Traditional Khukuri Survival Sheath challange.

00Turok

00Turok

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Apr 29, 2015
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With all these survival sheaths I've seen people make on YouTube, I was wondering if anyone here ever modified or made a Traditional style khukuri sheath, sporting firesteel, a tinder pouch, & such.

It would be interesting to see some pics from anyone who has something like this... or for the Leather Workers on this forum to make one & post up some pics. Maybe even make this a competition between the Leather Men.
 
"Maybe even make this a competition between the Leather Men."

It would be like one of those motorcycle "build-off" contests that are on tv now and then. But remember, the producers of those shows make it worth their while for the competitors, and not just for the winner.
 
I just threw the idea out there to see what people thought about it. If the Leather Men here did brainstorm on some prototypes, & the forumites here dig them, we turn into customers ordering custom sheaths.
 
IIRC I remember reading about historical khukuri sheaths that actually came as how you described, some sporting over a dozen different side-tools. Wish I had the link but I think it's been posted here before.
 
A pouch for tinder and flint was sometimes included on the traditional (historical) khukuri sheaths. Other tools were occasionally attached, too:

Karda said:
Its called an extended tool kit because khukuri normally only come with a karda and chakmak.
These are also sometimes called "Doctors" kits because these little tools could be very handy in extreme circumstances requiring minor surgeries while stranded in the wilds of the Himalayas sometimes many hours or days from any medical care.

1) Tinder Pouch
2) Flint
3) Tinder
4) Awl (sometimes may have at least one side made like a small file)
5) Saw
6) Hook (sometimes a u shaped hook, sometimes a button hook)
7) Tweezers
8) Karda
9) Chakmak

t0m7.jpg
Click to expand...
 
00Turok said:
I just threw the idea out there to see what people thought about it. If the Leather Men here did brainstorm on some prototypes, & the forumites here dig them, we turn into customers ordering custom sheaths.
Click to expand...

Yes, it could be interesting to see some prototype designs, sketches to begin with, and possibly orders to follow.

For fighter-type khukuris, a quick-draw design might be nice. The most common aftermarket design involves one or two straps, and the blade is released from the top (spine) edge of the sheath. Maybe someone can come up with a faster release mechanism that still works with the bent-blade of a khukuri.

For the fancy, engraved khukuris, a design that leaves most of the blade visible. I've seen something like that in a wood sheath where the blade is held in place by wood strips or leather lacing.

This could be open to potential buyers as well as leatherworkers. Draw what you might like and see if anyone offers to make it.
 
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Steve Tall said:
A pouch for tinder and flint was sometimes included on the traditional (historical) khukuri sheaths. Other tools were occasionally attached, too:
Click to expand...

OOOOOOOOOOOOOO :emmersed: Does HI offer these tools to order on the side? I really like how the Chakmak & Karda are shaped like mini khukuri.
 
My favorite sheaths that I've seen here were leather ones that were worn like a bandolier. Just looked so awesome. Traditionally, the sheathed kukris were tucked into sashes, right?
 
The chackma has historically been used with flint as a fire starter. It is the old equivalent of a fire steel. I'm sure they would have included ferrocerium if it had been available.
 
Howard Wallace said:
The chackma has historically been used with flint as a fire starter. It is the old equivalent of a fire steel. I'm sure they would have included ferrocerium if it had been available.
Click to expand...

I have an EXOTAC nanostricker XL waiting to get tucked into the sheath, when my M-43 arrives. It looks like there's some in between spaces in the sheath, around the chakmak & karda, to fit the stricker in.
 

It wouldn't be too hard to make a new frog with the tinder pouch for flint & steel built into the back. The old ones I've had with the pouch on the scabbard have not fared well.
A note-i haven't had a lot of luck getting good sparks from soft modern chakmak-and don't use the khuk-burnishing edge to strike flint, or you will be inconvenienced lol.
For a traditional style fighting scabbard it helps to have it fit well enough to slide out-i can get them out pretty quick by pushing the spine against the sheath back for the whole draw-but I tend to stuff the frogless scabbard through a belt or sash. It took some figuring as to find a martially useful action for the way it comes out-sort of a swatting parry with the flat of the blade. Works nicely with poly trainers, not planning on finding out if it works live...
 
Several years ago, I bought the Atlanta Cutlery "real" issue khukuri.
I experimented with it as a cheapie.
One of the things I did was jettison the two small (and useless) tools, and the sheath.
Had a local guy build a new leather sheath for it, in traditional top-loading style.

Wanted more utility, so had him incorporate a small snap-flapped pouch on the front for a multi-tool & another for a small sharpening stone.
Thought that should cover a lot of ground.

End result, besides being just too big for belt carry, was a lotta weight.

Later on, had a nice custom sheath built for one of the 15-inch HI AKs.
Back-loader, with restraining snap-strap at the rear of the blade, where a draw wouldn't cut it off.
Excellent design.

Having learned my lesson, no pouches on it, just the basic amount of leather needed to get the job done.
MUCH lighter. Much more practical than a top-loader & infinitely more so than the traditional sheath that comes with the Khukuris. For me, anyhow.

I would not want a multi-piece survival "pouch" or kit as a part of the sheath. Neat idea, but too heavy & bulky for long carry or regular carry.

Considering carrying a khukuri regularly on the three-seater ATV.
Even that well-designed belt sheath I had made drops the blade too low for sitting in the bucket seats for several hours.
If I do decide to carry the khukuri on-body, it'll have to be with a baldric arrangement, over the shoulder.

That keeps it high, doesn't drag my pants down, and makes it an easy-on & easy-off deal.
If you want a kit of some sort as part of your sheath, the baldric also carries the weight much better.

I just carry one matchcase, one gas lighter, and one ferro rod in pockets, so I have fire covered if I get separated from the Yamaha's breakdown bag that has other gear in it, including a sharpener.
Smaller belt knife for regular tasks.
Denis
 
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