How to Sharpen, Clean, and Protect Your Kukri Knife
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- čas přidán 5. 10. 2023
- In this video, I will show you my handmade kukri from Nepal, made by Kukri House. This is a beautiful and powerful knife that can be used for various purposes. But it also requires proper care and maintenance to keep it in good condition. I will teach you how to sharpen your kukri in the field, using simple tools and techniques. I will also show you how to prevent rust and make the knife easy to slide in and out of the sheath. And I will share some secrets on how to draw and return a kukri from its sheath safely and quickly. If you are interested in learning more about this amazing knife, watch this video and subscribe to my channel for more content like this.
This video is for educational and entertainment purposes only. I am not responsible for any damage or injury that may result from following the instructions in this video. Always use caution and common sense when handling sharp objects.
If you have any questions or comments about this video, feel free to leave them below. I would love to hear your feedback and suggestions on how to improve my videos. Thank you for watching and supporting my channel.
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the kukri is my go to woods tool for fire building and for shelter building.. what is yours??
Khukuri and Billhooks are my top two.
At the moment it's my profile pic, homemade seax but I'm struggling not to buy an exercise Kukri :-D
This one of my favorite subjects ! I've carried a Kukri for over fifty years lol. My mrk 2 is my most carried , I also have my uncles mrk 2. He carried that Kukri through the Burma campaign in ww2. That knife is still in amazing condition. The two kukris are almost the same. At times when I'm looking at my uncles issue Kukri, I get a sad fe eling, knowing the trauma and hardship that knife has been through
I just wanted to tell you, I got those RAT marine core boots and have been hiking 6-12 miles using the double socks (dress socks and thick socks) that you talked about and it’s crazy how my feet don’t get hot and it feels comfortable. I assumed it would have been a bad idea but I trusted you and it worked so I wanted to say thank you so much for that knowledge😊
Hi. I missed that one, I assume the dress socks go inside next to the skin?
MARINE CORPS, USMC
I the scouts we were taught to wear nylon dress socks and then wool socks over that on our hikes. Helped to avoid blisters. Also buying hiking boots a half size up.
@@glyngibbs9489 Correct, dress socks on skin, then thick socks.
@@baronvonzollo5297 exactly correct, that is what blackie said a long time ago and based my decision on it. It truly worked so I wanted to share.
Great video! I love my nepalese kukri, it's a unit! I dont care much for their thin leather, either, however, I am a leather crafter, for years and years now, so I've been planning on remaking mine. I'd rather have the dual mini-blade and striker mounted on the scabbard itself, on the front, the way a lot of military survival scabbards do. It would help keep it tighter to my leg, and I live in WA, so loose and flappy scabbards tend to snag on all the flora and fauna up here.
Loved the wax treatment you showed us, that's a really nice way to keep the internals of the scabbard weather-proof as well.
Keep up the great work, glad to see another Kukri fan!
Great information, I learned a few things there. I carry a small bottle of Vaseline that I either put on my knives, skin or use as a fire starter that way I just have to carry one thing.
Excellent video. I learned a lot. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
You have to love a kukri. I have two from Nepal that are made by a smith and one from India that i feel is just from flat stock. It is inferior to the smithed models but not to bad. The smithed ones absorb shock better. I carry one of those thin green scrubbers for dishes to keep my carbon steel and pans clean.
BLACKIE THOMAS: Bushcraft LEGEND!
I love these videos. The sound of blackies voice is soothing and so are the woods!
Hey Blackie! Just wanted to thank you for making your series on M65 field jackets a while back. I've been wearing them for a half-decade or so, but you sure taught me some new things! That said, you did something even better- taught my younger brother something! I collect & do displays on military history, so it's been a natural jump to wearing surplus jackets for me- but he's all about function, and had written off surplus field jackets as old & impractical. I managed to persuade him to watch your intro video to them, and you hooked him good! At this point, I think he's watched most if not all of your M65 videos, and I've heard him watching similar videos by other creators. I donated him a '71 dated M65 last week, to start his collection, and yesterday he picked up a newer one so he can alternate depending on what he plans to do with them. He seems to really like your trick about using them as pillows! Once again, I just wanted to thank you for all the amazing content you've made available here on youtube, we really need more guys like you.
Stay safe, and have a great one!
Good job on showing off your process on taking care of your blade..🇺🇸🇺🇸🪓🔪👍👍
Blackie, Great Information and Tip and Trick on the Kukuri , I own 4 Kukuri knives I have been watching your videos for years and I need a Kukuri like yours .The first one I bought was at a estate sale and paid $125.00 ,the gentleman had served in WWII and had brought it back from India it is a original, my second on I paid $40.00 it hand made got it at a Gun and Knife Show , my third one came from SMKW Cold Steel was on sale $ 35.00,my fourth on I paid $ 10.00 at Gun Show it's a hand made also I pick up a hand made Kephart style of knife for $10.00 from the same dealer so he cut me a deal. All the Kukuri are full tang except the very old one. I am a Blade Man ,I love knives. Thank You For All You Do and Sharing Your Time and Knowledge and Wisdom and Experience and Passing on the Craft. I can't put in words how much I Appreciate You and Your Channel. You helped me so much in my rehab after my Spinal Stroke due to Covid, to get back into the Outdoors and Woods Thank You Again. Tim L.
Hello Blackie,I use frog to coat an protect my knives after I clean them,keeps them from rushing,as long as you wipe them down before use for food prep your good to go,it's biodegradable and nontoxic,but is a lotion for the blade steel, especially for my high carbon steel like my jaakari puuko knives from Finland.
Hi Blackie, greeting from Australia 🇦🇺 thank you for your time to make these videos.
Blackie, that was an EXCELLENT demo! Also, really nice mods to your kukri and your sheath!
Outstanding! Thanks for doing another video on the Kukri, it’s much appreciated Blackie.
Your older video’s were excellent and helped me decide to get one. Definitely worth it.
Blackies words of wisdom, ( There is NO small injuries with a Kukuri)
@hiramhaji7813 - Well, as with all things, it depends. I managed to badly cut my thumb due to a friend losing attention whilst helping me with a task, but the thumb is still there and fully functional and the scar isn't even visible anymore; whereas the scar from an old kitchen butter knife (which I had sharpened) and which happened a decade or more earlier, is still visible - I did it when I was 5 and I am now 68. My comment to Blackie just below your comment mentions my cutting myself with a grazing cut by brushing against a blade and I didn't even notice it. On the other hand, they are heavy blades and they can be razor sharp for the entire length, so trying to catch one when it slips out of your hand is not a good idea. (Something I did as a youngster with a relatively dull tourist knock-off, still managed to cut myself.)
I think people are often misled by the term "knife" applied to Kukri. The weight and balance of the blade, as well as its main mode of use, mean it is much better to apply axe safety protocols. I might feel safe standing or sitting fairly near someone whittling with a penknife, I would want to be well out of range if someone is swinging an axe. While a good Kukri handle should provide a "lock" on your grip and is less likely to slip out of your hand than an axe handle, it isn't guaranteed and if the handle doesn't fit your hand it can be difficult to get a secure hold.
I loved the video, thank you.
I use gun blue on high carbon blades that want to rust. The Kukri is interesting. Thanks for the information
Hi there. I was doing some research on kukris and your video came up. I do a lot of minimalist camping/bushcraft. I recently had a kukri custom forged. And i explained to the smith exactly what criteria i wanted it to meet. But also gave him free reign over things like heat treat. Steel selection. Edge geometry. Because i know he actually lived off grid in the woods for multiple years before he became famous from a tv show. Its 80crv2 steel. Differential heat treat. He said hardness 60 on the edge. Its a scandinavian grind with an appleseed edge. But first time i took it out the edge got damaged 3 times. Once shaving bark off a dead stick i was shaving bark off to use as a walking stick. I fixed it with a diamond rod. Second time... i was literally just shaving some knots off 1 inch thick green birch saplings. And it got a dent in the edge. I left it. Third time it got damaged i was delimbing a christmas tree style pine tree. Only about 1/4 inch to half inch branches max. And it got multiple dents in the edge. Its about a 10 inch edge. Do you think 60 hrc is too soft a temper for 80crv2? I mean. It makes no sence to me. The guy didnt even believe me when i told him how it was damaged. He thinks i lied and was smacking rocks with it. But it never once touched the ground or was near any rocks. Only wood. Im wanting to test it again now that he fixed it....but im recovering from a hand injury and cant work a knife well. Any thoughts?
I've wanted a kukri for a while so this is great information thanks Blackie
Kukuri is king…..
Good video Blackie, thanks for sharing, God bless !
I've never used that kind of knife. Thanks for the info. I really like that little hard steel you carry in your sheath.
Ever since I saw a video on it 15+ years ago (maybe?), I've been sharpening all my khukuri (and some western blades) with a mousepad and sandpaper. The rounded Lansky stones work fine too, but I can only get a section at a time with them. Oh, yeah. I would NEVER dig or pry with one of my khuks. I have an E-tool, a flat bar, and a wrecking bar in the truck toolbox for that stuff.
I preferer the Tora Blades kukris myself, but those Himalian Imports kuks are no joke. i need to get another one :P
Another great video as usual
I remember you showing that a year or so ago, great pucking sharpener.
Here's what I had bookmarked if anyone wants to pick one up, STRAIGHT GRAIN SUPPLY Dual Grit Sharpening Puck & Utility Pouch.
Looks like you can get the 80/220 on 4m4zon and at places like REI, which is convenient.
All great tips and demos as always, I can never see this stuff enough, especially since I haven't had to do more than stropping for the last decade or so.
Sad to say, that means I haven't had as much fun in the wood as I'd like, haha.
Thanks for the upload.
Very cool!!!
if you don;t have a puck a small garden stone works pretty good too and is easy and cheap to get! and i've got a couple knives made of steel like that that i took and warmed up in a flame rubbed vegetable oil on them let it soak in as it went through the fire then cleaned off the excess after 3 passesof that it;s as good as waxing it down!
I use BreakFree CLP for rust prevention on all my knives.
I really like that Tool.
I knew a ghurka, he used a thing they have called Pure Rangoon Root Oil (Combretum indicum). That stuff is thick and stays on the blade, best lubricant there is.
Greetings Blackie- You have a good set-up going with your kukri. I dont have one and have never used one, but Ive seen in many of your videos, you using it and looks like it performs a few tasks. If I ever get one, Ill know to do's and dont's now. Thanks again and you be careful out there- Carry On-
Love the background sound!😂 Nice knife! ❤
Very interesting indeed
Good honest review
I have much more expensive blades but have been drawn to this PKS one as well
That being said, I always wonder if it will do any better than my modified Old Hickory similar that I’ve had forever ✌️
Hi, Blackie
A great film. As I have a similar daily working Kukri, with almost the same blade characteristics, I don't dispute your analysis of the purpose of the differential hardening. I would point out, however, that this is not necessarily true of all Kukri. Firstly, there are different blade shapes and sizes throughout Nepal, from very heavy blades to very light blades with almost no deep "belly". Secondly, blade shapes seem to have varied through time, so some of the biggest older blades have a very different shape to the kind of "typical" Kukri that you are holding.
In addition to my old battered working Kukri I have a few others. One has a very old design with a deep blade, but the spine is relatively thin. It is also razor sharp along its full length! I found this out when I found that my wife had, unintentionally, stored it edge upwards in the drawer under our bed. Although it was in its sheath, the wood had split and when I reached under the bed for something, I must have lightly grazed the edge with my knuckle. It was a little while later that I realised that there was blood on the bed and on the book I was reading. The blade was so sharp and the cut so clean that I didn't even feel it. This Kukri is clearly not military issue, the horn handle and the sheath suggest Nepalese manufacture. As it has a broken handle and is almost certainly well over 100 years old, I have never used it, but I would think that its size and balance would make it a phenomenal chopping tool even with such a fine edge. Interestingly, my old working Kukri also has a horn handle, so may have been intended for a personal weapon as well as a working tool. (Horn is supposed to be easier to grip when the handle gets "wet" in battle. I have no wish to test this!)
Finally, the traveller, Dervla Murphy, used the "needle-sharp" point of a very large Kukri to lance an infected boil on someone's face when she was walking in Nepal. She was a trained nurse and had a very steady hand.
Anyhow, thanks again for your work.
I learned how to hold a khukri sheath the hard way myself too
Ty Blackie, great info…
I didn't understand what he said either. Anyone know what wax it is?? Thanks for any information
KUKRI RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
India exports leather and leather products the world over so we definitely get good leather, be it cow, buffalo, or goat. Bad sheathes made to cut corners in Nepal are the norm for some makers however. Many other khukuri makers in Nepal do sell good or atleast better sheathes. Ironically our khukuri are extremely sharp at the tip, we don't dig with them (a digging stick is easily made) as it would be seen as disrespectful to the tool. Rounded/dull tips are only a norm on export khukuri. Edge hardening is mainly done because one doesn't need an oven to temper, you can use residual heat from the body after you quench only the edge to temper. The Kaudi does help differentiate the hardened portion from the unhardened. Traditionally the belly would also be used for fine tasks by sticking the khukuri into say a log and moving the wood to be say notched. That's why most wear on vintage and antique khukuri is on the belly. Btw the leaf spring from Mercedes Benz cars hasn't been true for over 30 years at this point. We simply don't have that many Mercedes in the subcontinent. Good makers use new steel from India, bad makers recycle whatever used springs they can buy locally.
Thank you for saying the Nepali don't dig with khukuri! I have a decent collection of khuks from respected makers and all of them have a very sharp point, as you said.
Coconut oil is my field oil. Great on blades, you can use it on leather, cook with it , great for skin and first aid too.
Thanks for reminding me that I needed to do some maintenance on my 1860 kukuri.👍
@danwidmer8276 - May I ask how you know how old your Kukuri is? Secondly, do you just display it or is it used for anything? If it is not used, what sort of maintenance does it require?
I have owned and used some which were military issue WWI and others which were village-made and probably used in WWII, but I would be very reluctant to do anything with a knife as old as yours. This is not just because it is an antique and probably extremely rare, but because the handles might not be in good condition or the glue holding the rat-tail tang in place might fail. It's a pity these comments don't allow you to post a photo. I have only ever seen Kukri of that sort of age in very old photographs and often in situations where the blade(s) are not the main or sole subject and may be out of focus or on the edge of the shot.
My is a Nepalese kukri issued to the Gurkha soldiers over a century ago.and was discovered in the royal palace of lagan silekhana in Katmandu it is a real military kukri.
@@danwidmer8276 It is interesting you say it was from a palace. Did you buy it in Nepal or is it one from the Royal Armoury that was sold to Windlass/Atlanta Cutlery a while back? If it came from the former Royal Armoury, it is almost certainly a fighting Kukri or at least, intended to be one, but as far as I know, there were no "military issue" Kukris until the British began standardising just before WWI. The Kukris used in mid 19th century and before by Gurkhas in either Nepal or the Indian Army would have been individually made and personally purchased. However, if your Kukri is only just over a century old, it is just possible that a British issued "Indian Army" blade made its way back to Nepal and into the palace.
I am not an expert, but the ones in the Royal Armoury (not a palace) had been in storage for a long time and were generally very old models, alongside very old firearms. This is why the post-monarchy government were willing to sell them off - although it caused huge protests when it was found out - the Armoury was really more of a museum. That doesn't mean that the Kukris in there were bad, far from it, but they reflect the older designs. It really is a pity you can't post a picture. Perhaps you could describe it? What kind of handle, blade dimensions, that sort of thing.
grate info but do you wet the puck befor you start to sharpen ??
That is great information and especially about how not to cut your fingers sheathing a kukri. I would also add a bit of personal experience with handing someone a knife of any type. I normally hand someone a knife(if not in a sheath) with my hand holding the knife blade and they can take hold of the blade handle. This is how you should do it but be aware and warn that person to whom you are handing the knife not to jerk it out of your hand. You hand the knife this way as a sign of non-agression and any person knowledgeable with the handling of a knife knows to not jerk a knife out of your hand.
@FishTheJim Handing someone a knife handle first used to be common knowledge, but sadly people don't seem to get taught knife etiquette anymore. A friend, sadly deceased, made himself a Sykes-Fairburn (British Commando) style knife and handed it to a young lady in the correct manner. She pulled at it before he could let go and the result was a bad scar. As this was a very slim double-edged blade, there was no real safe area where he could hold the metal whilst handing it to her. As UK law is pretty strict about knife use and carry, the likelihood of someone seeing an unusual knife and asking to look at it is reduced.
I only carry EDC legal knives, such as a SAK or a very small spider penknife, but I have taken my Kukri for fire preparation in camp. If someone wanted to look at that knife, I would probably hold it very carefully by the spine or, preferably, put it down on a table or flat surface. If possible, I would hand someone the knife in its sheath or scabbard and try to avoid any risk that way. With some older Kukri, esp. those with a history, there may be no scabbard or companion knives, so you have a bare blade to contend with. (I used to wrap mine in a heavy cloth and tie it up and place it in my rucksack until I needed it and stored it unwrapped but secured in a box at home.)
11:00 rock n lock like an AK
@blackoracle69 I like your mods and sharpening system/ technique. My kuke is exactly like that on steroids, a little under 30" I think. It's great for car, ATV, farm and field work. I like yours. It's a handy sized camp blade. I taught hand to hand combat, contact weapons & swordsmanship for decades and appreciate your focus on safety. The only minor hand surgery is the one that never happened.
How long is that blade Blackie? It looks like a great size for convenience for carrying in the woods. Thanks for the great information. 👍
@douglasreed9237 I don't know Blackie's blade stats, but a similar Kukri of mine was probably about 12-13" - blade length - measured in a straight line from bolster to tip.
For comparison, I have a Kukri which is identical to the current British Army issue and the blade is only 10.5" - smaller (and narrower) than the 12" blade issued in the 1970s. Models during WW2 varied in length and at least one WW1 model had a 15" blade. (The least comfortable Kukri I have ever used).
On the other hand, I have a modern Kukri from Tora Kukri which is supposedly accurately copied from a genuine historical original and which has a 17" blade. I am not very tall and this blade is too long to be worn comfortably on a belt with a frog, so it is hard to imagine a 19th/20th C. Gurkha wearing one. However, I have a somewhat lighter and somewhat slimmer knife which is a genuine antique blade and which is almost the same blade length, but shorter overall due to the smaller handle, so someone must have worn it. It should be pointed out, though, that wearing the Kukri on the right hip is a relatively modern innovation and the traditional mode for even very large blades was to wear them at the front of the body in a wide sash.
Would Balistol be a good lubricant for a khukri?
Hi Blackie. If you want to add text on a picture (like "kukri tips" here) you can use Gimp instead of Paint. It's free, simple and you can make text box, choose fonts, colors, make it bold, underline it etc.
To do it open the picture with Gimp, then clic "tool" tab, "text", create the box (hold left mouse clic then draw a square and release), type and edit text in the box and finally clic "file" tab then "export to" to save the modified picture.
I just realize that you can do text boxes with Paint too by clicking the big "A" icon 😅
Fixin wax? Never heard of that.
My Kukri replaced my tomahawk a long time ago.
Blackie I use petroleum jelly and it keeps rust off
I think you may be misinformed about 5160 steel, it will not ever be 70 Rockwell, even modern super steels are unlikely to be that high so and Rex 121 may get that high but not 5160, the maximum likely Rockwell is 57-58 C, the spine is likely to be lower but not around 25 either, that is way too soft, I would expect mid to high 40’s if correctly differential tempered, check with William Collins I am sure he will agree.
What is name of wax? Brand? I use Renaissance wax on some tools,is it similar?
There's plenty of buffalo in Nepal.. not sure what the leathers like though 😂
Wondering if you have any advice about sharpening with leather. I know it’s simple but maybe you know some tips or more efficient techniques. Not sure how the quality of leather, whether it’s synthetic or that cheap Walmart stuff and how that effects its sharpening capability.
Leather is just to knock off burs, not sharpen, it not a razor blade.
3 on the tree👍 for us silver wolves 😂
I have been using coconut oil. I cut meat often. One blog said lube with gun oil. 😂. Bet that tasted good 😅😅😅😅
Blackie, I let the commercials play on your videos so you get that extra little 3¢.
I know how hard this inflation is hitting everybody nowadays...
They used water Buffalo skin on my sheath
You NEVER sharpen a knife using a circular motion. A circular motion leaves a prominent wire edge which will break off with the first use.