Comparsion: HI AK and El Cheapo

elbowtko said:
wouldn't those blades you mention cost more because of the shipping?

Also, if many of you think that CS and other "kukri shaped knives" are just well... kukri shaped knives. Then what would define as a kukri?
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Well khukuris in general do not fit an exact set pattern. There are 100's of styles and shapes. The main staple to the true khukuri is the "cho" (that little notch where the blade meets the bolster). True khuks have this in some form or another (generally speaking of course. I'm sure Sprial can define it much better than I can).
The CS offerings are good, but with out "soul". It's hard to explain, but if you pick up a kraton handled stamped out knife in one hand and a real hand forged khuk in the other you'll know:) There's a story there to be told with every hand forged HI knife. You pick it up, swing it, and know that a man made this.


Karsten, you won't get banned for stating your opinion here. This is an open community and HI welcomes reviews both good and bad. This is how they keep their product top notch and make adjustments. HI depends on customer feedback to know what sells, what doesn't, and what needs improvement. So please feel free to speak your mind.
Now, let me speak mine for a second. IMHO, and it is just that, it sounds like a case of sour grapes on your part. You bought a knife thinking it would have a 12" blade. Instead, it came in at 12" OAL. Buyer's remorse, we've all had it. However, it is clearly stated in the HI FAQ that all knives and swords are labeled with their OAL. Also, never buy a DOTD expecting a perfect finish on the blade. They are on sale for a reason. Disappointment is the breeding ground for the nit-picky eye. I'm guilty of it as well, I promise.
HI's tend to be more expensive for a reason. You are paying for an iron-clad warranty. This sounds like a jab, but it is not. Anything that comes with a warranty has the cost and probability that you will have to use that warranty built right into the price that you pay. I know that all of the kamis are skilled craftsmen, but they are just that...men. They entitled to off days and mistakes just like I am. However, if i need to return something for warranty, living int he CONUS I would rather pay 8 bucks to ship it back to Yangu than 30 bucks to ship it back to KH in Nepal. Mistakes happen. I have over 40 HI products, and I think I have had to send 2 back maybe. Also, shipping to the CONUS is included in that price. Also, HI's mission statement and goal is to offer the best khuks at the best price and still feed, clothe, and offer medical aid to the most amount of workers.

To-Ma-To To-Mah-To, though:)

Jake
 
wow guys, lots of info and opinions.. guess I gotta jump in here.. does that mean that if I'm outside US (which I am, I'm in Asia actually), the KH khuks might actually be worth considering?

Please don't flame me as I'm just checking things out. I have ordered 2 HI Khuks but have yet to get my hands on them yet, so its really premature to say or compare anything.

I'm asking this cos it takes $25 shipping to get a HI khuk to me anyway and if the quality on the KH khuks is similar but at a fraction of the cost, then $35 shipping might not be so bad afterall (it might infact be the same $25 since I live in Asia) and all things considered might make better value for me, just me, in particular. That is assuming the KH khuks are of similar quality to the HI ones, which is an ssumption at this point in time, till proven, or otherwise.

(Although I don't see KH making a Balance as nice as the one I snagged off the DOTD couple of days back.. :D , but hey, that's besides the point)

The warranty on HI ones are nice, but being outside the States makes the savings in shipping moot for me.

Of course, if you factor in the money that goes back to the kamis and their families in Nepal buying from HI, it becomes a no-brainer really.

I'm just airing my views coming from someone that's living in Asia. Anyone care to comment or any suggestions to make??
 
Shipping wise I will usually buy 5-6 light to meduim weight blades in a combination of lenghts (up to 11 inch) for a cost of $50.00-60.00. Larger blades 12 and heavier blades 3 knives at a time for the same $50-60 dollars.

No I haven't done any test chopping, just recieved the package yesterday.

As for Buyers Remorse, on the contrary. I have rad on so many boards that HI is the Khukuri to end all, nothing better, been told anything less is just junk and I wanted to see for myself so I would have bought anything to compare same size/styles with and it just happened that I said I would buy this one and got lucky as no one else had claimed it yet.

A few years back I was tired of being told my Savage 110FP was a POS compared to a Rem 700 so I set out to buy one and did a lot of research so I could comapre the two rifles side by side....Ended up buying a FN SPR and just forgot about the Rem 700 completely.

If I would have been lucky and grabbed a WW, I would have compared it to KH's WW or other 12 inch knife of comparably size.

Saroj Lama of KH also makes sure his employees/their families are taken care of and is concerned about their well being and future. He also spends a good amount of time in tha factory testing and trying new things, treatments and what not.

I wasn't trying to ruffle any feathers, just satisfing my own curiosity in a hands on manner rather than just believing what is posted about a product or manufacturer so I bought one.

Karsten
 
I don't get to post much. I would like to briefly say I always wanted a good Khukuri.

I purchased Cold Steel for $220.00, not a true khukuri but HD. I bought a Blackjack Rienhart, $180.00. It is very thin, good grip and s/s. I bought Al Mar's Pathfinder, also $220.00 terrible handle / grip. I bought 2 Machax, good feel. I bought 2 Bushmasters with the kydex sheath.

I only kept my Rienhart, and a Bushmaster after buying HI. I belive I purchased over 30 khukuries from HI and gave almost all of them away. I kept a few workers. I do miss most of the old ones but everyone loves them!

There is a size, weight, and "shape" to fit your needs from Himalayan Imports. I think they are the best available on the open market.

Sam S.
 
Hmmm....I don't have any experience with Khukri House. I've stayed with HI because I first ran into Bill when he was advertising out of the back of Blade magazine and mailing out 3x5 Kodak pictures of what was in stock. Every HI blade I've used, save one, (probably three quarters of the Khuks I own have been through at least field proofing - one heavy used to get any bugs out) has done what I've asked of it. The one that didn't perform deserves mention. It was a Chiruwa AK by Bura that was a bit too hard or had a flaw in the steel. The blade snapped cleanly, I sent it back to Yangdu, and had a new AK within a week. So HI definitely stands by their warranty (Bill offered to make good on the 2 for 1 replacement for breaking a Chiruwa AK, but I didn't feel that was necessary). So the blades work, the customer service is top notch, and the company from the head man down to the children of the employees are practically my family.

But I've never handled a Khukri House blade. There's some emotional elements of that decision, but there's also a "if it's not broke, don't fix it" factor. I assume both rely on pretty much the same technology and materials. Khuks are hand-made, so there may be a large amount of variation between any two blades. I'd hazard a guess that if you had a large number of blades to handle, you could find a KH specimen that is better than 90% of the HI blades, and an HI blade that is better than 90% of the KH blades. The big factors here are personal preference - how a specific handle is carved or how a particular khuk balances or the "soul" of the blade.

Perhaps I should try to work on my ignorance. Anyone interested in a passaround with similar blades from HI and KH? If there are a few nibbles, I'll start another thread and we can discuss terms and fairness guidelines for such a project.
 
Tohatchi NM said:
Perhaps I should try to work on my ignorance. Anyone interested in a passaround with similar blades from HI and KH? If there are a few nibbles, I'll start another thread and we can discuss terms and fairness guidelines for such a project.
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Again, I am not here trying to start any issues or cause problems with HI loyalty....I had questions and so I bought a knife to see for myself.

I think it might be a great idea to try this passaround thing so maybe I could get a chance to handle a larger HI offering and the HI fans could get a hands on seesion with a KH blade.

I would just hope that in all fairness (seeing as how this is the HI Camp) the KH blade wouldn't just get trashed to make the HI blade come out looking like the best blade....I can see what I can get set up with a new knife from KH if there was/is any interest.

Karsten
 
hmm.. this would be interesting as I just got a quote from KH on their shipping costs for 3 of their 10-12" knives and it is only $35...

Very tempting indeed... costs $10 more than HI for international shipping, but KH's knives on average costs only 40-60% of the price of HI ones.. and we are talking about the DOTD here. If we are talking about the prices on HI website, then the price disparity is so much greater!

but would want to see how it performs compared to a HI one.. will see if the KH ones can hold up to the same kind of abuse that the HI ones appear to shrug off.
 
Try to get one of these at KH. A 18" 24 OZ Foxy Folly made by the Royal Kami Bura, no less. Light, fast, and fullerific.

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Or how about after the blade had been blued...

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HI Rules!


Count me out for any passaround. And I think that setting one up here is inapropriate. There is a section on BF for comparisons, and I thought these type of posts were going to get moved there.

I've tried all the makers I've heard of, we know the name, and I always come back to HI.

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Nice collection pic, Andy:) I love the wood on that seax:eek: Do i spy one of those Sarge/KPH sheaths in the upper right hand corner of the pic?:confused:

Jake
 
The knives in the corner are my little pile of Sarge's work. All being used as often as I can find an excuse, and all still sharp as snot just like the day they arrived. Sarge is the only custom knifemaker that I have more than one knife from. Its all that much more special to me since its his tutiledge that has gotten me into making them myself. I owe every minute of enjoyment in my knifemaking and sheathmaking hobby to Sarge. Thanks Sylvrfalcn!
 
I think the pass around is not appropriate here as well. I don't have a problem with the idea if that's what you want to do, just wrong venue. Knives and swords are personal to me and the relatiionship with the blade is as important as the blade itself. That relationship includes the maker and all those involved with it. I feel a connection with Uncle Bill, Yangdu Bura, Sher and all the kamis at HI. This makes a difference to me and is worth more than a couple of dollars difference in the cost. Just my opinion.
Terry
 
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