BirGorkha pix. Kumar and some khukuris in progress.

Bill Martino

Bill Martino

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Mar 5, 1999
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Here is Kumar working away as usual. The bottom pix shows some khukuris he has in the works. 30inch Sirupatis and Kumar King Kobras are on the left.

Gelbu tells me he has two Everest Katanas and six King Kobras in the air for those who are waiting.

------------------
Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ

[This message has been edited by Bill Martino (edited 04-19-2000).]
 
Hi Uncle Bill!

I've been a little out of touch what with new IP, new e-mail, etc.

Although I really don't need another kukhri, those Poets, err, Longfellows, uuuh...

Those BIG ones...They look interestin'.

So what're the specs on the Kumar King Kobra, the 30 inch Sirupati, the prices, similarities and differences, etc.

Also, what's this kothimoda eveyone seems to be drooling over?

I see you had heart trouble? Well, since we know you're all heart, it must have been big trouble. And how many times have we told you to start taking it easy?!!!

Tom Fisch...
 
Bill, would I happen to be one of those with a King Kobra 'in the air' right now, or is it still being made?
smile.gif


(My full name is Keen Mark)
 
Is it just a quirk of the camera, or is he working that steel cold..?

The guy who taught me said there are only two reasons why a smith ever goes to Hell; hitting steel when it's gray, and not charging enough for his work.

My guess is that he's packing the edges. I was taught to do this at a dull red heat, so as to fracture the crystalline structure as it forms and thereby make a tougher, less brittle edge (according to Dr Jim Hrisoulas' books, the technical name for this is austenitic forging)

The more I learn about smithing, the better I can appreciate what supreme craftsmen the kamis are.
 
Okay, okay, so you updated the website while I wasn't looking. Found a lot of my answers there, as well as sifting through some "back issues" of HI Forum.

Anybody who knows, or at least has an opinion, please chime in...

It seems that the Kumar King Kobra is a bit too heavy for a dedicated fighter, but that it can be pressed into service as such. It does seem to be a beast at trail-clearing and heavier-than-machete work. Okay. But how much hard work will it then stand up to? Obviously, it's not a prybar (got my 22" AK for that) but is this thing maybe too light for a real workout? Doesn't that violate the HI code of ethics?

Then what about the 30" Sirupati. It purportedly weighs in at about 4.5-5 lbs. IIRC, my Ak weighs a bit less than that. What a monster! Is that then perhaps too heavy to be really useful as a chopper. The AK has the backbone as well as the mass, but the Sirupati doesn't seem to me to have the profile for real axe-like performance in a chopper. And if it weighs that much, and isn't a chopper, then what is it?

Then there's the Everest Katana. That looks REAL innerestin'! So Bill, the HI website has a picture, and then says that, basically, it won't have a handle anything like what you see in the pix. Has there been any final handle configuration? Open to suggesstions/requests?

The Kumar King Kobra (I almost used the acronym, then thought better of it) is listed at $175. What are the prices (ballpark, of course depending on "options") of the 30" Sirupati and the Everst Katana. And what's the wait time for something like this?

Tom Fisch...

(Edited. Can spell, just can't type. Me am wuz kollege stoodent.)

[This message has been edited by TomF (edited 04-21-2000).]
 
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