Why are khukuri handles so cylindrical?

[Rich_S]

Compared to a handle you would find on say a large Bowie, a meat cleaver, or even a hatchet, all of which are much flatter (i.e., much wider than they are thick).

 

[cndrm]

Because corners and edges aren't too comfortable on the hands durring heavy use.

mike

 

[brokenhallelujah]

Hm.

I have several khuks from other manufacturers that have a more elliptical shape to the handle than HI's do. I actually find that a slightly oval shape works better for me than close to round, and have modified my Bura AK handle accordingly. Believe me, it sees a lot of chopping duty, probably more than all the others put together.

I think some of the other fellas have done similar modifications to handles?

 

[cndrm]

Yep, I've found that a more eliptical, or egg shaped handle is a bit more secure. But even the squareish handle styles are nicely rounded, and comfortable durring use.

mike

 

[kronckew]

my kobra, ww1, and my 19th c. kukhri all have quite oval handles, my m43 variant has a much fatter (more circular) grip. i like the old 19th c. one myself, it is widest right at the steel bolster, narrowing down to about half the thickness/diameter just before it swells out into the butt cap, full tang, scales riveted on with steel pins and the butplate held by the forked tang end being peened over on each fork, it's the bottom one. the 'ovalness' is about 2:1. it fits mu hand perfectly where the others are a bit big.

the kobra & the 19th c. one all say 'weapon' to me, the other two say 'utility' but we're mean if we need to be. (the kopis at the top says 'look at me, i'm pretty, but i'm waiting for the next barbarian invasion so don't you dare chop anything with me' - it's horn grip is almost round till you get to the lion pommel) the grips on current production from HI & the other high quality manufacturers is geared to the western hand and is larger than earlier models, round is easier to make than oval also. good thing about the modern ones is that you can sand down the sides & in general reshape or replace to fit your own needs without defacing an antique. tho one should remember you will be creating tommorrow's antique as these things will be around long after we are.

 

[Rich_S]

Because corners and edges aren't too comfortable on the hands durring heavy use.

mike

Who said anything about corners or edges? I'm talking about a flatter, more elliptical shape like you see on the handle of almost every other knife and tool designed for "heavy use" out there.

 

[Rich_S]

the grips on current production from HI & the other high quality manufacturers is geared to the western hand and is larger than earlier models,

Yes, and I appreciate that fact - I have fairly large hands myself and like the fact that the handles on the larger HI models are fairly LONG. But my issue isn't the length of the handle, it's the shape. There is a reason why the handles on most knives and hatchets are elliptical rather than cylindrical; it conforms to the hand better.

round is easier to make than oval also.

That's probably the real reason they are the way they are.

good thing about the modern ones is that you can sand down the sides & in general reshape or replace to fit your own needs without defacing an antique.

I'm trying to subtly and diplomatically suggest that maybe there's an area for improvement on handle design here. It's probably the only thing about my HI khuk that I don't like.

 

[kamagong]

I'm trying to subtly and diplomatically suggest that maybe there's an area for improvement on handle design here. It's probably the only thing about my HI khuk that I don't like.

Older HI khukuris did have a cylindrical cross section. Unfortunately the kamis seem to have gotten lazy about this part of their production.