A word to the wise about village models.

Bill Martino

Bill Martino

Joined
Mar 5, 1999
Messages
34,096
One more time -- village models are typical of what one sees in rural Nepal used by farmers, woodcutters, fishermen, and anybody who has need of a knife. They are not beautiful but are generally pretty tough and work oriented and are reasonably priced.

The village models are very often sold to us without any accoutrements -- no scabbard, karda, chakma, frog or anything. So, we try to equip them the best we can for western tastes but the karda and chakma are generally made by the village kami from whom the knives are purchased as a mere afterthought and generally are not good. We try to make sure the rig has a decent scabbard and frog but if we are rushed sometimes even these can be low quality.

Some are asking for BirGorkha top quality karda and chakma to go with the village knives and we will supply them for an extra $10 but they won't fit into the scabbards. Then some will want a top quality scabbard and frog with their village model.

So, my advice is if you want a top notch rig with high quality karda, chakma, scabbard, frog and khukuri forget the cheap village models and just get an HI model which assures you of the very highest quality available.

Villagers are bargains and no matter how you equip them or dress up the rig they will never be top of the line items and it is a waste of time and money to try to turn them into something they were never intended to be.

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Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ
Himalayan Imports Archives (18,000+ posts)

[This message has been edited by Bill Martino (edited 08-18-2000).]
 
Uncle,
I like the village khukuris just the way they are, small chakma and karda included.
It shows how the village kamis make a khukuri for everyday use, they don't have to be pretty to be a good khukuri. I love all the village models I have , even the the little chainpuri I just got. I also love all the H.I. khukuris I have to.
Terry
 
well said, and duly noted, uncle bill. i, for one, am not complaining.

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Tatsuo
*************
"He who laughs at himself laughs best" :D
 
Maybe you could reforge one with a stronger tang and a better heat treat?

(sorry Uncle Bill, just had to be a wiseass...)

-Dave

[This message has been edited by Dave K (edited 08-19-2000).]
 
I've got 2 village khuks; a 20" sirupati, and a 20" heavyweight Thing...

The sirupati is my second favorite khuk (after the 25" Kobra); it's beautiful as well as 100% functional.

The Thing is my third favorite khuk; pretty it ain't, but does it ever cut...

Keep 'em coming, Bill! Only, next time you've got something like a 20"+ village chainpuri or GS, maybe you could hold off posting it till around 11pm GMT, so I'll have a chance to get in first...
 
:
I like the villagers as well for just what they are.
I Really like the 17" steel mounted villager I just got last week!!
I sharpened it up a bit and that told me a lot about the blade. I also smoothed down the handle a bit to bring out the grain of the beautiful wood, but still left it fairly rough for better grip.
I haven't had a real chance to use it, but from what little I did I know it's gonna be one of my favorites!!
It is here in Phoenix with me. I was gonna bring my 18th.Century, but left it at home to bring the villager. It is gonna be well traveled woudn't you say.
cool.gif


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>>>>---¥vsa---->®

"There's no trick in being a humorist when you have the whole government working for you."

...............Will Rogers......

Khukuri FAQ
 
:
I hope this isn't a double post. I am using an old computer at our daughters place, and I still Love my Webtv in spite of its foibles!!!

I brought a 17" viallager with steel furniture instead of my 18th.Century model. All I did to my villager was sharpen the blade and smooth the handle a bit to reveal the beautiful wood grain, leaveing it pretty rough for better grip. Sharpening the blade tells me a lot about the quality of a blade. I haven't used it much, but what little I did makews me think it's gonna be a favored user. The villagers have a beauty all thier own!! I like the full quality H.I. models as well, but there's just something about a villager.....

------------------
>>>>---¥vsa---->®

"There's no trick in being a humorist when you have the whole government working for you."

...............Will Rogers......

Khukuri FAQ
 
:
I hope this isn't a double post. I am using an old computer at our daughters place, and I still Love my Webtv in spite of its foibles!!!

I brought a 17" viallager with steel furniture instead of my 18th.Century model. All I did to my villager was sharpen the blade and smooth the handle a bit to reveal the beautiful wood grain, leaveing it pretty rough for better grip. Sharpening the blade tells me a lot about the quality of a blade. I haven't used it much, but what little I did makews me think it's gonna be a favored user. The villagers have a beauty all thier own!! I like the full quality H.I. models as well, but there's just something about a villager.....

------------------
>>>>---¥vsa---->®

"There's no trick in being a humorist when you have the whole government working for you."

...............Will Rogers......

Khukuri FAQ
 
lil.gif


Hi there bro!



[This message has been edited by Rusty (edited 08-20-2000).]
 
:
Well. I see that I am totally computer illiterate!!!! (VBCIG)

Bro. that's a cute gif you put up there and just about how I feel.
rolleyes.gif

I can read a thread on my Webtv and reply to a post, and by hitting my back button twice go right back to the same thread and see my message in print, and then edit it if need be. Then one more click on my back button and I am in the forum proper to continue on. This doesn't work that way!

I still like the 17" villager a Lot!!
biggrin.gif


Yvsa,(who is still figureing out how to work this dayum-ed thang and without much help from 'puter illiterate daughter.
redface.gif


 
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