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- Feb 23, 1999
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Yesterday my wife Janet and I went on a blackberry picking expedition. The quarry was the fruit of Rubus discolor, the Himalayan Blackberry. This is an invasive, non-native species of European origin, that grows extremely well here in the Pacific Northwest. On such expeditions a knife usually accompanies us, to cut canes blocking access to the fruit, to clear paths, and to release ourselves when entangled in the thorny canes. Cutting the canes can be a challenge, as they are quite flexible, and the older growth can be fibrous and woody. In the past I have used knives such as a Randall #1, a Blackjack Trailguide, and a large old carbon-steel butcher knife, each honed to razor sharpness.
This year I tried out the light Udhaipur khukuri.
Prior to taking it out I touched up the edge to shaving sharpness on some crock sticks. I found that with the addition of a wrist snap, I could get the blade moving at high speed. This is ideal for cutting a tough cane that can, if given a chance, bend and flex with the force of the attempted cut. The Udhaipur easily handled the thickest (approximately 1.25") and woodiest of the canes I tried it on. Using the Udhaipur was not fatiguing, due to its light weight. The crook in the blade tends to pull a flexible cane into the knife, so the cut can be completed. With a straight knife the cane will sometimes slide off the knife prior to the completion of the cut. The bent blade was also helpful when gently bending a high fruit laden cane down to our hands.
I was not wearing a belt, so carry was problematic at first. It rode out to the berry patch in our large enamel pot, but once we started picking it found a comfortable home in its sheath, the last few inches stuck in the thigh pocket of my shorts. Again, the light weight made this carry comfortable and secure, whereas it would not have been for a heavier blade.
Using the Udhaipur was a lot of fun. I even took some time off from berry picking to open up a trail to the river that was becoming choked with blackberry vines.
We have several gallons of blackberries now, so I won't be back to the patch anytime soon, but I think the Udhaipur will have another chance to accompany me berry picking next year.
This year I tried out the light Udhaipur khukuri.
Prior to taking it out I touched up the edge to shaving sharpness on some crock sticks. I found that with the addition of a wrist snap, I could get the blade moving at high speed. This is ideal for cutting a tough cane that can, if given a chance, bend and flex with the force of the attempted cut. The Udhaipur easily handled the thickest (approximately 1.25") and woodiest of the canes I tried it on. Using the Udhaipur was not fatiguing, due to its light weight. The crook in the blade tends to pull a flexible cane into the knife, so the cut can be completed. With a straight knife the cane will sometimes slide off the knife prior to the completion of the cut. The bent blade was also helpful when gently bending a high fruit laden cane down to our hands.
I was not wearing a belt, so carry was problematic at first. It rode out to the berry patch in our large enamel pot, but once we started picking it found a comfortable home in its sheath, the last few inches stuck in the thigh pocket of my shorts. Again, the light weight made this carry comfortable and secure, whereas it would not have been for a heavier blade.
Using the Udhaipur was a lot of fun. I even took some time off from berry picking to open up a trail to the river that was becoming choked with blackberry vines.
We have several gallons of blackberries now, so I won't be back to the patch anytime soon, but I think the Udhaipur will have another chance to accompany me berry picking next year.
