Wheeler-ized Khukuri

[NickWheeler]

Hi Folks-



This is the end result of a project proposed to me by friend, customer, and forumite David. The original design came to me directly from David, I loved it, there was some hammering, grinding, cussing, sanding.... lots of cussing. :foot: So, it wasn't exactly smooth sailing from concept to finished product, but I learned a lot and am glad I took the project on. Hopefully David is too!


So here it is- the UK Chopper. The blade is 52100, the hardware is 416 ss, and the handle is an exceptional piece of stabilized Koa from my friend Mark Farley at Burlsource.

 

[NickWheeler]

Here are some videos about the knife...

[video=youtube;Nw5Np2IjTFM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nw5Np2IjTFM[/video]

[video=youtube;qdTKfzq2ZfA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdTKfzq2ZfA[/video]

Here's the knife proving its worth...

[video=youtube;TgnBMRMoqiU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgnBMRMoqiU[/video]

 

[NickWheeler]

Okay, so you can only embed 3 videos per reply... here are the other two cutting videos.


[video=youtube;Y9Dq0EaoyRo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9Dq0EaoyRo[/video]


If you just want to see if this knife can chop, this is probably the video to watch. The UKC up against a 10" diameter Alder tree.

[video=youtube;3MOFI4_KWLg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MOFI4_KWLg[/video]

 

[Dan Keffeler]

Nick
This is piece you should be proud of. I like everything about it.
Dan

 

[JParanee]

Rock and roll Mr Wheeler

I have Khukuri fever. Lets do Ten of them

 

[Doug C]

Great work, Nick, and nice workout.
Thanks for posting the vids...:thumbup:
Congrats, David !

Doug

 

[mwschilling]

Sweet knife and action videos. If one didn't know better they might think you just hate alder trees.

 

[No. 6]

rock and roll mr wheeler

i have khukuri fever. Lets do ten of them

:eagerness:

 

[Meier66]

This is one of the coolest Khukuris I've seen. You did a great job on the handle and I love the peened tang, overall a very nice design. Thanks for posting the videos .

 

[Shaw Blades]

Nice knife. Glad it came together for you.

Never seen such skilled chopping by a lefty.

 

[billf]

Killer Nick, even if you had to use that boring wood for a handle

After seeing that chopping demo, you appreciate why the Ghurkas were so feared

Bill Flynn

 

[Lorien]

me likey!

 

[Binalith]

couple things
1. that is a gorgeous knife, so many practical elements blended into a very artistic piece.love the ricasso/choil area and the pommel. nice job guys.
2. I suffer from a hereditary firewoodsman's condition that has no name yet but is characterized by fits of anger and depression at seeing grown men totally sucking at chopping wood on a million youtube videos. your alder doom video did not cause a reaction. way to throw chips! hell yeah.

 

[pootsythesamurai]

I enjoyed watching the WIP of this on Facebook unfold. It's a great knife. I like the texture left on the peen too.

This may be bit stupid question but is it hard to polish of the testing scratches before you send it out after doing a bit of chopping or it handy enough Nick?

PS glad it's coming over to my part of the woods. We in the UK like giving good homes to American knives

 

[jball1125]

Awesome work Nick!

 

[black mamba]

Hack, hack, smile, smile. Nice.

 

[Dawkind]

What Joe said buddy!

A super job as always.....

 

[knnut]

I would certainly be in for one!

 

[NickWheeler]

Thanks guys!


Now before anybody gets any wild ideas , I want to point out that Joe was just mess'n with me... because I told him I wouldn't be making another one of these in a good, long while. :foot:

Binalith- funny you mentioned that, because usually I watch my videos and think, "I could/should have gotten through that in less swings..." But on the other hand, I know what you mean. There are a BUNCH of chopping videos on youtube where it looks like they're trying to whittle the wood in half.

pootsy- thanks man I actually didn't scratch the blade at all when I was doing the testing, but I did have to touch up the finish, because I also cut down some Cottonwoods. They tend to leave a lot of black crud on the tools that doesn't come off easy. It's not TOO big of a deal to sand a blade on a finished knife. It's not as easy as when it's just a bare blade, but it's not anything awful either.

I actually cut down and chopped up several other trees, but they were basically just more of what I already posted.


Thanks guys!

 

[JParanee]

I was just playing

Better than my usual hit it with your purse comment

As usual a fantastic piece from one of the best

Way to go Nick