Using the Kukuuri

K

Kevin the grey

Joined
Aug 26, 2005
Messages
4,106
I have read the safety thread and am starting to read the threads on sharpening . Among those threads is there one on the utilisation of the Kukhuuri ? I don,t mean the general safety guideline . I mean which part of the Kukuuri to strike with . The Kukuuri has several features which make it superior . These features also demand respect . Aside from a weight forward design there is the angled blade to consider . I think also that there is a difference in temper on different parts of the blade . I know this is old stuff for old timers . I enjoy learning all aspects of most things I approach without getting anal about it . I know that with caution I would learn some of these things myself .Can you guys clear up things I may have missed ?
Kevin
 
Sharp edge toward target & away from skin.






:D

[ you did know that was coming . . . . . . ]


Without specific question I got no advice,
Except,
get some wood
chop gentle till you find what feels & works right
The tool will teach you if you try

hold grip more loose than tight

try different things


Be Safe



~
~~~~~~~~~
<:eek:> THEY call me 'Dean' :)-fYI-fWiW-iIRC-JMO-M2C-YMMV-TiA-YW-GL-HH-HBd-IBSCUtWS-theWotBGUaDUaDUaD
<> Noobee <> Tips <> Baha'i Prayers Links --A--T--H--D
 
I find a stick of wood and cut it. I use different sections of the blade until it feels like you are hitting a baseball with the correct portion of the bat. It's unmistakable and every khuk will tell you where to strike.





munk
 
As we carefully guided our humvee down the cargo ramp of a C-17, I noticed the airman in the seat next to me looked pretty spooked. Realizing it was his first "trip to town", I said "relax son, there's only three rules you got to remember if you want to get home with your skin. Rule number one: pay attention, rule number two: pay attention, and rule number three: pay attention".

Simplistic, I'll grant you that, but I got a chuckle a couple years later when I overheard him talking to some newbies, "there's only three rules you got to remember......".

Getting the hang of a khukuri is much the same deal. Pay attention to what you're doing, be aware of the hazards involved, and you're far less likely to damage your khuk or injure yourself.

Sarge
 
Welcome to the Cantina/Psycho Ward Kevin.:D

What have you used for chopping up to now? The same general rules apply to either a hatchet, axe, or khukuri when it comes right down to it. The khukuri *is/may be* a bit more dangerous depending upon which model you may be using.:eek:
 
When you're preparing to swing, think about where the blade is going to go, including if it passes completely through the target. Make sure that no part of your body is anywhere in that path. Ensure that the leg on the side that the cut is coming from is forward and that the other is back. (i.e. if you're swinging right to left, right foot is forward and left foot is back.) Not only does this make hitting yourself in the leg considerably more difficult but it also makes for a more stable stance.

Not a lot of power is needed. It's quite possible to process a lot of wood with no more than an elbow swing. (Paging Dr. Hollowdweller, Dr. Hollowdweller, you have a phone call.) Get comfortable before you start loading up on your swings. If you need more than you can get from the shoulder, twist your hips slightly and bend the leading leg slightly on the swing; this will put some of your body weight behind the swing. You'll seldom if ever need this.

Read the safety thread again. Take it to heart.

Pay attention to who and what is around you. Catching a buddy with a backswing is not good and I'll tell you from firsthand experience that I really dislike getting hit in the face by someone else's woodchips or flying branches.

What Munk said. Feel what the khuk is telling you. It'll let you know very quickly whether you're doing it correctly or not. A chop should not jar your arm or torque your wrist. It should just thump to a stop. If you're exerting yourself for a while your muscles will burn, of course, but no other part of the process should be painful. If your hands are reasonably callused, the handle is the correct size for your hand, and you're holding it properly, you shouldn't get any hot spots or blisters. (Not everyone will agree with me on this but it's my personal belief...and it took me a hell of a lot of swinging and blistering to figure it out. :) )

Practice slowly and with little force on green softwood first, if at all possible. You want to make sure that the edge of the khuk is striking the target as close to edge-on as possible. If the edge is out of alignment on impact you won't cut as well, your arm will be jarred and torqued, the blade may skip off at odd angles (a potentially fatal situation) and edge damage can result.

Welcome and good luck.
 
er

yes.





and most folks end up sanding/grinding down the top of the butt plate to keep it from gouging the base of their palm. And maybe, taking the chappe off the sheath by heating it until the laha loosens.
 
Taking the chappe off I kinda understand . Whaha is laha ?

BTW , I think I understand the convex blade/edge sharpening system using a mouse pad . I suspect understanding and perfecting have quite a distance between the two .

Thanks for the good advice ,
Kevin
 
Laha is the Nepali term for "goo."

OK, maybe not. It is a mixture of pitch, ashes, gawdknowswhat that serves as an adhesive. It flows with heat, gets brittle as it cools. Heating with a blow dryer or heat gun, or over a gas stove for a brief time will losen it, and you can pull the chappe off with a PLIERS. (Do NOT ask why I emphasize "pliers.")
 
Kismet said:
Laha is the Nepali term for "goo."

OK, maybe not. It is a mixture of pitch, ashes, gawdknowswhat that serves as an adhesive. It flows with heat, gets brittle as it cools. Heating with a blow dryer or heat gun, or over a gas stove for a brief time will losen it, and you can pull the chappe off with a PLIERS. (Do NOT ask why I emphasize "pliers.")
Click to expand...

What, you have abnormally low levels of asbestos in your skin? :confused:
 
When you first start, go slow! The first time I used a khukri I almost really hurt myself on the first swing and then did chip the tip of the khuk with my second swing because it went through the limb so fast that I couldn't stop in time to avoid hitting the rocky ground.
 
Did bend many horizntal blinds though. :( You gotta watch this thing.

Cliff
 
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