angles.

It is not impossible to use a small flat hone and keep the full convex bevel. You just work the hone over the bevel and get used to the feel. You will scratch the hell out of the bevel - but if that really matters to you, then you probably are not going to risk using the blade in the first place.

I used to just put secondary edge bevels on them and most other blades until I was shown that keeping the full convex bevel is really not that difficult after you get used to it. It just takes a little time. I would recommend trying it out.

The advantage that this has of course is that it keeps the original profile so you don't lose any cutting ability or durability - as well you can use anything to do it with, even a decent flat rock (which you can make off of another if one does not present itself) can be used in a pinch.

-Cliff
 
:
You can get the DMT Duofolds several places on the net. Look around for the best deal.
I bought mine at local Gun & Knife Shows and paid a bit more for the convienience.
They come in several different configureations, but all anyone needs is a Black and Blue and a Red and Green as that covers the full range of grits.
They have to be broken in as when you first get them they cut very aggressively. The trick in useing them is learning how to use a lighter hand than with conventional hones.
Too much pressure on them can cause the diamonds to wipe off the matrix in which they are embedded. They should last for years.
And after they're broken in you might think they aren't cutting as well and a bit more pressure can be used. That's been my experience anyway.

The only other thing a person needs is a couple of strops. Load one with Tripoli and the other with jewelers rouge. If you want a Super Polished edge then get some Chromium Oxide. It's a green powder or paste or stick that's Super fine! Keep the width of the strops to 1"- 1 1/4" wide. I like the 1" ones best.

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>>>>---¥vsa---->®

"There's no trick in being a humorist when you have the whole government working for you."

...............Will Rogers......

Khukuri FAQ
 
Thanks for the info! I'll have him try the Duofolds, and I'll try, again, to get the hang of the sandpaper on styrofoam method.
 
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