{"product_id":"kukri-machete-buffalo-horn-handle","title":"Kukri Machete, Hand Forged 12 Inch Blade with Water Buffalo Horn Handle","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is the kukri for work bigger than a knife and smaller than an axe. The blade is 12 inches of 5160 spring steel with the deep forward curve that carries the weight near the tip. The handle is polished water buffalo horn, black with faint gray streaking. It runs 17.5 inches overall. Buyers use it on green growth, downed limbs and camp kindling.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSpecification\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlade length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e12 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOverall length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e17.5 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHandle length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5.5 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlade steel\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5160 spring steel\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlade finish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDark gray hand forged finish, faint hammer marks, wide mirror bright bevel, cho notch at the base of the edge\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHandle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePolished black water buffalo horn with faint gray streaking, raised ring at the middle, flared butt\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTang\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHidden tang through the handle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSheath\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTooled water buffalo leather scabbard, wooden core, brass tip cap\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIncluded\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eKarda and chakmak companion knives\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEngraving\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20 dollars per piece\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMade in\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eForged and finished by hand in High Point, North Carolina.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWarranty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifetime warranty against defects, free sharpening for life.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe blade\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e5160 spring steel is what lets you swing twelve inches of blade hard without worrying about a chip. The flat comes out of the forge dark gray with faint hammer marks, and the bevel is polished mirror bright. The blade leaves the handle narrow, sweeps forward and down, then widens near the tip, so the mass sits ahead of your hand. The cho at the base of the edge stops a cut running into the handle. Carbon steel darkens and rusts if put away wet.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe handle\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eWater buffalo horn is the traditional handle here and the one collectors ask for. It is polished black with gray streaking that runs its own way in every piece. Horn does not soak up water and warms quickly in the hand. The ring sits between your fingers and the flared butt keeps your grip from sliding back. The tang is hidden, running down inside the horn.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe karda and the chakmak\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe two small knives in pockets on the back of the scabbard are not decoration. The karda is the sharp one, for cord, food and close work a 12 inch blade cannot do neatly. The chakmak is blunt, used to true up a rolled edge and traditionally to strike a spark. Nepali makers include both and name both. So do we.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe leather\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe scabbard is water buffalo leather over a wooden core, so it holds its shape under a blade this size. The tip is capped in brass, a belt frog is stitched to the back, and the two pockets sit behind it. Every stitch is put in by hand. The face is hand tooled with a basket weave stamp inside a carved border, struck deep into damp leather.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWho it suits\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eBuyers pick the 12 inch for more reach and more weight behind the cut.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProperty owners cutting back green growth and brambles\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCampers and hunters who want reach\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCollectors who want the traditional horn handle\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBuyers who want a tooled scabbard\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhat comes in the box\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe 12 inch kukri\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe karda and the chakmak\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe tooled leather scabbard\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA care card\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eEvery piece is different\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eHorn is a natural material and the gray streaking runs its own way in every handle. Add the forge finish and hand cut tooling and no two leave the shop alike.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eLooking after it\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eDry the blade after use and never store it wet. The gray patina that comes with time is normal and protects the steel. Sharpen on a stone or a file, following the bevel already there, and work the belly of the curve. Oil the blade before storage, wipe the horn now and then, and let the leather dry away from heat. More in our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/knife-care-sharpening\"\u003eknife care and sharpening page\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003ePut a name on it\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eLaser engraving is 20 dollars per piece, added on this page. Around 30 characters fits, and clean line art engraves better than a photograph. You get a proof image before the laser runs, adding 3 to 5 business days. See the \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/engraving\"\u003eengraving page\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eQuestions buyers ask\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy does the blade curve forward?\u003c\/strong\u003e The curve puts the heaviest steel furthest from your hand, so it chops above its size.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat are the two small knives?\u003c\/strong\u003e The karda and the chakmak. The karda is sharp, for fine work. The chakmak is blunt and trues up an edge.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is the notch near the handle?\u003c\/strong\u003e That is the cho. It stops a cut running back into the handle.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs water buffalo horn hard to look after?\u003c\/strong\u003e No. Keep it dry and rub a little oil in now and then.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill my blade look exactly like the photo?\u003c\/strong\u003e No. The horn, the forge finish and the tooling differ on every piece.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow long until it ships?\u003c\/strong\u003e Most US orders arrive in 5 to 7 business days with USPS.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor a shorter blade see the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hand-forged-kukri-service-pattern-rosewood\"\u003ehand forged kukri in the service pattern\u003c\/a\u003e, and for reach the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/15-inch-kukri-rosewood-handle\"\u003e15 inch kukri in rosewood\u003c\/a\u003e. More sits in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/kukri-knives\"\u003ekukri knives\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/bushcraft-survival\"\u003ebushcraft blades\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/all-knives\"\u003eall knives\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Viper Edge USA","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44136456192118,"sku":"VEF-KUK-HC-HRN-502","price":169.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0710\/2427\/9670\/files\/hand-forged-kukri-buffalo-horn-handle_acad9a8f-ff3f-4ad6-86b1-ac989f17f76d.jpg?v=1788764556","url":"https:\/\/viperedgeforge.com\/products\/kukri-machete-buffalo-horn-handle","provider":"Viper Edge USA","version":"1.0","type":"link"}