My new Kukri

[prasanjit.baul]

My friend had been to Sikkim for a trip and as able to buy a Kukri from Kalimpong local market. This is the best she found in the market which is made of Leaf spring and can be used for literally all purposes from cutting wood to meat. The locals ideally use this for domestic purpose.

IMG-20161103-WA0028.jpg

The Knife has a small hint of rust at one place but looks and feel very solid and sharp. Has good weight. Can someone suggest any tips in making the knife better in terms of finish and shine
shine

[nkarun]

hey, its a nice kukri, you can use, braso, or you can use fine grit water paper /emery paper. of grade 800, 1000, 2000 for a mirror finish, assuming you are going to keep it in display

[airgun_novice]

Prasanjit - welcome back. You took quite a hiatus. Check out Moin's thread on taking care of Khukri. He's got a mirror finish on one. If not just PM him.
regs
A.

[RamMani]

What a Khukri......
I have no way to get this type one.
Great Bro.

[Vassili Zaitsev]

Nice one. What is the blade length? N total length?
Can u pm me the price.

[essdee1972]

Great Khuk, Bro!!

To get a mirror shine, use 1200 and higher grit sandpapers. A polishing compound and buffing wheel will help. If you don't have access, go to any glass shop (mirrors and so on), and get a pack of glass polish (it's a fine white powder). Rub with any lint free cloth. Wrap the cloth on a finger, dip into water, dip into polish, and rub rub rub.

Coat with oil. If using for food, coat with Johnson's Baby Oil (it is almost 100% mineral oil). Prepare for the khuk to smell like an infant . If you intend to keep it on display, then any damn oil will work. Just don't use coconut or other vegetable oils, they get rancid after a while. Use machine oils, motor oils, etc.

If you intend to use it for camping, biking, etc. (be careful of the coppers), I would advise letting it get a natural patina, or giving a forced patina with vinegar or ferric chloride. In that case, you don't need to do a mirror finish. Just get it rust free and buff upto 200 or max. 400 grit.

It's spring steel. It WILL rust. Just keep looking at it from time to time, and scrub off any rust either with steel wool + WD40, or the finest sandpaper you used originally. In Mumbai monsoon, do a weekly inspection.