Custom Pakastani Damascus Kukri

I gotta know, how much?
 
BePrepared said:
110 shipped
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For a knife that size you could not even buy a billet of simple random pattern carbon Damascus in North America for that price. That's what makes me suspicious of the steel quality. Damascus is expensive, plain and simple, so when I see knives selling for way less than what the billet alone would cost, I usually know the reason.
 
Yep, but that was always a known risk. If he had made a piece with outstanding fit and finish, it would have been worth buying just to hang on a wall in a pretty frame and support a craftsman from an undeveloped country
 
For that price, you can always buy it, send it to some bladesmith friend to remove the handle and the file work and make a new handle.
Also you could send the blade for some metallurgical analysis.
And then do some performance tests.
That way you are helping everyone!!
 
cul4u01 said:
To get an original/fantastic/authentic Khukuri, I suggest Himalayan Imports, they are under manufacturers here on bladeforums, and you can get blems and DOTD's, through the forum here. They have great knives, lifetime warranties, and no one makes them any better than the kamis caste in Nepal.
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It's a good suggestion, but i already have a virtually indestructible custom 5160 kukri that's absolutely amazing. I just don't own any pattern welded blades so i was considering picking one up. I am not a fan of HI handles. Their blades are great but i don't find them comfortable in the hand
 
I like Manuel's suggestion
 
me neither, but it would be interesting to know
 
Its as Chui said not worth contemplating , there may well be some good knives coming out of the area but the chances you've found one are more than slim .
The content of the Damascus is usually scrap metal at best hence the weight as so much gets chucked in bolts , springs etc.
As far as i know they are not allowed to sharpen them for sale in Pakistan so that begs the question are there likely to be craftsmen putting time and effort into producing such.
IMO the scale gives you all you need to know if you are looking then as said Himylan imports, Khukuri house are best I had a good working khuk brought for a little more than $100 although in £.
Whilst you can get get a cold steel khukuri for what $30 its not worth it better if you want a Damascus piece.
Sacrificing quantity for quality giving the look of this I'd say you wanted it for aesthetics np knives /Necktarios here makes great kiridashi with HHH damas steel .
For around that mark with a leather sheath iirc you'd have a much better piece and you'd know it when you held it ATB :).
 
I do not know how you all can know what the steel is made from. On another post, the OP repeated what the maker said about the stee. "what he has told me, he gets his damascus from a company called Y R Associates". Why not ask the company, a quick search brings up:

Dear Sir

We would like to introduce ourselves to you, we are Y.R. Associate. Since 2001 we have been the name of quality in both manufacture and exporting of 100% hand forged Damascus steel knives & blank blades in Pakistan. Located in the great industrial city of Sialkot-Pakistan, our company is comprised of artists who have worked with the Damascus steel for years now through us, it is easily obtainable around the world.

We are writing to inform you we are able to provide Damascus knives, Damascus Pocket knife Damascus Custom made knives Damascus blank blades for knife makers Damascus Bars All orders are able to be quoted with shipping for your convenience.

As an owner of my company I can offer you the ability to work with a professional company who has fluent English skills, uses the internet and technology for email and is available for telephone/video conferences through Skype, eliminating costly phone conversations. If you are more comfortable on the telephone then using Skype, I am happy to call at your convenience. I know we can work together to make our conversations at a time that is good for both of us.

If you need further information or have questions then please do not hesitate to letting us know, we will happy to answer your questions promptly within 12 business hours.

Waiting for you reply. And we will sent you our Damascus knives catalogue with attached file


Thanks & Regards

Yasir Rajpoot
Y.R Associate
C.E.O

Address
Defense Road. Hadi Town
Noor Block Colony
Sialkot Pakistan
Tell. +92-524-009459
Cell +92-333-8705884 (for English Language)
Instant E-mail damascusshuntingknife@yahoo.com
Skype call: knivesbyrajpoot
 
On British Blades we went through what turned out to be a charade with Pakistan damascus.

We had them send over samples which were obviously/subsequently not wonderful - we were prepared to have a pass-around but it soon became evident it wasn't worth wasting time on.

It appeared to many of us that their mainstay with these knives was, sorry, mere tourist tat..........that for every person with some knowledge of knives and steel that wouldn't touch them, there were a thousand others who would.

Don't doubt for one moment that there is a good skill base out there - that they could if they wanted to, make a well refined blade that had a good performance characteristics - good enough that they could be ground thin. But why should they bother with all the effort if they sell enough anyway.....?!

Now, if this particular source in Pakistan has something different to offer, something of substance and quality - wouldn't they try and do a marketing exercise upon the knifey world.....? Instead, it seems, they hope to attract purchases with low prices. There's the old adage - 'if it don't cost much, it aint worth much'.

Maybe your guy, your source, is different..........

Personally, I reckon it'd be great if they could pull something really decent out of the hat from Pakistan - but so far, little real evidence, unfortunately.
 
BePrepared said:
This guy messaged me from one of the dozen or so FB forums i am in,
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BP,

Are you referring to Facebook, if so, I accepted a friend request from a Pakistani knife maker, I rarely go there, my niece talked me into signing up.
Anywho, within 3 days I had 8 more friend requests from Pakistani billet sellers/knifemakers.

Not a fan at all of mystery steel. :)

Doug
 
All due respect but its a well known con , if these makers have good knives as Chui says the simple solution isn't quite so simple for these guys.
Once trust has been put into doubt , so ok your a Pakistani maker with skill your putting out good knives , you want to get a name.
And change perception that its all tat how ? well start by sending out a sample to blade forums to someone who knows their stuff.
The same with bb if its good word of mouth will do the rest simple , friend request via Facebook asking to buy is ending in one way .
If Brownshoe has evidence to the contrary then send one to a maker here invest your $ and if the guy is making good billets/knives then he will soon have more orders.
Trust is utmost in this game reputation for Qc and good service etc once a few well established makers/buyers rate his work and give their verdict the stuff is good it will sell .
I can't see why this method wouldn't be the first stop as in business you speculate to accumulate sending 'samples' is a given in thousands of trades/businesses .
 
The sharpend said:
The content of the Damascus is usually scrap metal at best hence the weight as so much gets chucked in bolts , springs etc.
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Can you explain this comment, please? Does scrap steel have a different density than good steel? The knife could well be heavy because it it thick, but how does the source of the steel affect the weight?

Or do you mean that quality steel can be forged/ground thinner because it is stronger/tougher? If so, how does that explain some HI khukris, aren't some of those pretty thick and heavy? But they use good steel.
 
To be honest the khukri I have is very heavy and is old leaf spring from trucks I presume have served their purpose .
So on that front I suppose scrap steel is not a great description , going on iirc and forgive me if I have recalled it wrong the op mentioned quality in correlation to weight .
Some of these Damascus blades have all sorts in , spring steel is scrap yes but once re forged is known to have the desired content to make a good blade .
I'm presuming that just any old metal is added to the poor stuff regardless as to its potential to cause problems or have undesirable traits once made into a blade .
Eg extreme rust , chipping mixed levels of stability etc .
This is what I referred to in that comment and I'm a collector and buyer I'm learning as I go along from having customs built.
Owning certain steels reading articles and information on different topics my knowledge is limited .
And any mistakes I make in comments on threads if constructively corrected is all part of it , I have known a few people to have given Damascus from this area a go .
And all have received poor items and basically been ripped off so if I can offer any advice to save somebody being stung ill try.
The issue as others said is that undoubtedly there are good craftsmen in Pakistan , but the percentage of stuff that comes out is very high in terms of tat .
That and well known con merchants are selling knives purported to be hand made quality Damascus when they are mass produced junk from this region just adds to it .
I'd love to support a craftsman putting out quality blades starting a business providing for his family and the community so as per my last post .
If this is so a sample IMO would be the way to go on the weight comment feel free to correct anything I've got wrong :).

Edit it wasn't the op that posted the comment my bad -I have handled these Pakistani knives because a friend of mine buys them and I can tell you that they are extremely heavy unlike the blaDes you find in America- was the comment which I misread .
It is 5am I read these threads though so go easy ;).
 
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The sharpend said:
All due respect but its a well known con , if these makers have good knives as Chui says the simple solution isn't quite so simple for these guys.
Once trust has been put into doubt , so ok your a Pakistani maker with skill your putting out good knives , you want to get a name.
And change perception that its all tat how ? well start by sending out a sample to blade forums to someone who knows their stuff.
The same with bb if its good word of mouth will do the rest simple , friend request via Facebook asking to buy is ending in one way .
If Brownshoe has evidence to the contrary then send one to a maker here invest your $ and if the guy is making good billets/knives then he will soon have more orders.
Trust is utmost in this game reputation for Qc and good service etc once a few well established makers/buyers rate his work and give their verdict the stuff is good it will sell .
I can't see why this method wouldn't be the first stop as in business you speculate to accumulate sending 'samples' is a given in thousands of trades/businesses .
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Actually, I can think of some whose business success most certainly had nothing to do with their integrity.
That being said, honesty IS the best policy.
 
Yeah the old adage "the nice guy comes last" rings true , being ruthless in certain businesses seems par for the course .
But I have found since I've been in a d around the knife community those who conduct themselves in this manner are weeded out and not tolerated pretty quick.
Always those who will try I've found knife forums to be some of the most honest generous places , on the net or otherwise :).
 
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