A Khukuri Idea

T

The Big Kahuna

Joined
Sep 15, 2002
Messages
183
This is not for me to say 'cause I was never a marine. But it seems that:

a) HI khuks have now proven themselves to be popular and useful with actively serving marines in battle conditions. This has been recognized all the way up to a Major's level.

b) Uncle Bill as well as a substantial number of HI khuk users are retired marines.

c) HI has a proven track record of quality production.

d) The kamis in Nepal could certainly use the work.

Why doesn't HI and the forum use this opportunity to see if HI khukuris could become recognized optional equipment for the Marines?

For example here are some suggested steps:

1) Get a very timely article about frontline marines using Khukuris in Iraq, the big HI + forum khukuri donation effort, and a bit about the tradition and history or khukuris in an article in that alumni marine magazine? I understand that "officially" no one is supposed to carry un-issued arms. But the article can include interviews with "unidentified" marines.

The reason why I think this might work is because journalists (even with the alumni marine journal) need stories to make deadlines. Indeed, if there is a journalist or a writer in the Forum (ex-marine would be perfect - Ben the historian are you out there? UB, do you like to write?) the article could be written for them.

With luck (because it is a great human interest story - "public forum gathers together to donate badly wanted khukuris to Marines in Iraq"), there is a chance that the major newspapers, magazines, etc. might pick the story up (more touching than Arnie donating weight lifting equipment in Iraq I).

2) Depending on how step 1 goes, UB might consider offering to present a khuk to the Marine Commandant in Washignton DC in a little ceremony. Again, the alumni magazine would cover it. And also while in Washington, UB could hand out or sell at a discounted price a few dozen khuks to the very, very higher ups in the Commandant's staff. (By the way, every retired marine I know has been thrilled with khuks. My old ex-marine boss showed the BAS khuk I gave him to his old company commander who was visiting him in Singapore. The retired commander wanted to get one so I emailed him UB's URL).

3) After having made all these high up friends (many of whom will subsequently check out the HI site and maybe even start lurking on the forum), HI will have at least opened the doors for khuks to the Marines.

The blue sky upside? UB just think of it as another chapter in your fruitful life. You've introduced high quality khuks to the greater world, you've provided a decent life to untold numbers in Nepal, and you've extended a long and fine but dwindling forging tradition of warriors. Why not add the possible adoption of khuks by a premier fighting force to your legacy (and quite a legacy that would be). A side benefit - if the Marines do adopt khukuris as optional equipment, the awareness and demand for quality working (not tourist) khukuris would soar. Might even provide enough demand for John Powell to finish his book.

The downside? One or two forum members write up a great article that no one wants to publish.

Seems like a pretty good odds to me. What do you all think?
 
Uncle Bill will no doubt make a reply to this post but I know that he tried to contact the SgtMajor of the Marine Corps and couldn't even get him to return calls. It disappointed me quite a bit.

There are a lot of treaty problems with advertising about the khuk's. I'm not sure about the euro and arabic countries. Then too you mentioned it yourself about the military regualtions. From my experience in the Corps most of the Officers don't seem to worry about what kind of knife a man has as long as there are not a bunch of complaints about it.

Lets face a fact. The khuk scares the heck out of the average civilian if he even knows what it is. So, I'm not sure whether advertising about them in some magazine or newpaper is a very good idea. :)
 
The Big Kahuna,

I composed an email off line but couldn't shoot you an email.

Please shoot me an email and I will send this to either you or Uncle.

S/F, Mike
 
Most standard issue knives and bayonets today are garbage. To put HI in the same class as them would be an insult. Keep the knives as a they are a specaity item. The word will get around about them and orders will be seen from the boys in green. Once the goverment puts a spec on something its never the same.
 
Most standard issue knives and bayonets today are garbage.
Click to expand...
Sorry, but that's way off base. I agree the the HI product is first rate, but to say the the issue knives are garbage isn't true. To be sure there are are better designs out there, but the government issue is hardly garbage. The generic "Kabar" is well made, has decent geometry,is properly heat treated and has gotten the job done. I'm not a fan of the Navy's MK3, but it is well made. The pocket knives of the camper pattern are the equal of anything produced, in like pattern, by Wenger or Victronoix. The machetes are as good or better than most this side of custom. Bayonets are what they are, but the M9 is closer to being usable in the field than most anything else I'm aware of. I wouldn't mind seeing the khukuri in our troops hands as issue, but unless more specific, you are trashing some good, honest, hard working tools IMO.
Something may never be the same after it is government spec, but that doesn't have to be a bad thing.
Regards,
Greg

Edited to change "good" geometry to "decent" as I concede spending some time putting the edge I wanted on a couple of issue "Kabars". The 1911A1 or M9 Beretta was always "good to go" though.
 
The problem lies in the hardness of the blades coming off the factory shelves to military spec. They are simply too hard to sharpen in the field. Their fine when you have hours in the barracks to waste while waiting for a game of spades. Once you hit the field when do you have the time to sharp something with a rockwell 58 or higher hardness. Granted it won't get dull in a minute but try and put that factory edge back on with the little stone they supply. Just my way of thinking. No offense to anyone that has other favorites. At least a AK has enough wieght behind it ,so if it is dull,it'll still do damage.
 
I have corresponded off line with both Uncle Bill and TBK on this subject. I did this because I believe that some of the things are not quite appropriate for this forum.

I did pass that civilian, retired/reserved maybe, press/PR is not necessarily a bad thing but that active duty cannot do endorsements as it would cross the line on commercial endorsement.

The other issue on getting these NSNs and making them standard issue would be counterproductive to Uncle’s overall plan.

Let me explain my last. If they were standardized then they would have a specification written. Other vendors would then be offered the chance to bid to spec., which would invariably be of lower quality. From what I have read on his web site there have been vendors offering Uncle to make Khukris “just as good” at a lower price.

These would be made away from Nepal and thus cut into Uncle’s plan to help the people of Nepal and his own livelihood. This would seem to go against what I have learned of Uncle’s ethics (Uncle please correct me if I have misread you or the overall situation).

The bottom line is I think that the blades supplied from Nepal via HI are very valuable to Marines and other service members. I think that bringing them in as standard issue would do a dis-service to those instrumental in getting them into our hands and thus in the long run counterproductive. Uncle has, in my not so humble opinion, taken the best possible path.

S/F, Mike

(edited for grammer, I was somewhat tired when I wrote this)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top