Yet Another New Guy Question

C

Corruptor

Joined
Jun 24, 2010
Messages
15
Hey guys,
Long time lurker, first time poster. So, I really would like to purchase a HI blade, and I have a question about the Khukuri handle... I have only used large blades with finger guards and/or fingered grips. Looking at the Khukuri blade I am worried about my hand slipping forward and getting cut.

Is this an unfounded fear or is there a particular technique for using the Khukuri grip that a guy should know? I'm very interested in the WWII but might veer toward the AK Bowie if hang slippage is a real possibility.

Anyway, thanks for any potential responses and I'm sorry if I should have posted this in the Cantina!
 
Not at all - you're asking about HI products, so there's no reason for this to go into the cantina.

To answer your question: The kukri is (predominantly) a chopping tool, and hence, the momentum will generally be wanting to pull the knife out of your hand as you swing it, not push it towards your hand - that's why the butt of the handle widens out: to keep your hand in place as you chop.

The only time that the knife would want to slip backwards like you fear (i.e. the blade being pushed towards your hand) is if you were stabbing into something. I've never found myself having to use my kukris in this fashion as stabbing is really only needed for a martial context, but the kukri is a weapon as well as tool, so they are designed to handle the task. That's what the ring on the handles are for - it goes in between your fingers and prevents your hand from wanting to slide forward when performing a forward trust at an object.

Hope that helps to ease your fears. Again, unless you intend to go around stabbing things, slipping forward really isn't going to be an issue :)
 
Ha ha, well I certainly don't intend to run around on a stabbing rampage. Thank you for the awesome response, that definitely goes a long way toward assuaging my concerns!
 
Yep - the lack of a hand guard really isn't an issue with a kukri. In fact, I enjoy it as it allows me a larger variety of grips such as chocking up on the cho to allow for more precise work. The things you want to be careful about aren't really kukri specific but apply to just about any large chopper or ax: things like making sure your limbs aren't in the way of swings -and that includes limbs being on the other side of your target (you'd be surprised what a well sharpened khuk will slice through in one swing). Also, don't come in at too steep an angle while chopping as to avoid glancing blows. Oh! And be sure to stop when you start getting tired - bigger kukris (like my 18", 2.3lb Vojpure with a 17/32" spine) can tire you out pretty fast and you do not want to get sloppy with that much sharpened steel!

I know all those safety tips might make it sound like I've had a bad experience, but really the only time I've ever cut myself with a kukri was when I testing the edge on my 18" m43 after sharpening it up - it was hardly a nick though.

My tests go something like this, so you can see how one could end up nicking themselves :p:
P1020334.jpg
 
killa_concept said:
Also, don't come in at too steep an angle while chopping as to avoid glancing blows. Oh!
Click to expand...

THIS! The main shortcoming of the Khuk handle is that it can easily twist in the hand. If you strike something with a slightly glancing blow it's very likely that the Khuk will twist in your grip and really take off sideways. Keep all your appendages about twice as far as you think you need to until you really "get a handle on it". :p
 
Even if you were fighting with it, kuks are made to chop, so it's not a big deal. Welcome!

John
 
Khukuris make great stabbers too. I'll give you a little tip from a form of pencak silat from Malaysia. Extend your thumb along the top edge/ spine as you stab and a knife cannot and will not slip backwards.
 
I don't see the hand slipping onto the blade being a problem unless you have a very weak grip when stabbing.

I've stabbed my CAK through a 1/2" piece of plywood without my hand slipping.
 
Wow, thanks for all the responses guys. I'm definitely glad to hear that it's not a problem! That's an awesome pic Killa, and I'm surprised that you can use a m43 so delicately without lobbing a wrist off.
Jay: Thanks for the advice, when I get a Khuk I'll definitely try that out.
And Cpl, it's good to know that stabbing through plywood wouldn't be a problem at all.

Thanks again for the warm welcome guys!
 
Haha yeah - the slight nick was actually when my wrist jerked slightly while testing the edge (the khuk is quite a bit of weight to hold steadily). Luckily, all the testing is done on my legs so I don't have to worry about lobbing off my wrists - after a while, the patchiness makes me end up looking like I have mange though :p

And yes - khuk handles are a great design. It might seem a little off to us westerners at first, but we have to understand that khuks have been around for ages and has been refined throughout it's long history into what it is now :thumbup:
 
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