Will Kwan's "Khukuri lovers nightmare." Pix & story.

Bill Martino

Bill Martino

Joined
Mar 5, 1999
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Here's a copy of the email Will sent.

I forgot to treat the handle on my 20" Siripati. As a result the handle
cracked. The humidity here varies a lot due to temperature changes the need
for heating. Anyways, here is what it looks like while the epoxy is setting.
The picture will give any khukuri lover a nightmare.

Will
 

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:eek:

This is unfortunate. How big is the crack?

I looked at a piece of horn from a used horn handle. It had the look and feel of an old tough fingernail. The texture of it and the grain was fairly tough and sort of rubbery. It was harder to peel apart than a piece of wood. What I want to try is to get a horn handled khuk, hooflex it and leave it in the car for a year and see what happens. Maybe on the next blem.
 
Bruise,

The crack runs about 1 cm from the bolster and 2 cm from the butt cap. At its widest it was about 3 mm. The clamps were able to squeeze the crack shut and push some of the injected epoxy out. The clamps have a piece of leather underneath them to avoid maring the handle. Should be O.K. soon.

Kind of makes the khukuri look like the Frankenstien khukuri.

Will
 
I took my AK outside to split some wood a week or two ago. It was pretty chilly (15 degrees or so) and two 2 inch cracks formed. Both were wide enough to catch a finger nail in, but after I poured a little handle oil on them and heated them up with a hair dryer (not sure if that was a good idea) the cracks pretty much disappeared. I think at first I bought the AK to look at. Now I just abuse it, it really is one of the best splitting tools I have ever used; it is easier to swing than an axe and it chops significantly better than even a good hatchet. I guess the handle cracks, the little chip in the handle, the scrathes, the dents in the spine, and the dings in the butt-cap really don't matter too much. I am much more impressed with the performance of the blade than I was initially impressed by the blade's looks. I guess khuks teach a little too, this might be rather abstract. After cleaning some of my khuks and their scabbards I really could smell that new khuk smell. And, for some reason, I really had the desire to buy some more, it has been a while since I bought a khuk. It got to the point where I was pretty frustrated that I didn't have sufficient funds to purchase another knife. At that point I realized I was being total a jerk. I don't know why it is so difficult to be happy with what you have, but I figured a few khuks and good health is a whole hell of a lot better than a lot of people have. But what do I know? I am a young and impatient guy, maybe that is supposed to fade with time... I guess I will find out eventually ;)
Matthew
 
Something from an old Roman Emporer:

Let not your mind run on what you lack as
much as what you have already.

Of the things you have, select the best;
and reflect how eagerly they
would have been sought if you did not have them.

~ Marcus Aurelius




--Mike L.
 
After cleaning some of my khuks and their scabbards I really could smell that new khuk smell.
Click to expand...
Long Rifle: AHA!!! You've confirmed a suspicion of mine! Uncle has a spray bottle of HIKV that he applies to every khuk he ships out...what an insidious way to get us coming back for more!
(Just jokin', Friend Bill!) ;)

Ken
 
Bruise,

Home Hardware brand extra strong, long set time (30 minutes?) epoxy. It is quite runny and penetrates the crack readily. Also, its bond strength to horn is more than sufficient. The horn will break before the epoxy or bond. The bond strength is the best I have encountered. It is not as strong for bridging but thats why the C clamps are there. Since you live in Canada you probably know the brand I am talking about.

Uncle Bill, I don't expect any more trouble from the handle but the fix is easy.

Will
 
Thanks for the epoxy tips.

Try to keep my being a Canadian a secret... I'm trying to pass myself off as a Saudi. :D
 
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