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Authenticity of my 18"Ang Khola
- Thread starter Steve_H
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- Aug 31, 2002
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- 544
Yes, there should be two funny looking foreign letters on the right side near the spine. There should probably be two english letters along with a symbol on the right side near the handle. The foreign letters are "H.I." for Himalayan Imports and the english letters and symbol represent the individual maker.
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There are many more knowledgeable folks here than me, but here are the 2 marks that my khukuris have, beside the kami marks on the ricasso. As I understand, the top mark is "HI" for Himalayan Imports, and the bottom is "BG" for Bir Ghorka, the name of the Nepali factory. Uncle Bill? Rusty? Chime in, am I out of line commenting here?
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Markings were different before establishment of current factory. We really need one of the HI vets. Help! 
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If so, that information might be made "sticky."
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- Mar 8, 1999
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Shop 1 khuks are marked solely with the Devanagari symbols Hee Eee. That is shown on the top khuk in the thumbnail.
Shop 2 also had those symbols at the bend, but began by numbering them down near the bolster. Next came the initials KGR on every khuk, added to the numbering. The KGR was stopped, and the numbering discontinued. Then came the kami marks, ( such as Bura's half-moon ) and finally the mark PLUS the kami's initial in the western alphabet ( i.e. the half-moon and the initials LB for Bura ).
The BirGorkha villagers as as marked in the lower thumnail at the bend. Additionally, they bear the kami mark PLUS the kami's initials (?) in devanagari.
For those new to the forum, the devanagari alphabet is used by several eastern languages, including Sanskrit.
Shop 2 also had those symbols at the bend, but began by numbering them down near the bolster. Next came the initials KGR on every khuk, added to the numbering. The KGR was stopped, and the numbering discontinued. Then came the kami marks, ( such as Bura's half-moon ) and finally the mark PLUS the kami's initial in the western alphabet ( i.e. the half-moon and the initials LB for Bura ).
The BirGorkha villagers as as marked in the lower thumnail at the bend. Additionally, they bear the kami mark PLUS the kami's initials (?) in devanagari.
For those new to the forum, the devanagari alphabet is used by several eastern languages, including Sanskrit.
Here are some pics (hopefully) of my Khukuri.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4da09b3127ccebde3053220c00000001610
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4da09b3127ccebde3053ba1f90000001610
Any ideas? Thanks again.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4da09b3127ccebde3053220c00000001610
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4da09b3127ccebde3053ba1f90000001610
Any ideas? Thanks again.
- Joined
- May 18, 1999
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- 15,395
It will take someone that's been around a lot longer than me to identify this khuk as an HI AK. It may be a very early one before Shop -1 but I don't know how or even if the khuks were marked way back then.
I think all of the Shop-1 khuk's made for HI had the scrolled buttcaps but I couldn't swear to it.
I'm thinking all the very early HI khuk's were village made before Shop-1 came about and there were no specific models. You pretty much took what you could get in the beginning the way I understand the history.
Rusty knows more than I do about that era.
Nice looking 18" AK though no matter who made it. It could have a little less cho creep to suit my taste but it does appear to have a completely convexed edge.
Perhaps it's a Ghurka House model? Maybe some of the guys that have them could chime in with how they were marked although I think they were marked near the bend the same as the HI models are?
I think all of the Shop-1 khuk's made for HI had the scrolled buttcaps but I couldn't swear to it.
I'm thinking all the very early HI khuk's were village made before Shop-1 came about and there were no specific models. You pretty much took what you could get in the beginning the way I understand the history.
Rusty knows more than I do about that era.
Nice looking 18" AK though no matter who made it. It could have a little less cho creep to suit my taste but it does appear to have a completely convexed edge.
Perhaps it's a Ghurka House model? Maybe some of the guys that have them could chime in with how they were marked although I think they were marked near the bend the same as the HI models are?
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- May 16, 2002
- Messages
- 4,437
Guesssing tho, but oldie AKs did have the buttcap.
Keith
Keith
Thanks for all the replies and information. Time for a bit of disclosure. Please keep in mind that I posted my question before I became aware of some past shady dealings on ebay involving someone passing off Khukuris as genuine HI products. The reason I initially posted my question is that I am considering unloading the AK and wanted to be sure it was genuine.
I got the AK off ebay about 4 years ago. I remember that it was advertised as an 18 AK from one of the better importers. Unfortunately, I could not remember whether it was HI or Gurkha House. I am usually pretty careful about checking out ebay auctions and I do remember doing some research on the internet to check out the ebay sellers claims. I was satisfied at the time and thought I ended up with a pretty good deal. Not cheap at all but I did save a few bucks.
Yesterday I did some quick web research and saw that HI carries the AK line so assumed mine was an HI AK. But to be sure, I posted my question here. While waiting for replies, I searched some of the past threads and learned about some SOB who was falsely claiming to be Himalayan Imports and selling khukuris on ebay, right around the same time I got my AK. I started to get a sinking feeling that I was ripped off.
Now it appears that Berkley and MacHete have IDd it as a Gurkha House, so Im pretty relieved. Just a couple of questions remain.
Beyond the initials, anything else to check to positively ID the khukuri? I took a ton of pics, of the AK, plus the scabbard, karda, and chakmak.
Did Gurkha House ever market a khukuri as an Ang Khola? Also, my AK appeared brand new, so does anyone know if Gurkha House sold any product on ebay, or allowed any others to do so?
Im not an expert by any means, but my khukuri is pretty well made. I dont have anything to compare it with and have not put it through any trials. Its almost a half inch thick at the upper spine to the shoulder and appears to we well balanced.
Finally, and this may be the wrong forum to ask, what happened to Gurkha House? Are they still around?
Thanks again for all the help.
Steve
I got the AK off ebay about 4 years ago. I remember that it was advertised as an 18 AK from one of the better importers. Unfortunately, I could not remember whether it was HI or Gurkha House. I am usually pretty careful about checking out ebay auctions and I do remember doing some research on the internet to check out the ebay sellers claims. I was satisfied at the time and thought I ended up with a pretty good deal. Not cheap at all but I did save a few bucks.
Yesterday I did some quick web research and saw that HI carries the AK line so assumed mine was an HI AK. But to be sure, I posted my question here. While waiting for replies, I searched some of the past threads and learned about some SOB who was falsely claiming to be Himalayan Imports and selling khukuris on ebay, right around the same time I got my AK. I started to get a sinking feeling that I was ripped off.
Now it appears that Berkley and MacHete have IDd it as a Gurkha House, so Im pretty relieved. Just a couple of questions remain.
Beyond the initials, anything else to check to positively ID the khukuri? I took a ton of pics, of the AK, plus the scabbard, karda, and chakmak.
Did Gurkha House ever market a khukuri as an Ang Khola? Also, my AK appeared brand new, so does anyone know if Gurkha House sold any product on ebay, or allowed any others to do so?
Im not an expert by any means, but my khukuri is pretty well made. I dont have anything to compare it with and have not put it through any trials. Its almost a half inch thick at the upper spine to the shoulder and appears to we well balanced.
Finally, and this may be the wrong forum to ask, what happened to Gurkha House? Are they still around?
Thanks again for all the help.
Steve
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- Mar 8, 1999
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- 8,911
Gurkha House ( US company ) was supplied by Khukuri House in Kathmandu IIFC.
HI started out with villager models that were up to snuff, but later made a pact with a shop down on the Terai that churned out adequate stuff ( apparently as one of Khukuri House's suppliers ), but which had the ability when the owner was present to turn out high quality. They made a deal, with the khuks being shipped to Pala ( Kami Sherpa, the owner of H.I. ) for final inspection.
That worked for ( guessing ) several years. As I understand it, the shop owner developed a back problem that lasted several months and eventually required surgery in India, plus more time recuperating. The result is the shop went along and continued it's normal output - it's bread and butter - but NO work for H.I., which for several months ( guessing 6-8 months or longer ) had no khukuris to sell. By the time the shop owner finally went for surgery, Pala was nearly out of business, so he opened up Shop 2.
Unfortunately, the Shop 1 owner came back to work and found H.I. no longer interested in his goods. He felt betrayed.
Now came Craig Gottlieb of Gurkha House, who not only was supplied by Khukuri House, he learned of the Former HI maker, and went to secure his supply directly from them - through Khukuri House.
Anyway, Gottlieb kept insistng his khuks could match H.I.'s at a lower price, and independent tests showed they were fairly good, but not up to H.I. quality. Kept coming over on UB's forum and nattering despite not knowing what he was talking about. Then one day he just disappeared off the net, and next thing he's moved from the east coast to the west coast and dropped the khukuri line. Showed up doing something else and left his forum dangling with no moderator.
Well, you asked.
HI started out with villager models that were up to snuff, but later made a pact with a shop down on the Terai that churned out adequate stuff ( apparently as one of Khukuri House's suppliers ), but which had the ability when the owner was present to turn out high quality. They made a deal, with the khuks being shipped to Pala ( Kami Sherpa, the owner of H.I. ) for final inspection.
That worked for ( guessing ) several years. As I understand it, the shop owner developed a back problem that lasted several months and eventually required surgery in India, plus more time recuperating. The result is the shop went along and continued it's normal output - it's bread and butter - but NO work for H.I., which for several months ( guessing 6-8 months or longer ) had no khukuris to sell. By the time the shop owner finally went for surgery, Pala was nearly out of business, so he opened up Shop 2.
Unfortunately, the Shop 1 owner came back to work and found H.I. no longer interested in his goods. He felt betrayed.
Now came Craig Gottlieb of Gurkha House, who not only was supplied by Khukuri House, he learned of the Former HI maker, and went to secure his supply directly from them - through Khukuri House.
Anyway, Gottlieb kept insistng his khuks could match H.I.'s at a lower price, and independent tests showed they were fairly good, but not up to H.I. quality. Kept coming over on UB's forum and nattering despite not knowing what he was talking about. Then one day he just disappeared off the net, and next thing he's moved from the east coast to the west coast and dropped the khukuri line. Showed up doing something else and left his forum dangling with no moderator.
Well, you asked.
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2003
- Messages
- 20,207
Steve_H said:
The Ang Khola is a model of khukuri. Many vendors have sold AK's. The issues are quality, service, and warrantee vs. cost. HI is pretty uniformly regarded world-wide as the best value in AK's or any other model of khukuri.