kukri course

[dave budd]

I've been meaning to have a crack at making a kukri for ages, but never quite got around to it. So when I had a request to learn how to forge one I was able to move it from the 'to do one day' list to the 'to do' list :) Going my the name of Big Andy (dunno why he calls himself that? :lol: ), this gent spent two days with me earlier this summer.

So starting with a piece of EN42J (1/4" thick), a forge of burning coke and a hammer, we beat out the blades...

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i98/buddknives1/tutorial%20pics/bigandy5.jpg

Then the bent blades are checked for straightness...

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i98/buddknives1/tutorial%20pics/bigandy6.jpg

And on to heat treating. The blades are normalised and brought to hardening temperature with my HT furnace...

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i98/buddknives1/tutorial%20pics/bigandy4.jpg

Here they are cooling between cycles...

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i98/buddknives1/tutorial%20pics/bigandy3.jpg

Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of the second day, in which we fitted the handles. Also due to the relatively complex handle assemblies we weren't able to finish them completely and so Andy had to take it home to complete :( This is where we left them...

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i98/buddknives1/tutorial%20pics/bigandy1.jpg

Not too shabby so far, eh?

My blade (top) is 13", total length 18 1/2", Andy's is a little larger still! Handles are made from cherry, oak, copper and leather in my case and from oak, walnut, copper and I think cherry for Andy. The oak and cherry are from my woodland too.

And here is Andy posing with his new toy :pirate:

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i98/buddknives1/tutorial%20pics/bigandy2.jpg

and my one finished and ready to move on to a new home.

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i98/buddknives1/tutorial%20pics/kukriweb.jpg

[jus_young]

Dave, you sure know how to tease me. That is one nice looking tool :ashamed:

[Roadkillphil]

I want one! :D think we'll be 'avin a chat next weekend Dave ;)

[jus_young]

I want one! :D think we'll be 'avin a chat next weekend Dave ;)

I got there first! I would say that I will fight you for it but I know I wouldn't stand a chance :D

Really though, I think there will be some competition for this one. Unfortunately out of my league at the moment :(

[Roadkillphil]

I got there first! I would say that I will fight you for it but I know I wouldn't stand a chance :D

Really though, I think there will be some competition for this one. Unfortunately out of my league at the moment :(

haha!! :D 's ok I'd like to spend time beating it into shape under Daves supervision, rather than buy the finished piece.... although it does look quite ansum ;)

[CanadianMike]

That is so sweet!!! How did you get the stain pattern on the sheath, was it just sort of daubing it on in that burlish type pattern?

[dave budd]

thanks guys :) I'd always expected the blade to be a swine to get the proportions right in the forging (to an extent you need to get the preform to the right shape before forging the bevels, and the preform looks nothing like the finished blade!). This one turned out just right but it could be a fluke. Guess I'll have to make another to be sure ;)

Mike, the dying is done with a wool dauber.Most of my sheathes are done that way to create a range of interesting patterns and textures.

[Ben Casey]

Lovely I want one to :)

[CanadianMike]

Wool dauber as in the wool ball on a metal stick or a clump of wool in your hand? I'll have to try that, have both, I use the dauber to wipe on my dye, but never thought about trying to do nice patterns like that, just to try to get even coverage. Lol