Leukus

[Springchicken]

My hand is hovering perilously close to the 'add to cart' button for a leuku.

I am aware of the range of uses to which the Sami people put them but am still wondering whether it is a useful cutting tool to have for bushcraft in the U.K.. Any help, guidance, opinions and/or experience on this would be very gratefully received!

Ultimately, should I click on the 'add to cart' button or should I save my pennies for something else?

 

[gra_farmer]

It depends on your skill level, if you can cleanly limb a tree with an axe, you would find a leuku or parang a dream to use.

I personally prefer a larger thin blade for scrub work, and a finely ground axe profile for tree work.

I would just go for it, otherwise you will never know

 

[MikeLA]

They were very popular amongst the bushcraft click about 15 years ago.

 

[alphaburner]

I bought an Erapuu 210 which I like and kept, but it came with a decent chip in the edge. Didn’t bother returning as I expected to give it some hard use. Although I do maybe think that a 240 would have been better

 

[SoldierPalmer]

I’ve got a couple I’ve mainly used them for de branching trees when I was carrying out water way maintenance. I keep a fairly chunky one in my fishing jacket.

 

[Nice65]

Highly practical knives. Out of interest, which one are you hovering over?

 

[Springchicken]

The Roselli Big leuku appeals at the moment. Are there others that are worth a look?

 

[TLM]

One thing to look for is the pommel, it has to have the proper shape or else there could be problems with the primary function of a large Leuku, whacking.

 

[gra_farmer]

I have gotten rid of my leuku's recently, to favour my Bark River Canadian Camp 2, and condor bushcraft parang (if I ever find it again, left it outside two years ago and still looking)

The Canadian Camp 2 is a real powerhouse of a chopper, the edge is a bit thicker than a leuku, but can split wood and limb / chop everything, only down side is that for any real use, you must wear gloves

 

[SoldierPalmer]

Another positive for a leuku is the grip as mentioned. I find i hold it with two fingers and a thumb right at the end of the handle so the blade swings back with more wrist action.

I should add that monstrosity in the image is a extra large one I made for my own needs and doesn’t follow the traditional handle shape.

I’m in the process of doing a kukri shape for a customer now I’m not sure if the shape lends its self to out preform a leuku. As this could be another option but I personally have never used one so I can’t comment.

Here’s the over all shape and this is currently a work In process.



Both blades have that forward weight to push through when snedding but the kukri seems to carry more weight at the front.

 

[Broch]

I have not found the Khukuri shape ideal for snedding to be honest. If you think about the action, pushing away from you along the branch, a blade curving up, as opposed to down, gives a better cut IMO - but maybe it's just personal preference.

 

[SoldierPalmer]

No that makes perfect sense to me. I do feel the billhook is one of best tools for our climate it’s just a bit bulky to be carrying around on the off chance you see that perfect hazel stick for example.

 

[Springchicken]

I think the Roselli appeals because, at 5mm thick, its blade is thicker than most. That and the slightly shorter length make it more appealing for my purposes.

I have tried - and own - a parang but I'm not sure about it. It works OK but I think I'd be happier with a straight blade. As for a kukri, I've never tried one; but then, I'm not a Ghurka...

 

[SoldierPalmer]

Personally I wouldn’t go for the Roselli dimensions. 7 inch is a short length for chopping. I’d be looking for 9 inches and over. As for diameter of the spine it depends if your planning on splitting or snedding but I get by perfectly fine with 3.5mm on my traditional leuku and the one above.

 

[TLM]

I find i hold it with two fingers and a thumb right at the end of the handle so the blade swings back with more wrist action.

That is the way it is traditionally held. So the pommel mostly have a kind of flange to make the grip.

Roselli large Leuku has a traditionalle shaped blade but the handle not quite so.

 

[Herman30]

Too bad V-leka don´t ship to the UK. Skrama 200 might be what you want.
How about this one: https://www.lamnia.com/en/p/11019/k...aja-leuku-knife-210-knife-curly-birch-stained

 

[Snufkin]

Too bad V-leka don´t ship to the UK. Skrama 200 might be what you want.
How about this one: https://www.lamnia.com/en/p/11019/k...aja-leuku-knife-210-knife-curly-birch-stained

They've just started too again!