Big blade problems

[copper_head]

Hi all, got myself a kukhri a few weeks back i believe it to be a genuine Ghurka made one. Unfortunately it was in a bit of a state when I bought it ive managed to clean up the blade, however i cant achieve a razor finish like with my small knives. The curve of the blade makes it difficult to sharpen with a benchstone and ceramic rods just dont cut it. Anyone any experience with these? Any help would be gladly appreciated. cheers!

 

[ArkAngel]

Wouls love to know this as well. I've had one for a few years and it's in a bit of a state

 

[Graham_S]

i sharpen mine with wet and dry on a mousepad.
i place the mousepad over my thigh for the inside curved edge. the outward curve i sharpen normally.

 

[beachlover]

Have a look at this old thread.

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/community/showthread.php?t=4989&highlight=sharpen+kukri

 

[copper_head]

Thanks guys, looks like kukhri's are a bit of a problem when it comes to sharpening. guess ill percivere with a chefs steel till i can afford a bench grinder. Still love the thing tho, managed to get some good use out of it camping last week even in its semi-sharp state. 'But if it aint sharp its just a lump of metal' as they say

 

[OldJimbo]

For one kuk, a large sanding pad and emery will suffice - it just takes lots of work and time. If you know someone who is into woodwork and has a small 1x30" belt grinder then things are speeded up - you just have to proceed carefully so as not to overheat the steel.
It'll be apparent that only part of the edge is fully hardened, with the tip and section closest to handle left softer. The softer parts will be more easily taken down with a file at first, but of course the file won't bite on the harder middle section.
So it might all take an hour each night over a couple of weeks, but the end result is worth the effort, and subsequent sharpening is fast - even after chopping lots of wood.

 

[kb31]

i've got a cold steel one i put some wet n dry round a bit of pipe fair dos it cut the paper but it worked but then again it was'it totaly gone . a half moon file n time is your best bet for the half moon/first half of blade a flat stone just won't do it ..karl

 

[copper_head]

cheers willing to give anything a go at the mo, blunt knives nark me something rotten...

 

[OldJimbo]

blunt knives nark me something rotten

Same here, but there's simply a lot of steel to be removed on a long blade to get a proper bevel, so it takes time. Once the edge does come together, though, I believe you'll be impressed.

 

[oetzi]

Go to www.toratoratora.co.uk and ask there, you will receive lots of help from friendly people, specialized in Kukris. (Which, ofcourse, doesnt mean you didnt get help here)

 

[copper_head]

Cheers for the link oetzi, looks like i got my kuk for half the price which they sell that model, but methinks I would have been better of getting a new one and half the work.... , still got a project to work on.

 

[Longstrider]

Copper Head, I'd treat your kuk like lightweight billhook and do it with a combination of files and wet'n'dry until it was ready to take a strop to.

As with my comments on the billhook sharpening thread... PLEASE DO NOT use a bench grinder ! Unless it's done with extreme care by someone who has had a good deal of practice on less important pieces of steel there is far far more chance of ruining the kuk for ever than there is of getting a properly ground, non-overheated edge.