Today in the shop we are making a Kukri...out of an old Brush Axe! Sometimes Devon comes up with a good idea and this was one of those times. I like the idea of the brush axe, but never found a good use for it, until now. I cut the mounts off of the existing blade, before tracing the shape in the sketch book, and designing the blade within that shape. I cut away all the excess, profiled the blade, and ground it to about 1/4” through the flats. Once I determined the center lines, I ground the harpoon clip, and put a 45 degree pre-bevel to center my edge, and then ground the bevels to my pre-determined depth. After drilling the holes for the Corby’s, lanyard tube, and glue penetration, I ran the full heat treat process, quenching at a cherry red, which hardened the blade enough to skate a file. I did my final grinding, and finishing on the blade, then glued and clamped the stabilized black walnut scales the I received from Jesse Alison from Mountain Prevail Knives. Then I shaped and sanded the scales and buffed it to a nice shine. After a quick final sharpen we headed outside to test her skills against some vegetables, branches, and of course a few bottles of water.
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Reusing the original hole! An engineering professor once told me, "We're not lazy, we're efficient!" Love it!
I say that all the time haha.
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100% Привет! Из России!
Dear Sir ...Have you ever yourself suddenly come opun a great new Channel. I am Danish but lived in Nepal for 2 years and had my own blacksmith to forge tools for me. I believe the Kukri is the best design of an all round knife ever made. Thankyou...great video
The build is fun, but seeing the enjoyment during the testing montage is the best
Yeah, @ 40:00 I had to chuckle, too...
You asks for a miracle? We give you the hands of The Art of Craftsmanship. It was a pleasure watching from the beginning to the end of a wonderful journey. Just by that smile on your face & slight twinkle in your eyes, it is obvious that you are happy with the end result. A Master's masterpiece.! Also like that A of C wall hanger mate. Cheers for sharing. Stay safe. Greetings from Christmas Island.
Man, please do a leather sheath video for this one! Awesome work as always
After more than 4 decades of real world north country bushcraft my large working " knife " is a Kukri. Compared to more than a dozen Machetes and Hatchets used over the years. The Kukri has become the blade I carry on my person or machine. It is far superior for north woods cutting and chopping tasks, combined with a sharp knife and a axe all bases are covered. Add a good chainsaw and thats all will need on your 4x4 or ATV.
Right on!
Awesome looking Kukri !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That turned out Beautiful, there is so many versions of why the choil exists that on Forged in Fire, they believe the original reason has been lost to time.
Thank you, and thanks for the the info.
From what I've heard, the choil (pronounced like coil) was a stop on the cutting edge so during the kukris original use, blood wouldn't run down the edge and onto the handle and making the handle slippery. It would instead hit the choil and drip off. The choil has become almost a statement on higher quality modern knives with some guys making them really elaborate. I like to make my choils similar to the kukri but rounded instead of v shaped, and the one closer to the ha dle being deeper. Awesome build, thanks for the great content 👍
Another point on this choil. If you look at it from the side, it resembles mountain tops! The Gurkhas were from Nepal, a mountainous region. I wonder if that has any significance as well?
It's symbolic, and ornamental. It serves no utilitarian purpose.
Blood doesn't accumulate on a fighting blade in enough quantity to "run" anywhere unless you manage to slice through an arterial vessel. In my experience, blades get "greasy" when they wipe through soft tissue and skin. The notch is most likely a Hindu ritual symbol related to Shiva's trident and/or symbolic of the reproductive organs. Lots of religious symbolism in Hindu weaponry.
This is the first video I watched where you looked nervous. It made me nervous. I don’t oil up scales that have been stabilized either. Just polish and good to go. Now I’d like to see your choice of leather sheath. Great job brother.
Why shouldnt he oil stabilised scales?
@@larsvab3690 Since he ignored the question I’ll try to help Lol it’s because of the epoxy, sometimes oils can degrade epoxy holds.
Wow. I was in British Army and was lucky enough to spent some time with the Gurkhas. So I tend to like my Kukri in the traditional Nepalese style. But man, that is gorgeous. Appsolutely gorgeous. One your best videos. Now that's what I call recycling.
My favorite bush hatchet/knife carry option
I think this might be the right size too. A bit smaller than a typical Kukri.
Absolutely excellent work!
Sweet blade! Thanks for sharing !
You are the only guy I've seen buff your handle scales on a buffing wheel ,nice touch, I learned a new trick thanks
Great job!
Love the content keep it up.
Thanks Owen!
Interesting. Love that you pause to explain your reasoning before committing each step. The choil is there for a few reasons. Commonly mentioned is that it prevents blood from dribbling past the blade and onto the handle making it slippery. However, it is primarily used as a forced stop when sharpening the blade using the traditional chakmak, which is a small sharpening iron that is carried along with the blade, usually in the same sheath. Also, when fighting against a foe with a blade, the choil which is usually given a deep 3 shape wcan be used to arrest the opponents blade from sliding down the edge and onto your hand. When used properly, a skilled fighter might even be able to snap the blade of his or her opponent right out of the opponents hand by twisting the khukri outward once the opponents blade is caught successfully.
Just awsome!!!
The point in the choil was originally implemented as a means of ensuring that blood was drawn once the kukri was pulled out and readied for use. The thought process behind that was so that the user could prick their finger with the sharp point in the choil regardless if it were being used in a kill or fight. They believed that a certain spirit would be angered and/or harm them if blood wasn't drawn with every use. I'm uncertain whether or not the spirit in question was the spirit of the kukri or something else. Still, very interesting stuff. This is my understanding of this whole process, and I'm sure there is alot more to it than what I listed here. Awesome stuff though man! I really enjoy your content here
That is a Beauty!!! Love the whole video and pacing!
Great repurpose! Love the knife; now I can’t wait to see the sheath you come up with....
The Kukri looks fantastic.
Thank you. 🙏
Beautiful knife and love how you explain your thinking and process. Thank you
Beautiful
Craftsmanship at its best. Truly an Art.
Thank you. 😁🙏
One of your best pieces. Really nice work, design , and details. Well done!
Really like this build well done
Very nice job. Well done.
Probably the best looking one you've made yet...super nice!
Great great restoration. Honestly, it seems magical!
Beautiful work man!
Outstanding build! Really nice Kukri
Yet another beautiful blade is born. 👍
Awesome job Dustin.
The joy of creating something so good is greater than the creation itself. :) Very well done~!
Damn, I have an old brush axe that I never use. Have been looking for a new project too. Damn!
That was my exact reaction when Devon proposed this idea😂
@@TheArtofCraftsmanship Ahh, I hate to be 'that guy' but while yes you made a nice knife that brush axe was amazing. Are they common n inexpensive because I tell you a old tool like that at a rural flea market would be worth a couple hundred but you can get knives any where. I don't know maybe I'm wrong but I liked the axe
@@Curas1 thanks for the feedback. I’ve seen them all over, and have never seen one for more than $20 bucks maybe. To each his own.
@@TheArtofCraftsmanship After looking online I have to agree with you, Amazon has them for $75. It's just on the west coast country auction items like that really sell with that old time Patina like that. But good luck finding it, the pickers (salvagers for resale) are everywhere. I used to work in a thrift store and seen people just grab up stuff.
Very nice job.
Dude that is a gorgeous looking handle, compliments the brass very well and looks absolutely awesome with that style of knife, oh love your channel
Radical kukri design my friend! I really like the sledge on top! A+
Love the video, guys! Even though I am not a knife maker, I love the craftsmanship!
I've always heard the double choil was because every time the blade was drawn from sheath it was required that it drew blood, so if it was removed and not used, owner used sharpened choil to prick their finger for blood
Not realy. The double choil is a religious symbol for the "Trishula", the weapon of the God Vishnu. It means "three pointed spear" and symbolizes the unity of the three Mayor Gods of the Hindus, Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu, who "unite in the hand of Vishnu". The blood thing is true in a way, too. But why would someone scratch his finger on a double choil when he has a sharp blade at the same tool. Gurkhas are said to cut their finger when drawing their knife and not using it in combat, because you only draw a knife when you want to use it. You have to spill blood, the one or the other way.
That whole thing about spilling blood if you take it out of the scabbard is something british officer came up with in ww1 because his nepalese troops always gpt mobbed by admirers of their knives. So he came up with that so people would quit asking amd distracting his men from their duties. Remember this is an everyday tool from cooking to digging to chopping and yes killing. If you took it out tp chop a vine do you then have to cut your finger on the Cho, when there is perfectly good amd sharp blade right there?
The samurai in the Tick comics said and did that same thing😂 bandaids all over!
@@RNDM85 i love the tick...SPOON!!!
@@JamesThomas-gg6il Imagine you probably use it several times a day, how many opportunities do you really want to give infection to set in when you're in the field? It would be a really really stupid rule if it was true.
Hi Dusti, very nice work as usual. I do not like cukris design but I like a lot your good work and your performance for it. Greetings a lot from Madrid
Nice to see a new tool made from something is redundant .Cheers . :)
I wish I had a workshop with that kind of possibilities. I'd love to make a kukri but I'd add a few things of my own. Glad to see you're using full tang. It always bugs me when bladesmiths makes a great knife but then makes the tang so flimsy.
The design is really interesting
An absolutely gorgeous and useful build out of an ugly but useful old tool. It's just freakin cool man
Great job, well done.
Thank you Stacy!
Very nice project. You a very fluid process and workflow. The Kukri looks fantastic. 👌
Thank you. I love knife making for its process, utility, and creative freedom.
@@TheArtofCraftsmanship For sure same here. There are no limits to the creative process.
and that turned out beautiful, well done!
Thanks Charlie!
Loved that handle!
Thanks.
Really, really nice knife. Good job. I like this video. Thanks a lot. Waiting for the next.
Haven't watched the channel for almost a year, I come back and he has a 2/72 belt grinder! Great job on the knife.
That is Cool stuff. Thank You for showing us all this process and for comments/explainations also. Blessings.
Hello you are gifted !!!
this is gonna be fun
The Kukri was not just a blade to the warrior, the blade was thought to have a soul. That soul of the warrior must be appeased by blood. When a blade is drawn, it MUST draw blood. The spike in the choil was used to prick ones thumb on and bleed on the blade before re-sheathing it should the blade be drawn without killing someone first. Look into the history of the Gurkha warriors for further explanation. Great knife build by the way, love your work.
Thanks for the info Rip.
My mind turns to orky mischief whenever I see a brush axe, just seems like something they'd love. BEEG SHAHP FING ON A LONG STIK
No clue who that is but i love it
WOW! Outstanding! Semper Fi
Thank you!🙏
I know I've only just started following you and seen only a few of your videos but this is most definitely the most beautiful piece of work I've ever seen. Congratulations on one hell of a job well done. Thank you so much for sharing it with us.
I8888iiii99oo Ok
Great job! It is one gorgeous cutting tool.
Thanks Tony.
Very very very nice. Even though you didn’t go into detail with the handle,anyone with metal and wood working experience could see what you were doing. You sir are a true artisan. Awesome job
I have a "wet" belt sander that I gravity feed with a bit of soap (and mostly hot water, all from a bucket)... I think it was made for edging glass but I use it for metal (keeps it cool) and for shell (abalone mostly) because it cools and makes absolutely no dust. I'm betting you could make one... I'll try to send a pic it was clearly a custom job. For reference, belts are waterproof but oil strips them, same as wet or dry, and the reverse for regular flat sheet sandpaper. you can use wd40 with that, but water melts it like the wicked witch of the west. wd40- water displacement version 40... love the channel, keep it coming i'll keep loving it.
Nice looking knife mate. Well done.I have a few brush cutters so may try something similar.thanks for the video. take it easy.
Turned out beautiful and certainly will be used effectively. The Cho is religious in nature and deemed to represent Shiva - god of war. Atb Malcolm 🏴
Thank you, and thanks for the info.
Love your craftsmanship great job👍👍👍👍👍
Thanks Phillip
Brother you have given me some great ideas, I do alot of file embellishment on my knives ,I do swirls, wave ,aztec and the style you are doing which is the style I started with 35 years ago, That is a great blade should last many generations
Beautiful made blade..👍
Very nice work
Thank you
One tip on the drilling, had that pile of new bits beside me before.... Either carbide bits that are carbide all the way through (they cost a small fortune) or sharpen a carbide tipped masonry bit.
Wow. What a knife.
Cheers Red!
Fantastico ! Complimenti hai fatto un vero capolavoro , questi oggetti valgono più dei gioielli!!! Sei un Grande 👍
And I do like your take on it its different for sure 👍
Thank you!
Enjoyed your video and I gave it a Thumbs Up
Cool knife...👍🏼
Very nice 👍
Nice to see your "Khukhuri" build. The choil is in the shape of a cow's hoof print which are considered holy. Having the symbol of cow is also considered lucky. The original pieces in Northeast India and most of Nepal are built using high carbon steel from the leaf springs of a truck. The practical purpose of this design is to ensure blood drips off the blade and not make the handle slippery. All other things I read here in the comments is just good stories. Maybe you could build another one with the traditional proportions and design. Much good karma your way from India.
..... Billhook.....nice job ! I collect/use 8" and 10"Khukri's while camping, hiking, etc. Fine tools, and yours fits the bill ! Grizz 🐻
The best by the way you inspired me to get into kukri's i designed one of my own as well it's so awsome, and perfect video to fall asleep with.
MaaannN!!! That thing turned out great!! Needs a nice hand made leather sheath, Just saying that would make a great follow up video to this one. 👍😁
Great video! Love the channel and the podcast. Keep up the great content. I'd love to see an in depth sharpening vodeo
Might do a sharpening video soon. Thank you for watching and LISTENING! Love to hear from podcast listeners.
100 out of 110 good job 👏
Beautiful. I only discovered your channel a month or so ago, and I've watched about a dozen of your videos. I love your work and your presentation style - an excellent all round channel, a very skilled craftsman and very easy to follow. I'd love to see you make a Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife - just a suggestion. Thanks for your great content - take care and stay safe. Best wishes from Scotland 🏴.
Thank you for the compliments and suggestion. I like the F.S. and have seen some really nice ones from other makers. Thanks, and welcome to the channel.
What a beautiful knife! Great job. If it is the highest quality carbon steel it may be at least a $1,000 piece of cutlery with a custom made and tooled leather sheath!
Hello, i always enjoy your video's. This was a great remake from something you had and knew you would not use.
Thanks Chris.
tres beau travail bravo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Those choils are there for stoping blood to reach the handle which can make it slippery.(i think )
Man I’ve been waiting for this vid!!!
Nice! Hope it was worth the wait...
@@TheArtofCraftsmanship it certainly was! An exquisite piece from you Dustin 👌
Nice work! I was a bit concerned about you making it from a brush axe (which to me seems like a very interesting tool with a long history, just like a kukri). But then the kukri turned out nice. Loved the bevels and overall crisp shapes. Also liked how you showed the kukri as a useful multitool, not just a zombie-killing weapon as many people present it.
Wow you are very good to transform this kukri is very very nice and very smart
Nice modern take. Khukuris are awesome
Awesome video Dustin. Grandson made his first knife this weekend!
That’s awesome Doug. Tell him to hang on to that one. He’ll really enjoy looking back at it one day after building many more.
Top love it. 🍻
Sangat sempurna modif kukri nya bapak ,,,, sangat inovatif 👍 ,
I built a bill hook because my cousin farm was loaded with raspberries and blackberries and them stickers needed to be controlled..That jungle knife I built from leaf springs and Forge it was a challenge but I did well. Them sparks means good steel. Tip to heat your quenching oil heat up a few pieces of steel in Forge and drop into oil to temperature desired Thanks for helping Merry Christmas and I got 2 of the led lights on magnet as you suggested and that is a great help put first on my drill press and one for my 2X72 and as you said I didn't get 4 but my 1x30 needs one also Please work on the audio so that tooling noise is reduced and your instructions can be heard easier so my family doesn't complain about your great video while instructions are coming in clearly. Thanks for the LED advice 🙏
"I always get a little squeeze out" man don't we all 😁 35:00
Lil
@@TheArtofCraftsmanship good looking knife mate nice work
Magnifico el cuchillo .... muy bonito . Un saludo
the knifes 1 thing that handle is spot on , very nice :)
I was experiencing a similar squeeze out issue and I fixed it by doing two things. I come back about 15 minutes after my initial cleanup of the front edge and check again and I also stopped using acetone and went to rubbing alcohol acetone is so darn strong that it seeps in that front edge and will wick out some epoxy. Great looking piece though!
Nobody knows *for sure* what that choil was originally intended to be, but the most likely scenario to many (including me) is that it represented Shiva. Pretty blade shape. I've always had a softspot for kukris.