Hi guys, I honestly do not know anything about khukuris but am intrigued so much by them. I would love to start collecting and noticed there are dealers on ebay (kukri-gurkha, and nepalkhukuri) and I was just curious if what they sell is the real deal as well? I am really sorry because this is not directly related to HI but I don't want to buy a chinese knockoff and then find out HI is the only real provider.
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Are HI the only REAL Khukuri source?
- Thread starter eneyman
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I'm sure there are other providers of actual kukris from Nepal, I'm not sure why you wouldn't just get one from himilayan imports.
If you wanted a show piece it wouldn't matter much, if you want a user go for a HI. Price is high for a good reason, great quality and warranty.
If you wanted a show piece it wouldn't matter much, if you want a user go for a HI. Price is high for a good reason, great quality and warranty.
Great quality. If I was buying any more new khuks, I would get them from HI. I would like to get some real\nontourist "antique" ones which I guess I would have to get them elsewhere.
And the price, by the way, may be higher than you see on ebay BUT it includes not only a high quality product, but also a good warranty, almost instantaneous shipping and great customer service. (As well as a great bunch of people here that will help you with any khuk related question)
And the price, by the way, may be higher than you see on ebay BUT it includes not only a high quality product, but also a good warranty, almost instantaneous shipping and great customer service. (As well as a great bunch of people here that will help you with any khuk related question)
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from what i understand the only company that really is in business to help its people is HI. The others are geared more for profit.
somewhere i had read that a couple years after HI was started a few others copied the idea but they do not take as good a care of the Kamis or help the people with the money the way HI does - they are gear more toward profit and production rather than quality.
I read quite a bit about the different ones out there - what i could find anyway - HI is the only one that has a website with detailed explanation of company philosophy and history.
several claim to be suppliers to the Gurkha but there is no "official supplier" to the Gurkha so that right there tells me they are not honest.
HI doesn't make that claim and from what i see and from what i have read most of their business is built on reputation
Because they care about the community and because they are of outstanding quality - they get my support.
somewhere i had read that a couple years after HI was started a few others copied the idea but they do not take as good a care of the Kamis or help the people with the money the way HI does - they are gear more toward profit and production rather than quality.
I read quite a bit about the different ones out there - what i could find anyway - HI is the only one that has a website with detailed explanation of company philosophy and history.
several claim to be suppliers to the Gurkha but there is no "official supplier" to the Gurkha so that right there tells me they are not honest.
HI doesn't make that claim and from what i see and from what i have read most of their business is built on reputation
Because they care about the community and because they are of outstanding quality - they get my support.
shortwinger
Gold Member
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Eneyman,
If by "real" you mean authentic, then you can find an authentic kukri from many manufacturers in Nepal. Many of the Nepalese manufacturers now have websites and ebay stores or have brokers in the US that sell on ebay. The problem is that some of them sell what is refered to as a "tourist grade" product that is not intended for use. The catch is, very few of them would tell you which one is a tourist grade or working grade kukri. The difference of course is that one will not be properly hardened or constructed for use and will fall apart quickly, sometimes on the first strike! As you correctly suspected, many of the kukris you see on ebay and the internet are very cheap Chinese knockoffs and should really be avoided.
Many of the reputable Nepalese companies make a decent kukri but they mass produce more than HI. Himalayan Imports has made an art form out of what they call "Fit & Finish." They make sure every blade is hardened correctly, handles are made with the highest standards, blades are polished like no other, scabbards are made with the best raw materials and fit properly. You also get a different kind of service from HI, as BFH44 stated in his post. HI cares about the people that make the kukri as much as they care about the business. HI also gives a waranty like no other company.
My recommendation would be to call or email the owner Yangdu and tell her what you are looking for. Her knowledge is second to none. She will steer you in the right direction. One thing I can tell you for sure, no one ever gets an HI kukri and then says, "I wish I would have bought a cheaper one!"
Good luck,
Bill
Virginia
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It all started on one morning when the late great Uncle Bill told Auntie about the Salyan and they could "do something to help those who made them"....
"Always Imitated but Never Duplicated"
Enough said.
"Always Imitated but Never Duplicated"
Enough said.
jdk1
Gold Member
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- Apr 21, 2010
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Jay, That first line will always bring me back to HI! HI khuks are blessed by Gorkha blood, grateful kami sweat, and Uncle Bill's spirit. There is good energy within them. Take care a God bless.
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All khukris are hand made under primitive conditions and can possibly be flawed in many ways and break.
Also the main cost of a khukuri involves shipping from Nepal.
The advantages of HI khuks in my mind are 2.
First if you buy and have them shipped to the US and they break and then sending them back is a headache. With HI you get a guarantee and if they break you can get another and shipping within the US is not going to cost you an arm and a leg.
Second a number of HI khukuris designs have been either designed or tweaked by members here who actually use them so cutting wise or ergonomic wise they may be slightly better than some designs.
Also the main cost of a khukuri involves shipping from Nepal.
The advantages of HI khuks in my mind are 2.
First if you buy and have them shipped to the US and they break and then sending them back is a headache. With HI you get a guarantee and if they break you can get another and shipping within the US is not going to cost you an arm and a leg.
Second a number of HI khukuris designs have been either designed or tweaked by members here who actually use them so cutting wise or ergonomic wise they may be slightly better than some designs.
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2006
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- 7,035
Honestly, I'd stay away from eBay blades. I get a real bad vibe looking at what they have there.
There are two other reputable dealers that I know of: Khukuri House and Tora.
Problem is Khukuri House is based in Nepal, and while they blades cost less, people have paid $40+ to ship one blade to the US. When they got them, they saif they performed well, but the fit was sloppy (loose handle scales, misaligned handle scales), the sheaths fell apart quickly, etc, and they ended up after shipping payign nearly as much as an HI would have cost anyway.
Tora is based in England, their blades are supposed to be nice, though they use more western-style handles, and most here have found the traditional handles actually work better the way you use a kukri. Their base price is also close to HI's and shipping from England is expensive.
In the end, with HI what you get is a top of the line kukri (heck, a lot of my blades were made by Bura, who was the "royal kami" -- i.e. the guy that made the kukri for the king of Nepal when they had a king, though due to ailing heath, he doesn't forge blades anymore), you get great service from Yangdu, they are willing to do custom orders, you get a great warranty, faster than ligh shipping, and knowing that you're buying from a company that takes care of its workers.
You won't find many companies that try to provide medical care and other benefits we take for granted in Nepal. HI does. Yangdu runs the company from her home, and her storefront is a shed in back. She's not living in a 12 room house, driving a Hummer, paying for a storefront next to Macy's.
Then there's the guys here. We all use the things. We try to help people pick theirs, how to use it, etc. Several members have put together Kami keys, lists of models, a link library, etc And there's the Cantina which works out to be a great support group and guys to chat with. I'm confident to say that such things are a direct result of how the late Uncle Bill, and Yangdu run the company, and support their workers and customers.
What was the question again?
There are two other reputable dealers that I know of: Khukuri House and Tora.
Problem is Khukuri House is based in Nepal, and while they blades cost less, people have paid $40+ to ship one blade to the US. When they got them, they saif they performed well, but the fit was sloppy (loose handle scales, misaligned handle scales), the sheaths fell apart quickly, etc, and they ended up after shipping payign nearly as much as an HI would have cost anyway.
Tora is based in England, their blades are supposed to be nice, though they use more western-style handles, and most here have found the traditional handles actually work better the way you use a kukri. Their base price is also close to HI's and shipping from England is expensive.
In the end, with HI what you get is a top of the line kukri (heck, a lot of my blades were made by Bura, who was the "royal kami" -- i.e. the guy that made the kukri for the king of Nepal when they had a king, though due to ailing heath, he doesn't forge blades anymore), you get great service from Yangdu, they are willing to do custom orders, you get a great warranty, faster than ligh shipping, and knowing that you're buying from a company that takes care of its workers.
You won't find many companies that try to provide medical care and other benefits we take for granted in Nepal. HI does. Yangdu runs the company from her home, and her storefront is a shed in back. She's not living in a 12 room house, driving a Hummer, paying for a storefront next to Macy's.
Then there's the guys here. We all use the things. We try to help people pick theirs, how to use it, etc. Several members have put together Kami keys, lists of models, a link library, etc And there's the Cantina which works out to be a great support group and guys to chat with. I'm confident to say that such things are a direct result of how the late Uncle Bill, and Yangdu run the company, and support their workers and customers.
What was the question again?
shortwinger
Gold Member
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Hey Cpl, I would fact check that if I were you and possibly delete it altogether, it is not accurate.
The rest of the post was great and spot on! :thumbup:
Bill
Virginia
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Tora's site isn't showing any pictures for me.
Last I saw, guys were showing western style handles on them, often with what looks like a cord wrap.
Either that's only a couple models or they redid the handles, or things have changed.
I confess I haven't looked at their store since I decided to buy HI, so they may use traditional handles.
Last I saw, guys were showing western style handles on them, often with what looks like a cord wrap.
Either that's only a couple models or they redid the handles, or things have changed.
I confess I haven't looked at their store since I decided to buy HI, so they may use traditional handles.
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- Feb 9, 2011
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well, if you are to believe what is in the archives, providing the kamis with something resembling a living wage is as important as the quality IMHO. I will gladly pay for that.
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Tora kukries do not have "western" handles
I have a few Tora Kukries and they are as good as HI's in my opinion. None of them have a mirror finish, but they all have very good balance. Also they all have traditional handles with a curve to them. To my eye the average Tora handle looks to be more "traditional" then the average HI.
Tora kukries also tend to be lighter (most are about 18 inches and about 26 Oz.) with less of a weight forward design. Also the Tora scabbards, chakma, and carda all have tended to the better than HI's.
The only companies I buy from are HI and Tora. If I want a solid heavy Khuk I go with HI. If I want a lighter and still solid one I go with Tora.
I have a few Tora Kukries and they are as good as HI's in my opinion. None of them have a mirror finish, but they all have very good balance. Also they all have traditional handles with a curve to them. To my eye the average Tora handle looks to be more "traditional" then the average HI.
Tora kukries also tend to be lighter (most are about 18 inches and about 26 Oz.) with less of a weight forward design. Also the Tora scabbards, chakma, and carda all have tended to the better than HI's.
The only companies I buy from are HI and Tora. If I want a solid heavy Khuk I go with HI. If I want a lighter and still solid one I go with Tora.
Esav Benyamin
MidniteSuperMod
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Very big point. Hand size, for example. Americans generally need the longer handle HI can provide.
Esav Benyamin
MidniteSuperMod
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Moved to the Cantina: the HI parent forum is a manufacturer website, not for discussing the competition. 
I will throw my two cents in because I am fairly new to the world of khukuris.
I looked on ebay, looked on google, and checked forum sites that I could read as a guest.
HI and Tora were the two most respected manufacturers.
I looked at both sites for a while, but I was drawn to the HI site.
Everything I read on the HI site seemed to show not only a good knife, but an ethic that treated the kamis with respect and honor.
I had read that the customer service was second to none, and that has proved very accurate.
Shipping costs for me are about equal so that is not really a factor.
I can't really explain it, but the "vibe" I got from HI was that it was a good company with a tough as nails knife.
I have bought a few now and have not been disappointed in my choice.
As far as being the only "real" khukuri maker, there are others, but my money is going to stick with the sure thing that i researched and that is HI.
I looked on ebay, looked on google, and checked forum sites that I could read as a guest.
HI and Tora were the two most respected manufacturers.
I looked at both sites for a while, but I was drawn to the HI site.
Everything I read on the HI site seemed to show not only a good knife, but an ethic that treated the kamis with respect and honor.
I had read that the customer service was second to none, and that has proved very accurate.
Shipping costs for me are about equal so that is not really a factor.
I can't really explain it, but the "vibe" I got from HI was that it was a good company with a tough as nails knife.
I have bought a few now and have not been disappointed in my choice.
As far as being the only "real" khukuri maker, there are others, but my money is going to stick with the sure thing that i researched and that is HI.
- Joined
- Jan 30, 2002
- Messages
- 7,269
Moved to the Cantina: the HI parent forum is a manufacturer website, not for discussing the competition.
Bill Martino would never compare H.I.'s product to any other manufacturer. He felt the H.I. products were sufficient unto themselves. He wished others success.